Queen of Egypt...Cleopatra
Cleopatra Selene Philopator
LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra_VII_of_Egypt
LIFE
Egypt was lucky
to have such a powerful and intelligent woman. Cleopatra is regarded in history as an
Alchemist, Chemist and Philosopher. Cleopatra VII was born in 69 BC becoming
an icon in her lifetime and a
legend after her death. Cleopatra was born into a rich and
legendary
family line. She was already placed in a pristine environment to
dominate a male, testosterone driven time period. Her father was
Egypt's pharaoh, Ptolemy XII, or sometimes called, the "Flute-Player."
Cleopatra had three sisters and two brothers. When Cleopatra's father
died in 51 BC, she was his oldest daughter at this time. It was not
taboo in Egyptian culture to marry your brother when a place to become
ruler is vacant. In turn, Cleopatra was 17 or 18 when she married her
brother Ptolemy XIII, who was 12 at the time. Due to the major
differences in age, Cleopatra was able to control her brother and rule
alone. This is why she is attributed in history as the, "Queen of
Egypt."
Rise to POWER
Rise to POWER
Now, one may ask. In this time
period, how is it that
a woman was in such a place of power? We have been led to believe by
way of Hollywood and Shakespeare that Cleopatra was a "sex kitten" and
a "fiercer soul, unhinged by love for Mark Antony." We think of
Cleopatra as a woman "so beautiful she turned the very air around her
sick with desire, a tragic figure whose bared bosom made an asp gasp
when she died for love." Cleopatra is said to have actually been far
from beautiful. She is pictured on ancient coins with a long hooked
nose and masculine features, but she was a very seductive woman. In
addition to seduction, she was very intelligent. With this combination
she was loved by her people and was quickly placed inthe realm of
power. She spoke nine
different languages, one being Egyptian. She is accredited with being
the first Ptolemy pharaoh who could actually speak it. Maybe Cleopatra
was a male in a disguise, to look like a woman, or maybe Cleopatra was
a
man with very feminine qualities. How did a woman become such a
powerful and influential figure in our history?
Cleopatra's life can be summed into three words, love, power and intelligence. Although Cleopatra was intelligent and in a place of power with her husband (brother) so young, it did not last forever. At one point the generals' could not control her and made the decision to exile her putting her brother/husband, Ptolemy XIII the pharaoh of Egypt. While in exile Cleopatra must have been conjuring up a scheme to return herself into a position of power. Her plan began after she met Julius Caesar. Caesar’s army was larger and stronger than the Egyptians. This gave Cleopatra her chance to move in on Caesar. She knew that Caesar could return her to power. By way of her seductive and persuasive charm, she delivered herself to Caesar as a gift, a very "sexy" gift. Cleopatra got her way. The two became lovers and Caesar invaded and killed those who had removed her from her power. Cleopatra made it back into her place of power.
Cleopatra's life can be summed into three words, love, power and intelligence. Although Cleopatra was intelligent and in a place of power with her husband (brother) so young, it did not last forever. At one point the generals' could not control her and made the decision to exile her putting her brother/husband, Ptolemy XIII the pharaoh of Egypt. While in exile Cleopatra must have been conjuring up a scheme to return herself into a position of power. Her plan began after she met Julius Caesar. Caesar’s army was larger and stronger than the Egyptians. This gave Cleopatra her chance to move in on Caesar. She knew that Caesar could return her to power. By way of her seductive and persuasive charm, she delivered herself to Caesar as a gift, a very "sexy" gift. Cleopatra got her way. The two became lovers and Caesar invaded and killed those who had removed her from her power. Cleopatra made it back into her place of power.
In order for Cleopatra to rule as a queen,
she had to have a king. So, she married another brother, Ptolemy XIV.
Cleopatra married her brothers for convenience in order to
maintain her ruling position. All along she was in love with Caesar.
Although Caesar was a very powerful general, he knew he could never
become a pharaoh. Caesar and Cleopatra returned to Rome with a son,
Caesarion. Cleopatra was not welcomed and liked by the Roman people.
