Ancient Egypt

Cleopatra VII Philopator
70/69 – 30 B.C.
Queen of Egypt.



   

• Daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes (117- 51 BC) , probably by Cleopatra V Tryphaena (ca 70-69 BC)
• Succeeded her father Ptolemy XII with her brother Ptolemy XIII in 51 BC
• Was expelled from Egypt in mid 48 BC.
• Restored to power in August 48 B.C. by Julius Caesar. With her brother Ptolemy XIV as co-ruler.
• Associated as senior ruler with her son Ptolemy XV probably 4 th September 44 BC
• Died in 30 B.C.
  

Ptolemy XII, father of Cleopatra

• Julius Caesar, (100 -  44 BC) A Roman military and political leader.
• Ptolemy XIII (62 - 47 B.C) Joined forces with his sister Arsinoe against his other sister Cleopatra VII. Said to have drowned while trying to cross the Nile in January 47 BC.
• Ptolemy XIV (60 - 44 BC) Co-ruler with Cleopatra 47 - 44 BC. Cleopatra is rumoured to have poisened her younger brother so she could place her son Caesarion on the throne.
• Marc Anthony,  (82 - 30 BC), A Roman politician and general. He was an important supporter of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator. After Caesar's assassination, Antony allied with Octavian and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus to form the second triumvirate. The triumvirate broke up in 33 BC and the disagreement turned to civil war in 31 BC, in which Antony was defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium and then at Alexandria. (from wikipedia)

• Ptolemy XV Caesarion, probably son of Julius Caesar.
• Alexander Helios, twins born of Marc Anthony. Born 40 B.C.
• Cleopatra Selene, twins born of Marc Anthony. Born 40 B.C. Later married to Juba II of Mauretania.
• Ptolemy Philadelphus, youngest son with Marc Anthony. Born 36 B.C.

Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV Caesarion at the temple of Dendera

• Berenice IV: Ruled as queen with Cleopatra VI, ( =? Cleopatra V), possibly coregent with Archelaus, deposed by Ptolemy XII, executed by him shortly thereafter.
• Arsinoe IV. She was declared queen of Egypt in opposition to Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII. Captured by Julius Caesar and marched in triumph in Rome. Executed by Antony allegedly at the request of Cleopatra VII, probably buried in Ephesus
• Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV younger brothers who at some point were married to Cleopatra.
• Cleopatra VI Tryphaena (II) ?: Possibly an older (half-) sister of Cleopatra VII. The records are somewhat confusing. Some think There was no second Cleopatra Tryphaena. The proponents of one individual named Cleopatra Tryphaena think that she was the wife of Ptolemy Auletes and the mother of all of his known children. This means that Cleopatra Tryphaena and her daughter Berenice would have ruled as motehr and daughter, before being removed from power by Ptolemy Auletes. Others think that Cleopatra Tryphaena (II) was a daughter of the elder Cleopatra Tryphaena and ruled with her sister Berenice. A third theory is that Cleopatra VI was a sister of Ptolemy Auletes and hence an aunt of Cleopatra VII Philopator.
  

People from the time of Cleopatra VII

         

Left: A Stela depicting Cleopatra offering to Isis.
Right: A statue thought by some to depict Cleopatra.