This occurred for many reasons, including physical and moral degeneration of the sovereigns, centralization of power and corruption. Her eldest sister Tryphaena also tried to poison her, so she hired food-tasting servants. It is said that her father survived an assassination attempt when a servant found a deadly puff adder in his bed. Little is known about Cleopatra's childhood, but she would have observed the disordered events and loss of public affection for the Ptolemaic dynasty under the reign of her father. 'Cleopatra' is Greek for 'father's glory,' and her full name, Cleopatra Thea Philopator, means 'the Goddess Cleopatra, the Beloved of Her Father.' She was the third daughter of the king Ptolemy XII Auletes, probably born to her father's sister, making her third in line to rule after her two other sisters died. A Greek by language and culture, Cleopatra is reputed to have been the first member of her family in their 300-year reign in Egypt to have learned the Egyptian language.

Her legacy survives in the form of numerous dramatizations of her story, including William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and several modern films.Ĭleopatra was a direct descendant of Alexander's general, Ptolemy I Soter, son of Arsinoe and Lacus, both of Macedon. Her unions with her brothers produced no children.Īfter Antony's rival and Caesar's legal heir, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian, brought the might of Rome against Egypt, It is said that Cleopatra took her own life on August 12, 30 BC. In all, Cleopatra had 4 children, 3 by Antony ( Cleopatra Selene, Alexander Helios, Ptolemy Philadelphus) and 1 by Caesar ( Caesarion). Related subjects: Ancient History, Classical History and Mythology Historical figures Cleopatra Selene PhilopatorĬaesarion, Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene, Ptolemy PhiladelphusĬleopatra was a co-ruler of Egypt with her father ( Ptolemy XII Auletes), her brothers/husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV, 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.

Cleopatra vii daughter of the nile