Because of his desire for an outsider, Caesar was murdered and
Cleopatra left to return to Egypt. To continue on
with her plan she now had a son, and an heir to the throne. Her son would become pharaoh of Egypt under her direction and guidance. With that, Cleopatra murdered Ptolemy XIV and named Caesarion as the new king.
Cleopatra continued on her quest to return to power both in Egypt and Rome. After the fall of Caesar, Rome was in turmoil. Mark Antony and Octavian were two men of great power competing for control in Rome. Antony asked to meet with Cleopatra, and this gave her the chance she had been waiting for. Cleopatra's visit is described in history of this elaborate and decorated meeting with Antony, which won his heart. This was exactly what she wanted, but did she love him? Even though Antony was married to Octavian's sister, he was so love-struck he did not care. He married Cleopatra, and later they had two children together. This did not settle well with Octavian.
Octavian led an invasion in Egypt. This brought an end to the great love affair of Cleopatra and Antony. Antony committed suicide by way of his sword. When Cleopatra learned of her consequences she may be faced to endure, she locked herself in her chambers. It is documented heavily the love both Cleopatra and Antony had for one another. Shakespeare made a famous play, which is still directed in today's society to educate the public of the true love between Cleopatra and Antony. They both made sacrifices for one another, no matter the stakes to come in the near future. Antony cried out, "Now, Antony, why delay longer? Fate has snatched away your only reason for living," when he was told his beloved Cleopatra was dead. In turn he took his own life, but did die in her arms.
Octavian turned Egypt into a Roman Province. He took Cleopatra and her children as prisoners. Octavian was not a heartless general. He allowed Cleopatra to organize Atony's funeral. Cleopatra had lost all she was determined to have in life, love, power and to see her children rule in a position of power of Egypt. Cleopatra wanted to die. Octavian maintained a close eye on her to not let this happen, but with time her death came to be. By way of suicide and an asp (a poisonous snake), Cleopatra took her own like, thus ending the life of a legend. Her children were never placed in a seat of power. Octavian made sure of that.
CONTRUBUTIONS
with her plan she now had a son, and an heir to the throne. Her son would become pharaoh of Egypt under her direction and guidance. With that, Cleopatra murdered Ptolemy XIV and named Caesarion as the new king.
Cleopatra continued on her quest to return to power both in Egypt and Rome. After the fall of Caesar, Rome was in turmoil. Mark Antony and Octavian were two men of great power competing for control in Rome. Antony asked to meet with Cleopatra, and this gave her the chance she had been waiting for. Cleopatra's visit is described in history of this elaborate and decorated meeting with Antony, which won his heart. This was exactly what she wanted, but did she love him? Even though Antony was married to Octavian's sister, he was so love-struck he did not care. He married Cleopatra, and later they had two children together. This did not settle well with Octavian.
Octavian led an invasion in Egypt. This brought an end to the great love affair of Cleopatra and Antony. Antony committed suicide by way of his sword. When Cleopatra learned of her consequences she may be faced to endure, she locked herself in her chambers. It is documented heavily the love both Cleopatra and Antony had for one another. Shakespeare made a famous play, which is still directed in today's society to educate the public of the true love between Cleopatra and Antony. They both made sacrifices for one another, no matter the stakes to come in the near future. Antony cried out, "Now, Antony, why delay longer? Fate has snatched away your only reason for living," when he was told his beloved Cleopatra was dead. In turn he took his own life, but did die in her arms.
Octavian turned Egypt into a Roman Province. He took Cleopatra and her children as prisoners. Octavian was not a heartless general. He allowed Cleopatra to organize Atony's funeral. Cleopatra had lost all she was determined to have in life, love, power and to see her children rule in a position of power of Egypt. Cleopatra wanted to die. Octavian maintained a close eye on her to not let this happen, but with time her death came to be. By way of suicide and an asp (a poisonous snake), Cleopatra took her own like, thus ending the life of a legend. Her children were never placed in a seat of power. Octavian made sure of that.
