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Pharaoh Cleopatra
Why is Cleopatra admired so much?

Cleopatra, the last (Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt) married her brother, was also her second cousin and brother-in-law! She also married her father, who was also her uncle and father-in-law. She also married the Roman general Mark Anthony and the Roman ruler, Julius Caesar! She was terribly promiscuous, incestuous and led quite a few powerful men to their downfall. Not to mention the political strife she caused to the people. Definitely not what you would consider to be a good role model. So why is she looked up to, and actually admired in modern society?
Hannah, u have email turned off, so i couldnt email you my comments, i hope u come back to read this. you said “All the pharohs of egypt married their siblings” I did not know that! thank you for teaching me something new!

Most of what the western world believes about Cleopatra VII is the result of the most successful propaganda campaign in history, namely by Octavian (who would become Augustus) in order to justify his war against Marc Antony, who was very popular in Rome. When we take away the lies and add the facts, You Can see why her legacy is so enduring

The Ptolemies were not actually considered Pharaohs, as they were not Egyptian. They would be kings and queens of Egypt, but as such, they were still the embodiment of their particular gods, Cleopatra, although mortal, was Isis on Earth, and therefore, being a god, she had to marry another god. That meant her brother or uncle. She was not allowed to marry her father or son. Through a clever alliance, she had a child with (but NEVER MARRIED) Caesar, as he was descended from Venus, or so he said. She did marry Marc Antony and had three children to him, but as a cousin of Caesar, this was also allowed.

She was not promiscuous, this would not have been tolerated, especially since There Were so few ‘gods’ around. It was her job to keep the Nile in flood and promiscuity would have endangered this, and therefore endangered her. This was part of Octavian’s slur campaign.

She did not contribute to Caesar’s death, but she did most definitely cause the end of Marc Antony, literally, he committed suicide early thinking she had already died, they were supposed to die together, but I think she tricked him in order to meet with and try to win over Octavian – but that’s a personal opinion. Octavian rejected her and she committed suicide through the bite of a King Cobra, not an asp as Shakespeare would claim.

FACTS: Cleopatra was the first Ptolemy (they ruled from 323BC to 30BC) to actually speak Egyptian, as well as six or so other languages, including Greek, Latin and Hebrew. She was an accomplished musician; a strong, inspiring and witty speaker; she was a military tactician and she could hold her own in any sphere in a world that was dominated by men. She was definitely unique, not since Hatshepsut had there been such a powerful woman. Lastly, Cleopatra was not beautiful, but she was certainly alluring.