Egypts Greatest Ruler Cleopatra The Misunderstood

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Egypt's Greatest Ruler: Cleopatra the Misunderstood Mistress

Jocelyn C. Royer

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In the time of ancient civilizations, Egypt was one to take note of in particular. A

magnificent empire situated in Africa that was centred along the coast of the Nile

River, the source of all life for ancient Egyptians at the time. As exaggerated as it

may seem the Nile was life for them just as their ruler was supreme. This country

was ruled by a Pharaoh rather than a King. The Pharaoh was more than a King

for the Egyptians, he was a leader and ideally a God in the eyes of his people.

But who was considered Egypt's greatest ruler? A genius among the many that

there were. Egypt’s last and final ruler was not one to be reckoned with, but as

well not the commonly thought male figure that usually ruled over an entire

civilization such as this one. This leader was a woman and one who's actions

went down in history for all to see.

Contrary to popular opinion Cleopatra's accession to the thrown and her

reign as one of Egypt's greatest rulers was not because she was a promiscuous

beautiful maiden but rather the fact that she was an individual of high intellect, a

persuasive speaker and a political prodigy.

Although many factors prominently played their part in Cleopatra's

life and why she was considered the great ruler many individuals saw her to be,

the one ingredient to this recipe that was of the utmost importance was her

intelligence and knowledge. It clearly states in the following: "She had an

Egyptians belief in the absolute power of the Pharaoh, and a Greeks reverence

for knowledge and learning." (Hunt, 2008). What this demonstrates about her is

that Cleopatra saw the importance of intelligence and that the means to attain

power was evidently through the intake of knowledge by research and study. Her

heritage and background aloud her to see the importance of knowledge and

learning all together relating back to the Greek interpretation of schooling and

education. She would then combine it with the Egyptian understanding of

complete and utter control to attain power. Most significantly relating back to the

thesis, this is a relevant and critical point because it gave her the possibility to be

able to gain the ability to learn and use other perspectives that she would use

latter on in her life as methods of persuasion and seduction. She was raised in

an environment were there was a complete fusion between Greek and Egyptian

cultures. This allowed her to not only understand one perspective but many in

terms of history and culture. This brought diversity into her life and it gave her the

understanding to know the difference between things whether they be simple or

complex.

Looking further into culture Cleopatra was brought up in a city that was

considered one of the most cultured in the world during the era of classical

civilizations, the city of Alexandria. It was named after Alexander the Great, the

founding father of the Ptolemaic dynasty and a individual who appreciated

education and learning. Ironically the city was also known as the capitol of

learning, a place that would raise many teachers and philosophers of their time.

In fact many scholars and philosophers even began to move to Alexandria

because it became a place for teaching and learning. In the quote: "The ancient

library of Alexandria. The library was the centre of Cleopatra's world, said to have

held 700,000 scrolls collected by her ancestors." (Hunt, 2008). It explains that

the library of Alexandria was the source that fed all of her hunger for learning. In

doing so she was offered the opportunity to attain vast knowledge in all aspects

of life at the time, helping expand her thoughts and ideas on a whole new scale.

Quite relevant to the thesis because she could use this to her advantage as a

ruler, the library not only provided her with the knowledge and perception of

many teachers and scholars but as well gave her the chance to learn from

previous historical periods' mistakes and try to change what they did wrong or

add to whatever they were missing at the time. Hence she gained insight on

different ideas and stories that were written on scrolls. In the end this would only

further her understanding of the world and all of its mechanics.

As far as knowledge and understanding goes, it leads to more specific

elements of Cleopatra's personality that made her one of Egypt's greatest rulers.

This factor being her ability and skill as a speaker. Known internationally

throughout the classical era for her persuasive and compelling monologues with

some of the most powerful rulers in history that she undoubtedly lured in with her

words of compulsion. Proof of her proficiency in speaking, "She was taught to

speak 9 or 10 languages." (Elston, 2009). Being the only Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt

to actually learn how to speak and even write in the native Egyptian language. It

takes an individual with a passion for learning and speaking to actually take the

time to learn multiple languages and understand them. Cleopatra was not only

multilingual in the way that she could speak all of the languages she learned

but she could also read and write in those languages. A crucial element relating

back to the thesis, this point has huge importance because Cleopatra wanted to

get her point across any way that she could even if that meant learning new

languages. Being the only Ptolemaic ruler to learn Egyptian possibly showed her

people that she cared enough about them to learn it, while it was more likely

to be one of her many methods of manipulation and persuasive speaking when

thought about more clearly.

