Cleopatra+VII+and+Ptolemy+Dynasty

Cleopatra and the Ptolemy Dynasty by Hayes Cleopatra VII was born in 69 B.C. in Alexandria. Her father Ptolemy XII was currently pharaoh and her mother is unknown. Many historians believe that her mother could be the sister or cousin and wife of Ptolemy, or even another Ptolematic family member. During this time it was very common for family members to get married to one another in order to keep the throne in their name. Her family could be traced back to the Macedonian house of the Lagid Ptolemies. They took the throne after Alexander the great died. Ptolemy I began their dynasty in 306 B.C. and their family remained in the throne till the death of Cleopatra. Ptolemy spoiled his children and wanted to live a life of luxury. They always ate the best food and had the highest quality of clothe for all of their clothing. While he gave them everything they could want he also gave them their own tutor. He believed that education was very important and key to life. Cleopatra VII studied music, art, medicine, literature, and philosophy. During this she became fluent in six different languages; Latin, Greek, Egyptian, Aramaic, Ethiopic, and Hebrew. She and her siblings as well soon began to learn about the power their father had and all of the political status around them and they all wanted to have some control. The Ptolemy family lived very well, but since everyone wanted power it put a toll on the relationships. Cleopatra had seen family members kill one another in order to get closer to having power and learned that no one could be trusted. The all seemed to do whatever it would take to attain the throne. Cleopatra had to rely on her intelligence to get her to the top of the throne. Cleopatra is portrayed as an Egyptian Goddess with long black hair, dark-tan skin, and piercing beauty; but in reality she was none of this. She was the ugly sister with fairer skin and light brown (almost blond) hair. Despite all of Cleopatra’s physical features she represented herself as an Egyptian Goddess. She accomplished this by learning to speak Egyptian, when her dynasty had refused to do so in the past, and used her political and persuading powers to rule in such a powerful manner. Cleopatra’s father’s court was covered with violence and corruption. She learned at a young age what not to do from her older sister’s and her father. Ptolemy XII fled Egypt and went to Rome leaving the throne to the other Cleopatra, Cleopatra VI Tryphaena. Cleopatra VI soon died after receiving the crown and some Historians say Berenice IV, the middle sister, poisoned her to receive sole ruler ship. Berenice IV ruled until her father came back with the Roman general and captured back Alexandria. Berenice was imprisoned and killed shortly afterwards. Ptolemy XII was the pharaoh again and Cleopatra now ruled jointly at the age of 14. Ptolemy died in 51 B.C. Cleopatra was a woman pharaoh in a time when men ruled and married her brother Ptolemy XIII to have joint monarchs. They began ruling at a time when Egypt was not doing well and made their reign very difficult. They had to deal with political conflicts, famine, no floods from the Nile, and economic struggles. The ministers could manage ten year old Ptolemy much easier than Cleopatra. They managed to blame these hard times on Cleopatra herself. Cleopatra and Ptolemy broke down and she ended up dropping his name. She also started to appear on coins by herself, which was against their dynasties traditions. This led to Cleopatra being driven out of Egypt in 48 B.C. Once Cleopatra was exiled by her own brother and husband she had to turn to Roman power for support. After presenting herself to Caesar in a rolled up carpet, Ptolemy was killed in 47 B.C. Cleopatra still had a younger brother and married him when he was eleven. This is when her love affair with Caesar began. Soon after Cleopatra gave birth to a baby boy, Caesarion he was granted co-ruler after the death of her second husband Ptolemy. Caesarion soon died after as well Cleopatra had no other family members to marry and she became the first sole female pharaoh. She knew she would have to keep the Egyptians on her side or she would easily be over throne. She was the first in her dynasty to be able to speak the locals’ language, where past pharaohs never took time to even try and learn. She also took on the role of Isis, who is the Egyptian goddess of the heavens even though she was Greek. Cleopatra had the people’s loyalty.