Egyptian queen. Nefertiti Egyptian queen

Women rulers of Egypt

A woman in Egypt is more than a woman. She is also a queen. The fact is that in Ancient Egypt elements of matriarchy were preserved for a long time. It should be remembered that the pharaohs ascended the throne after marrying an heiress. Although it happened that women became rulers of Egypt... True, not many names of female rulers have survived: Egyptian queen 1st dynasty – Merietnit (about 3000 BC); Hetepheres I, wife of Pharaoh Snofru and mother of Khufu; mother of two kings of the V dynasty - Khentkaus; the first female pharaoh - Neytikert; female pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom era - Nefrusebek, who reigned for 3 years; Queen Hatshepsut; Akhenaten's mother Queen Tiya; Nefertiti; divine Cleopatra and others. Margaret Murray in the book “The Splendor of Egypt” describes the nature of the relationship between the sexes and marriage laws: “Marriage laws Ancient Egypt have never been formulated, and can only be known by studying marriages and genealogy. Then it becomes clear why the pharaoh married the heiress, not paying attention to incest, and if the heiress died, then he married another heiress. Thus, he remained in power... the throne passed strictly through the female line. The king's wife was the heiress. Having married her, the king assumed the throne. Royal origin did not play any role. The contender for the throne could be of any origin, but if he married the queen, he immediately became king. The queen was a queen by birth, the king became a king by marrying her.” And yet, it was not easy for an Egyptian woman to reach such social heights. The traditions of male dominance still made themselves felt in ancient times.

Queen Hatshepsut's expedition to Punt. Relief from the temple at Deir el-Bahri

One of the first queens was the great and incomparable Hatshepsut. She ruled as a man and gave the pharaonic titles “feminine endings” (on temple scenes she was depicted with a masculine build, her face adorned with a tied beard). Her reign contributed greatly to the fact that Egypt turned into world power first rank. The Theban queens contribute to the expulsion of the Hyksos from the country. Note that this led to the emergence of the New Kingdom. A number of women from the pharaoh's entourage took part in conspiracies, as was the case with the concubine of Ramesses III. Unlike other countries, a woman in Egypt could become a ruler (except in Rus' and Britain, a woman was a queen).

Monuments were erected to the queens. This was the tomb of the beautiful wife of Ramesses II, Nefertari, “the one for whom the sun shines.” Alas, the divine Nefertari left early for another world. A tomb was carved for her in the rocks of the Valley of the Queens, the most beautiful monument of the necropolis. The paintings occupy 520 square meters there. m. This is one of the best works of art of the New Kingdom era. Above the portico today you can read the words: “Hereditary nobility, Great in grace, beauty, sweetness and love, Lady of Upper and Lower Egypt, calm Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari, Beloved of Mut.” Although Diodorus in the Historical Library says that among the Egyptians “the queen has more power and receives more honors than the king,” she still has to rely on men to rule. Even the powerful Hatshepsut sought support in the temple nobility and was forced to rely on stewards and priests. She called them “the chief of dignitaries,” “the chief of chiefs,” “the chief of chiefs,” “the greatest of the great,” etc. This allowed her to be in power for 20 years. At the same time, her long reign serves as indisputable proof that “a brilliant woman, being the head of state, can bring glory to a great people and ensure its prosperity.”

The interior of one of the halls of Nefertari's tomb. Valley of the Kings

In Mesopotamia and among the ancient Jews, girls entered marriageable age at 11–12 years old, and in Egypt even earlier - from 6 years old. Typically, Egyptian women get married at age 15 or even earlier, becoming grandmothers at age 30. Love is translated as “long desire.” It would be more correct to translate this word as “early desire.” Patriarchal relations reign in the Egyptian family. Divorces were rare. The main reason for divorce was the lack of children. If a woman initiated a divorce, she had to return half or a third of the property (amount) to her husband. If the initiator of the divorce was a man, he lost everything. One of the surviving documents (a kind of marriage contract) stated: “If I hate you or if I love another man, I will return your silver to you and give up any right to the land.” This kind of agreement was necessary, because marriages in Egypt were concluded not only between newlyweds.

People got married different ages who were previously married. And here it was impossible to do without defining property rights, including land rights. It was also important that if a woman decided to divorce, common child, apparently, stayed with his father. It is characteristic that among the Aramaic population women enjoyed even greater privileges. So, they did not work and often acted as the main housekeepers in the family. They could give a loan to a man and, as they say, were the head of the family, holding men firmly in their hands. Maspero writes about the position of the then Egyptian woman in such a spirit that some of her contemporaries in Europe might even envy her: “An Egyptian woman from the common people and the middle classes enjoys more respect and independence than anywhere else. As a daughter, she inherits from her parents a share equal to that of her brothers; as a wife, she is the true mistress of the house (nibit pi), whose husband is nothing more than a beloved guest. She leaves and returns whenever she pleases, talks to whomever she wants, and no one interferes with it; she appears before men with her face uncovered, in contrast to Syrian women, who are always wrapped in a more or less dense veil.” And yet, recognizing the significant role of Egyptian women, we also note that the man occupied the first places in the hierarchy.

Nefertari's profile

The Egyptians adored their mothers, wives, brides, daughters... Abbas Mahmoud al-Akkad wrote: “We cannot understand how conservative or ready for rebellion an Egyptian is if we do not understand his love for the family and his devotion to traditions and family customs. He is a conservative in the sense of preserving the family heritage, and in the name of this preservation of conservatism, he is ready to rebel in order to protect his traditions. An Egyptian can forget everything except the sense of leniency, mercy and norms of behavior in his family.” Sage of Times Ancient kingdom Ptahhotep, who left a book of wise advice for posterity for edification, wrote: “If you are a person of high position, you should start your own house and love your wife as it should be. Fill her belly and clothe her body; cover her skin with oil. Let her heart rejoice as long as you live, she is a fertile field for her master. You shouldn't argue with her in court; Don't make her mad. Share with her what falls to your lot; this will keep it in your home for a long time.” Another saying says: “If you are a young man and take a wife and bring her into your home, remember that your mother gave birth to you and raised you. Don’t let your wife start cursing you, turn her complaint to the gods and they would hear her... Don’t burden your wife with guardianship if you know that she is in perfect health... Keep quiet and watch - that’s the only way you’ll know her abilities.” . These and other confessions indicate the respectful and extremely careful attitude of Egyptian men towards their women and wives.

Nefertari brings a treat to the gods

Egyptian family ties are strong. For the first time in history, a woman here stood on an equal footing with a man, and the family began to be built on the foundations of mutual respect between the sexes (from 2700–2500 BC). Even at the afterlife judgment, the importance of a husband’s attitude towards his wife was considered one of the most important factors in a good life. The husband was told: “If you are wise, stay at home, love your wife tenderly, cherish and dress her well, and also comfort her tenderly and fulfill her desires. If you stay away from her, your family will fall apart, so open your arms to her, call her, show her all your love.” Although in everyday life all sorts of things happened, apparently, husbands beat their wives, but in general the family is sacred.

