40 Interesting Fun Facts about Egyptian Queen Cleopatra

(Last Updated On: April 16, 2021)

There are many interesting facts about Cleopatra. Cleopatra was born in 70 or 69 B.C. and was the eldest daughter of Ptolemy XII (Auletes), the Pharaoh of Egypt. Her mom is believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena, the king’s spouse (and presumably his half-sister).

Interesting facts about Cleopatra

Cleopatra had an eventful life through which she married each of her brothers and in addition, fought towards them for the throne of Egypt; she had a relationship with Roman Dictator Julius Caesar, and after his assassination, together with his good friend, the Roman General Mark Antony; and she or he ultimately ended her life by committing suicide.

Cleopatra is a well-known determine in history famed for her magnificence and there are numerous legends associated with her.

However, since no modern accounts exist of Cleopatra’s life, most of her story is thought of by means of later historians like Plutarch (46 AD – 120 AD), Dio Cassius (155 AD – 235 AD), and others.

Know more in regards to the family, life, reign, relationships, and the demise of the well-known Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII Philopator by means of these interesting facts about Cleopatra.

1. The Roman Senate declared battle on her in 31 BC

In 32 B.C. Octavian illegally and forcibly acquired the desire of Anthony from the Temple of Vesta, which grew to become an important tool in his propaganda battle within the senate. The scandalous contents of the desire included:-

Antony’s want to be buried alongside Cleopatra in Alexandria as a substitute of Rome, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

Antony naming Cleopatra’s son Caesarion because the inheritor of Caesar, though Octavian was named inheritor by Caesar’s personal will,

Alexandria being made the brand new capital of the Roman Republic,
and distribution of Roman and Parthian lands to Cleopatra’s youngsters together with numerous titles.

In 31 B.C. with himself as elected consul; with Antony’s triumvirate authority expired, and with Antony’s will now public; Octavian had the senate on his facet for Rome to declare battle on Cleopatra.

2. She presumably married each of her brothers

Marriage between brother-sister and father-daughter was a long-held apply within the Egyptian Royal family. It was maybe an emulation of Gods like Osiris and Isis and the best way of the Pharaohs (who have been thought of embodiments of Gods themselves) to emulate the gods and goddesses and to set themselves aside from the remainder of the inhabitants.

Though loathed by the Greeks, this apply was launched to the Ptolemaic dynasty by Ptolemy II and his sister Arsinoe II, a few centuries before Cleopatra VII.

Hence after the demise of her father in 51 BC, when Cleopatra ascended the throne of Egypt alongside her youthful brother Ptolemy XIII, they each have been presumably married as was customized of the occasions.

The association was unsuccessful although as they each labored towards one another ensuing within the drowning of Ptolemy XIII whereas fleeing throughout the Nile within the Battle of the Nile in 47 BC, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

Roman General Julius Caesar was throughout this time in an affair with Cleopatra and positioned her back on the throne, this time together with one other of her brothers, Ptolemy XIV who was 12 or 13 years of age.

The younger Pharaoh and Cleopatra have been married, however, Cleopatra continued to behave as lovers of Julius Caesar, preserving the precise authority over Egypt to herself.

3. Cleopatra dedicated suicide by poisoning herself

Defeated decisively on the Battle of Actium, Antony and Cleopatra moved to Egypt and tried to barter with Octavian however nothing fruitful emerged. Going for the ultimate assault Octavian invaded Egypt in 30 B.C.

Left with no difference and within the false perception that Cleopatra had dedicated suicide, Antony fatally stabbed himself together with his sword. With Antony lifeless and information that Octavian was planning to parade her in his victory parade in Rome, Cleopatra determined to finish her life.

Although legend has it that she did so by engaging a snake to chunk her, historical chronicler Plutarch admits that “what really took place is known to no one.”

Cleopatra was additionally identified to hide a lethal poison in considered one of her hair combs, and the historian Strabo suspects that it could have been the reason for her demise, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

4. Hate-Love Relationship!

We all know for the truth that Julius Caesar was head-over-heels in love with Cleopatra. However, what not many know is that Caesar was her rival before he was charmed by her.

