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Cleopatra VII Philopator (69-30 BC), the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, is one of ancient history's most enigmatic and captivating figures. Her life was a fascinating blend of political intrigue, romance, and the struggle for power in the ancient world. Was she really able to seduce every man? What were her secrets to gain such power over not one, but two Roman generals - Julius Cesar and Mark Anthony themselves..?? And do we know the place where she was mysteriously buried?
Cleopatra VII was born in Alexandria in 69 BCE, the daughter of Ptolemy XII and one of his wives, possibly Cleopatra V Tryphaena. Even though we know her as an Egyptian queen, Cleopatra was not Egyptian. The Ptolemaic dynasty, to which Cleopatra belonged, was of Greek origin, founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a general under Alexander the Great, and had been ruling Egypt since the death of Alexander in 323 BCE. Despite ruling Egypt, the Ptolemies retained their Greek culture and traditions, rarely adopting Egyptian customs. They were considered foreigners by the native Egyptians, which contributed to the eventual decline of their dynasty.
Cleopatra VII was born in Alexandria in 69 BCE, the daughter of Ptolemy XII and one of his wives, possibly Cleopatra V Tryphaena. Even though we know her as an Egyptian queen, Cleopatra was not Egyptian. The Ptolemaic dynasty, to which Cleopatra belonged, was of Greek origin, founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a general under Alexander the Great, and had been ruling Egypt since the death of Alexander in 323 BCE. Despite ruling Egypt, the Ptolemies retained their Greek culture and traditions, rarely adopting Egyptian customs. They were considered foreigners by the native Egyptians, which contributed to the eventual decline of their dynasty.
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00:00Cleopatra VII Philopator, the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, is one of the
00:09ancient history's most enigmatic and captivating figures. Her life was a fascinating blend of
00:15political intrigue, romance and the struggle for power in the ancient world. Was she really
00:21able to seduce every man? What were her secrets to gain such a power over not one but two Roman
00:29generals, Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony themselves? We will delve into the life of the Egyptian Queen
00:37today in the new episode of Secret Origins. Welcome!
00:43Cleopatra VII was born in Alexandria in 69 BCE, the daughter of Ptolemy XI and one of his
00:52wives, possibly Cleopatra V Tryphena. Even though we know her as an Egyptian queen,
00:59Cleopatra was not Egyptian. The Ptolemaic dynasty to which Cleopatra belonged was of Greek origin,
01:07founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a general under Alexander the Great and had been ruling Egypt since the death
01:15of Alexander in 323 BCE. Despite ruling Egypt, the Ptolemies retained their Greek culture and traditions,
01:24rarely adopting Egyptian customs. They were considered foreigners by the native Egyptians,
01:30which contributed to the eventual decline of their dynasty. By the time Cleopatra was born,
01:37the dynasty was facing numerous challenges, including power struggles within the family,
01:43invasions by foreign powers, and economic instability. What was the early life of Cleopatra like?
01:51Cleopatra was raised in a luxurious place in Alexandria, the cultural and intellectual capital
01:57of the Mediterranean world at the time, and was given a first-class education befitting a future
02:05queen. Cleopatra was highly educated, studying various subjects under the guidance of scholars and
02:12tutors. She was fluent in several languages, including Egyptian, Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Hebrew,
02:19and Ethiopian, making her the first Ptolemaic ruler to speak Egyptian. However, unlike her predecessors,
02:28Cleopatra recognized the value of appealing to the cultural identity of the people she ruled,
02:34and despite not being ethnically Egyptian, she embraced many of her country's ancient customs.
02:40This combined with the linguistic prowess allowed her to communicate directly with her subjects
02:46and foreign emissaries, earning her respect and admiration. In 51 BCE, when Cleopatra was at the age
02:55of 18, her father died leaving the throne to his children. Cleopatra was designated as a co-ruler with
03:02her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII, who was only ten years old at the time. The siblings married,
03:09in keeping with the Ptolemaic tradition of sibling marriages, to consolidate their rule. However,
03:16the siblings' relationship was fraught with tension and a power struggle soon erupted between them.
03:22In 48 BCE, Cleopatra was ousted from the throne and forced to flee Egypt after her brother's advisors
03:29staged a coup against her. However, Cleopatra was determined to reclaim her throne and sought
03:36assistance from the Roman general Julius Caesar who had arrived in Egypt pursuing his rival Pompey.
03:44Cleopatra then saw an opportunity to win his support and famously smuggled herself into Caesar's
03:50presence wrapped in a carpet and pleaded her case. But how did she manage to seduce him?
03:57Contrary to what many believe, it was not her beauty. Cleopatra's beauty wasn't her biggest asset
04:04and it's quite likely that it has been exaggerated over time for political and cultural reasons.
04:10After all, she was a powerful woman in a male-dominated world and her allure may have been
04:16seen as a threat to traditional gender roles. In fact, it was Roman propaganda that portrayed Cleopatra
04:23as a seductive tempest using her allure for political gain.
04:28Cleopatra's image was featured on Egyptian coins during her reign, reflecting her power and influence.
