Page 76 - All About History - Issue 18-14

CLEOPATRA’SRUTHLESSRISETOPOWER

AGODD
AMONG

MORTA

After the birth of Caesarion, Cleopa
finally rid herself of the irritating re
tohaveamaleco-rulerandchange
from female king to that of divine m
Thiswouldhavebeeneagerlyadop
byherEgyptianandGreeksubjects
were already very much aware of t
famous and beloved mother in myt
–Isis.WiththeEgyptianroyaltyalre
firmlylinkedtodivinebeingsitwou
take much effort for Cleopatra to p
herselfasavisionoftheidealquee
wifeandmother.Shewasquickto
coins bearing her image with the su
Caesarionatherbreast,aninstantl
recognisable depiction of Isis, the m
all. To further encourage the cult, s
dressed in the ceremonial robes of
goddessandin34BCEshewasgiv
title‘NewIsis.’Thecultprovedtob
successful that to this day archaeol
andhistoriansstruggletodistinguis
betweenstatuesoftheEgyptiango
and the queen who became her.
Isis
GODDESS OF HEALTH, MARRIAG
Howpowerfulwasshe?
Isis was firmly associated with king
wasportrayedasthemotherofpha
wellascapableofusingmagicstron
defy death.
What’s her story?
Isis was the daughter of the god of
ofthesky,marriedherbrotherOsir
motherofHorus.Itwassaidthatsh
Osiris after he was murdered by Se
wasbelievedtomanifestitselfinth
oftheNile,whichwasvitalforEgy
was celebrated every year in rituals
prominent and revered figure throu

The ‘dictator in perpetuity’ as he would come The young Ptolemy XIII awoke the next day, Egypt. The country they fought for would
tobeknowninRometoweredoverthesmall notexpectinghisdangerousoldersistertohave paytheprice,andinDecemberof48BCEthe
woman;shewouldhavetocraneherheadtolook even made it to the palace. When he discovered famousstonecityofAlexandriawassetalight,
himintheeye,sherealisedinstantly.Hewasfar thatnotonlywasshethere,buthadalsoseduced destroyingnotonlythelivesofhundredsof
olderthantheyoung,boldEgyptianqueen Caesarovernightintojoininghercause,itwas citizens, but also the world-famous library that
and his receding hairline was poorly e final straw. Screaming in desperation housed countless priceless manuscripts. When
disguised. The general was past his he fled from the palace, tore his crown Caesar’s reinforcements poured into the city from
physicalprime,buthehadjustwon fromhisheadandfelltohisknees. PergamumPtolemy’sforceswerefinallydefeated.
hisgreatestvictory.Thiswasher Hissisterhaddoneitagain.Shewas Theyoungandimpetuouskingtriedtofleeacross
firsttimegazingupontheRoman completely and utterly impossible theNileinanovercrowdedboatbuthisvessel
celebrity known the world over, but togetridoffand,evenasthecrowd sank, dragging him and his elaborate, heavy
thiswasalsothefirsttimehewas surgedforwardinprotest,Caesarcould golden armour down with it.
facing her. Her brother was a child, not be swayed. The siblings would rule OnePtolemywasdead,butanotherstilllived.
amerepuppetpharaohonstrings, Egypttogether,justastheirfatherhad Ptolemy XIV, Cleopatra’s 13-year-old brother,
Cleopatra’s image on a
dancingtothepullsofhiscorrupt silver coin intended. Rome had spoken. became her husband and co-ruler immediately
advisors,butshehadbeengranted Theapparentpeacedidnotlastlong. afterherbrother’sdeath.Shemighthavehad
with all the charm, intelligence and Already poisoned by the ambitious Caesar’s support, but tradition was still tradition
ambition of her forefathers. She would steal Caesar whispers that had fed his youth, Ptolemy joined and a lone woman could not rule Egypt. As for
andRome’ssupportwhileherbrotherslept;her withhisrebellioussisterArsinoeIV.Between Caesar,hehadputinplaceareliablepartnership
charisma would succeed where her brother’s themtheyamassedanarmylargeenough andEgyptwas,forallintentsandpurposes,a
sword had failed. to challenge Cleopatra and Caesar’s forces in Romanterritory.Inalavishdisplayofthenew

76