All Egyptians are one big family. Rozanov even stated: “The Egyptians opened a family - family, nepotism." He further wrote: “To open Egypt, it was necessary actually discover a family within yourself"(emphasis added - V.R.). With great amazement, he writes that none of the luminaries of Egyptology - Brugsch, Maspero and others - thought in their discoveries and works to glorify and glorify the Egyptian woman, “the mother over whom her hands are raised.” In this praise of them family traditions Rozanov is categorical: “Only the Egyptians had a MOTHER, and everyone else had a mother.”

King Pepi II on the lap of his mother, Queen Ankhnesmerira II

However, although the Egyptian woman felt more confident than women in other countries of the East and West, of course, there could be no talk of “equal rights” with a man. They could not master any serious profession or craft. Among them there were no scribes, no sculptors, no artists, no scientists, no carpenters. Some of the higher circles could read and write. They were not allowed to act as priestesses, although the temples had their own staff of female servants. The documents call them “singers” - they sang in the choir and danced for the entertainment of the gods, accompanying themselves with a musical instrument (sister). Sometimes they were considered as concubines of God, but there is no evidence of sacred prostitution that took place among other peoples. In Babylon, too, women had a wider choice of professions (hairdressers, soothsayers, sorceresses, scribes, maids, water carriers, shopkeepers, weavers, spinners). Others could even engage in commerce, trade, or scientific research there, receiving the right to a certain freedom of thought in exchange for a vow of chastity and fidelity, but this was a rare exception.

The Greeks and Egyptians alike knew how to appreciate the love of a woman. They paid tribute to her art of pleasing men and giving him the highest pleasure. Women are the source of love, fire and light. In terms of love, one can say about them that they are charming, like a delicate flower of a blossoming lotus: they are those for whose love the sun rises. Therefore, it seemed strange to us the statement of G. Maspero, who stated that it was difficult for him to imagine an Egyptian in the role of a lover, kneeling in front of his beloved. We easily imagined him - both at the knees and between the knees. And, I want to note, we did not find anything unnatural in this hot and greedy fusion of lovers.

The East ripens early for love... In the sugary-voluptuous air of Egypt, even the lotus seems to strive to merge in an embrace with a papyrus stem. We have reached 55 love poems written on papyri and vases that date back to 1300 BC. e. Among the authors of love stanzas are both men and women. In one of the poems, called “Conversation of Lovers,” a man describes his beloved as follows: “More beautiful than all other women, bright, perfect, a star rising above the horizon at the birth of the new year, shining with colors, with rapid movement of the eyes, with enchanting lips, long neck and wonderful breasts.”

Chest of Perpauti and his wife Adi

There is a certain severity in the legislative provisions concerning gender relations. Apparently, in that distant era, women who wore one shirt, and even men, were not averse to indulging in love at the right opportunity. But for violence committed against a free woman, the guilty man was castrated, while, say, for adultery by mutual agreement, the man received a thousand blows with a stick, and the poor woman was mutilated; her nose was cut off (Diodorus). There are stories that tell how treason is not faithful wife was buried alive and her lover thrown into a crocodile pond. In another case, a sinner wife who had just planned adultery, but had not yet committed it, was killed by her husband and thrown her body to be devoured by dogs. The East has always been harsh towards women. It is unlikely that these horrors happened often, knowing the loving nature of Eastern families. The well-known wisdom of husbands is also evidenced by the following statement: “Beware of the woman who goes out in secret! – advises the scribe Ani. - Don't follow her; she will claim that it was not her. A wife, whose husband is far away, sends you notes and calls you to her every day when there are no witnesses. If she lures you into her network, it is a crime; and death awaits her when they find out about this, even if she does not enjoy the betrayal.” Severe laws, apparently, were not always observed, given that there was freedom of sexual relations for men (he could have a number of wives and concubines in the house). In Medinet Habu we see a satisfied and pleased pharaoh, surrounded by concubines.

Painting of the tomb of Queen Nofret. Kingdom of Ramesses II. XIX dynasty

But even if the women were unfaithful, their husbands forgave them for their pranks, as soon as they swore to their complete innocence. Women in Egypt enjoyed the right to divorce, which was unthinkable for, say, the Jews or women of Babylon. Although the power of men in the East is unquestionable and the wife is economically dependent on them, echoes of matriarchy are sometimes noticeable in the morals and behavior of the East. The mother occupied an honorable place in the family both in Ancient Assyria and Babylonia. In many documents her name even came before her father's name. According to Assyrian law, a son who insulted his mother was subject to a more severe punishment than for insulting his father. However, according to the letter of the law, men and women in Egypt had equal rights.

Mina image

The topic of intimate relationships between a man and a woman remained closed to prying eyes for most of three thousand years of Egyptian history. Almost nothing is known about how couples made love in those distant times, which suggests that these issues were apparently resolved satisfactorily and to mutual pleasure. Of course, all talk about the special chastity of the ancient Egyptians is unfounded. We remember how primitive peoples lived (in fact, in “dumping sin”), we know how some wild tribes still live to this day. This is evidenced by the figures of ithyphallic gods or the so-called “concubines”. All nations are full of evidence of quite diverse positions in sexual relations (in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America). What do we see in this regard in Egypt? Erotica is given little attention in scientific literature. The author of an article on eroticism in the six-volume Lexicon of Egyptology, German professor L. Sterk, writes: probably modesty (and the pharisaism typical of the West) did not allow publishing the first-class love monument of ancient Egyptian culture, known since the time of Champollion - the so-called Turin erotic papyrus (published only in 1973 by J. Omlin). To some extent, this gap was partially filled by the work of L. Mannich “Sexual Life in Ancient Egypt.” The Russian reader should recommend the article by M. Tomashevskaya from the magazine “World of History” (No. 4–5, 2002). We will also use her services.

Mina figurine

Figurines of women have been found since the Badari era and are characterized by a certain pose - arms under the chest. In the next period (Negada), figurines of so-called “dancers”, ladies with raised and rounded arms, became widespread on vessels. When looking at their figures, at their melodious swaying of their hips, it is hard to believe that we are looking at mourning maidens. They are more reminiscent of the dancing women of the East, whose arms are raised up and turned more towards a man than towards a god.

Sacred bull Apis. Late period. Bronze

During the dynastic period, during the era of the Old Kingdom, such figurines disappear. Male deities took the first roles, playing leading roles in the pantheon of gods, personifying the Egyptians’ worship of the phallus (one of them was Min). Unfortunately, on many reliefs the symbols male power and fertility were destroyed. Even in the well-known myth of Osiris and Isis, the struggle for the reproductive organ can be traced. As you know, Osiris was killed by his brother Seth, and even dismembered. But the faithful wife Isis collected the parts of her husband’s body scattered throughout the valley. However, imagine her disappointment when she did not find the most significant part of her husband’s body (it was swallowed by a fish). In the end, she managed to return the treasure... In the Dendera Temple of Hathor, built in the Greco-Roman period, there is a relief depicting Isis in the form of a female kite, hovering over the newly found phallus of her mummified husband.