CONTRUBUTIONS
Cleopatra lived a great life. Cleopatra
is also known as Cleopatra the Alchemist. Little is known of her
education in the feild, but her work and the work of others after
her, laid most of the groundwork for the evolution in the feild of
science that we call Chemistry. Since little is known of her
involvement in the sciences, what I wanted to focus on was the fact
that she was a woman in extreme power. This was un-heard of during her
time. The idea of a woman in such a high rank of decision making and
power was not going to last long, if any man had anything to do with
it. What do know that Cleopatra was involed in the sciences. Whether or
not we have
exact and/or concrete evidence of this, we know she made important
contributions to the history of science. We can't
go back into
history and interview her about her motives with men and power, but
based
on documentation we do have at this time from history, I can support my
theory. She was smart,
intelligent and knew exactly what she wanted and she would do what it
takes to get what she wanted. This strikes me as odd, because she was
in fact a woman in a time period where women were not to be placed in a
powerful position or to ever be considered a ruler of say Egypt or
Rome. But that is exactly what Cleopatra was at one point in her life,
the "Queen of Egypt." Her relationships with powerful men from our
history were not centered on her lack of love for them. Both Caesar and
Antony created the opportunities for Cleopatra to continue her mission
for power. Cleopatra was loved by her people who were very loyal to
her. Cleopatra was well matured beyond her first years as pharaoh even
with such a precarious environment she was in; she managed to maintain
her dignity, beauty and power. I still say Cleopatra may have
been a man, disguised as a woman...What do you think?
Any Questions and/or Suggestions Please Email Erica Sheldon: erica-sheldon@ouhsc.edu
NOTES:
LINKS
My
PROJECT Page...Any Questions and/or Suggestions Please Email Erica Sheldon: erica-sheldon@ouhsc.edu
NOTES:
Primary Source:
- Berthelot, M. "A Dialogue of Cleopatra and the Philosophers." Collection des Anciens Alchimists Grecs. (Paris), 1888, Vol. 3.
Secondary Sources:
- Barbara Holland. "Cleopatra: What kind of woman was she, anyway?", Smithsonian, Feb97, Issue 11, Vol. 27: 56.
- Cinderella. "Cleopatra, Daughter of the Pharaoh", Royalty.nu The World of Royalty, http://www.royalty.nu/Africa/Egypt/Cleopatra.html. Accessed on October 6, 2006.
- Harvey Ogilvie. The Biological Dictionary of Women in Science. (New York, NY, 2000), Vol.2, pg. 269.
- Sara Gadeken. "Gender, Empire, and Nation in Sara Fielding's "Lives of Cleopatra and Octavia," Studies in English Literature, 1999, Vol. 39:523-538.
--I used the primary source to get a better understanding of how Cleopatra's power made her pertinent to the history of science. The primary source lent that information I took many hours to look for. Most of the resources only talk about her life and triumphs, but not so much about her contributions to the history of science. I summarized bits and peices of the primary source of her scientific knowledge and how by way of her being a woman she was very influential during her time. Of all my secondary sources, none of them are published in professional journals. They provided general information to learn about Cleopatra. Then I used the primary source to tie her relationaship of power to the history of science.
- Berthelot, M. "A Dialogue of Cleopatra and the Philosophers." Collection des Anciens Alchimists Grecs. (Paris), 1888, Vol. 3.
Secondary Sources:
- Barbara Holland. "Cleopatra: What kind of woman was she, anyway?", Smithsonian, Feb97, Issue 11, Vol. 27: 56.
- Cinderella. "Cleopatra, Daughter of the Pharaoh", Royalty.nu The World of Royalty, http://www.royalty.nu/Africa/Egypt/Cleopatra.html. Accessed on October 6, 2006.
- Harvey Ogilvie. The Biological Dictionary of Women in Science. (New York, NY, 2000), Vol.2, pg. 269.
- Sara Gadeken. "Gender, Empire, and Nation in Sara Fielding's "Lives of Cleopatra and Octavia," Studies in English Literature, 1999, Vol. 39:523-538.
--I used the primary source to get a better understanding of how Cleopatra's power made her pertinent to the history of science. The primary source lent that information I took many hours to look for. Most of the resources only talk about her life and triumphs, but not so much about her contributions to the history of science. I summarized bits and peices of the primary source of her scientific knowledge and how by way of her being a woman she was very influential during her time. Of all my secondary sources, none of them are published in professional journals. They provided general information to learn about Cleopatra. Then I used the primary source to tie her relationaship of power to the history of science.