Some believe that she died by enticing an aspa viper or Egyptian cobrato bite her arm, but other historians believe otherwise. A royal name in ancient Egypt that's never quite made it to the modern world, though nickname Cleo is widely used. One such writer is famous playwright George Bernard Shaw, whose 1901 Caesar and Cleopatra chronicles the relationship of the two lovers. This is what, 70 years later, we would call part of #MeToo, but back in the late . AmazingSpiderMan1. When Cleopatra was 14, tragedy struck. . Like most men, women, and even children of Egypt at the time, Cleopatra shaved her head. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. As we mentioned earlier, while in Egypt, Cleopatra had fancied herself the reincarnation of the Greek goddess Isis. As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts. Cleopatra and Antonys relationship had its political advantages. When unrolled, she charmed Caesar and the two became allies, leading to her retaking the Egyptian throne. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Her mother died under mysterious circumstances. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. Thanks for your help! Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. The description of this procession oozes with amazement at the extraordinary spectacle. Cleopatra not only spoke Greek and Egyptian. Reportedly, she was fastidious about the way she looked and dipped into the nations treasury to maintain her grooming habits and lavish lifestyle. Now, as Mark Antony's mistress, Cleopatra was a very important political target in Rome for Octavian's faction when they had their contest for control of Rome's territories. She personally led her fleet of over a dozen ships alongside Antonys own. The pair became lovers in 41 BC and returned to Alexandria together. ), Read another story from us:The Forgotten Son of Caesar and Cleopatra. It is a useful assemblage of references to womens medicine in antiquity, but has nothing at all to do with Cleopatra. At the time, Caesar was 52 years old, and Cleopatra was 21. John was born in 347 in Antioch, Syria. ; ; ; ; Back, Sack And Crack Wax Dubai; When the two met, sparks flew, and they quickly became lovers. The idea that Cleopatra VII (69-30 BCE), the famous last queen of ancient Egypt, owed her powerful position to her beauty persists."The nose of Cleopatra: if it had been shorter, the whole face of the earth would have changed," the French philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662 CE) ruminated (Penses, 162). But the queen wasnt much of a looker. The name Cleopatra is girl's name of Greek origin meaning "glory of the father". While for Pascal this thought illustrated how something small can change the course . Forgetting his wife, Fulvia, who in Italy was doing her best to maintain her husbands interests against the growing menace of young Octavian, Antony returned to Alexandria, where he treated Cleopatra not as a protected sovereign but as an independent monarch. Al-Masudi in his tenth-century history, Prairies of Gold, records a brilliant subversion of the canonical Roman account. Cleopatra VII, often simply called "Cleopatra," was the last of a series of rulers called the Ptolemies who ruled ancient Egypt for nearly 300 years. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Antony, meanwhile, desired access to Egypts resources. She's officially known as Cleopatra VII Philopater. It was clear to Octavian, watching from Rome, that Antony intended his extended family to rule the civilized world. Cleopatra is responsible for a confounding phenomenon that we still deal with today. One of the most generally accepted stories is that she induced an asp (an Egyptian cobra) to bite her. Call Us Today! She was Cleopatra no.7. Cleopatra ruled an empire that included Egypt . She also possessed a mastery of politics and warfare. A fragment of papyrus excavated from the rubbish dumps of the Egyptian town of Oxyrhynchus gives a precious glimpse of Germanicus visit. After Rome invaded, Cleopatra came up with an ingenious plot to meet Caesarmore on that later. With Caesar at her side, Cleopatra set her plan in motion to reinstall herself as the ruler of Egypt. Generally, she represents the History of ancient Egypt. Going along with her shenanigans, Caesar commissioned a gold statue of Cleopatra which was erected in the temple of Venus in Rome. Who was nicknamed the Golden Mouth? For those keeping tally, she had a hand in the deaths of three of her siblings. Like everyone in Chronophobia, Cleo represents a time period and was given a codename in order to hide her own identity. Octavian has only 400 Roman ships. In Rome, determined excavation in the ground can give us a clue to the character of the ancient city, and to how it changed from the rabbit warrens of the first century BC to the much more impressive (or aggressive) imperial capital of the first century AD. Julius Caesar and Cleopatra meet while Egypt is in the midst of a civil war. He took the name Emperor Augustus, and he carried a statue of her through Romes streets every August in triumph. Share. Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Anyone sailing from Alexandria to Rome in 46 BC (when Cleopatra herself made that journey to visit Julius Caesar) would have felt, to use Schiffs apt comparison, rather as if they were going from eighteenth-century Versailles to eighteenth- century Philadelphia. If the splendor of the show seems almost beyond belief, that is most likely because it is not to be believed. Consider the dramatic way she introduced herself to Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. In order to meet Caesar face to face, in hopes of enticing him over to her side, she had herself smuggled through enemy lines while rolled up in a carpet, which was brought to Caesars private quarters. Cleopatra for her part attempted to reunite the Egypt of Ptolemy I Soter. Though her family lived in Egypt for about three hundred years, Cleopatras roots could be traced back to the Greek Ptolemy I, who served under Alexander the Great. Mark Anthony returned to Egypt with Cleopatra and her father briefly and, even if . But the galaxy of surviving Alexandrian literature includes some of the hymns of Callimachus (not liturgical texts, but fantastically learned, highly crafted poems on the subject of the godsand one of the touchstones of difficult writing in antiquity); the brilliant multivolume epic on Jason and the Argonauts (the Argonautica) by Callimachus pupil and great rival Apollonius; the pastoral idylls of Theocritus, which were the inspiration of Virgils Eclogues and the origin of the whole later tradition of pastoral poetry, through Spenser and Milton to Matthew Arnold and beyond. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Cleopatra now ruled with her infant son, Ptolemy XV Caesar. SPY GAMER. Cleopatra actively influenced Roman politics at a crucial period, and she came to represent, as did no other woman of antiquity, the prototype of the romantic femme fatale. When, at the Battle of Philippi in 42 bce, Caesars assassins were routed, Mark Antony became the heir apparent of Caesars authorityor so it seemed, for Caesars great-nephew and personal heir, Octavian, was but a sickly boy. Though they were forced to flee from Egypt together after Cleopatra was dethroned by her brother Ptolemy XII, Cleopatra and her sister Arsinoe IV had a fraught relationship. So not only did he sort-of ditch Cleopatra, he also had two children with Octavia. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In Cleopatra: A Life Stacy Schiff vividly captures the glamour and larger-than-life reputation of ancient Alexandria. The life of Cleopatra VII, the last monarch of the Ptolemaic dynasty, is even more "mythical" than the story of Alexandria, and the real queen is even harder to excavate than the remains of her capital. Once again, she prepared to take her own life, and this time, she was successful. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp. And this is not to mention a wealth of writing on technology, geography, mathematics, and medicine, some of which now survives only in Arabic translation. Whether Caesar was the father of Caesarion, as his name implies, cannot now be known. But as we know, Cleopatra wasnt interested in sharing the throne with anyone, and one again, the wheels began turning in her mind. Even today, over 2,000 years after her death, Cleopatra remains one of historys most intriguing and memorable women. Yes, thats Ptolemy the brother-lover. Coins showing her face display a somewhat homely woman with a hooked nose. An impressive move, and one that endeared herself to Mark Antony, who fancied himself to be an embodiment of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. There are conflicting reports of what happened next, but one thing is for certain: Cleopatra was determined to die by her own hand. 40-30 BCE. Here are 46 dazzling facts about Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile. For a few years, he cloistered himself in a damp cave . We want our readers to trust us. Antony helped her to protect her crown, while Cleopatra provided him access to Egypts riches and resources. Hollywood has made no less than four worshipful big-screen movies and Stacy Schiff's biography, Cleopatra: A Life, made The New York Times Best Seller list not too long ago not to mention the number of women who don kohl eyes and trinkets each year to attend Halloween bashes as the . Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester. Shed been known for her penchant for poison, so its generally agreed upon that it played a role, with one rumor claiming shed poisoned herself. Cleopatra not only adopted the Egyptian religion and worshiped traditional Egyptian gods, she actually believed she was one of them. We do not know. Named after his mother, I guess. In one of Antony and Cleopatras elaborate contests, she bet him that she could throw the most expensive dinner in history. Many of Cleopatras ancestors partnered with cousins or siblings, and its likely that her own parents were brother and sister. A member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was a descendant of its founder Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great. Antony, who equated himself with the god Dionysus, was captivated. Why, its because she was actually Greek. In addition to the affair setting tongues wagging, Cleopatra became a fashion and beauty icon amongst Roman women. This isn't to suggest that the . However, she wasnt just a seductress. Born: c69 BC Died: 30 BC Reigned: She assumed control of Egypt in 51 BC after the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, intially co-ruling with her brother XIII. This was seen amongst many Romans as sacrilege, which didnt improve Cleopatras position. In it, he complains about his long sea journey and the fact that he has been torn from the embrace of my father and grandma and mother and brothers and sisters and children and intimate friends (a rather cozier view of imperial family life than Tacitus offersand especially striking when you recall that his grandma was the notoriously scheming empress Livia). Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers and spent the winter besieged in Alexandria. Ancient embalmers likely placed the tongue-shaped, gold foil amulet in the deceased's mouth to ensure they could speak in the afterlife. Ptolemy XII Auletes was the man whose glory she inherited! Written by Christian Edwards, CNN. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]). His reign, however, didn't last long. So, she married himafter all, it had worked with the last brother. Cleopatra Quotes and Sayings - Page 1 "All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise." "Fool! For 300 years, her family spoke only Greek, so court documents, including the Rosetta stone, were bilingualwritten in both in Greek and Egyptian. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. She would go on to romance both men, but the relationships were as much about strategic maneuvering on both sides as they were about lust. She was not going to allow that to happen to her. Author of. Were always looking for your input! Caesar sought money for repayment of the debts incurred by Cleopatras father, Auletes, as he struggled to retain his throne. Antony had already left Alexandria to return to Italy, where he was forced to conclude a temporary settlement with Octavian. In 47 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to his son, Ptolemy Caesar, who was nicknamed Caesarion, or little Caesar. And now I want pizza. Receive our Weekly Newsletter. As for the fragmentary, difficult, and disputed archaeology of Alexandria, it continues to produce new theories on the possible site of her palace or her tomb, each one as implausible (and newsworthy) as the last. Cleopatra, now married to her brother Ptolemy XIV, was restored to her throne. They were buried together, as both of them had wished, and with them was buried the Roman Republic. Nevertheless, in 34 bce Antony celebrated a triumphal return to Alexandria. In 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of conspirators on the steps of the Senate. cleopatra nickname golden mouth. Cleopatra, who reigned as queen of Egypt during the 1st century B.C., is one of the most famous female rulers in history. Cleopatra's life was replete with drama, so it makes sense that writers would be drawn to it. Cleopatra and Mark Antony had three sons together. In fact, the historian Plutarch wrote that her looks were neither incomparable or striking. We have a detailed account of this, originally written by a historian about a hundred years after the event, now surviving only as a quotation in a vast literary encyclopedia (Deipnosophistae, or Philosophers at Dinner) compiled at the end of the second century AD by Athenaeus, who himself came from a town near Alexandria. While it is widely accepted that Antony fatally stabbed himself in the stomach, Cleopatras method of suicide is a topic of debate. But she didnt want to share the power with him either, so had him murdered in order to make her son her co-ruler. A sculpture of the Roman emperor Julius Caesar near the old orangery in the public Lazienki Park, Warsaw. komradio lastbil motorola; grs under protest webbkryss. This was the only province of the Roman Empire to which such travel restrictions applied. This so-called Berlin Cleopatra depicts her wearing a royal diadem (headbandlike crown). In a bid to curry favor with the Romans, he married Octavians sister Octavia (they were very creative with names back then). