Discovery Channel's Cleopatra Doc. Summary

CLEOPATRA VII SUMMARY Thea Philopator, Philadelphus, Thea Neotera, Regina Regum Filiorum Regum, Queen of Egypt. The last member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the last Greek ruler of Egypt. One of the world’s most controversial and ever influential rulers. Cleopatra stands out. Unlike many women of her day, Cleopatra was an avid intellectual. When she came to power at just 18 years of age, Cleopatra was highly educated, spoke several languages and was mature beyond her years. Her abilities were evident early on as she helped Egypt survive a severe drought and launched lucrative economic reforms. Yet her position was precarious. Her father had left the country in civil turmoil, and Cleopatra faced the constant threat of assassination by siblings who also wanted to rule. In addition, the Roman Empire was emerging on Egypt's doorstep and were attracted to Egypt's vast wealth and agricultural resources. Cleopatra's famous alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony were as political as they were personal. Through them, Cleopatra shrewdly secured her throne and preserved Egypt's status as an independent nation for more than 20 years, despite the increasing power of Rome. Cleopatra’s reign ended with her suicide, at the age of 39, after she and Antony were defeated by Octavian, Caesar’s heir, at the Battle of Actium. It is believed that she chose the bite from an Egyptian cobra snake (asp) as the means of her death to insure her immortality as a goddess.

REACTION There’s something with the name, Cleopatra. When I first heard of it, there’s only one person that comes into my mind. Cleopatra. Queen of Egypt. Woman and wife to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Cleopatra was indeed a face of beauty. Of luxury. Of power. Of failure. She is charming. One of a kind. Ruler of Egypt at the age of 18. Who would have thought that an eighteen year old would be in such extremes when it comes to political strategy? To planning? Sure you can always count on her, but not too often. She’s as smart as the fox who successfully eats the gingerbread man in the story, The Gingerbead Man. She’s like a rose – beautiful, blooming, and has torns. Sure looks can be deceiving, what more (her) thinking? Cleopatra's foothold in Roman history is undeniable. She is a fascinating subject to study in the realm of women's history, as well as Roman history, because she puts in a nutshell the cunning of the legendary military leaders, and does not follow the traditional role of a woman of her time. Though she was a concubine, she was not a sexual slave. Though she was a wife, she was certainly not subservient. She was strong. Intellectual. Cleopatra knew what she wanted, and how to get it. Her legendary status as one of the most notorious leaders in ancient history is well deserved and unquestionable. Who else can make another Cleopatra? A greater, powerful, and captivating Cleopatra?

History has it. Beauty and Brains – beauty inside out. Cleopatra. The portrait of success and tragedy. Goddess to Egypt. Once she came into that thrown, for Egypt, to Egypt. To Rome. To her sons. For herself. And everything else, she made history. History alive. History that may be repeated, ofcourse in another way around. And what was my question again? Ay, Who else can make another Cleopatra? My answer is, time will come. Time will tell.