In this essay I will examine the historical context, early life and achievements of Cleopatra VII, a significant figure from ancient Egypt.
Cleopatra was born in Egypt in the year 69B.C. into the Ptolemy dynasty, who at the time were the rulers of Egypt and were founded by Ptolemy I, in 305 B.C. Cleopatra rose to power around the 1st century B.C. alongside her younger brother Ptolemy XIII (all boy children in the dynasty were called Ptolemy). After several years of co-ruling her brother, they forced her out of Alexandria. Fearing for her life Cleopatra fled to Syria, during which Cleopatra decided to raise an army and ventured to Rome to convince Caesar and his army to help her regain power. Cleopatra then decided to return to Egypt and faced her brother in the Pelusium to crush her brothers reign after which she continued to rule until her death in 30B.C.
Cleopatra was a great female leader who used her wits and guile to navigate her wars and hardships. Cleopatra’s responsibilities included improving the economy and managing trade with other countries she would carry out these actions by establishing trade with the Arab nations and she would embrace the culture of the Egyptian rule. Trade was a big part of the Egyptian success, Cleopatra managed to establish trade with the Arab nations. The Egyptians would typically trade gold, papyrus, linen and grain for cedar wood, copper, ebony, iron, and lapis. Trade would make the Egyptian economy even richer and would support a better life for the people of Egypt.
Cleopatra was known for her religion as she would take the embodiment of Isis. Isis was an Egyptian god who represented good fortune, the sea and travel. Her traditional roles included protector of the dead and healer. Isis was the goddess of life and magic and her symbols included Ankh, her wings and her throne headdress. She would tell the people that she was not the god Isis but that she was the embodiment of the god. As her political role she took on the burden of the pharaoh, she would manage the economic and spiritual well fair of her people and owned a large portion of Egyptian land. Cleopatra was not the only ruler of Egypt for some time. She actually co-ruled with her brother as it was tradition for the two to get married. In conclusion, Cleopatra was a well-known pharaoh who took pride in her achievements and roles.
She married Mark Antony and had three children with him she also had a child with Julius Caesar and her brother who she also married and had a child with, as it was tradition for the two to be married. After Cleopatra’s presumed death Mark Antony took his life at the age of 39 years old resulting Cleopatra committing suicide through presumed poisoning. Another reason for her suicide was that she was going to be executed due to Octavian already finishing and winning the battle. Cleopatra’s passing brought great distress to Egypt. Octavian won the battle resulting in the death of Caesarian (who was the child of Caesar). This tragedy marked the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty and started the rule of Rome over Egypt. Octavian took all of Cleopatra’s riches and used them to pay off his veterans, after this Octavian went on to be an outstanding ruler of the roman empire until his death in 14A.D at the age of 75 years.