Cleopatra  

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'''Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator''' (January [[69 BC]]–[[November 30]] [[30 BC]]) was a [[Hellenistic]] co-ruler of Egypt with her father ([[Ptolemy XII of Egypt|Ptolemy XII Auletes]]) and later with her brothers/husbands. She later became the supreme ruler of Egypt, [[consummation|consummated]] a [[liaison]] with [[Julius Caesar|Gaius Julius Caesar]], that solidified her grip on the throne, and, after Caesar's [[assassination]], aligned with [[Mark Antony]], with whom she produced twins. '''Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator''' (January [[69 BC]]–[[November 30]] [[30 BC]]) was a [[Hellenistic]] co-ruler of Egypt with her father ([[Ptolemy XII of Egypt|Ptolemy XII Auletes]]) and later with her brothers/husbands. She later became the supreme ruler of Egypt, [[consummation|consummated]] a [[liaison]] with [[Julius Caesar|Gaius Julius Caesar]], that solidified her grip on the throne, and, after Caesar's [[assassination]], aligned with [[Mark Antony]], with whom she produced twins.
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 +After Antony and Cleopatra were defeated at [[Battle of Actium|Actium]] by their rival and Caesar's legal heir, Gaius Julius Caesar [[Augustus|Octavian]] (who later became the first [[Roman Emperor]], [[Augustus]]), Cleopatra committed suicide, the traditional date being [[12 August]] 30 BC, allegedly by means of an [[Asp (reptile)|asp]] bite.
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 +To this day she remains popular in Western culture. Her legacy survives in numerous works of art and the many dramatizations of her story in literature, (e.g. [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'' and [[Bernard Shaw]]'s ''[[Caesar & Cleopatra]]'') film, and television. (e.g. [[Elizabeth Taylor]]'s famous depiction in ''[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]'', and the BBC/HBO co-production ''[[Rome (TV series)|Rome]]'')
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 +In most depictions, Cleopatra is put forward as a great beauty and her successive conquests of the world's most powerful men is taken to be proof of her aesthetic and sexual appeal. Whether or not she would have been considered beautiful by current standards is unknown, but clearly she was appealing by the standards of her time. In his ''[[Pensées]]'', philosopher [[Blaise Pascal]] contends that Cleopatra's classically beautiful profile changed world history: "Cleopatra's nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed."
===Cleopatra in culture=== ===Cleopatra in culture===
Cleopatra's story has fascinated scores of writers and artists through the centuries. While she was a powerful political figure in her own right, it is likely that much of her appeal lay in her legend as a great [[seductress]] who was able to ally herself with two of the most powerful men (Julius Caesar and Marc Antony) of her time, thus becoming the archetype of the "[[Strong and independent women|strong woman]]".{{GFDL}} Cleopatra's story has fascinated scores of writers and artists through the centuries. While she was a powerful political figure in her own right, it is likely that much of her appeal lay in her legend as a great [[seductress]] who was able to ally herself with two of the most powerful men (Julius Caesar and Marc Antony) of her time, thus becoming the archetype of the "[[Strong and independent women|strong woman]]".{{GFDL}}

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Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (January 69 BCNovember 30 30 BC) was a Hellenistic co-ruler of Egypt with her father (Ptolemy XII Auletes) and later with her brothers/husbands. She later became the supreme ruler of Egypt, consummated a liaison with Gaius Julius Caesar, that solidified her grip on the throne, and, after Caesar's assassination, aligned with Mark Antony, with whom she produced twins.


After Antony and Cleopatra were defeated at Actium by their rival and Caesar's legal heir, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian (who later became the first Roman Emperor, Augustus), Cleopatra committed suicide, the traditional date being 12 August 30 BC, allegedly by means of an asp bite.

To this day she remains popular in Western culture. Her legacy survives in numerous works of art and the many dramatizations of her story in literature, (e.g. Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and Bernard Shaw's Caesar & Cleopatra) film, and television. (e.g. Elizabeth Taylor's famous depiction in Cleopatra, and the BBC/HBO co-production Rome)

In most depictions, Cleopatra is put forward as a great beauty and her successive conquests of the world's most powerful men is taken to be proof of her aesthetic and sexual appeal. Whether or not she would have been considered beautiful by current standards is unknown, but clearly she was appealing by the standards of her time. In his Pensées, philosopher Blaise Pascal contends that Cleopatra's classically beautiful profile changed world history: "Cleopatra's nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed."

Cleopatra in culture

Cleopatra's story has fascinated scores of writers and artists through the centuries. While she was a powerful political figure in her own right, it is likely that much of her appeal lay in her legend as a great seductress who was able to ally herself with two of the most powerful men (Julius Caesar and Marc Antony) of her time, thus becoming the archetype of the "strong woman".



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