Egyptian Mythology

Cleopatra

Egypt Myths

Cleopatra

Cleopatra has been called a shameless temptress who used blatant sexuality to maintain her grip on the throne of Egypt. The truth is much more complex and fascinating for if she had offered nothing else except her sexuality, it is hard to believe she could have lasted more than a few weekends.
Her ancestor, the first Ptolemy, acquired the throne of Egypt when the empire of the deceased Alexander the Great was divided among his chief generals. The first three Ptolemies were reasonably competent rulers, but there was never any doubt that they were Greek, not Egyptian. Until Cleopatra VII they did not even bother to learn the native language, retaining just enough Egyptiann tradition to gain a grudging acknowledgement of legitimacy.

More territory was acquired, including the whole of the eastern Mediterranean coastline. Egypt's new capital, Alexandria became one of the great cities of the ancient world. Its two harbors presided over by one of the ancient world’s Seven Wonders, the Pharos lighthouse, were together capable of holding twenty-four hundred ships at a time. The city’s library held some 700,000 scrolls and was home to many of the greatest thinkers of the age.

Egypt had always had autocratic government, though most kings realized that their personal well-being and that of the nation as a whole were inextricably linked. While Ptolemaic rule began well, it was not long before greed, indolence, ineptitude, and internecine struggles started to take their toll. The country continued to produce great wealth but the benefits went disproportionately to the Greek ruling class. The Nile’s harvest was generous as long as a centralized bureaucracy existed to co-ordinate the required water control systems, but Upper Egypt seemed too remote to interest the lazy Ptolemies and scant attention was paid to changes taking place in the rest of the world. 

When Ptolemy XII, nicknamed Auletes, came to the throne in 80 BCE he took the view that it was too late to stem the tide of the Roman advance. Egypt had the money, but Rome had a massive army and seemed poised to take over the world. Auletes made the avoidance of a quarrel with Rome the centerpiece of Egyptian policy. His fellow Greeks felt this was misguided and worked with the Egyptians to overthrow him in favor of his daughters, Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV.
Auletes had always expected trouble and had agreed to pay two Roman triumvirs, Pompey and Caesar, six thousand talents in return for a Roman guarantee of his throne. Although Auletes had to borrow the money from a Roman businessman, the Romans did deliver and the king was restored to his throne. When he died the crown and the debt passed to Cleopatra VII and her ten year old brother Ptolemy XIII.