The Greco Roman Period (Queen Cleopatra)

The mythology of Queen Cleopatra is as timeless as time itself, and everyone is familiar with the tale of how her doomed love changed the course of Egyptian history. The story of her ability to sway the desires and hearts of powerful leaders like Caeser is well-known throughout the entire world. The story of Queen Cleopatra is one of true survival, where the subject decides to take charge of her own life and death. There are five distinct parts of Egyptian history:

1. Ancient Egyptian period 3400 B.C to 335 B.C.
2. The Greco-Roman period 332 B.C to 30 B.C.
3. The Coptic period.
4. The Islamic period.
5. The Modern period.

When The Greco-Roman Period Began?

Alexander the Great’s conquest of Egypt in 332 B.C. marked the start of the Greco-Roman era. Although he left Egypt, he did establish Alexandria, the country’s new capital, where the Nile meets the Mediterranean Sea. Alexandria is Egypt’s second-largest city and a must-see place to visit while traveling there. The empire was divided among Alexander the Great’s generals after his death, with each of the most potent generals in charge of a different region. Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek general, finally came to rule Egypt. The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Egypt in 305 B.C end ended with the suicide of Cleopatra, at which time Egypt was annexed by Rome in 30 B.C and became part of the Roman Empire.

Who is Queen Cleopatra?

One of the most well-known, stunning, astute, and powerful female monarchs in history was Queen Cleopatra VII. Queen Cleopatra, the last monarch of the Macedonian dynasty, was the daughter of King Ptolemy XII. She was born sometime around 69 B.C. Ptolemy XII died in 51 B.C., leaving the throne to his 18-year-old sister Cleopatra and her 10-year-old brother Ptolemy XIII. The two siblings most likely got married, as was traditional at the time to preserve the bloodline.

History of Queen Cleopatra

There were issues between Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII soon after they took control. Ultimately, Cleopatra fled to Syria in 49 BC, where she raised an army to overthrow her rival brother and claim the kingdom for herself. She confronted her brother in Pelusium, which was located on the eastern border of the empire when she returned to Egypt in 48 B.C. with her military power.

Rome was being torn apart at this time by the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey. Pompey eventually fled to Egypt, but Ptolemy had him slain there on his instructions in order to regain Caesar’s favor and use him as an ally against his sister Cleopatra. However, she was able to sneak inside his palace, gain his favor, and sway him to fall in love with her. Now that she had access to enough military power, Cleopatra was able to overthrow her brother and establish herself as the sole ruler of Egypt. Ptolemy’s army was routed by Caesar, who even pursued him to Alexandria, where he was murdered. Because he adored her and wanted to possess Egypt’s wealth and treasures so he could continue his ascent to power in Rome, Caesar reinstated Cleopatra to the throne.

When Queen Cleopatra Ruled Egypt?

Cleopatra was reinstated to the throne after Caesar routed Ptolemy’s army at the Battle of the Nile. Ptolemy XIII escaped soon after and drowned on the Nile. Caesar’s son, Ptolemy Caesar, often known as Caesarion, was born to Cleopatra in 47 B.C. Eventually, Cleopatra accompanied Caesar back to Rome, but she left Rome in 44 B.C. after his murder. She served as the queen of Egypt, with her son serving as the co-regent. In order to establish herself as a holy monarchy, Cleopatra in 41 B.C. forged a bond with the goddess of maternity Isis, the wife of the underworld king Osiris, and the mother of the sky deity Horus. She was dubbed the New Isis at this time.

Cleopatra was summoned by Marc Antony, a member of the Second Triumvirate that administered Rome after Caesar’s assassination so that she might respond to inquiries regarding her fidelity to the slain emperor. In response to his request, Cleopatra made an opulent entrance into Tarsus. Antony fell in love with Cleopatra because of her beauty and charisma, and they eventually had three children together, including twins named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Cleopatra received a message from Caesar’s general Marc Antony in the year 34 B.C. requesting her to pledge her allegiance. Marc Antony then triumphantly returned to Alexandria with Cleopatra. In order to catch Anthony’s attention, Cleopatra accepted his invitation and traveled to Rome to meet him. Anthony was immediately enchanted by Cleopatra’s beauty and her alluring personality, and they began a relationship that resulted in the birth of three children, including twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. The couple sat on golden thrones that were raised on silver platforms, and crowds flocked to the Gymnasium to get a look at them. Their kids were seated next to them.

In 34 BC, Antony enraged his competitor by designating Caesarion as the legitimate son and legal heir of the venerable Roman tyrant rather than Octavian, whom Caeser had adopted. But Octavian fought back, claiming to have taken Antony’s will, and he informed the Roman populace that Antony had given Cleopatra control of Roman assets and that there were plans to make Alexandria the capital of the Roman state. The Roman Senate stripped Antony of all his titles and declared war on Cleopatra and all of her allies in 32 BC as a result of Octavian’s deeds. Cleopatra, Antony, and their united army engaged Octavian in a bloody naval battle at Actium on Greece’s west coast in the year 31 B.C. However, the battle ended in a costly Egyptian loss, forcing Antony and Cleopatra to retreat to Alexandria and return to Egypt.

When and How Queen Cleopatra Died?

Soon after, Antony went back to the battleground where he was misinformed that Cleopatra had passed away. The defeated Roman emperor learned the news and stabbed himself to death. Following the death of her beloved, Cleopatra took her own life by being bitten by an Egyptian cobra. On August 12th, 30 BC, she passed away. As they had desired, the two were interred together, and Egypt was annexed by the Roman Empire. She passed away at the age of 39, not long after Cameron, her son, was detained and killed. As a result, Egypt was seized by Rome in 30 B.C. by Caesar Augustus, who gave it the name Aegyptus and ruled over it as a province of the Roman Empire. They were responsible for the administration, protection, and finances of the entire province.

Cleopatra’s Skin Color

With some Persian and Syrian origin, Queen Cleopatra had Macedonian Greek ancestry. Even though she had a black grandmother, much research has shown that she was actually an eastern Mediterranean type with pale olive skin and dark hair, as depicted on her official coinage.

Tomb of Queen Cleopatra

The tomb of Cleopatra and Antony has been missing since 30 BC, although many academics think it lies close to Alexandria, and numerous expeditions are still looking for it. You may be familiar with all the historical details, but “Dr. Mo Tours” is what you need if you want to look at the place where this incredible history took place and experience what the witnesses did.