It is also curious how the ancients treated this instrument of love and offspring... Speaking of the penis, the Egyptians designated it according to the situation or plot in which it had to act. Probably, loud epithets (“mighty”, “handsome”, etc.) were most likely given to him by women and, of course, if he deserved such high praise. In other cases, it was designated more simply, purely functionally, as a “tool” or “hoe.” In any case, this organ was directly related to eroticism and love (these two concepts were even denoted by the same hieroglyph). The respect that the ancients had for the phallus is also evident from the fact that in the era of the Old Kingdom, during mummification, phalluses were sometimes mummified separately. In the reliefs of Medinet Habu, the temple of Ramesses III, there is a rather rare image for Egypt: the Egyptians count the Libyans killed on the battlefield by severed limbs. It is difficult to say why they resorted to such counting methods. Perhaps, again, the point was how deeply this instrument was revered by all peoples. Naturally, the ladies treated the divine object with special awe and admiration. One image of a Libyan princess is known (with a case for this male attribute). The same cases were worn by the Egyptians in the Predynastic period and at the beginning of the Early Kingdom. In classical Egypt, this detail was preserved in the royal costume. The same symbol of dignity and strength can be seen in the dwarf Bes, the patron saint of children. The Bes played the same role in the ancient cities of the Northern Black Sea region, as well as in neighboring barbarian settlements. Women, children and, apparently, motherhood in a broad sense, were patronized by the goddess Tuaret (“Great”), who was depicted as a pregnant hippopotamus with hanging nipples. Often, images of Bes and his naked partner (Beset) are found in the “incubation rooms” (in the sanctuary of Saqqara), which were intended for the health activities of pilgrims who spent their nights here in dreams and erotic dreams.

Night view main building of the goddess Hathor

The ancient Egyptians cared for their offspring and loved children. However, the goddess Mut (“Mother”) did not really strive to “become a mother heroine.” She had only one son from her marriage to Amon - Khonsu. The goddess of love, Hathor, was much more revered. In her honor, magnificent festivities were held, during which they drank an intoxicating drink (shedeh). In her lyrical works she appeared as the goddess of all lovers. The poets called her “Golden”, but kept silent about the children. Under her patronage are all dances and feasts, as well as long journeys. Perhaps the ancients understood perfectly well that there is still a certain difference between family obligations, everyday (and routine, whatever) life with a wife and falling in love... Hathor is the goddess of lovers rather than wives. She has horns, which may be some kind of subtle hint for men, who themselves often wear similar jewelry. Anyone who longs for the love and understanding of women should turn to her with requests and desires. Hathor is associated with the Central Asian goddesses Astarte, Anat, Kudshu (Egyptian Kedshet), Shaushka. All these goddesses are known as the patroness of carnal love. In honor of Hathor, since the Middle Kingdom, sanctuaries were built in Sinai, in the Timna Valley and Byblos. One of the most erotic goddesses was the Syro-Palestinian Kedshet, who appeared on Egyptian steles from the time of the New Kingdom.

Ritual sistrum with the head of Hathor

The name is mentioned in connection with the designation of Mesopotamian temple harlots (kadishtum). She is usually depicted frontal and naked, standing on the back of a lion. She appears before the god Ming, who is preparing “for battle.” The Central Asian god of war, Reshep, is also here. All this reflects the general historical background. A woman was then an object of desire on the part of both her own and other men. As we can see, the goddesses of love are more popular than the goddess Nut, who gives birth to children every morning and swallows them in the evening. Tips on how to satisfy a woman and a man, as well as how to protect yourself from conception and illness are also relevant. And even though Osiris and Isis are a faithful couple, Osiris once confused Isis with her sister, Nephthys. What doesn't happen when you live in the same house. In general, the Egyptians were quite content with ordinary family happiness and did not look for adventures on the side. However, it was from the era of the New Kingdom that eroticism penetrated into everyday life.

Queen figurine

The ancient Egyptian family was monogamous. Therefore, marriage was taken seriously. One could often hear the story of how difficult it is to find a woman faithful to her husband (even Herodotus wrote about this). Therefore, warnings like those in the Teachings of Ptahhotep are not uncommon:

If you value friendship

You are in the house where you enter

As an honorable guest or brother, -

Be wary of women!

It's not good to get close to them,

It's tricky to figure them out.

Thousands of people have been neglected

For their sake, for my own benefit.

Women's bodies earthenware cool

Blinds, seduces,

To immediately transform

Into the flaming sardonyx.

Possessing them is like a short sleep.

Understanding them is like death!

However, many continued to strive to own a woman, despite all the fears and warnings: from young scribes who, despite the prohibitions, were fond of “girls”, to kings and pharaohs who had a harem (ipet) at their service, i.e. all these “beauties” palace" and "the king's favorite". Of course, the pharaoh had a wife - the Great Royal Consort. The queen in Egypt was the embodiment of the sweet goddess Hathor, the daughter of the solar deity. The queen’s tasks included the birth of an heir to the pharaoh, that is, ensuring the legal succession of power, as well as serving the king and society in the role of a public symbol of the highest beauty (well, and an “object of love”).

Ramesses III at the gaming table

The queen had considerable political and religious power. We have already partially reported on these functions of the “First among the Tsar’s Women.” However, knowing male nature, it can be assumed that even the exceptional position of the queen, her luxurious palaces, outfits and rich jewelry, as well as loud epithets like the words “The only decoration of the king,” did not make her the only owner of the pharaoh’s body. He had a rather impressive harem (although not in the Turkish sense). It was a kind of family where the male head had several legal wives or “junior queens.”

Singers and dancers from the tomb at Thebes with one of the ladies of the harem

However, if they bothered him, concubines (nefrut) were also at his service. These beautiful maidens, pleasing the pharaoh in all available ways, lived in the royal harem and lost their status only with the birth of their first child. They were also called “Sweet in Love.” The younger queens and jade filled the palace with “beauty, love, aroma.” One of the tales (the Westkar papyrus) tells how once the sage Jajaemankh advised the suddenly melancholy pharaoh to go and unwind: “...Let your majesty go to the lake of the pharaoh’s palace... Equip yourself a boat with a crew from all the beauties of the inner chambers of your palace, (and ) Your Majesty's heart will be refreshed when you admire the beautiful thickets of your lake, you will admire the fields framing it, his beautiful shores- and your heart will be refreshed by this”... The king heeded his advice and gave the order: “Let them bring to me twenty women who have a beautiful body, beautiful breasts, hair braided, and whose (womb) has not yet been opened by childbirth.” . At last words he looked eloquently and expressively at his servants. “And let them bring me twenty nets. And let these nets be given to these women after their clothes are removed.” Everything was done exactly. Then the women were probably put on the oars, and the pharaoh set off on a love voyage. The girls pleased the pharaoh with songs and playing the musical instruments and dancing...

