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[[File: Cleopatra_VII.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|Bust of Cleopatra]]__NOTOC__Cleopatra is perhaps one of (Cleopatra VII Philoptor: 51 BCE - 30 BCE) was the most recognized names of all ancient personalities. She is known as a clever temptress who helped reignite the Roman Civil Wars and oversaw the collapse last ruler of the Ptolemaic-Egyptian kingdomDynasty after she committed suicide. Her life and death has been portrayed in fictionalized accounts on both Cleopatra was not only the big and small screensPtomley ruler, but she was also connected romantically to two of the most notably Romans in the 1963 film <i>Cleopatra</i> history, Julius Caesar and more recently in Marc Antony. After reigniting the HBO series <i>Roman Civil Wars, she committed suicide when she was 20 years old to avoid being paraded around Rome</i>by Octavian as a trophy. The real While it is well known that Cleopatra was much more complex than committed suicide, there has been a great deal of debate about how she is often depicted: she ruled Egypt with the power of a king during a period when rulership was often a male prerogativekilled herself.

It She is true that Cleopatra played known as a pivotal role in the last phase of clever temptress who helped reignite the Roman Civil Wars, but in and oversaw the final analysis it is clear that she was as much as a “player” with her own agency as Mark Antony or Octavian. Perhaps one collapse of the more fascinating Ptolemaic-Egyptian kingdom. Her life and controversial aspects of Cleopatra’s life is her death. After Cleopatra’s has been portrayed in fictionalized accounts on both the big and Mark Antony’s forces lost to Octavian at small screens, most notably in the Battle of Actium 1963 film <i>Cleopatra</i> and more recently in 31 BC, the pair had few optionsHBO series <i>Rome</i>. Mark Antony took his life in true Roman fashion by stabbing himself with his gladius, while The real Cleopatra was said to have either died from much more complex than how she is often depicted: she ruled Egypt with the bite power of a venomous snake or some other type of poison. An examination of the classical sources combined with more recent studies indicates that Cleopatra more than likely did die from king during a period when rulership was often a venomous snake bitemale prerogative.

It is true that Cleopatra played a pivotal role in the last phase of the Roman Civil Wars, but in the final analysis, it is clear that she was as much as a “player” with her own agency as Mark Antony or Octavian. Perhaps one of the more fascinating and controversial aspects of Cleopatra’s life is her death. After Cleopatra’s and Mark Antony’s forces lost to Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, the pair had few options. Mark Antony took his life in true Roman fashion by stabbing himself with his gladius, while Cleopatra was said to have either died from the bite of a venomous snake or some other type of poison. An examination of the classical sources combined with more recent studies indicates that Cleopatra more than likely did die from a venomous snake bite. ====The Ptolemies of Why did the Ptolemy Family rule Egypt?====

“In a campaign directed against Egypt , he conquered the greater part of the country and spent some time in besieging Alexandria. When the rest sought refuge with the Romans, Popilius was sent to Antiochus and bade him keep his hands off Egypt; for the brothers, comprehending the designs of Antiochus, had become reconciled. When the latter was for putting off his reply, Popilius drew a circle about him with his staff and demanded that he deliberate and answer standing where he was. Antiochus then in fear raised the siege.” <ref> Cassius Dio. <i> Roman History.</i> Translated by Earnest Cary. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1954), XX, 9, 25</ref>

====Why did Cleopatra in Powerrule Egypt?====[[File: Dendera_Cesarion.jpg|300px|left|thumbnail|right|Relief from the Temple of Dendera in Egypt Depicting Cleopatra VII and Caesarion/Ptolemy XV Offering to the Egyptian Goddess Hathor]]