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Just because Cleopatra and Mark Antony were the life of the party doesnt mean they didnt have their fair share of problems. But unlike the rest of the Ptolemaic family, the young queen embraced many of Egypts ancient customs and was the first ruler to learn the Egyptian language. They had another son they named Ptolemy Philadelphus. Maybe its the power, or the racy love life, or her striking looks (bangs, after all, are not easy to carry off). But the real reason, Tacitus insists, was sight-seeingfor the monuments of the Egyptian pharaohs, already thousands of years old in 19 AD, were almost as much an attraction to Roman visitors as they are to modern tourists. Learn how Cleopatra's relationship with Caesar and Mark Anthony brought the downfall of Egypt. More than a little annoying, since shed already been working alongside her father for years, but that wasnt the worst part. She was even something of a feminist, giving Egyptian women rights, unlike other women of the day. After leaving Egypt for Rome, she allied herself with Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. 2010-11-19 09:45:44. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII (Auletes), a descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Greats generals. She wore the hairstyle of her Greek ancestors, with her hair braided into a bun. One particularly puzzling case is a famous procession in honor of the god Dionysus, sponsored in the early third century BC by one of Cleopatras predecessors on the throne, Ptolemy II Philadelphus (sister-lover). According to lore, Cleopatra and Mark Antony enjoyed dressing up in disguise and wandering Rome while playing pranks on its unwitting citizens. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cleopatra-queen-of-Egypt, Jewish Virtual Library - Biography of Cleopatra, LiveScience - Cleopatra: Facts and Biography, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Biography of Cleopatra VII, Cleopatra - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Cleopatra - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Some claim it was by means of an asp, the symbol of divine royalty. Make no mistake: This was one smart cookie. But her honest profession of ignorance is the prologue to several paragraphs on what birthing procedures and infant care would have been like at the time (including cutting the umbilical cord with an obsidian knife and the qualities of midwives)and then on whether Cleopatra would have had access to reliable contraception had she so chosen. another younger brother, this one named Ptolemy XIV. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Cleopatra VII: a biography. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Want to advertise with us? What is Cleopatra famous quote? This caused a massive scandal, not only because of its heinous nature, but also because it was a gross violation of temple rules. vparts led konvertering; May 28, 2022 . Roman reinforcements arrived the following spring, and Ptolemy XIII fled and drowned in the Nile. Cleopatra began to prepare her son Caesarion to become the sole ruler of Egypt, and planned to sail to a foreign port and away from all the scandal and violence that had punctuated her reignbut it wasnt meant to be. What was a nickname for Cleopatra? She was 39 and had been a queen for 22 years and Antonys partner for 11. Her most recent book is SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. Cleopatra by John William Waterhouse, 1888. In order to preserve the purity of their bloodline and to consolidate power, royals of the Ptolemaic dynasty married within the family. Antony needed Cleopatras financial support for his postponed Parthian campaign; in return, Cleopatra requested the return of much of Egypts eastern empire, including large portions of Syria and Lebanon and even the rich balsam groves of Jericho. Schiffs problem lies more in the nature of the project that she has set herself: namely to write the biography of an ancient character as if it were possible to tell a reasonably reliable story from cradle to grave (on the model of her earlier excellent studies of Antoine de Saint-Exupry and Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov). One of its most famous librarians, in the early third century BC, was the poet Callimachus, originally from Cyrene (in modern Libya). The era of the Pharaohs was almost incomprehensibly longthe first dynasty of Egypt began in 3100 BCover 5,000 years ago. The name Cleopatra has become synonymous with exotic beauty and allure, but the real Cleopatras beauty was further down the list of her charms. pizzeria storgatan 27 borgholm; why does