Yes, her brother and Caesar allied towards her till she delivered herself to the latter enwrapped in a carpet. Her enchanting magnificence and irresistible appeal insistently weakened Caesar within the knees.

What occurred next didn’t shock anybody. The tables have been turned and Caesar turned her ally. Together, they fought her brother and secured her the throne. Cleopatra and Caesar turned lovers regardless of their monumental age distinction, he being 52 and she or he simply 21!

5. An Iconic Fashionista!

When Caesar introduced Cleopatra to Rome as his mistress (he already had a spouse), there have been hues of disparagement throughout. The undertone of the criticism took a volcanic kind when Caesar erected a statue of her within the temple of Venus, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

Though everybody admonished her presence, none might deny being greatly surprised by her magnificence. As a lot, because the Roman ladies rebuked her, they longed to be a mirror picture of her.

In no time, Cleopatra grew to become the long-lasting fashionista of Roman ladies – they dressed like her, wore their hair like her, copied her make-up, and even included her distinctive pearl jewelry of their jewel field!

6. Fame Revamped!

Cleopatra lived a lifetime of fantasy and dreams. The Queen of Nile has been an inspiration for a lot of filmmakers from throughout the globe. One specific screening nevertheless deserves an essential point out – the 1963 movie ‘Cleopatra’ performed by Elizabeth Taylor, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

The movie, initially supposed to be produced with finances of $2 million, was in flip product of $44 million, together with some $200,000 simply to cover the price of Taylor’s costumes. ‘Cleopatra’ has been branded as the costliest film ever made. At the time of launch, it practically bankrupted the studio.

Despite taking such a giant threat, the studio’s fortune turned because the movie grew to become a field workplace blockbuster. Taking the present inflation, ‘Cleopatra’ stays one of the many priciest films in history even right now!

7. Cleopatra had an affair with the Roman basic and dictator, Julius Caesar

In 48 BC, after the homicide of his political rival Pompey, Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria hoping for the compensation of the money owed incurred by Cleopatra’s father, Auletes.

Ptolemy XIII who had ordered the killing of Pompey hoped to assemble favor with Caesar, however, Caesar was enraged by the homicide of a Roman consul by a foreigner.

Cleopatra then again wanted Caesar’s assist to regain full control of Egypt from her brother. Historian Cassius Dio data how Cleopatra without informing her brother, charmed Caesar along with her enticing costume and wit.

Plutarch then again supplies a more fascinating account, alleging that she smuggled herself into the palace to satisfy Caesar tied in a bed sack.

Whatsoever be the case, Cleopatra and Caesar have been quickly concerned in an affair that propelled her into energy in Egypt and lasted until the assassination of Caesar in 44 BC. Cleopatra had a son named Ptolemy XV Caesar in 47 BC, who’s believed to be Julius Caesar’s youngster.

8. She Kept Mark Antony Flattered, Charmed, and Entertained

Sure, they’d sex, however, Cleopatra and Antony did different issues collectively, too. She lured him to Alexandria with guarantees of playing and debauchery (so stated the Roman Plutarch).

Antony had a supper membership known as the Inimitable Livers, and “every day they feasted one another, making their expenditures of incredible profusion.” The royal chef needed to make quite a lot of meals!

Cleopatra was at all times preserving Antony entertained, “ever contributing some fresh delight and charm to Antony’s hours of seriousness or mirth, kept him in constant tutelage,” based on Plutarch.

They performed cube video games, obtained drunk, hunted collectively, she watched him work out, and when he went out consuming, she went with him, dressed up as a commoner, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

Once, when he went fishing, Antony couldn’t catch something, so he ordered somebody to hook a pre-caught fish to his line.

Cleopatra was clued in and introduced a crowd the next day, so when he hooked a “salted Pontic herring,” he was terribly embarrassed. She mocked him lovingly, saying he ought to hand over his fishing rod. His sport, she stated, was “the hunting of cities, realms, and continents.”

9. Her notion in history is basically based mostly on gossip

Anthony’s marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia didn’t assuage the political wrestle between Antony and Octavian, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

The burning ambition to rule the empire led to blatant propaganda by each team. Being a foreigner; her history with Caesar; and with few in Rome to assist her; Cleopatra grew to become the simplest goal on this gossip.

