Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-05-26
HISTO RVS
MYSTERIES
The Death of Cleopatra

ucatH, hHu, Ddslilb their reply upon
the statements found In the usual
history and the filmed versions of the
career OF the Egyptian princess. they
will answer: "She committed suicide
by permitting an asp to sting her."
But put the same question to Plu-
tarch. master historian of his time
and admitted expert upon matters
connected with the history OF Rome
and Its neIghboring nations. and the
answer will be found upon the pages
of his history: 4What really took
place Is known to no one"
There. summed up In q sentence,
Is the truth about the death OF Cleo
patra. so far as 1t has been definitely
and automatically ascertained up to
the present time. In fact 1t Is sus-
ceptible OF being boiled down into two
words-"Nobody knows"-with the ad-
dition of the statement that 1t Is ex-
tremely doubtful II anyone ever will
know, unless the sphinx gives up its
secrets or some hidden recess Of the
pyramids Is uncovered which contains
the truth about the final days OF her
who was called the most beautiful Of
queens, but who was described BY
Plutarch In the following words:
Her actual beauty. 1t n said, was
not In itself 30 remarkable that none
could be compared with her or that
no one could see her without being
struck by 1t, but the contact Of her
presence, II you lived with her. was
Irresistible. The attraction OF her
person joining with the charm of her
conversation and the, character that
attended all she said and did. was
something bewitchlng. 1t was 4 pleas
ure merely to hear the sound Of her
voice, with which. like an instrument
Of many strings, she could pass from
one language to another. SO that there
were few even among the barbarian
nations that she answered through
an interpreter"
Born In Alexandria. in B. G. 60, Cleo
patra shared the dominion over Egypt
with her brother rtoemy when she
was only eighteen. but, some three
years later, she was dethroned by
those who adhered to her brothers
standard. About this time Julius
Caesar arrived In Egypt and fell vic
tim to the charms OF the siren queen,
assisting her to regain her throne
and she, In turn. presented him with
a son, Caesarion. born during her stay
In Rome where she remained until
Caesars assassination In the senate,
when she returned TO Egypt.
About three years utter another
noble Roman cast Ills shadow across
the career OF the beautiful Egyptian
this time the handsome Mark An
thony. friend OF the murdered Caesar
and newly appointed ruler OF Asia
and the East Summoned before An
thony OH charge OF having given
assistance TO his enemies, Cleopatra.
according to the description which
Ptutarch gives. ''eame sailing to him
In barge with gilded stern and nui
spread sails Of purple while oars 81
silver beat time to the music Of flutes
and flies and harps. She herself lay
all alone under canopy OF cloth of
gold, dressed rs Venus In picture.
and beautiful young boys. like painted
cuplds, stood on each side to fan
her. Her maids were dressed like
sen nymnhs and graces, some steering
at the rudder, some working ut the
ropes"
As a result, the positions Of capsor
and captive were reversed for. as rn
tarch continues. Were Anthony serI
Gus or disposed to mirth. Cleopatra
had nj any moment some new delight
or charm to meet his wishes; nj every
turn she was upon him and let him
escape her neither by day nor hy |
night. She played at dice with him.
drank with him. hunted with him
sndeNWhen he exercised In arms, she
HHs lfere 10 see.
Anthony's divorce of his wife. sister
o the Emperor Augustus, which fol.
owed his infatuaton for the Egyptian
led to war between his forces
ind the Romans and TO Anihony's 4
uicde when he received false re-
'ort OF Cleopatra's death. This re.
'ort, however. WAS false only with
aspect to time. for only a short time
fterward the former queen OF Egypt
hut herself Inside the tomb OF her
ioman lover and when soldiers finally
orced the doors they found her ny.
lg upon bed OF gold, set out In all /
er royal ornaments, dead" n
Bnt how did she accomplish her H
e8th?
The most generally accepted story ;
the account of the asp. which some
ay was struggled to her In basket
I fruit. while others declare that
ie queen had prepared for just such
q emergency and had kept an asp In
vase for months. But why an asp
comparatively large snake, when d
nall viper would have been quite
! deady7 Why not poison. which
ould have Left no marks upon the
,dy which she loved 70 dearly?
Moreover, once more to quote Plu.
a.. 8ttt