grapefruit taste like soap; nome astratto di vedere It was a horrible mistake. Cleopatra and Antony famously took their own lives in 30 BCE after they lost the famous naval battle at Actium to Octavians forces. golden nickname steam. But, that's not true. But these modern versions draw on an ancient mythology that goes back ultimately to the propaganda campaigns of the emperor Augustus, whose own reign was founded on the defeat of the Egyptian Cleopatra (in truth she was, almost certainly, ethnically Greek) and Mark Antony. A group of around 60 men quickly mobbed the dictator of Rome. urban outfitters germany. As per custom, she was then forced to marry her younger brother. Why would an Egyptian queen bear a Greek name, you ask? Cleopatra, (Greek: Famous in Her Father) in full Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (Cleopatra the Father-Loving Goddess), (born 70/69 bcedied August 30 bce, Alexandria), Egyptian queen, famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar and later as the wife of Mark Antony. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. In Alexandria we must rely on heroic archaeology under water. This information is drawn from any ancient source that can conveniently be brought into the picture, all jumbled together: the second-century-AD doctor Soranus, who provides most of the information we have about ancient obstetrics (including the detail of the obsidian), a papyrus letter from five centuries earlier (on what to look for in a midwife), and a considerable variety of writers on the principles and practice of contraception, from the Hippocratic corpus to the Roman satirist Juvenal. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Later in the first century AD, the Greek philosopher and orator Dio Chrysostom (the Golden Mouth) explicitly took them to task for their jibes and their laughter, their fisticuffs and frivolity. Yes, Cleopatra has been portrayed by some of the most gorgeous women in Hollywood (Vivian Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor among them). Shakespeare's tragedy Antony and Cleopatra (1606) tells the story of her life. After he ordered the execution of Pompey, one of Julius Caesars Roman political enemies, in front of Pompeys own wife and children, Caesar, then ruler of Rome, was absolutely enraged. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. VisitMy Modern Met Media. Thats not to say she wasnt irresistible in her own way. Cleopatra realized that she needed Roman support, or, more specifically, Caesars support, if she was to regain her throne. Fearing Arsinoe was plotting to take over the throne herself, Cleopatra had Arsinoe assassinated on the steps of a temple in Rome. Ptolemy XIIIs reign and life ended when he drowned in the Nile River during a battle with Cleopatras and Caesars army. Cleopatra Facts. While Cleopatra was born in Egypt, she traced her family origins to Macedonian Greece and Ptolemy I . According to the philosopher, Plutarch, Cleopatra didn't have outstanding beauty the way she's often portrayed in movies. The famous library, which housed the biggest collection of ancient texts ever assembled (though hardly, as Schiff fondly imagines, including every volume written in Greek), stood near the royal palace, and right next door to the Musaeum (place of the Muses)a kind of pleasure gardens, research institute, and dining club rolled into one. New name created. as the people around her would soon find out. The name Cleopatra (in Greek ) means she who comes from glorious father.. Archaeologists have found a 2,000-year-old mummy with a gold tongue at an ancient Egyptian site called Taposiris Magna. Not everyone believed her. Following the war, Cleopatra remarried her other younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. free fire nickname golden. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. February 11, 2021. cleopatra nickname golden mouth. Vast, rich, fertile, and unstable, it offered a potential power base for rival claimants to the throne. But there was more to Cleopatra than kohl eyeliner, milk and honey baths, and henna tats. Cleopatra was never one to be casual about anything. A propaganda war erupted. Antonywho considered himself the embodiment of the Greek god Dionysuswas instantly charmed and the pair later married. In 33 BC, Rome declared war on Egypt. Corrections? Indeed, in 53 BC, Cleopatra had fled . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Warren William, as Julius Caesar, and Claudette Colbert in Cleopatra, 1934. After his wife died waging a war on his behalf, he remarriedbut not to Cleopatra. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]). According to the historian Tacitus, the ostensible purpose of this imperial visit was to relieve the famine then afflicting the country (which he did by simply opening up some granaries where grain was stored). We know as little of the actual birth as we do of the intimacy that preceded it, she writes. She became queen on the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in 51 bce and ruled successively with her two . But this much is clear: Cleopatra is one historical figure that we just can't see to get enough of. Cleopatra is often portrayed as a femme fatale due to her romantic relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]). Cleopatra entered her tomb and put her plan in motion. This is partly because, despite some sharp flashes of insight, her grip on the history, culture, and law of the Greco-Roman world is not always as firm as it might be. Cleopatra buried Antony and then committed suicide. Where on earth did she get the idea, for example, that Roman women in the first century BC had the same legal rights aschickens? (July 2017). Cleopatra had won, and was the ruler of Egypt, but it wasnt enough for heras the people around her would soon find out. 1. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Ouch, man. Some believe she pricked herself with a pin dipped into a lethal ointment. German historian Christoph Schaefer has offered yet another theory: The queen may have used a potent mixture of opium, hemlock, and wolfsbane a potion likely tested on a few unfortunate souls to ensure it was pain-free. In June 47 bce she gave birth to Ptolemy Caesar (known to the people of Alexandria as Caesarion, or little Caesar). Updates? But it is worth observing that the English historian Adrian Goldsworthy in his recent double biography Antony and Cleopatra reached precisely the opposite conclusionthat she was an unimportant sideshow in Roman power struggles that she could hardly influence, the last in the line of a once glorious but now very faded dynastyon exactly the same evidence. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Most probably, Caesarion was born in June 47 BC, in . Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra with Richard Burton as Marc Anthony in 1963's "Cleopatra." Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group Editorial/Getty Images. Dressed in her finest, Cleopatra arranged to be smuggled past the Roman guards and into the palace rolled inside of a rug. At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. nickname golden state; cleopatra nickname golden mouth; california nickname golden state; golden retriever nickname; . After an unremarkable first course, Antony mocked her attempt. Its generally agreed upon that Cleopatra was responsible for his death, and that she poisoned himwhich seemed like something of a habit for her. which seemed like something of a habit for her. After Cleopatras father died, she and her younger brother (Ptolemy XIII) were appointed as joint rulers. nickname golden state residents rarely use. Several of the most renowned poets of his reign chimed in enthusiastically with the official Augustan line on this demented queenwith her polluted mob of retainers (as Horace put it in a famous poem on her defeat. Cleopatra was known to conceal a deadly poison in one of her hair combs, and many scholars now suspect she used a pin dipped in some form of a potent toxin to end her own life. Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in 1969, 2,038 years after the birth of Cleopatra. Cleopatra is often portrayed as an elegant temptress in art and film, but there's evidence that she wasn't as physically striking as you might think. Octavian told her hed keep her alive, but that was all he said. Cleopatras reign would have been a tough act to follow, and as it happened, no one did. Antony, now controller of Romes eastern territories, sent for Cleopatra so that she might explain her role in the aftermath of Caesars assassination. With this, Cleopatra knew what she had to do, and began to form her devious plan. When they started attacking him, Caesar tried to flee, but, blinded by his own blood, he tripped and fell. Cleopatra was smeared by Octavian as a scheming seductress who had used her feminine wiles to entrap one-third of the Triumvirate. Author, speaker, filmmaker. However, he did say that it was the whole packageher wit, her charm, and (again, according to Plutarch) sweetness in the tones of her voice that made her so irresistible to everyone. But her summary of the atmosphere in Rome after the assassination of Julius Caesar (a lively market opened for defamation and self-justification. Cleopatra the Alchemist (Greek: ; fl. Coin portraits of Cleopatra show a countenance alive rather than beautiful, with a sensitive mouth, firm chin, liquid eyes, broad forehead, and prominent nose. There's something about the family structure that encourages secrets. A royal name in ancient Egypt that's never quite made it to the modern world, though nickname Cleo is widely used.