04:35Remarkably, these coins depict her with a large, hooked noise and a prominent chin,
04:41quite masculine features that do not align with the traditional image of her as a great beauty.
04:47The discrepancy highlights that she was likely more famous for her intellect than her looks,
04:53as she was fluent in numerous languages and well-educated in various fields.
04:59Plutarch, an ancient Greek biographer, claimed her beauty was not exceptional,
05:04but he writes that she had a delightful voice and a persuasive tongue. He also noted that her presence
05:12was irresistible and that she possessed a most charming intelligence.
05:18Being quite intelligent, Cleopatra knew how to influence people. She often styled herself as Isis,
05:25possibly out of reverence for her or political reasons. She dressed and behaved like a goddess
05:31and pointed to ancient prophecies to justify her behavior, making people believe that she
05:38herself was the living embodiment of the goddess Isis. There are numerous legends telling that in order
05:45to keep her youthfulness and flawless complexion, Cleopatra had a special regimen involving several
05:52treatments, including a strict diet. One of these methods was by bathing in a warm donkey milk each day.
06:00This would help improve the tone of her skin and also keep it soft.
06:04What is Cleopatra without her famous eye makeup? The distinctive lined eyes and the blue eye
06:11shadows which demonstrated her status, power and connection to the gods, thus reinforcing her
06:17image as a divine ruler. But even though Cleopatra's makeup was an essential part of her image and
06:23served both aesthetic purposes, it was also used as protection. According to some sources, the coal that
06:31was used for lining the eyes was made from four leaded based materials and was intended to prevent eye
06:38infections rather than enhance beauty. Besides the iconic makeup, Cleopatra also thought that scents
06:44could influence people, so she created her own perfume in a personal workshop. She believed specific
06:51fragrances could hold power over individuals. And probably she was right, knowing her ability to seduce not
06:59one but two Roman generals. Can we imagine what Cleopatra smelled like? Today, many people have tried to
07:07replicate her scent. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa who have been investigating ancient
07:14perfumes for years have found remains of the perfume in the Nile Delta dating back to around 4500 BC.
07:22They attempted to recreate the scent using ancient Greek text formulas. They also uncovered original amphora
07:29with residual evidence of the ingredients used to make the perfumes. Though the ingredients no longer
07:36retained their smell, through chemical analysis the researchers found out exactly what they were.
07:42The perfume would have been worn as a thick resinous oil and contained myrrh, olive oil, cinnamon and cardamom.
07:51So perhaps having this arsenal of seduction tools, it was not that difficult for Cleopatra to captivate
07:57Caesar's attention and make him agree to support her. As we know,
08:02Cleopatra and Caesar became lovers which further solidified their alliance.
08:07His intervention ignited the Alexandrian war, pitting Roman forces against those loyal to
08:13Cleopatra's brother, Ptolemy XIII. After a series of battles, Caesar emerged victorious.
08:21Interestingly, Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile while attempting to flee. While it might have been an
08:28accident, it is believed that it was Cleopatra who murdered her brother. In fact, it is said that
08:33Cleopatra have killed not one but three of her siblings, including the two she was married to,
08:40thus ensuring that her throne would not be disputed. But how did she do it? We'll find out a little
08:46further in the episode. In 47 BC, she gave birth to a son, Caesareon, whom she claimed was Caesar's child.
08:55Caesar never officially acknowledged paternity, but the bond between him and Cleopatra remained strong.
09:02In 46 BC, Cleopatra visited Rome with Caesareon and the pair resided in Caesar's villa. Her presence
09:10in Rome was a source of controversy as many Romans disapproved of her relationship with Caesar
09:16and her eastern customs. However, their relationship was short-lived. In 44 BCE, Caesar was assassinated by
09:25a group of senators who opposed his growing power. This plunged Rome into a period of chaos and a civil
09:33war and power struggles. Cleopatra, now a widow, was forced to flee back to Egypt with Caesareon,
09:40who was seen as a potential threat to the new regime in Rome. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC,
09:48Cleopatra returned to Egypt and began to focus on consolidating her power. Her brother, husband,
09:55died under mysterious circumstances in 44 BC. Most probably she had killed him so that she can rule
10:02Egypt as a sole monarch. In the wake of Caesar's assassination, a power struggle ensued in Rome
10:09with Mark Antony and Octavian, later Augustus, emerging as the dominant figures. In 41 BC,
10:17Antony summoned Cleopatra to Tarsus, a city in modern-day Turkey, to discuss her loyalty to Rome
10:24and her role in the ongoing conflict. Cleopatra arrived in Tarsus in a grandiose display of wealth
10:32and power, sailing on a golden barge adorned with purple sails and silver oars. Her entrance captivated
10:40Antony and the two quickly became allies and lovers. In 41 BC, following her previous
10:47action in enduring her throne, Cleopatra engineered the execution of her sister, Arsinoe,
10:54who she considered a rival to the throne. Antony spent the winter of 41-40 BC in Alexandria immersing
11:02himself in Egyptian culture and solidifying his relationship with Cleopatra. They had three
11:08children together, Alexander Helius, Cleopatra Selene II and Ptolemy Philadelphus.