She was stated to have brainwashed Mark Antony with witchcraft and sorcery and seduced him right into a slave. She was made extravagant in her methods; pompous and smug and was deemed as harmful as Homer’s Helen of Troy in destroying civilization.

This gossip from the propaganda battle would quickly present materials for Augustan Period Literature (27 B.C. to 14 A.D. and now known as the golden age of Latin Literature).

After Octavian declared himself because the first emperor of Rome, this gossip would turn into the favored picture of Cleopatra to modern occasions.

10. Cleopatra Used Julius Caesar to Help Her Get the Throne

Cleo didn’t flirt with Caesar as a result of he was sizzling; she used him to get what she needed. Rome began to threaten Egypt throughout her father’s reign, with some politicians speaking about annexing Egypt and granting its lands to the Roman citizenry.

Cleopatra’s father fled to the Eternal City as soon as when he was deposed, and the Senate – and Caesar – helped him get his throne back, however at a price. The Romans gave him a “finance minister” to assist him out, however, the man stole some huge cash from Egypt.

Cleopatra wanted cash and navy assist to remain in energy, so she matched wits with the person on the top – Julius Caesar. Cleo used him to domesticate navy assist for herself over her youthful brothers.

They met in 48 BC when Caesar’s arch-rival Pompey landed on Egyptian shores and was promptly killed by Cleo’s little brother. Caesar adopted Pompey and got here to Egypt, the place he met a superb younger queen who appealed to him intellectually and sexually. And history was made, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

11. All For the Throne!

Cleopatra was one of many cleverest and sharpest rulers of Egypt. Her starvation for energy could be seen for the truth that to retain her position as a co-ruler, she married her youthful brother who was the co-inheritor of the throne. What’s more, when she lost her throne to her brother, as a substitute of being below his kingship, she fought towards him.

Her brother, who had discovered an ally in Julius Ceasar, couldn’t assess his sibling-wife’s thirst for the throne. Playing her magnificence card, Cleopatra lastly gained the battle, drowning her brother to demise. What’s more, she poisoned her youthful brother in addition to killed her sister to be the unchallenged ruler!

12. Contrary to the favored view she might not have been bodily putting

Though the Romans painted her as a seducing temptress excessively indulging in alcohol, medicine, and different carnal pleasures, whereas utilizing her sex enchantment as a political weapon, there may be proof that they have been presumably exaggerating. Cleopatra was maybe not what most would call stunning. Coins along with her portrait present her with manly options and a big, hooked nostril.

Plutarch, in his work Life of Mark Antony, wrote of her: “It was not because her [Cleopatra’s] beauty in itself was so striking that it stunned the onlooker, but the inescapable impression produced by daily contact with her:

the attractiveness in the persuasiveness of her talk and the character that surrounded her conversation was stimulating. It was a pleasure to hear the sound of her voice, and she turned her tongue like a many-stringed instrument expertly to whatever language she chose….”

13. She Was Married to Two of Her Own Brothers (And May Have Killed One of Them)

In true royal Egyptian style, members of the Ptolemaic dynasty married their siblings and instant kin. Cleopatra was no completely different, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

Upon the demise of her father, Ptolemy XII, this 18-year-old started to rule Egypt alongside her 10-year-old brother, the inventively named Ptolemy XIII. The two in all probability obtained married; he exiled her from Egypt, and she or he went to Rome to get Julius Caesar’s assist in retaking her kingdom.

When the Romans invaded Alexandria, Ptolemy XIII drowned within the Nile, in all probability because of the weight of his armor. To preserve a dynastic face, Cleopatra then wed her different surviving brother, Ptolemy XIV, whom she might effectively have murdered after she had a son of her personal, a son she named Ptolemy XV Caesarion and claimed was fathered by the Roman basic.

14. Cleopatra Dressed Up as a Goddess to Seduce Mark Antony

After Caesar was murdered, Cleopatra wanted a brand new ally in Rome. Who higher than Caesar’s number-one ally, Marcus Antonius (higher often known as Mark Antony)?

