For many, the name Cleopatra brings up images of an incredibly beautiful queen, a formidable and savvy power broker and a seducer of the most powerful men in the world. While many of these images have some truth to them, the real life of Cleopatra was far different than what is commonly portrayed in movies and culture today. For those that are interested in who the real Cleopatra was, the Smithsonian Magazine has a fascinating article on the subject.
Cleopatra: Queen of Egypt
Cleopatra was queen of Egypt, as well as sharing the throne with her husband- which was her brother, however after power disputes, Cleopatra sought out political alliance to rid her brother of the throne and make here sole leader of Egypt. Once this political alliance succeeded, she didn’t let any other member of her family have an opportunity to control her thrown and murdered both her brother and sister.
Political Alliances
While Cleopatra relied on political alliances to keep her in power, she was dealt an almost deadly blow when one of her political allies Julius Caesar was murdered. This forced her to seduce Mark Antony, which she subsequently had a passionate loving relationship with and two children. To read about the real life of Cleopatra, visit the Smithsonian Magazine’s main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/
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