11:15In 31 BC, the long, simmering tensions between Octavian and Antony culminated in the Battle of
11:22Actium, when Octavian's army invaded Egypt and besieged Alexandria. Cleopatra personally led
11:29several dozen Egyptian warships into the fray alongside Antony's fleet. Despite having a larger fleet,
11:35Antony and Cleopatra's forces were defeated by Octavian's navy, commanded by Agrippa. Cleopatra and
11:42Antony were forced to break through the Roman line and flee to Egypt. This defeat was a turning point
11:48in the struggle for power in the ancient world, marking the end of Hellenistic period and the
11:55beginning of the Roman Empire. After the defeat, Antony received false news of Cleopatra's death and,
12:03in despair, committed suicide by falling on his sword. Cleopatra, devastated by Antony's death and
12:10facing capture by Octavian, chose to end her life as well. Their tragic story that even might have
12:17influenced Shakespeare in his Romeo and Juliet masterpiece is sold by Plutar, who explains that
12:23after the defeat, Cleopatra was afraid that Antony thought she had betrayed him when Octavian's forces
12:30took control of Egypt and Antony's soldiers deserted him. She, therefore, told the messenger to tell
12:36Antony that she was dead. When he heard this, Antony stabbed himself with a sword, but it was not a fatal
12:43wound. As Antony desperately sought someone to end his life, Cleopatra sent the messenger to bring him to
12:50her. As he lay dying, Cleopatra practically tore at her clothes and hair in grief over her dying partner.
12:58Antony urged her to calm down, took a sip of water and passed away. According to Plutar,
13:04Octavian captured Cleopatra after Antony's death and imprisoned her to prevent her from committing
13:11suicide. However, Cleopatra received a basket of food, concealing a venomous snake while in captivity.
13:20She willingly extended her arm, allowing the snake to administer its lethal bite.
13:27What is even more mysterious is her tomb, which archaeologists still haven't found. It is said to
13:34be a magnificent golden mausoleum adorned with precious gemstones and intricate carvings. Plutar and
13:41Suetonists hint at a hidden location within Alexandria's palace complex, but time has viled
13:47the tomb's secrets beneath layers of natural disasters and modern construction. Earthquakes
13:53and tsunamis have dramatically altered the city's landscape, further obscuring the clues leading to
14:00the tomb's whereabouts. Could her majestic burial chamber lie submerged beneath the depths of the
14:06Mediterranean Sea or is it concealed within the heart of a remote desert temple? We don't know,
14:13but the quest to find Cleopatra's tomb continues. Cleopatra's cultural legacy is vast and enduring,
14:21spanning centuries and influencing art, literature and popular culture. As one of the most famous women
14:27in history, she is remembered for her intelligence, beauty and political prowess during a turbulent period
14:34in ancient Egypt. Her life has been depicted in literature and drama, with William Shakespeare's
14:40play Antony and Cleopatra being one of the most well-known portrayals. Cleopatra's enigmatic persona
14:47has captivated artists across different cultures and time periods, resulting in a wide range of artistic
14:54representations. Her distinctive makeup and fashion style have inspired beauty and fashion trends,
15:00solidifying her status as an enduring symbol of elegance. Adaptations of her story and films,
15:06television shows and novels, such as the 1963 movie Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, have further
15:13contributed to her ongoing mystique. Cleopatra was also a fervent patron of the arts and architecture
15:21during her reign as the Queen of Egypt, demonstrating her appreciation for cultural development and
15:27enrichment. One of the most notable contributions to cultural legacy is the establishment of Alexandria
15:34as a center of learning and culture. She supported the library of Alexandria which housed thousands of
15:40manuscripts, making it one of the largest libraries in the ancient world that had influence on the
15:47development of western philosophy, science and literature. She actively commissioned and supported the
15:54construction of magnificent buildings and monuments which served to enhance the prestige of her rule
16:00and showcased the fusion of Hellenistic and Egyptian artistic styles. Cleopatra's patronage extended to artists,
16:08poets and scholars whom she encouraged to contribute to the cultural landscape of her kingdom. By fostering the
16:15growth of arts and architecture, Cleopatra left a lasting impact on Egypt's cultural heritage, highlighting her
16:23vision and commitment to creating a rich and vibrant society. Cleopatra's story is one of political intrigue,
16:31personal drama and tragedy. She was a skilled diplomat and administrator, using her linguistic abilities
16:37and charm to forge alliances and maintain her rule. Despite her challenges, she was able to maintain her
16:45position and what is more notable is that under her reign, Egypt experienced a period of relative
16:51stability and prosperity despite the events that marked her time on the throne. She was a remarkable figure
16:59who defined the odds to become one of the most powerful women in history. Her life and legacy continue
17:05to fascinate people to this day and she remains an enduring symbol of power, beauty and tragedy.
17:13We bow before you and thank you for watching another episode of Secret Origins. Keep your minds
17:20open, never stop exploring and until we meet again.
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