Akhenaten's second wife, Kiya, wearing a Nubian wig

Secular prostitution was also widespread in Egypt, where rejected and abandoned women were recruited, wandering around the country and giving themselves to anyone who wanted it. This was confirmed by a papyrus find in Egypt (1891), which returned to us a fair number of poems by Gerond, of which only meager excerpts in the form of random quotations were previously known. It is believed that Gerond lived in the middle of the 3rd century BC. e. and came from the island of Kos. His poems, called mimiambas, are written in “limping” iambic trimeters. They are very lifelike and realistic. Gerond described life fascinatingly and truthfully. A number of lively scenes from his poetry: the image of a seductress-procurer; a description of the manners of the owner of the brothel, who speaks in Attic style before the court on Kos; the image of a teacher beating a slacker student at the request of his mother; ladies admiring the temple of Asclepius, making sacrifices to him; a jealous woman who punishes and pardons slaves whenever she pleases; excited girlfriends having an intimate conversation about how to quickly get olisbs(that’s what artificial penises were called); or a picture of women visiting the shop of the crafty shoemaker Kidron. The scenes tell about the daily life of the inhabitants ancient world, showing it from different sides, and very realistically.

Preening Egyptian prostitute. Fragment of the Turin papyrus

Hetaera carrying a phallus. Fragment of an ancient Greek vase

The phallus was carried solemnly, like a battle banner hoisted over a defeated enemy... The bird-phallus was usually accompanied by girls from noble families, although it happened that hetaeras were also awarded such an honor. Sometimes they came up with various devices that further enlivened the procession and amused the people. The French historian M. Detienne notes that similar celebrations took place in Egypt: “Of course, the Egyptians knew Dionysus, they recognized him even earlier than others. Like the Greeks, they honored Dionysus-Osiris in the same way. The only difference is that instead of walking with a phallus, like the Hellenes, the women of Egypt carried figurines on hinges, which they forced to move by pulling the strings, and the male penis began to move violently, the penis of the statue was the same size as her herself. The disproportionately large member of Dionysus-Osiris, which Herodotus would call in Greek Priapus, as he appeared in the city of Lampascus, but a century later.” To celebrate Dionysus, the colonies and allies of the Athenians were required to send their gifts in the form of phalluses. The largest, 60-meter, decorated with a gold star, according to descriptions, was worn at the festival of Dionysus in Alexandria, which is also documented by Callixenus of Rhodes, which he left, describing the colorful phallophories (that is, processions with a phallus) that took place in this city in 275 BC e. It was probably a truly stunning spectacle, even better than the current (very colorful) carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Women's and men's entertainment

One of the most interesting works of ancient Egyptian literature (“The Tale of Two Brothers”) talks about a very real treachery, the betrayal of a wife. It is based on the story of two brothers, one of whom (Bata) married a treacherous and unfaithful woman. The elder brother was not very successful in choosing a lady. Despite the exaggerated nature of the tale, it is remarkable from a philosophical point of view. Having killed her husband, his wife married the pharaoh. But even a successful social career did not bring her happiness. And after she found herself “in that interesting position that exists only for ladies,” the hour of reckoning came. It turned out that she became pregnant from her dead husband by supernatural means. But when the son grew up, after the death of the pharaoh, he carried out judgment on her. So the freedom of behavior of Egyptian women described above was relative.

A face more tender than Syrian lilies

Furrowed by cruel fear,

And my pink legs ached

In heavy bronze chains.

Like the rocks of a dark desert,

A long row stood motionless

Priests of the merciless goddess,

Unattainable Ma'at.

And the young son was next to her,

He looked inquisitively, like an old man,

A long, long time ago with a familiar look

In her faded, mournful face.

And again, like menacing peals,

Terrible words sounded:

“I am your husband, your old Bata,

I am alive, and my revenge is alive."

The answer was a dismal one,

Powerless, pathetic female cry,

And the judges were merciless

And the executioner was merciless.

And in the morning near the pelvis

Skinny street dogs

The meager remains were gnawed

Unattainable beauty...

It can be said about Egyptian women included in the so-called “royal circle” that they owned palaces and property, could occupy important temple positions and received special pay for this. They shared all the vicissitudes of life with their spouses, to limits that were unimaginable for the ancient Greeks. So they had high status and were equal with their husbands before the law.

Tiara of an Egyptian princess of the 12th dynasty

And yet, the history of the ancient Egyptian queens, as V. Golovina notes, remains unwritten. Most of the queens of Egypt disappeared from history, resembling the shadow of Queen Eurydice, who melted into the darkness of the kingdom of Pluto. An important attempt to fill this gap was made in 1992, when, in the course of six years of work, it was possible to restore the paintings of the famous tomb No. 66 from the Valley of the Kings. This is one of the best examples of wall painting in Egypt. The tomb belongs to the queen of the 19th dynasty - Nefertari... “The king’s wife, the great Nefertari Meritenmut” was the wife of the most significant pharaoh of the New Kingdom - Ramesses II. Egypt then entered its period of prosperity. Several hundred inscriptions were associated with the name Nefertari. Her monumental images surpass in size and level of skill all known monuments of ancient Egyptian queens. The fact that she managed to maintain the affection of Ramesses II for 25 years speaks volumes. Apparently, this was not very easy, given that this sensualist shared his bed with a lot of concubines, sisters and even two daughters (this did not stop him from living to 90 years old).

Egyptian dancers

If, speaking about Tutankhamun and Nefertiti, we first of all remember the bright pages of Egyptian history itself, and with the name of Alexander - its Greco-Macedonian segment, then with the names of Cleopatra, Caesar and Anthony, the period of the reign of the Roman Empire comes to mind. IN love story Egyptians and the great Romans came together, two souls came together - the strong-willed soul of the West (Caesar, Antony), powerful and victorious, and next to it - the soul of the East, thirsty for adventure and passion. “Embodying the duality of sacred images, the female deity could be both the good Hathor, the goddess of sensual pleasures and fun, and the dangerous Sekhmet, a lioness - a harbinger of misfortune and a cobra, capable of stopping enemies and sinners” (J. Huayotte). All women of the East behave this way - they are submissive and sensual, like divine monkeys, and jealous, dangerous and wary, like predatory tigresses.

Bust of Queen Cleopatra from the British Museum

If we were to conduct a survey among men on all continents of the world, in the hope of finding out the name of the most captivating woman of all centuries and peoples, then among the loudest names in one of the first places, besides Nefertiti, would be Cleopatra, the daughter of King Ptolemy XII (69– 30 BC). This smart woman, who became queen of Egypt (51 BC), managed to charm two of the most famous politicians and warriors of imperial Rome - Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Who was this enchantress? “Malicious sorceress”, “rubbish”, “threefold harlot”, “dissolute Egyptian witch”, “fatal monster” (“fatale monstrum”) or demigoddess, “miracle”, “delightful bacchante” “lust itself”?

