Cleopatra
The name Cleopatra brings to mind an exotic, beguiling and bewitching woman whose sole intent and ambition was to become ruler not only of Egypt but of the vast Roman Empire. More than two thousand years ago’, in 69 BC Cleopatra VII was born in Alexandria, the capital of Egypt at that time. Cleopatra was the third of six children born to King Ptolemy XII, nicknamed Auletes (the Flute Player) and as history states, her mother Cleopatra V Tryphaena who may have been her father’s sister, which was common practice for siblings of the Ptolemaic dynasty to marry one another. It was the Ptolemy custom of education both male and female siblings, because the throne was to be shared by a sister and brother. Cleopatra, by all accounts was not a beautiful woman, however, she was charming, alluring, and was said by Plutarch, an ancient historian of her time that, “The charm of her presence was irresistible. Cleopatra had a voice like a many stringed instrument.” Cleopatra was highly intelligent, and was proficient in science, literature and philosophy. She could speak nine languages, and was the first Ptolemy to speak Egyptian, which endeared her even more to her people.