He was a womanizer (who was additionally married on a number of occasions), so Cleopatra knew she needed to costume to impress when she met him. He summoned her to him on a number of occasions, however, she got here on her personal time!

When Cleo met Antony, she sailed up the river in a regal model befitting a mysterious international queen, because the Romans noticed her. Plutarch famous that she rode in “a barge with gilded poop, its sails spread purple, its rowers urging it on with silver oars to the sound of the flute blended with pipes and lutes.”

Cleopatra herself was mendacity on a bed with a golden cover and was dressed just like the Roman goddess “Venus in a painting,” along with her servants made up as nymphs.

15. Cleopatra the Crook!

Cleopatra adopted the footsteps of her predecessors and looted Alexander the Great’s grave. The Battle of Actium that worn out a lot of her forces left Cleopatra with no cash, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

She subsequently raided Alexander’s mausoleum and her personal ancestors’ resting locations to get treasured metals to fund her persevering with marketing campaign towards Rome.

She took the gold from Alexander’s grave, specifically, for her mission. Ironically, it wasn’t till the Roman Octavian conquered Alexandria that Alexander obtained a gold crown back once more.

16. Cleopatra Was Probably No Elizabeth Taylor within the Looks Department

Sadly for Cleopatra, she in all probability didn’t match her famed portrayer within the appears to be like division. Archaeologists uncovered a coin bearing her face, on which she appears to be fairly plain, however historical accounts differ.

Roman historian Cassius Dio claimed, “she was a woman of surpassing beauty, and at that time, when she was in the prime of her youth, she was most striking.”

Plutarch alleged that her intelligence, appeal, and voice have been more alluring than her bodily look, although neither of those accounts was modern. But the tutorial consensus right now is that her political brilliance and alluring method have been her actual sights.

17. The Legendary Leader!

Egypt could also be a mere province of the Roman Empire within the later centuries however the superb nation has had a wealthy history whose cultural significance and recognition multiplied by folds throughout Cleopatra’s reign.

The Last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra introduced immense fame and eternal glory to the nation. Both along with her charming magnificence and scholarly intelligence, she made Egypt one of many {powerful} international locations of the world. With her demise, Egyptian dynasties fell below the sandal of the Roman Empire.

18. Cleopatra Stole Antony – Caesar’s BFF – from His Wife

It wasn’t uncommon for anybody to have affairs within the historical world – no weirder than it’s now, and doubtless much less so – however Marc Antony was an actual womanizer, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

He was on his fourth marriage when he met and wed Cleopatra bigamously, however, he couldn’t simply divorce his fourth spouse as simply as he had among the earlier ones. Why?

She was Octavia, sister of his arch-rival, the uber-powerful Octavian (later Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, who defeated Antony and Cleopatra on the Battle of Actium in 31 BC). This was an essential alliance.

But Antony didn’t thoughts giving up Octavia for a thrilling international queen. To maintain Antony, Plutarch claimed, “she, therefore, pretended to be passionately in love with Antony herself, and reduced her body by slender diet; she put on a look of rapture when Antony drew near, and one of faintness and melancholy when he went away.”

She mainly wheedled him so he’d select her, his mistress-wife, over his lawful spouse, on which the Romans didn’t look fondly. Then Cleopatra traveled with Antony to Athens. He threw Octavia and their youngsters out of their home there. (Ironically, after Cleopatra’s demise, Octavia raised her and Antony’s surviving youngsters in a bizarre model of The Brady Bunch.)

19. She Smuggled Herself Into Caesar’s Bedroom Wrapped Up in a Rug

Legend has it that Cleopatra had herself wrapped in a rug and smuggled into Caesar’s room, however that was in all probability false. Plutarch states she was tucked right into a “bed sack” (in all probability a bag for royal linens) and plopped into his chambers.

Other sources declare she was rolled right into a carpet to evade her brother’s forces. Regardless of how she actually arrived at Caesar’s facet, it’s no surprise he was enraptured along with her: she was good, charming, horny, and fewer than half his age.

