Why is Cleopatra so famous?
Cleopatra (Greek:, “Famous in Her Father”), full name Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (“Cleopatra the Father-Loving Goddess”), (born 70/69 BCE—died 30 August BCE, Alexandria), Egyptian queen, famous in history and theatre as the lover of Julius Caesar and eventually the wife of Mark Antony. She became queen upon the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in…
Cleopatra (Greek:, “Famous in Her Father”), full name Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (“Cleopatra the Father-Loving Goddess”), (born 70/69 BCE—died 30 August BCE, Alexandria), Egyptian queen, famous in history and theatre as the lover of Julius Caesar and eventually the wife of Mark Antony.
She became queen upon the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in 51 BCE and governed with her two brothers, Ptolemy XIII (51–47) and Ptolemy XIV (47–44), and her son, Ptolemy XV Caesar (44–32), in succession (44–30).
Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide after the Roman soldiers of Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) destroyed their combined forces, and Egypt fell under Roman control.
Cleopatra actively affected Roman politics during a key moment, and she became the archetype of the romantic femme fatale, as no other ancient woman did.
Why is Cleopatra so famous?
Cleopatra was known especially for her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony during the time that she reigned as queen of Egypt (51–30 BCE). During this time, she actively influenced Roman politics during a pivotal period. She grew to exemplify the archetype of the amorous femme fatale more than any other woman in ancient history did, making her unique. Cleopatra is the subject of a great number of writings, plays, and films.
