El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-15
Great Women of History
CIeOpatra-Egypt's Most Brilliant
Queen.
By Madison c. Peter


~ LEOPATRA, the most renowned
among several Egyptian princes
ses bearing that name, the eldest
surviving daughter of Ptolemy AiIetes,
Egypts Greek line of kings, was born
60 B. C, and in accordance with Egyp-
tian custom, became The wife of Pto-
Iemy's eldest son, her younger brother.
with whom she shared the throne at
the age Of Il. Deprived by her guar
dams of all royal authority when they
found they could not use her TO their
enrichment and expelled from the CITY.
she collected an army in Syria. from
the dependencies of Arabia and Pales-
tine. and fought for her rights by force
of arms.
Julius Caesar had just overthrow
Pompey and was pursuing him to Alex
andria, and capJivated by Cleopatra's
charms, seconded her claims and pro
cured to her, her share Of the throne
To gain Caesars notice, this brilliant
beautiful, Self-Willed creature who
could speak seven languages, had her
self smuSSled into the great warriors
presence IN a gSll of carpet carried by
her slaves. When the carpet was un-
rolled, the great Caesar was captiYated
by her charms.
Captivates julius Caesar.
Her brother PtOlemy being killed in
a battle on the Nile, Cleopatra was Civ
en- her youngest brother, then II years
old, as husband by Caesar, Caesar
continued some time at CleOpatra's
court and after his departure she gov
erned unmOlested- With her son by
Caesar, she went to Rome and lived in
palace near the Tiber as Caesars
VIE TO the great disgust of the blue
bloOded prOfligates of Rome disgust
not due to the fact that they were
purer, but because Cleopatra was a for
eigner- When her boy husband de-
manded at a, his share in the govern
ment she poisoned him.
Caesars ASA EEina ffOn A oor7
PEELED Cleopatra to return to Egypt
subsequently during the civil troubles
at Rome. she took AntOny's part on
WhOm she had already made an impress
sion in her earlier years. when he
was campaigning in Egypt. When An
tony was in Cilicia she sailed up the
Cydnus IN a gorgeously decked galley
arrayed IN all that oriental splendor
depicted by Shakespeare. She was now
-, IN the fullrleSS Of her Greek beauty
antony became at once her slave. and
the winter of B. c 4O-41 was spent in
widest revelry and most wa0tOn lux
ury, the couple claiming to be the gods
Osiris and Isis.
Follows Antony.
She followed Antony in his march
against the Parthians and when he
parted from her on the Euphrates he
bestowed Cyrine, Cyprus. CoeIosvria.
Fhoenicia, CiIicia ana crete oTS her
10 which at her request he added part
OF Judea and Arabia. which brought
on the war between Augustus and AM
tony After divOrcing himself from Oc-
tavia and enjoying himself with Gle
opatra at Ephesus. SamOs and Athens,
Tor a year, Antony at last determined
10 decide the contest by naval battle
at Acrlum. Cleopatra. who had brOu.rht
Antony a reinforcement of so vessels
suddenly took flight, and Antony fol-
lowed her to Egypt and declared 10
Augustus that If Egypt were left TO
CleOpatra's children he would live in
Oh n -1rf d
succeeded so easily with Julius and
Antony failed TO move the younger
caesar, and though he granted her IN
interview, he marched upon Alexau-
orla, which Antony defended. Antony
supposing Augustus private messages
OF pacl1icauOn to be treacherOus
sought to avenge himself by her DEAN
Escaping to the mausoleum. which she
had erected near the temple of Isis
she caused the report Of her suicide 10
De spread, WhreuPOn Antony threw
himself upon his sword, and upon
learning that Cleopatra was still liv-
her presence and died in her arms.
Plans for Death.
Augustus succeeded in getting Cleo
patra IN his power, who still hoped TO
art availed not and realizing that ner
life was spared only that she might
grace the cOnquerors victory. and 7
rather than submit to be carried as
plAooAtE " celebrate a roman rrl-
umph," she caused a splendid feast to
be prepared by her faithful attendants.
Iris and CHAIRMAN, to array her in her
royal robes and crown and then placed
an asp, which had been smuCgled to
her, concealed amOnng flowers, on her
arm, the bite of which caused her
death almost immediately-sO the last
queen of ancient Egypt passed away j
30 3. c., in her 39th year, after reign
ing Y years, and with this singularly
cultivated and resOurceful woman
ended the dynasty of the PtOlemies and
Egypt became a Roman province