They went on Nile cruises collectively, in all probability made love till daybreak, and exchanged political concepts. Who is aware of precisely what they mentioned? But he did go away her with a present – a bun within the oven.

20. She is alleged to be liable for the demise of all her siblings

Cleopatra was a bold queen. She needed control over her kingdom since her ascension because the Pharaoh Queen in 51 BC. In 48 BC, Cleopatra managed to appeal to the esteemed Roman basic Caesar on his go-to to Alexandria, thus additional inflaming the rivalry between her and her sibling husband Ptolemy XIII.

The politics that ensued led to the siege of the palace at Alexandria with Caesar and Cleopatra trapped collectively inside. Arsinoe IV, the youthful sister of the 2, had joined forces along with her brother Ptolemy XIII towards her sister Cleopatra on this tussle, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

The siege resulted in 47 BC after the arrival of Caesar’s reinforcements and his victory within the Battle of the Nile. Ptolemy drowned within the Nile and Arsinoe was exiled to the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. A couple of years later in 41 BC, Arsinoe was executed on the steps of the identical temple, on the orders of one other of her sister’s lover Mark Antony.

Ptolemy XIV was Cleopatra’s youngest sibling who was appointed Pharaoh in 47 BC after the demise of Ptolemy XIII. Though Cleopatra was married to him she continued to behave because of the lover of the Roman dictator Caesar.

It was maybe the assassination of Caesar in 44 BC in Rome that hurried Ptolemy XIV’s demise. Cleopatra presumably poisoned him, with aconite. Ptolemy XIV was changed by Ptolemy XV Caesar, higher often known as Caesarion, who was Cleopatra’s love youngster with Caesar.

Now along with her toddler youngster was co-regent, Cleopatra’s place in Egypt was safer than ever and she or he supposed to assist her youngster because the successor of his father.

21. In Order to Fund Her Treasury, Cleopatra Stole Gold from Alexander the Great’s Grave

Alexander the Great’s tomb was positioned in Alexandria, and it was a significant vacationer attraction into late antiquity (whether or not or not the king was really buried in a large vat of honey). The first Ptolemaic king had introduced it there, however, successive generations looted Alex’s grave.

Cleopatra was no completely different. After the Battle of Actium that just about worn out her forces, Cleo raided Alexander’s mausoleum and her personal ancestors’ resting locations to get treasured metals to fund her persevering with marketing campaign towards Rome.

She took the gold from Alex’s grave, specifically, for her mission. Ironically, it wasn’t till the Roman Octavian, Cleopatra’s mortal enemy, conquered Alexandria that Alexander obtained a gold crown once more.

22. Beauty With Brains!

Talk of Cleopatra and the first factor that strikes the thoughts is a fascinating empress. Often cited as an epitome of magnificence, Cleopatra used her sex enchantment as a political weapon to win over her enemies. But, Cleopatra wasn’t all stunning and charming solely – in truth, she was extraordinarily intelligent.

A multilingual, Cleopatra spoke in a dozen languages. What’s more, she was extremely educated in arithmetic, philosophy, oratory, and astronomy. It was this lethal mixture of irresistible appeal and scholarly intelligence that made her a magnetic personality!

23. She was residing with Caesar in Rome when he was assassinated

Cleopatra is thought to have joined Julius Caesar in Rome someplace in 46 B.C., the place she was lodged in Caesar’s personal villa past the Tiber River.

At this time Caesar awarded each Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV the authorized standing of “friend and ally of the Roman people”, and will have additionally established Cleopatra’s golden statue in the Temple of Genetrix.

Cleopatra was in Rome when Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C. She extended her keep within the useless hope that Caesarion, her son and lovechild with Caesar, can be acknowledged as Caesar’s inheritor, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

Disclosure of Caesar’s will and declaration of his grandnephew Octavian as the main inheritor left her dejected and she or he quickly departed for Egypt.

24. Cleopatra Made Herself a Goddess

In true Egyptian style, Cleopatra declared herself a goddess. Although her Ptolemaic predecessors had accomplished the identical, usually assuming the roles of Greek deities, she went one step additional and echoed earlier Ptolemaic queens by associating herself with Isis, the mom goddess. Isis was the mom of Horus, the first pharaoh-god of Egypt.