Regarding her ability as a manipulative and ambitious speaker, Cleopatra

often had many particular moments in her life where she could display her ability

to try and get her way. She often used this ability to form alliances with the

different empires when she felt Egypt was unsafe or her position was in danger

of being taken from her altogether. This is evident in the quote: "Antony

summoned her to Tarsus in Cilicia, she responded eagerly. Matching her

preparations to the man whose weaknesses she knew, she dazzled Antony and

bent him to her will." (Houghton, 2002). Cleopatra knew that her relationship with

Caesar was going to perish and soon enough his position would be taken over or

he would be killed. She saw the opportunity in this situation to seduce Mark

Antony with her eloquent words and ideas. An essential factor that is hugely

significant to the thesis, What people don't understand about Cleopatra was that

she wasn't just getting what she wanted because she was beautiful but rather

she understood that advantage and used it in a flirtatious manner to persuade

and manipulate whoever she wanted into doing her chores. She was smart

enough to comprehend that she had an advantage so why not use it. Cleopatra

went to extraordinary lengths to try and save her empire that she even enveloped

herself in a carpet to get into Caesars palace to try and dazzle him.

Last but surely not least, even though vast knowledge and great speaking

skills were great assets to Cleopatra's reign as Pharaoh they would've only been

semi-effective if not for her understanding of politics at an immeasurable level.

Being the daughter of the previous ruler of Egypt and so forth even back to the

beginning of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was able to witness the evolution of

politics and government through learning about the history of her forefathers

reigns. In the quote: "She learned her political lessons by watching the

humiliating efforts of her father to maintain himself on the throne of Egypt by

buying the support of powerful Romans." (Gale, 1998). This explains that

Cleopatra was taught lessons based on politics at a very young age, and

latter on used them as an advantage but also motivation to succeed and not

make the same mistakes her father did. This relates to the thesis completely

because Cleopatra was a political inspiration and had a captivating way of

speaking that attracted almost every individual she met. Even latter on in her life

she used this skill to her benefit. Her meeting with Caesar was usually portrayed

as a seduction on her behalf but it had vast political significance. Although it

seems she became his mistress it is clear that they also became partners,

instead of surrendering she formed an alliance and it's rumoured that she

seduced him not sexually but persuasively with her words.

Regarding her political prowess, Cleopatra had created her own form of

propaganda that would inescapably entice her people once again to admire and

see her as godly altogether. In the following statement: "In the Edfu temple,

during its build Cleopatra depicted herself in statues and portraits as the Egyptian

god Isis, but it was also hugely implied that Caesar was depicted as Horus."

(Hunt, 2008). Cleopatra was stating to her people that she was not only their

Pharaoh and ruler but one of their God's as well. She depicted herself as the

Goddess Isis, the Goddess of fertility who also watched over the Nile. This was

an excellent move on her behalf because regardless of the fact that she was

being looked up to and idolized before, now she was being worshipped as a

higher deity and this had compelled them completely to look at her only positively

and with worshipping intentions. This is significant to the thesis because it was a

very cunning move on her behalf, she used Egypt’s religion and beliefs as a way

to display and enforce political propaganda thus making people conform to her in

some way or another. It's as if she almost did it as a way to get their trust and to

make them feel like she truly felt she was Egyptian. She even displayed huge

interest in their culture, portraits of her were found dressed in complete historical

and traditional Egyptian garments. She even made the effort to adapt her entire

lifestyle to coexist with their own.

In conclusion, though it may seem Cleopatra was only a pretty face with a

alluring attitude she truly displayed the qualities of a great and memorable ruler

and leader. Although there were multiple factors in her life that threatened her

position on the thrown such as her relationship with her brothers and the

potential conquering of Egypt by both Rome and Greece. This only motivated

and determined her to manipulate and persuade her way to the top, she was

Egypt's greatest ruler by far. Even in her death she displayed how she was the

one to have the last word, paying attention to Cleopatra's life and history as a

whole she truly was an individual of high intellect, a persuasive speaker and a

political prodigy.