Precious chains and belt from found treasures

They say that Greek-Macedonian blood flowed in her veins. We find fragmentary information about it in Plutarch and Dio Cassius. Both assured that Caesar, for the sake of passion for the queen, began an inglorious war with Alexandria and Egypt. The queen, who was in exile at that time, allegedly boldly made her way into his palace at night (delivered before the eyes of the ruler of the world in a bale of clothes or in a carpet). At the time of their meeting, Caesar was 53 years old, Cleopatra was 21 years old. He was fascinated by her courage, speech, beauty. He tried to reconcile her with the king so that they could reign together. However, a conspiracy arose and Caesar was attacked. But he escaped, setting fire to the famous Library of Alexandria.

One of the images of Cleopatra

Caesar's visit to Egypt was of great importance for Cleopatra. Dangerous rivals have been eliminated. She became a sovereign queen, giving birth to a son for the emperor (he was named Caesarion). Dio Cassius described the motives for the meeting as follows: “At first she was trying to get herself to Caesar through intermediaries. Then, having learned that he was greedy for female charms, she herself turned to him with a request: “Since my friends do not state my affairs correctly, I think that we should meet in person.” She was beautiful, radiant with the charm of youth. She had a lovely voice and knew how to be charming. It was a pleasure to look at and listen to her. She could conquer anyone - even Caesar, an elderly man. In a word, cherchez la femme!

Roman Emperor Julius Caesar

Remembering that Cleopatra is called the “last pharaoh,” let’s try to understand the motives of her actions. The most important thing for her was to gain power over Egypt... The Romans sought to create a “world empire” (similar to the one that Alexander dreamed of). The wealth and granaries of Egypt were a very tasty morsel. Therefore, he was given an important place in the ambitious plans of politicians (Pompey, Caesar, Antony, etc.). The prominent role Egypt played in Rome's plans can be judged from Cicero's speech. As consul, he opposed the plans of Crassus, Caesar and a group of politicians to seize Egypt, adopting Rullus’ law: “And Alexandria and all of Egypt? How carefully they hid them, how they bypassed the question of these lands, and secretly completely handed them over to the decemvirs! And in fact, which of you has not heard the rumor that this kingdom, by virtue of the will of King Alexa, began to belong to the Roman people?.. And Publius Rullus will make a decision on this such an important matter together with other decemvirs, his colleagues? Will he judge fairly?.. Suppose he wants to please the people: he will award Egypt to the Roman people. And so, he himself, by virtue of his law, will sell off Alexandria, sell off Egypt; over a magnificent city, over lands more beautiful than which there is none, he will become a judge, arbiter, ruler, in a word, a king over the richest kingdom.” The Romans saw in Egypt, first of all, a rich source of profit and resources (bread, etc.).

There is a lot of evidence of this... Ptolemy XII, hoping to enlist the support of the great Pompey (Cicero even said: “Pompey is omnipotent”), sent a wreath of pure gold worth 4 thousand talents to Damascus. He also helped his army with provisions, fodder, and money during the capture of Jerusalem. Contenders to the world throne flocked here. Pompey's eldest son, Gnaeus Pompeius, visited here. Cleopatra gives him 50 warships and 500 horsemen (possibly also weasels). After the battle for the “Roman crown”, Gnaeus Pompeius was killed. Then the hour came for Caesar to come to the altars of Egypt.

He had far-reaching plans for Egypt... “... what happened here when he settled among the colossi of the ancient pharaohs,” writes Frey, “was the beginning of the fulfillment of a long-standing dream of a universal monarchy. Thanks to the treasures of Egypt and the exceptional geographical location of this country, which made it possible to turn it into an ideal base for new wars in the East, Caesar could now complete the conquest of the world and rule it solely, that is, realize Alexander’s unfulfilled dream. Pompey died, and now nothing further prevented him from fulfilling this desire, which he had nurtured since the age of twenty and in the name of which, thirty-two years later, he unleashed a civil war.” He wanted to secure his great empire. And Egypt became one of the most important stages his movement towards the goal.

Pompey's Column

Caesar did not hide his intentions, which he indirectly mentioned in his Notes. Speaking about the reason for the uprising of the inhabitants of Alexandria against the power of the Romans, citing their arguments, he does not think to refute them: “Their leaders said this at meetings and meetings: the Roman people are little by little getting used to the idea of ​​​​seizing this kingdom into their own hands. Several years ago A. Gabinius stood in Egypt with his troops; Pompey fled there to save himself, now Caesar came with his troops, and the death of Pompey did not in the least prevent Caesar from remaining with them. If they do not drive him out, their kingdom will be turned into the Roman Empire.” Having captured Egypt and Alexandria, Caesar elevated to the throne of Egypt those who were ready to “faithfully” serve the state interests of Rome and him personally. Having known many women, Caesar was not averse to “getting to know” Cleopatra. As the poet will say about the sensational novel: “He fell on his knees in front of her and, hugging her, warmly kissed the very core of the most wonderful lotus that ever grew on the river of life.” Sometimes people get pregnant from a kiss!

Figurine of an Egyptian girl. Leiden Museum

In turn, Cleopatra owed a lot to Caesar and Rome. Rome helped her father, Ptolemy XII, regain the throne. In recent years, she shared the reins of government with her father, feeling like “the guardian of Alexander’s legacy.” She needed Caesar primarily to preserve and strengthen power (after Ptolemy appointed Cleopatra and his eldest son and her brother as heirs). The executor of the will was the Roman people and the Senate. To achieve her goals, she took advantage of the passionate “ardor of the gypsy” (Shakespeare). Cleopatra lived with him for two years in one of the villas as his mistress. Her caresses did not allow him to forget about the main thing: “Caesar needs Egypt because of its treasures, but he also needs Alexandria: because of the light of reason - science, art, philosophy, religion - which the Egyptian capital spreads (using Greek ) across the inhabited world... And this girl-woman, whom he already holds in his arms, knows perfectly well that she holds the keys to both.”

Bust of Mark Antony

Writers see the play of passions where the historian and philosopher see political interest(even with a drop of eros). The conqueror's plans were based on political and economic interests. R. Etienne, in a book about Julius Caesar, noted: “Even before he was inflamed with a well-calculated passion for the queen of Egypt, Caesar received a pretext for interfering in the affairs of the Egyptian kingdom.” However, Ptolemy, who had been waiting for 20 years for Rome’s consent to recognize him as the legitimate king of Egypt, did everything to win over the Roman rich and politicians. Considering that the treasury was empty, he took out a loan from the Roman millionaire Rabirius Postumus, promising to pay Caesar a lot of money - six thousand talents (an amount equal to the annual income from his entire kingdom). So, behind the scenes of any major political action, as we see, there has always been and is a huge amount of money.

