Who is Cleopatra?
Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Egypt. She is famous in Western culture because of her alleged affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, and these affairs tend to be the focal points of biographies featuring Cleopatra. However, she was also beautiful, intelligent, and passionately devoted to Egypt’s well-being. The well educated and savvy woman fought hard for Egypt during her lifetime, although she ultimately failed to secure freedom from Rome. These traits are sometimes forgotten when Cleopatra is discussed, but they provide vital clues into her life and ultimate death. The girl who became known as Cleopatra was born in 69 BC. She was Greek, not Egyptian, descended from the Ptolemaic dynasty, which had ruled over Egypt since 305 BC. Technically, she was Cleopatra VII, since Cleopatra was a popular name among the dynasty, but since she is the most famous of the Cleopatras, the “VII” is usually dropped. She was also a co-regent, sharing power with her brother, Ptolemy XIII, and la