By making herself Isis incarnate, Cleopatra was declaring she was the divine mom and protectress of the Two Lands and her people. She additionally tied herself to her topics and solidified her rule. Like Isis and different mortal queens, Cleopatra married her brother(s).

She wore sacred robes at a competition and had herself portrayed as Isis in statuary. She was dubbed “Nea Isis,” or “new Isis.” In truth, her consort Mark Antony grew to become Osiris in these depictions, to point out {that a} divine pair was as soon as once more ruling Egypt.

25. She Journeyed to Rome with Her Illegitimate Son to Put Pressure on Caesar

Our fave queen visited Rome twice: in 46 and 44 BC. The Romans noticed her as a scandalous international temptress (arriving along with her incestuous brother-husband) who was of their city to seduce their leader, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

She stayed at considered one of Caesar’s villas exterior the instant city, alongside along with her son by Caesar, little Caesarion. Perhaps she was not-so-subtly hinting that her child needs to be Julius’s inheritor?

Some have urged Cleopatra was simply hanging out in Rome on Caesar’s dime, however, that was removed from the case. In actuality, she was working to make alliances and save her personal throne back house; she’d realized from her father’s instance that rulers of impartial kingdoms wanted Roman assistance to thrive. This was a state go to, not a pleasurable one.

26. So Much for Love!

When Cleopatra set forth to satisfy Mark Antony, her entry was something however magnificently grandeur! Dressed as Aphrodite, or Goddess of Love, she, with all her appeal and oomph, rode down the Nile on a golden barge with a purple sail.

Her attendants wearing Cupid costumes fanned her. Antony, who thought of himself as Bacchus, or God of Wine and Partying, was bemused on the sight.

Legend has it that Aphrodite as soon as had an affair with Bacchus. Cashing on it, Cleopatra performed her playing cards effectively and impressed Antony. The two quickly fell in love with one another, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

27. She Was The Product Of Incest

While this assertion usually makes us really feel uneasy right now, it was utterly regular throughout Cleopatra’s life. In truth, Cleopatra’s ancestors had been marrying their very own family for generations.

Part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom’s rule was to maintain the bloodline pure and the one means to do that, they believed, was to marry one another. Therefore, Cleopatra’s parents have been brother and sister and she or he went on to marry each of her brothers.

28. Cleopatra styled herself as the brand new Isis

Isis was one of many main goddesses of Ancient Egypt and was seen each as a Divine Mother and the Protector of the Dead, information, and protector from the womb to tomb.

Isis was married to Osiris, her sibling and the god of the afterlife. In the 1st century BC, the occasions of Cleopatra, Osiris, and Isis have been extremely popular and broadly worshiped amongst Egyptian deities.

Isis by this time had absorbed traits from many different goddesses. Perhaps out of perception or fascination or simply for political causes, Cleopatra VII styled herself as the brand new Isis.

She dressed up because the depictions of Isis, behaved like a goddess, pointed on the sacred historical prophecies foretelling of a brand new age that will daybreak below the rule of Cleopatra-Isis, and, on this process, she mesmerized the Hellenistic world.

29. She had a relationship with the {powerful} Roman basic, Mark Antony

The Second Triumvirate of Mark Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus was fashioned in Rome in 43 B.C. to revive order within the Republic and convey Caesar’s assassins to justice, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

This led to the emergence of two main energy teams inside Rome; Octavian had an effect over the western and Mark Antony over the eastern half of the Roman Republic. In 41 B.C., Antony had established his headquarters in Tarsos.

After ignoring a lot of his summonses, Cleopatra lastly sailed up the Kydnos River to Tarsos internet hosting Antony and his officers to lavish banquets on board the ship and coming into right into a relationship with him.

Cleopatra wanted an ally in Antony to guard her crown and preserve Egypt’s independence whereas Antony wanted the nation’s riches and assets to additional his ambition.

It is famous that they have been very keen on one another’s firm and spent the winter of 41-40 B.C. residing a lifetime of leisure in Egypt, even forming their very own consuming society often known as the “Inimitable Livers.”

