Plutarch And The Manipulation Of Cleopatra

Cleopatra; thought to be one of the world’s first celebrities, was born in 69 B.C and was the last pharaoh to rule Egypt of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Like all sovereigns at the time she saw herself as a divine. From birth the Ptolemies were proclaimed to be gods and goddesses in their own right. This made them highly image conscious. Through the shows of her splendour she maintained her mystique and charmed the Egyptians. Cleopatra identified herself as the goddess Isis; sister wife of Osiris and mother to Horus. Living up to the idea of an all powerful god-king. She was able to exercise an incredible amount of power for a woman in ancient society, both in her own right and through the control of powerful men, particularly through her involvements

with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Cleopatra maintained the prosperity and well being of Egypt, with her surpassing good looks, undeniable seductive charms and profound knowledge.
Her father, Ptolemy Auletes endorsed a strong reputation of dissipation, extravagance, frivolity, self absorbency and cruelty. This played an important role in Cleopatra’s prospect of leadership. Over the years Cleopatra observed and understood her father’s negative attributes and claimed she would be a different leader. Cleopatra used her father’s characteristics to her advantage. She grew up with a life of luxury, and received an education from a myriad of tutors. Her father could read Egyptian symbols so it become a desire of hers to learn the Egyptian language, which had not been accomplished by any other of her ancestors within the Ptolemaic dynasty. Previous pharaohs were greek and felt no need to learn the common tongue, which may have sparked her desire to master the language of her subjects. Knowing the language proved to be a very great source of power among her subordinates, fabricating unique connections. This lead to Cleopatra earning the title of ‘People’s Princess’; first of her dynasty to learn the language of the royal family since 322 B.C. Erin Gruen, professor emeritus of history at University of California Berkeley gives a significant view on the last queen of Egypt, “Cleopatra was no mere sexual predator, and certainly no play thing of Caesar.” “She was queen of Egypt, Cyrene, Cyprus, heir to the long and proud dynasty of the Ptolemies. A passionate but also very astute woman who had manoeuvred Rome - and would manoeuvre Rome again - into advancing the interests of the Ptolemaic legacy” (University of California Press, 2011). The quote contours a notable depiction of her power over the entire Egyptian Empire, as well as suggesting of an intelligent and educated woman who conquered Rome through her control over powerful men. Many historians portray her to be a cunning sexual predator, although others suggest differently.
Modern day representations of her tend to reflect a woman of great beauty both physically and intellectually. She possessed a unique set of seductive skills which she used to win over very powerful men. Her involvements with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony has been immortalised in art, music and literature for centuries. Many seem to tell a different story which becomes evident in ancient records and historical research. These tend to portray her as some sort of sex kitten, also mentioning of her intelligence, multilingualism and a female who affirmed her right to rule Egypt. Plutarch, a philosopher who lived during the time of 46 - 120 A.D refers to Cleopatra, “Her own beauty, as they say, was not, in and of itself, completely incomparable, nor was it the sort that would astound those who saw her, but interaction with her was captivating, and her appearance, along with persuasiveness in discussion and her character that accompanied every interchange, was stimulating” (Plutarch, 1916). The secondary source quote outlines a view of Cleopatra and her unforgettable persona and beauty defined through modest bias through the interpretation of a man.

In Cicero’s speech he suggests Cleopatra wasn't always seen in quite the exquisite and delightful way as most portrayed her to be. “Her way of walking, her clothes, her way of talking, her embraces and kisses, her beach parties and dinner parties, all show her to be a tart” (Cicero, 43 BC). This primary source shows her at as a tart, a woman who thought very highly of herself. But who could blame her really? From the moment she was born she was declared a goddess, smothered in luxury and splendour. You could not expect less from one of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Author of the new biography ‘Cleopatra: A Life’, Stacy Schiff writes, “she controlled virtually the entire eastern Mediterranean coast, the last great kingdom of any Egyptian ruler. For a fleeting moment she held the fate of the Western world in her hands” (Stacy Schiff, 2010).
Cleopatra was very astute and cunning, and was well aware that she could not trust her brother (Ptolemy XIII) and knew there was absolute danger if she came face to face with any of his advisors.

Cleopatra knew she needed Caesar’s protection. In her own right, Cleopatra wielded her witting charms and beauty to her utmost advantage through the contentious manipulation of powerful men, this was to benefit herself and gain power to rule over Egypt. Plutarch provides the famous description of Cleopatra being smuggled into the palace that night in a bedroll which argues at least she was petite. “It was by this device of Cleopatra’s, it is said that Caesar was first captivated, for she showed herself to a bold coquette” (Life of Julius Caesar, XLIX). After Caesar paved Cleopatra’s walk upon the throne, he returned to Rome after gaining sufficient funds to return to power. With Cleopatra ruling Egypt, Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C, at this point Cleopatra could not have had a stronger hold on the throne with her infant son Caesarion as co-regent. After the battle in Rome, the power was divided between Marc Antony and Octavian. It was not long before Marc Antony called for Cleopatra to explain to her the role she played in the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination. According to historic sources, she sailed to the city of Tarsus in an elaborate ship, dressed entirely in the robes of