Sleeping Eros. Marble sculpture

I repeat and affirm: Cleopatra’s longed desire was to establish herself on the throne. Every woman wants one thing - power. Even if she exercises her power over a man by surrendering to him in a passionate outburst. Undoubtedly, there was a sober calculation here. She, who received power from the hands of her dying father, needed the help of Rome, the conqueror of Africa and the East. Caesar's arrival became a priceless gift... In the delirium of love passion, she was already dreaming of the great Egypt, the sovereign mistress of which she would soon become. Perhaps she saw herself as the heroine of great tragedies - Andromache, Cassandra or Clytemnestra. Didn’t the Roman battle for the capital - Alexandria, the fire of the Library and Museion, its passionate embrace - correspond to the spirit of tragedy?! Caesar, having left the country, left Cleopatra, in addition to his son, three legions. But she also helped him imagine Rome in a new guise, sending her architects and builders to him, so that Caesar could build not a brick, but a marble city. A magnificent temple of Caesar was built in Alexandria. This is how Philo described this structure: “Nothing can compare with the temple of Caesar! It rises opposite the harbor and is so sculptured and majestic that there is nothing like it! It is filled with frames and paintings, and shines with gold and silver on all sides. Large, varied and decorated with galleries.” After his acquaintance with Alexandria, Caesar ordered the construction of a library and theater in Rome, similar to the Museion. He himself spent many hours in the famous library. Then he brought from Egypt the Alexandrian astronomer and mathematician Sosigenes and the idea of ​​​​reforming the Roman calendar. From now on, there are 365 days in a year (according to the duration of the solar year - 365.25 days). The year was divided into 12 months. The start of the year was moved from March to January. Although the poet Ovid and many other Romans were indignant at this obvious violation of the very logic of nature: “It’s strange, why do they start the New Year in cold weather? Isn’t it better to start it in a bright and clear spring?”

If in Cleopatra's romance with Caesar there is more politics, then in the story with Antony the voice of love is louder. Seven years have passed since the affair with Caesar (48 BC). Of course, she did not give up her long-standing dream - to conquer the East, complete the work of Alexander and make Alexandria the center of the ecumene. The outline of the novel looks simple. Anthony could not stand the test, betrayed Rome, married Cleopatra and became a pharaoh. “And the Roman forgot the campaigns and the soldier, captured without a fight by the poison of love...” This love had its own prehistory. The first time Antony saw Cleopatra was when she was not even 15. He was then 28 years old. The second meeting took place 14 years later. A 42-year-old man who has gone through military campaigns, drunkenness and harlots is not so ardent. The friendship with the slacker and spendthrift Curio left a bitter mark. Plutarch wrote that this friendship turned out to be a real ulcer and plague for Anthony. “Curio himself could not restrain himself from pleasure, and Antony, in order to get his hands on him more tightly, taught him to drink, debauchery and monstrous extravagance, so that soon he was saddled with a huge debt beyond his years - two hundred and fifty talents.”

Girl Nebetia, servant of the singer Mi

We also agree with D. Ackerman. She speaks soberly about Cleopatra’s love: “Her biggest lure was Egypt, the richest Mediterranean kingdom, and the Romans, yearning for dominion over the world, needed her power, her fleet, her treasures. The alliance with Egypt had an undoubted military meaning. Caesar and Antony sought power, not love, although Cleopatra may have been able to inspire passion.” But isn’t passion for the queen also an instrument of power?! In turn, Cleopatra had to work hard to win Anthony’s attention. A handsome man, a great warrior, the heir of Caesar had everything and everyone at his disposal. At his service were all the countries that he had conquered and in which his legions were stationed. Therefore, his choice of ladies was simply unlimited. He slept indiscriminately with everyone - “with actresses, slaves, whores who pretended to be matrons, and matrons who behaved like whores” - he, Anthony, did not care about race, age, or social status. A woman should be a woman and be able to do whatever her man asks her to do in bed. Only then is she worthy of his attention. He needed such women that they would make even a dead man rise from his grave.

Female musicians

Of course, Anthony is an example of a vicious reveler who began his sex life at the age of 16 with homosexual love for a handsome young pervert... Alcohol became his constant companion. The wine had a stimulating effect on him, no less than the battle. He fought so that after his victory there would be a series of celebrations. The drinking went on until the morning. And of course, the matter could not do without women. He never denied himself this pleasure. Once during the civil war, while in the Italian mountains, he summoned a beautiful actress from Rome. She gave love to everyone who was creditworthy for a lot of money. She agreed to accompany him on the condition that she would be carried on a stretcher like an empress. Anthony was not at all surprised. The whore, dressed in silk, was carried in a luxurious palanquin, followed by a procession of chariots loaded with silver and gold utensils for evening feasts and feasts. Anthony loved magnificent and pompous spectacles. Entering the conquered cities, he ordered the soldiers to harness lions instead of horses to the chariot in which he rode into the city in triumph.

Harpist figurine. British Museum

Now the turn has come to conquer Anthony. There lived a great actress in Cleopatra. She appeared in a golden boat with purple sails (the goddess Isis in the clothes of Aphrodite). The ship was prepared as a stage for the Bolshoi Theater or La Scala for a particularly lavish performance. The entire ship was covered with gold, covered with silver foil, and the sails were made scarlet, like the color of dawn. The queen's throne was covered with a canopy of gold brocade. Nearby lay beautiful slaves in Nereid and Charite costumes. The orchestra on deck played an intricate melody on flutes, zithers and pipes. At night the ship lit up like a Christmas tree. The parade of luxury was staged by the queen despite the fact that Egypt was on the verge of complete economic collapse. But the end justifies the means. The simple soldier Anthony, who knew the immodest caresses of the depraved women of Rome, suddenly saw in her face the goddess, Aphrodite... As if in a magical haze, to the sounds of the melodies of the East, Cleopatra appeared before him in silks, which revealed rather than hid her charms, exuding the aroma of voluptuousness and bliss . The characteristic music of the East evoked a surge of strange and exciting feelings.

Mirror of Princess Sathathoriunet. Gold, inlay. Cairo

Romantics say: passion, and not the worries of politics, threw Anthony into the hot embrace of an Egyptian harlot. Maybe. There were even legends about the mass of lovers whom she, knowing the lustfulness of men, allegedly forced to pay for a night of love almost with their heads. She spoke several languages, but the main one was the language of love. And Anthony himself was in the prime of his life: handsome, stately, athletically built (he considered himself a descendant of Hercules), from a noble family. Moreover, he is eloquent and intelligent. Loving wine, horses and women, he knew everything or almost everything in the art of the mysteries of love. In a word, “a real man.”