In 40 B.C., Cleopatra delivered twins, a boy named Alexander Helios and a woman named Cleopatra Selene II, each of whom Antony acknowledged as his youngsters. They would have one other son Ptolemy Philadelphus in 36 BC.

30. Cleopatra Was Not An Egyptian

Even although Cleopatra was an Egyptian Pharaoh, she was not really an Egyptian. She was born in Egypt, nevertheless, her ancestor and founding father of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, was from Greece.

Ptolemy I Soter took over as an Egyptian ruler after Alexander the Great’s demise in 323 B.C. And as a result of Cleopatra’s ancestors usually married into the family, most of her bloodline was Greek. However, this didn’t maintain Cleopatra from adapting Egyptian customs, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

31. No One Is Sure How Cleopatra Killed Herself

Anthony and Cleopatra each killed themselves in 30 B.C. While we all know that Anthony stabbed himself, it was believed that Cleopatra killed herself by getting bit by a toxic cobra or one other kind of snake.

However, historians have debated this subject for hundreds of years as some really feel that she didn’t actually die from a snake chunk. On top of this, it’s believed that Cleopatra stored some uncommon poison hidden. This has led some people to imagine that she drank this poison, which killed her.

32. Mixed Identity!

Yes, as astounding as it could appear to be, Cleopatra wasn’t an Egyptian. If you hint at the roots of Cleopatra’s existence, you’d be shocked to know that she was in truth, a Macedonian Greek.

When Ptolemy took over the reins of Egypt after Alexander’s demise, he set a dynasty of Greek-speaking rulers who weren’t ethnically Egyptian. Having stated that Cleopatra nevertheless, was the first to embrace historical Egyptian tradition!

What’s more, she grew to become the first of the Ptolemaic line to study the Egyptian language as effectively, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

33. Preserving Bloodline!

Do you recognize that within the historical period, royal members of the family usually married their very own family members to protect the purity of their bloodline?

Yes, as unusual as it could appear to be, however, it’s true. Members of the Ptolemaic dynasty too tied the nuptials with their very own cousins and siblings. It is probably going that Cleopatra’s parents have been really brother and sister. Following the family custom, Cleopatra too married her two actual adolescent brothers.

34. Unlike Her Greek Ancestors, Cleopatra Learned Egyptian and May Have Been Part of Egyptian

The Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, based by Pharaoh Ptolemy I Soter (“Savior”), was of primarily Macedonian Greek descent. Greek-born Ptolemy was considered one of Alexander the Great’s BFFs.

After Alexander’s demise, Ptolemy and Alexander’s different generals carved up his empire; Ptolemy obtained Egypt, together with a couple of different, tinier territories. He stored his Greek name however modeled himself after Egyptian rulers by making himself pharaoh.

His successors went one additional by marrying their siblings, a trademark of many historical kings, Egyptians specifically. So quite a lot of Cleopatra’s family was Macedonian Greek and never native Egyptian.

But not like her predecessors, Cleo really took the time to study the Egyptian language, which means she might successfully talk along with her topics. She may very well have been of part-Egyptian descent herself.

Her dad, Ptolemy XII, was principally Greek, however, we don’t know the id of both his personal mom or Cleopatra’s mom. Perhaps Cleo’s grandmother or mom was Egyptian and instilled a love of their native nation within the younger princess.

35. She Helped Murder Three Of Her Own Siblings

While this thought might sound horrible to most of us, it was regular all through the Ptolemy Kingdom. Her husband Ptolemy XIII was additionally her older brother.

When Cleopatra needed the throne for herself, he kicked her out of Egypt. She got here back with the assistance of Julius Caesar and whereas preventing in a battle towards her brother for the crown, helped drown him within the Nile River.

Not too long after that, she had her youthful brother, Ptolemy XIV, murdered so as to make her son co-ruler. After this, Cleopatra had a hand in killing her sister, Arsinoe, as she felt that Arsinoe was making an attempt to take the throne.

