We’ve been lied to twice about Cleopatra: First, she wasn’t a conventional beauty at all, and second, she wasn’t even Egyptian.

Cleopatra: The True Story of Egypt’s Last Queen

Throughout history, Cleopatra VII has been portrayed in many ways: as an irresistible seductress, a cunning manipulator, and a woman of immense power. However, many truths have been distorted over time. First, Cleopatra was not a conventional beauty, and second, she wasn’t even Egyptian by birth. Her legacy is much more than a story of love and betrayal; she was a ruler of exceptional intellect, a leader who challenged norms, and an unparalleled political strategist.

Cleopatra VII belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty, a line of Macedonian rulers descended from Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great’s generals. Despite being born and ruling in Egypt, Cleopatra was not of Egyptian ancestry, but of Greek descent. However, unlike her predecessors, she was the first of her dynasty to embrace Egyptian culture, learn its language, and adopt its customs. While the earlier Ptolemies worshipped exclusively the Greek gods, Cleopatra immersed herself in Egyptian religion and presented herself as the incarnation of the goddess Isis, which gave her great legitimacy among her people.

Beyond her romantic image, Cleopatra was an extraordinarily intelligent woman. According to Plutarch, her appeal lay not in her beauty, but in her charisma, her sharp mind, and her oratorical talent. Her voice was described as charming and captivating, capable of seducing anyone with its eloquence.

Cleopatra was an extremely cultured and educated woman. She is said to have mastered at least nine languages, including Egyptian, Hebrew, Ethiopic, Arabic, Syriac, Persian, and Latin. She was the first in her lineage to speak the language of the country she ruled, which strengthened her connection to the Egyptian people. Furthermore, she possessed extensive knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and political strategy, which allowed her to govern with great astuteness.

Cleopatra maintained relationships with two of the most powerful men in Rome: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Her relationship with Caesar was not only strategic, but also led to the birth of Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, known as Caesarion, who was presented as the legitimate heir to Egypt and Rome. However, after Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, Cleopatra lost her main ally in Rome.

Later, she established a relationship with Mark Antony, with whom she had three children: Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene II, and Ptolemy Philadelphus. Together, they formed a powerful alliance against Octavian, the future Emperor Augustus. However, after the defeat at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, the queen’s fate was sealed.

After the defeat, Mark Antony, mistakenly believing Cleopatra dead, committed suicide by throwing himself on his sword. Cleopatra, realizing her kingdom was lost and that Octavian was planning to take her to Rome as a trophy, decided to end her life in the most symbolic way possible.

Although legend tells us that she died from the bite of an asp (a poisonous snake), modern historians believe she may have been poisoned by a substance hidden in a hairpin. Before she died, she wrote a letter to Octavian asking to be buried next to Mark Antony. Octavian, furious at having been deprived of his great triumph, ordered Caesarion’s execution and sent Cleopatra’s other children to Rome, where they were raised by their sister, Octavia.

With Cleopatra’s death in 30 BC, Egypt ceased to be an independent kingdom and became a province of the Roman Empire. Its demise marked the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the decline of one of the greatest civilizations in history.

However, her legacy has endured throughout the centuries. Cleopatra was not only a cunning ruler and a brilliant strategist, but also a woman who challenged the norms of her time, governed intelligently, and knew how to use her charisma and knowledge to influence global politics. Although her tomb remains a mystery, her story continues to captivate the world, proving that Cleopatra was much more than a seductress: she was the last great queen of Egypt.