Cleopatra
When one thinks of women and the role of women within the early eras, it is easy to assume that they took a subservient role to that of the men who tended to be the dominating of the two sexes. In terms of Cleopatra however, she managed to defy all of these stereotypes. Cleopatra VII was the last Pharaoh of Egypt. She reigned over Egypt in 51BC after the death of her father Ptolemy XII Auletes, with her two brothers Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy VIX and her son Ptolemy XV Caesar. Even though Cleopatra’s ancestry was Macedonian Greek, she was still an Egyptian queen and was worshipped as a god. She was a powerful role model for many and was the inspiration behind several Shakespeare plays. The purpose of this paper is to define and examine how this particular woman became to be so successful and was able to use her beauty along side her intelligence to build her own Empire; an Empire of love, power, and freedom.
From the moment Cleopatra set foot on the throne co-ruling Egypt with her brother/husband Ptolemy XIII, she was determined to impose more of her ideas and policies upon Egypt and had visions to take over the Roman Empire, becoming ruler of the Mediterranean World. According to Frost (2002), her husband Ptolemy XIII who was only ten years old at the time was not much help to an aspired ruling Queen with driving ambition, intelligence, wealth and sex appeal, all needed qualifications to independently rule an empire. She knew in order to succeed, she would need to cooperate with the Roman Empire to expand her power and gain more territory. (Para. 2) Cleopatra initiated one of the most notorious and controversial relationships of all time with one of the most prominent figures in history; Julius Caesar. Caesar was the powerful ruler of the Roman Empire and according to Frost (2002), “is the greatest man Rome ever produced—and one of history’s greatest statesmen/warriors. He was a leader beloved by his troops and a legendary lover of women” (Para. 8).
From the moment Cleopatra set foot on the throne co-ruling Egypt with her brother/husband Ptolemy XIII, she was determined to impose more of her ideas and policies upon Egypt and had visions to take over the Roman Empire, becoming ruler of the Mediterranean World. According to Frost (2002), her husband Ptolemy XIII who was only ten years old at the time was not much help to an aspired ruling Queen with driving ambition, intelligence, wealth and sex appeal, all needed qualifications to independently rule an empire. She knew in order to succeed, she would need to cooperate with the Roman Empire to expand her power and gain more territory. (Para. 2) Cleopatra initiated one of the most notorious and controversial relationships of all time with one of the most prominent figures in history; Julius Caesar. Caesar was the powerful ruler of the Roman Empire and according to Frost (2002), “is the greatest man Rome ever produced—and one of history’s greatest statesmen/warriors. He was a leader beloved by his troops and a legendary lover of women” (Para. 8).