36. Her Two Sisters Were Both Failed Queens (And Cleopatra Had One of Them Killed)

In addition to her brother-husbands, Cleopatra had two sisters, Berenice IV and Arsinoe IV. Berenice was the oldest of the 5 siblings, and, when her father determined to run away to Rome for a bit, she made herself queen in his absence in 58 BC (maybe after one other mysterious relative took the throne).

Berenice married a cousin named Seleucus to solidify her declare of the throne, however, he was killed within a week of the marriage, and a second marriage didn’t fare a lot better. When her dad got to her house, he had Daughter Dearest executed in 56 BC.

Cleopatra’s little sister, Arsinoe, was simply as bold as the remainder of her family. When Caesar got here to Egypt, he gave Arsinoe the island of Cyprus to rule as her personal (in name solely, in all probability).

Eager for energy, Arsinoe and her tutor garnered the assist of a local Egyptian military, who named her queen in 48 BC. But the Romans defeated them, and Arsinoe was despatched to Rome in chains as a logo of Caesar’s triumph. In 41 BC, Cleopatra satisfied Antony to execute her little sis.

37. Inimitable Livers!

Drinking golf equipment could also be a standard phenomenon right now but it surely was a rarity up to now. Braving all odds, Cleopatra began a consuming membership with Roman General Mark Antony, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

Both of them have been depending on one another – whereas she wanted him to guard Egypt’s independence, he wanted entry to Egypt’s riches and assets.

As such to spend more time collectively, Cleopatra and Antony began a consuming membership ‘Inimitable Livers’ that allowed them nightly feasts and wine-binges. They even performed elaborate video games and contests, their favorite being taking part in pranks on the native residents of Alexandria.

38. In The Name of Death!

A celebrated Egyptian leader, Cleopatra’s demise has been a subject of a lot of dialogue. While it’s principally believed that she enticed a venomous asp to chunk her in order to finish her life, historians argue towards it. Plutarch claims that she hid a lethal poison in considered one of her combs and used the identical to finish her life.

More latest historians declare that she used a pin dipped in toxic venom and stabbed herself with it. Cleopatra actually lived a dramatic life, until the tip. And what’s even more engaging is the truth that her tomb stays undiscovered at the same time as you learn this right now. For all her wondrous fame, Cleopatra stays undiscovered!

39. She Committed Suicide Either by Snakebite or a Fatal Opium Cocktail

The story goes that, after Cleopatra and Antony lost every part, Cleo dedicated suicide by having a snake chunk her. Plutarch claims that she hid an asp in a basket of figs and let it nibble on her.

He admits, although, that “the truth of the matter no one knows; for it was also said that she carried about poison in a hollow comb and kept the comb hidden in her hair, and yet neither spot nor other sign of poison broke out upon her body.”

Or maybe Cleopatra didn’t die by snakebite, however, as a substitute, she downed a deadly cocktail. What would her beverage have contained? Perhaps opium, hemlock (what Socrates used to kill himself), and lethal wolfsbane.

40. Cleopatra Had Four Kids – And One of Her Descendants May Have Been Another Rebel Queen

Cleopatra did her dynastic responsibility and had 4 heirs to the Ptolemaic throne, however, none of them succeeded her after her demise. What occurred to her youngsters? Her eldest, Ptolemy Caesarion (“Little Caesar”), was her child by Julius Caesar, though some Roman authorities doubted his paternity.

Before Cleopatra’s demise, she despatched Caesarion into exile in India with a great deal of cash to assist himself, however, he hesitated on the best way and turned back, and Caesar’s adopted son/great-nephew, Octavian, obtained to Caesarion and killed him.

Cleo’s three youthful youngsters have been sired by her second Roman lover, Mark Antony. They have been twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene (named after the Greek gods of the solar and moon) and Ptolemy Philadelphus.

Each obtained their very own realm to rule, however Philadelphus and Helios probably died, whether or not naturally or as a result of foul play, after they have been dropped at Rome and below Octavian’s watchful eye, interesting facts about Cleopatra.

But Cleopatra Selene had a unique destiny. She was married to Juba, the Roman shopper king of Mauretania in North Africa. Her son was later killed by his cousin, the Roman emperor Caligula.

He might have had heirs, nevertheless, together with one other great insurgent towards Rome: Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra in Syria.