Isis.
During the time of her rule, she had strongly associated herself with the goddess Isis, sister wife of Osiris and mother to Horus. As she had earned the title ‘Queen of Kings’, Cleopatra wore a royal crown with three snakes’ heads. To the ancient Egyptians the cobra symbolised a sign of royal power. Cleopatra also comprised precious pearls in her monarchial attire, these rare and valuable pearls found in the Indian Ocean were a sign of utmost wealth. Rumours spoke of her adding one of these priceless pearls to wine and drinking it, even though the pearls would not have melted. In accordance to Ancient Egyptian traditions the ankh was used as the symbol of life. She also held a cornucopia; (born of plenty) a greek symbol of prosperity. Plutarch effortlessly and elaborately describes Cleopatra’s arrival to the city of Tarsus, “She came sailing up the river Cydnus in a barge with gilded stern and outspread sails of purple, while oars of silver beat time to the music of flutes and fifes and harps. She herself lay all along, under a canopy of cloth of gold, dressed as Venus in a picture, and beautiful young boys, like painted Cupids, stood on each side to fan her. Her maids were dressed like Sea Nymphs and Graces, some steering at the rudder, some working at the ropes...perfumes diffused themselves from the vessel to the shore” (Plutarch, 1916). Like all Ptolemies, Cleopatra spared no expense. This quote by Plutarch excessively illustrates her arrival in Tarsus, emphasising her exquisiteness of not just herself but her subjects that stood beside her gracefully. It was at this meeting Cleopatra completely won over the likes of Marc Antony who in no time became her lover, husband and father to three of her children. Marc was completely overtaken by Cleopatra that he was prepared to divorce his wife Octavia to be with her.

Before the battle at Actium, Cleopatra and Octavian were undergoing a war of propaganda, back and forth between Egypt and the Roman Republic. In 33 B.C Antony divorced with his wife Octavia and then claimed that Caesarion was the true legitimate heir to Julius Caesar (not Octavian) calling Caesarion the "King of Kings”. Even though there is no evidence or sources that suggest that Caesarion was the biological son of Caesar. Octavian was outraged with this claim by Antony and persuaded the senate to declare war on Cleopatra, knowing Antony would support her and be drawn into the battle. After an embarrassing defeat in the battle at Actium against Octavian, Cleopatra returned to Egypt with Marc Antony. Horace described Cleopatra’s defeat at Actium in his poem, “Cleopatra had planned in hate to smash the Capital and to sack the conquered Roman State. She and her plotted gang, diseased and vile, went mad with heady dreams of baseless pride” (Horace, 35 B.C). This primary source indicates Cleopatra’s love and pride for her country, it suggests she would do anything to benefit her rule.
The defeat lead on to her and Antony’s suicide as Octavian’s forces overtook the capital. Marc Antony heard rumours of Cleopatra’s death and fell on to his sword just as the news of the rumour being false arrived. Marc Antony died just moments later. After hearing the news of Marc’s death, Cleopatra had his body buried and secretly planned to join him on the other side. Cleopatra’s death is a heavily disputed topic among historians. It is said she committed suicide through the bite of an asp, which has extremely poisonous venom that killed her almost instantly. According to historian account, she was the last active pharaoh of ancient Egypt. It is unknown whether her son Caesarion ruled for a short time after her death but the truth of the matter is no one really knows. “Cleopatra sent to Caesar a letter which she had written and sealed; and, putting everybody out of the monument but her two women, she shut the doors. Caesar, opening her letter, and finding pathetic prayers and entreaties that she might be buried in the same tomb with Antony, soon guessed what was doing. At first he was going himself in all haste, but, changing his mind, he sent others to see. The thing had been quickly done. The messengers came at full speed, and found the guards apprehensive of nothing; but on opening the doors, they saw her stone-dead, lying upon a bed of gold, set out in all her royal ornaments. Iras, one of her women, lay dying at her feet, and Charmion, just ready to fall, scarce able to hold up her head, was adjusting her mistress's diadem. And when one that came in said angrily, 'Was this well done of your lady, Charmion?' 'Extremely well,' she answered, 'and as became the descendant of so many kings'; and as she said this, she fell down dead by the bedside” (Plutarch, 1916).
Memories of her life have vanished to monuments and places that have fallen to ruins after a millennium. With Marc Antony and Cleopatra out of the way, Egypt subsequently fell into the hands of Octavian. Egypt then became part of the Roman Empire. Cleopatra, a woman of surpassing beauty and most striking persona, possessed the most charming voice and elegance through all her interactions. Through the control of very powerful men she restored the prosperity and well being of Egypt. From the moment she ascended the Egyptian throne she characterised herself as the goddess Isis and subsequently gained the support of her people through her profound knowledge and multilingualism. For a woman to hold such great power in ancient society was extremely rare, yet with this she accomplished so much; wielded power that suppressed insurgence, controlled and influenced a currency and alleviated a famine. Who knew her legacy would become one of the most famous names in our history today.