Publisher's Synopsis
In 30 B.C., Queen Cleopatra took her own life in a mausoleum in Alexandria, thus ending the reign of the last independent pharaohs of Egypt. After her death, Egypt became one of the many provinces of the Roman Empire. Cleopatra's rule of more than two decades involved ruthless power struggles with her siblings and alliances and affairs with the likes of Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. It was her life that inspired the very famous play written by Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra. While she is one of the most alluring figures in ancient history, not many people know the truth about her life, battles, and affairs. She was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and is often regarded in modern times as a symbol of female power in the ancient world. While many people considered her beauty as her biggest asset, the truth is that her intellect and her charms and her beautiful voice were actually her biggest assets. In fact, she was believed to have a manly face, a face which could by no means be considered beautiful. This book is an attempt to look at her life right from her birth until the day she took her own life.
