Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last queen of independent ancient Egypt. Born in 69 BC, she ruled from 51 BC until her death in 30 BC, when Egypt became a province of Rome. She is remembered for her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, but she was above all a clever and determined politician.

A Greek queen of Egypt

Cleopatra belonged to a Macedonian Greek family that had ruled Egypt since the death of Alexander the Great. She was the first of her dynasty to learn the Egyptian language, and she is said to have spoken many others. She ruled from Alexandria, then one of the greatest cities of the Mediterranean.

Caesar and Antony

After a struggle for the throne with her brother Ptolemy XIII, she won the support of Julius Caesar in 48 BC, and they had a son, Caesarion. After Caesar’s murder she allied herself with Mark Antony, one of Rome’s most powerful men, and they had three children. Their combined fleet was defeated by Octavian, the future emperor Augustus, at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC.

Her death

In August 30 BC, as Octavian’s army entered Alexandria and after Antony had taken his own life, Cleopatra died, according to ancient writers by the bite of an asp. Her tomb has never been found. Archaeologists are still searching near Alexandria, including at the temple of Taposiris Magna.

Where to see her

One of the few large images of Cleopatra is carved on the back wall of the Temple of Dendera, with Caesarion. In Alexandria you can see the city she knew on our Alexandria day tours.

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FAQs

When did Cleopatra rule?

From 51 BC to 30 BC.

Was Cleopatra Egyptian?

She was from a Macedonian Greek dynasty that ruled Egypt, but she was the first of her family to speak Egyptian.

Has Cleopatra's tomb been found?

No. Archaeologists are still searching near Alexandria.

Who is Egypt's most famous pharaoh?

Regarded as the greatest and most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom of the 19th Dynasty, the son of Seti I was celebrated for his monumental building programmed of cities, temples and monuments and his unashamed lack of modesty

Who are all the pharaohs of Egypt?

Ancient Egyptian pharaohs spanned over 3,000 years, beginning with the unification of Egypt around 3100 BC by figures often identified as Narmer or Menes. Key rulers include Old Kingdom pyramid builders Djoser and Khufu, New Kingdom figures Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, and Tutankhamun, and the powerful Ramesses II, ending with Cleopatra VII

Did ancient Egypt have LGBTQ?

Egyptologists and historians disagree about how to interpret the paintings of Nyankh-khnum and Khnum-hotep. Some scholars believe that the paintings reflect an example of homosexuality between two married men and prove that the ancient Egyptians accepted same-sex relationships.

Who was the 9 year old pharaoh?

King Tut was a pharaoh who ruled Egypt from 1332 to 1323 BCE. He was only eight or nine years old when he ascended to the throne of Egypt as a child. But the boy king wasn't on his own

Did female pharaohs exist?

Hatshepsut was only the third woman to become pharaoh in 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, and the first to attain the full power of the position. Cleopatra, who also exercised such power, would rule some 14 centuries later

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Cleopatra VII

Suggested Tours

2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour with the Grand Egyptian Museum

Alexandria Layover Tour from Borg El Arab Airport

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About King Tut Tours

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