One of the weapons of an Egyptian barber

How she managed to conquer Antony remains a mystery... What attracted Antony to Cleopatra? She was known as an excellent speaker and was even the author of books (on cosmetology, gynecology, alchemy, geometry). The historian Al-Masudi noted that she learned science, was inclined towards philosophy, had scientists among her friends and signed books with her name. Her works are known to connoisseurs of medicine and the arts. Cleopatra had considerable energy, will, and fortitude. “...The same unbending courage was shown by all the women from their family, other Berenices, Cleopatras and Arsinoes, who never cried or gave up, never retreated from anything - neither from incest, nor from exile, nor from the death of their children, nor from war, nor the need to cold-bloodedly destroy opponents (even their children, brothers, sisters, mothers or husbands).” They say that at first he tried to resist her charms. Perhaps the queen had to use all the ointments, potions, and herbs known to her. Like the sorceress Circe, she turned her spell against the Roman. In any case, Plutarch assures that she owned a certain “goad”, which supposedly deprived Anthony of all hopes of resisting the charms of the Egyptian woman. In ancient times, a “goad” meant the sharp end of a stick used to drive a restive horse, or a whip with a metal ball at the end (for the same purpose), or the sting of a wasp or scorpion. But does a real man really need some kind of toys, and even more so a whip and a stick, in order to desire a woman, be it a queen or even a slave?!

Toilet of a noble Egyptian lady

I am sure that she had other means at her disposal, which all ladies have resorted to and have resorted to since the time of the first temptress - the beautiful Eva. This is how B. Hartz describes the mysterious “instruments of women’s victories”: “To emphasize their beauty, Egyptian ladies not only covered their faces with makeup. On the dressing table, which, in fact, was not a table, but a low drawer, they kept a metal mirror, pots for cosmetics, tweezers, blades and combs. Most of the time and attention was spent on eye care. Black eyeshadow, called kohl, is used in the Middle East even today, but is now made from soot. Green paint was made from malachite, gray paint from galena. These minerals were crushed, after which a paste was made from them, which was applied in a thick layer to the eyebrows and around the eyes using a small wooden or bone stick or simply with a finger. There is an image of a lady applying lipstick to her lips with a brush. But most of the beautiful little pots on the lady's dressing table supposedly contained oil. The Egyptians loved to cover their bodies with oil, which is understandable given their hot and dry climate. The perfumes of the Egyptians were not perfumes in our understanding, since they did not have an alcohol base. Egyptian perfume (at its base) was an aromatic oil. When a woman wanted her body to smell pleasant, she used myrrh and sweet-smelling oils, as well as flower infusions, such as “the scent of the lily.” In addition to perfumes and other aromatic means, women have other charms, as evidenced by the story of Cleopatra and Anthony, charms that, apparently, neither a warrior nor a politician can resist.

Egyptian women's earrings

The history of the romance between Cleopatra and Anthony is the subject of research by scientists, writers and poets (Shakespeare, Shaw, Ebers, Zelinsky). She, even dead, was haunted by gossip and envy. They say that nature did not know a more beautiful creature, but also more depraved, that the name of her lovers is legion, that few of Caesar’s comrades and friends did not visit her bed. Perhaps it was Cleopatra's fame as an unrivaled lover that captivated the tastes of the French.

A. S. Pushkin. Engraving by T. Wright

After Napoleon's Egyptian campaign, when his army returned to Paris, the capital was engulfed by the "Egyptian epidemic." All the women suddenly passionately wanted to “become Cleopatra.” They dyed their hair black and deliberately gained weight, which is not at all typical for French women. Egyptian outfits, oriental perfumes, essences, hookah smoking, and in general everything oriental became fashionable then. Others sincerely loved her. Ebers described his feelings this way: “If during his work he fell in love with his heroine, it happened because the more clearly the personality of this wonderful woman was outlined for him, the more he became convinced that, with all her shortcomings and weaknesses, she deserves not only compassion and surprise, but also the devotion that she knew how to arouse in people.” In her honor, poems were composed (A. Pushkin, V. Bryusov, A. Akhmatova), plays were written (Shaw), films were staged. Romantic legend, the hymn of love of fiery hearts left no one indifferent. Akhmatova wrote: “Already kissing Anthony’s dead lips, // Already on my knees before Augustus shed tears.” Our African Romeo, Pushkin, looked at Cleopatra differently.

Russian “Cleopatra” – N. N. Goncharova

Having known, perhaps, no less women than Cleopatra knew men, the poet in “Egyptian Nights”, putting his words into the mouth of the improviser, speaks knowledgeably about the royal Cleopatra:

The palace was shining. They thundered in chorus

Singers at the sound of flutes and lyres,

She enlivened her magnificent feast;

Hearts rushed to her throne,

But suddenly over the golden cup

She got lost in thought

Her wondrous head drooped...

And the magnificent feast seems to be dozing,

The guests are silent. The choir is silent.

But again she raises her brow

And with a clear look he says:

“Is my love your bliss?

Bliss can be bought for you...

Listen to me: I can equalize

Between us I will restore.

Who will start passionate bargaining?

I sell my love;

Tell me: who will buy between you?

At the cost of my life, is my night?”

Pushkin wrote this verse in 1828, when his Odessa romance with Countess Vorontsova, cherre Elleonora, was already nearing its end. Reflecting on the power of love over a woman, he wrote: “Magnetism works wonders over women. I have witnessed such examples that a woman who has loved with the most passionate love, with the same mutual love, remains virtuous; but there have been cases where the same woman, not loving at all, as if involuntarily, with fear fulfills all the desires of a man, even to the point of self-sacrifice. This is the power of magnetism.” But he, too, was expected to marry the beautiful Goncharova. Didn’t Pushkin feel in his subconscious that he, like Anthony, would “buy her love at the cost of his life”?!

Egyptian queen

However, all the women of Egypt who became queens stopped at nothing to master supreme authority. The main prize in this battle has always been Egypt. However, Cleopatra's end is dramatic. Rome saw her as an insidious witch and temptress. From the point of view of Roman morality, Antony's actions are also far from the norms of decency. He had a legal wife, Octavia, who gave birth to two children from him and had three children from a previous marriage. But Octavia is the sister of Octavian, the future powerful Augustus, emperor of the Romans.

Antony and Cleopatra at Cape Actium

Considering the complexity of the relationship between Rome and Egypt, it is no wonder that the Romans fiercely hated Cleopatra, who, as many believed, became the cause of the civil war and the betrayal of “their Anthony.” Plutarch, paying tribute to the magic and enchantment inherent in her (“bewitching power,” “mysterious charm”), emphasizes that she “left a sting in the souls of those who knew her.” Eutropius remarked: “He (Antony. - V.M.) also started a great civil war at the insistence of his wife Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, because, due to her feminine greed, she wanted to reign in Rome. He was defeated by Augustus in famous battle at Cape Actium, which is in Epirus, and fled to Egypt. There, despairing of his affairs, when everyone left him for Augustus, he committed suicide. Cleopatra, having put a snake to her chest, died from its bite (30). Egypt was annexed by Octavian Augustus to the Roman state."

