Cleopatra, (Greek: “Famous in Her Father”) in full Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (“Cleopatra the Father-Loving Goddess”), (born 70/69 bce—died 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.

What month did Cleopatra die?

Months later, with the Roman army of Octavian at the city's gates, a desperate Antony fell on his sword. Faced with the prospect of losing her kingdom, Cleopatra herself committed suicide on August 10, 30 B.C., by allowing a poisonous snake to bite her and her two handmaidens.

Where is Cleopatra's tomb?

The long-lost tomb of Antony and Cleopatra, the burial crypt of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, from 30 BC, remains undiscovered somewhere near Alexandria, Egypt. According to historians Suetonius and Plutarch, the Roman leader Octavian (later renamed Augustus) permitted their burial together after he had defeated them.

Who killed Mark Antony?

The situation escalated into a military war, with the two generals meeting at Actium, Greece, on September 2, 31 B.C. In a confused battle, Antony's fleet was defeated and he fled back to Cleopatra in Egypt. As Octavian's forces entered Alexandria, the distraught Antony committed suicide by his own sword.

Why did Cleopatra die at 39?

The death of Cleopatra VII, the last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, occurred on either 10 or 12 August, 30 BC, in Alexandria, when she was 39 years old. ... Some academics hypothesize that her Roman political rival Octavian forced her to kill herself in a manner of her choosing.

The Real Reason Cleopatra Killed Herself

26 related questions found

When was Cleopatra alive?

Cleopatra (c. 69 BC - 30 BC)

When did Caesar die?

Julius Caesar was assassinated by about 40 Roman senators on the "ides of March" (March 15) 44 BCE. Caesar's death resulted in a long series of civil wars that ended in the death of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Roman Empire. On March 15, 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in Rome, Italy.

Was Cleopatra really beautiful?

While Roman historian Dio Cassius described Cleopatra as “a woman of surpassing beauty,” a number of modern historians have characterized her as less than exceptionally attractive. Nevertheless, they have noted that her beauty was heralded and that her appearance was seductive.

What happened after Cleopatra VII died?

With Cleopatra's death, Octavian took control of Egypt and it became part of the Roman Empire. Her death brought an end to the Ptolemy dynasty and the Egyptian Empire. She was the last Pharaoh of Egypt.

How did ancient Egypt fall?

The empire spanned over 3,000 years. ... However, history shows that even the mightiest empires can fall and after 1,100 BC, Egypt went into decline. There were several reasons for this including a loss of military power, lack of natural resources, and political conflicts.

Who murdered Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar, dictator of Rome, is stabbed to death in the Roman Senate house by 60 conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus on March 15.

What happened to Antony and Cleopatra?

Later that year, Antony was defeated by Octavian's forces at the Battle of Actium. Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt where, having again been defeated at the Battle of Alexandria, they committed suicide. With Antony dead, Octavian became the undisputed master of the Roman world.

Does Cleopatra have a tomb?

With unimaginable wealth and power, Cleopatra was the greatest woman of an era and one of the most iconic figures of the ancient world. ... Martinez has devoted nearly two decades of her life to perhaps the greatest mystery of all: Cleopatra's tomb has never been found.

Was Cleopatra on a coin?

This coin is internationally famous as a rare realistic image of Cleopatra, one of the world's most powerful women. Famed for her intelligence, charisma and political skills, Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt with her brother Ptolemy XIII.

Was Cleopatra a good ruler?

She was a great politician who knew how to show off her and her country's power and influence. At the height of her rule more than two thousand years ago, she controlled Egypt and other lands including most of the eastern Mediterranean coast. She was also one of the richest people in the world.

What killed Cleopatra?

Rather than fall under Octavian's domination, Cleopatra died by suicide on August 12, 30 B.C., possibly by means of an asp, a poisonous Egyptian serpent and symbol of divine royalty. Octavian then executed her son Caesarion, annexed Egypt into the Roman Empire, and used Cleopatra's treasure to pay off his veterans.

Was Cleopatra the only female pharaoh?

Cleopatra may not have been ancient Egypt's only female pharaoh — Queen Arsinoë II, a woman who competed in and won Olympic events, came first, some 200 years earlier, according to a new study into a unique Egyptian crown. ... "She was no ordinary woman.