<dh-ad/> At that point, Cleopatra was clearly more of an Egyptian than a Macedonian ruler. The idea of a woman ruling alone was rare in ancient Egypt, but not totally unheard of, with at least three known examples before Cleopatra, the best one being Hatshepsut (ruled ca, 1478-1458 BC). Hatshepsut adopted the titulary of kingship in texts and was shown with the accoutrements accouterments of kingship in artistic depictions, leaving no doubt to modern scholars that she was , in fact , a “king” in the pharaonic sense. <ref> Robins, Gay. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674954696/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0674954696&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6b94f30f49ec6e295d5ca206d6b8ce3b Women in Ancient Egypt].</i> (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993), p. 46</ref> There is no evidence to suggest that Cleopatra consciously followed Hatshepsut’s example, or if she even knew about her illustrious predecessor, but there is little doubt that she also assumed all of the prerogatives of an ancient Egyptian king, much like Hatshepsut. One of the first things she did was to give her full support to Caesar and Rome, which she believed would be bolstered when she gave birth to his son, Ptolemy XV/Caesarion on July 23, 47 BC. <ref> Chauveau, p. 25</ref>

====The Death of What killed Cleopatra?==== [[File: M_Antonius.png|300px|thumbnail|rightleft|Mark Antony]]According to the ancient sources, when Octavian’s entry into Alexandria was imminent, Mark Antony followed Roman tradition by falling on his gladius sword. There is little controversy surrounding the accounts because that is what a distinguished Roman officer such as Mark Antony would have been expected to do and there . There is no evidence to suggest he did otherwise. Cleopatra’s death, though, has been a bit more controversial largely due to the oldest classical account. The first century AD Roman historian Plutarch and Cassius Dio were the last two classical historians to mention Cleopatra’s death, which they claimed was the result of a snake bite, but the earliest reference was made by the first century BC Greek geographer, Strabo. The account gives two possibilities for Cleopatra’s death:<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Roman History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=9}}</div>“Augustus Caesar honoured honored this place because it was here that he conquered in battle those who came out against him with Antony; and when he had taken the city at the first onset, he forced Antony to put himself to death and Cleopatra came into his power alive; but a little later she too put herself to death secretly, while in prison, by the bite of an asp or (for two accounts are given) by applying a poisonous ointment; and the result was that the empire of the sons of Lagus, which had endured for many years, was dissolved.” <ref> Strabo. <i>Geography.</i> Translated by Horace Leonard Jones. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2001), Book XVII, 1, 10</ref>

Logic would dictate, though, that it would have been easier for Cleopatra to commit suicide by snake bite snakebite than through ingesting poison. Getting the right poison may have been difficult to do while under guard, but there were plenty of poisonous snakes around Egypt at the time. Also, there is the symbolic importance of an Egyptian ruler dying from a snake bite that should be considered. Along with being knowledgeable on medicinal topics, Cleopatra was the only Ptolemy who could speak the Egyptian language and by all accounts , she was well-versed in all aspects of pharaonic culture. <ref> Bowman, p. 24</ref> Because of this knowledge, she would have known that the <i>uraeus</i>, a cobra often depicted on crowns in Egyptian statuary, was a sign of kingship. During the Ptolemaic Period, the double <i>ureaus</i> became particularly popular in statuary and reliefs. <ref> Griffiths, J. Gwyn. “The Death of Cleopatra VII.” <i>Journal of Egyptian Archaeology.</i> 47 (1961) p. 118</ref> Due to these factors, Griffiths argued in his article that Cleopatra probably wore a crown with the double <i>uraeus</i> and that when she committed suicide she did so with two cobras that were brought to her in a basket containing figs, as Plutarch mentioned in his account. <ref> Griffiths, p. 118</ref>

Cleopatra VII was truly a remarkable woman who influenced the course of history in the ancient world. Although she demonstrated incredible guile and intelligence, Cleopatra is unfortunately remembered best for her more tabloidesque affairs and situations, one of them being the manner of her death. There is no doubt that Cleopatra died by her own hands, which was more than likely done through the venom of a snake, or snakes; but until more evidence is uncovered there will be some who believe she ingested a pharmaceutical poison. {{Mediawiki:AmNative}}====References====<references/>