by Tim O'Dell

Created on: December 11, 2008

The modern image of Cleopatra is a Hollywood dream. This stunning beauty that captivated Emperors and generals, bathed in ass's milk, and took her own life by holding a venomous snake engenders romantic visions of love-lorn maidens and tragic queens. Yet how much of the Cleopatra story is truth, and how much is fantasy?

Cleopatra VII was Queen of Egypt between 69BC and 30BC. Today she is considered to have been a gorgeous temptress that had an affair with, first, Julius Caesar, followed by Mark Anthony. However, the only record we have of her features is in the carvings made of her at the time. The most prominent of these are at the temple of Horus she had built at Kom Ombo in Upper Egypt. These depict a fairly ordinary looking woman with a receding chin. There appears to be no classical beauty about her at all.

So why does modern society have the impression that she was one of the most stunning women of her time? I believe it's because of the effect she had on her lovers. The first love interest, in popular myth, is the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar. This was possibly the most powerful man in the world at that time. He could choose any woman he wanted, and they would sleep with him willingly or not, their consent was immaterial. Therefore it seems ludicrous, to us, that Cleopatra was a 'plain Jane' if she captured his attention.

Her second, and possibly most famous, lover was Mark Anthony. This man was a general in the Roman army, Caesar's confidante, and almost as powerful as his leader. Yet he turned against his country, and fought the Emperor, because of his love for Queen Cleopatra. Surely she must have been an extraordinary woman to force such a man to do this? History says otherwise.

The fact is Cleopatra was sovereign ruler of a very powerful country. A long history (Cleopatra lived nearly 2,500 years after the pyramids were built), and extraordinary wealth, had created a nation that held enormous sway over the Mediterranean area. Cleopatra was the key to controlling it. Unlike other nations within the Roman Empire, which had been taken by force, Caesar tried to gain Egypt by seducing the Queen. And, in all possibility, Cleopatra had seen the spread of Rome, realised her nation was in danger, and made it clear she was willing to give her country to Rome by becoming consort to Caesar. That way Rome would get control of the nation and she would remain Queen; so both powers would be happy. One of the few truths in the Cleopatra myths is that she is recorded

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