One of the most popular historical figures to constantly be showcased in the cinema, theater, books and TV is Cleopatra. There is no denying that Cleopatra had an incredibly interesting life and that her story is not only fantastic, but full of intrigue, sorrow and passion. While many that are enthralled with Cleopatra are usually interested in her historic love affairs with some of the great men in history, there has been much research done on Cleopatra recently which has uncovered incredible facts about her life. If you are fascinated with Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile, you will definitely love the article that Smithsonian Magazine is currently offering at their website.
Cleopatra: Seductress of the Ages
One of the reasons that many are fascinated with Cleopatra is that she seduced some of the most powerful men in the history of the world. She was born to the pharaoh of Egypt Ptolemy XII. Along with her brother, Ptolemy XIII she jointly shared the throne. In fact, she was legally married to her brother, however a power struggle ensued that lasted for years. Ultimately, her brother died and she became the sole ruler of Egypt. However, in these days, it was important to align yourself politically with a ruler that would offer protection and since Cleopatra had many enemies and those that would like to steal power from her, she required one of the strongest alliances available.
She infamously involved herself with Julius Caesar and even had a child with him to ensure that the throne of Egypt was safe in her hands. Cleopatra was very politically savvy and did not let anything stand in her way and power. In fact, after coming to sole power after the death of Ptolemy XIII, she had her remaining brother and sister killed so that no one would contest the throne.
While Julius Caesar proved a very important alliance, he was murdered and forced her to find another great man and strong ruler to protect her empire. The man that she finally fell in love with was Marc Antony. Eventually Cleopatra would have two kids with him and their love affair would be known for its passion throughout the ages.
Read More About Cleopatra: The Queen of the Nile
To read more about Cleopatra, her life and personality, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an insightful article. It is available at their main website which you can visit by following the link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com