The Queen of Egypt bravely faced her defeat and death. From the moment of her meeting with Caesar and her triumph, “fate had already begun to secretly prepare her downfall.” Having learned that her beloved Anthony committed suicide by throwing himself on the sword, and not wanting to fall alive into the hands of Octavian’s troops who invaded Egypt, she said goodbye to life. Death came from the bite of a poisonous snake or from the injection of a golden pin with poison. Death came, “gentle and sweet, like the caressing drowsiness of Egyptian nights.” The Roman poet Horace responded to her death with a poem:

I was able to look at the ashes of my chambers

With a calm gaze and

angry snakes

Taking hands fearlessly, black

I filled my body with poison,

Doubly brave. So, having decided to die,

Did not allow the ships of enemies

The queen deprived of her crown

The slaves rushed to their proud triumph.

However, a magnificent triumph in honor of the victory over Egypt in Rome still took place in 29 BC. e. In the procession, Octavian's warriors, instead of the queen, carried the image of Cleopatra with a snake (the snake in Egypt was considered an emblem royal power). Augustus ordered the death of her son by Caesar, Caesarion, but spared the other children (including Cleopatra and Antony). His sister, Octavia, took them “and raised them like her own children” (Plutarch). Octavian buried the great queen with due honors (next to Antony)... Cleopatra nevertheless “took revenge on Rome”: by seducing its sons and daughters with the erotic culture of the East, she thereby undermined the strict patriarchal principles of Latin life. The Roman warriors, returning from victorious campaigns, henceforth thought only about “taking good advantage of the income from the property acquired in the kingdom of the Ptolemies, and fell in love with the leisure of country life, holidays, beautiful women and entertainment” (G. Ferrero).

R. Sadeler. Death of Cleopatra

Cleopatra will more than once become the object of increased interest of scientists and writers in the future. The legendary queen of Egypt is undoubtedly a dual nature. In life she was cold and rational if her interests required it. Let's not forget that when her brother turned 15 and her power was threatened, she poisoned him without a moment's hesitation. Having charmed Anthony, she immediately demands the heads of his sworn enemies. And he, at her slander, dutifully kills his sister Arsinoe, who had taken refuge in Ephesus Temple Artemis. The two halves of the queen’s soul interact in some mysterious, not always understandable way. Zelinsky, in his essay “Antony and Cleopatra” (1902), wrote about the properties of her soul: “The first, with its visible cunning and treachery, evokes the illusion of consciousness and calculation; I say “illusion”, since there is as little real consciousness in her actions as in the actions of a fox or a snake, and we should rather recognize in them the natural instinct of a female, vaguely feeling that she should be the manager of love spells, so as not to become their victim. The second is all rapture, all delight, all devotion and self-sacrifice. The apotheosis of Cleopatra lies in the fact that this second part of the soul is freed from the annoying supervision and interference of the first and victoriously carries it into the quiet haven of death.” The author calls her “the queen of the fairy tale,” a bright but poisonous flower that grew on the humus of the Ptolemaic family, heroic, but in the time of Cleopatra already weakened and poisoned by incestuous marriage.

Stele depicting Cleopatra donating wine to the goddess Isis. It depicts Cleopatra as a pharaoh and is called a "goddess" in the Greek caption.

Cleopatra’s ashes have long since decayed... “My unfortunate ashes are not kept in a tomb. My trace in the actions of the world is insignificant,” the poet Valery Bryusov will say about her. But her image continues to excite minds and hearts. The West and the East peer intently into the “mirror of Cleopatra,” as if they hope to examine the eternal feminine secret in her. So who was she: “the serpent of the Nile,” “a violent harlot,” “a voluptuous cat,” or an enlightened ruler, an African queen? B. Holland writes: “To this day, everyone is faced with the problem of determining her role: was Cleopatra a plaything of passions, an ardent unbridled queen, beautiful woman who turned the very air around her into the fire of desire, or the tragic figure whose bare chest was bitten by a snake when she decided to accept martyrdom for the love of Anthony. It turns out that the most famous film adaptations of her image in Hollywood (Theda Bara, Claudette Colbert, Elizabeth Taylor) told us only how great it was to enjoy wealth in the first century BC, spending whole days in the bathtub and nights in a bed full of smells of aromatic substances." In the movies you can also see how a pearl dissolves in a glass of wine (which is impossible). Cleopatra did nothing but spend her time in idleness. A poisonous snake would seem like a small price to pay for something like this luxurious life. The writer urges you not to believe in all this Hollywood nonsense.

P. Mignard. Death of Cleopatra

Statues of the Egyptian queen were also shown at an exhibition at the British Museum (2001). The real Cleopatra, who seduced Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, who became the inspiration for the muse of poets, and was embodied in films by such recognized beauties as Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh, Sophia Loren, is represented by a plump, ugly woman just over one and a half meters tall. “The more we study images of Cleopatra, the less confident we are in her beauty,” said exhibition curator S. Walker with regret. Today, historians pay more attention to her culture, education and administrative talent. Although for some reason it is the beauty of women (even if it never existed) that lives longest in the imagination. The legend of Cleopatra turned out to be surprisingly durable, confirming the rule: a woman is worthy of love. “I am a woman again - in your dreams.” This is how her descendants prefer to remember her – certainly beautiful!

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6. Modern residents of Egypt, those who know and honor their history, usually do not remember the above queens. For some reason, people are reluctant to talk about Cleopatra. But they consider the legendary woman to be the true and only woman queen - pharaoh. Queen Hatshepsut. What did this woman do that was so significant for her people?

This was during the New Reign of ancient Egypt - the XVIII dynasty. After the death of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut's father, she married stepbrother Thutmose II. By that time, her husband had a son from his concubine - Thutmose III. Hatshepsut's husband did not rule for long, and after his death, according to all canons, his son should have become pharaoh. Hatshepsut was destined for the role of regent. And so it happened.

The conservative policy of Egypt allowed only men to take power; the fact of a woman being on the throne could destroy all their ideas about the “cosmic principle of hierarchy established from above.”
But Hatshepsut was not the woman to accept this situation.

18 months passed and Hatshepsut became the officially recognized pharaoh of Egypt. She put on a beard and declared - I am the son of God Amon Ra! Accordingly, it is this son who owns the rights to the throne. Of course, one phrase was not enough; the queen had great influence among the priests, military leaders and aristocrats of Egypt. Therefore, no one dared to doubt that she was a son and not a daughter! At official events, the queen wore a beard throughout her life. She ruled for about 22 years.

Her reign was marked by the flourishing and prosperity of Egypt. She was truly a builder pharaoh. Destroyed monuments were restored and churches were actively built. But the most famous temple erected during her reign is the Deir el-Bahri temple.

Its architect was Semnut, a court nobleman, not a wealthy provincial by birth. But he was one of the most talented architects of antiquity. Many sources indicate that the queen loved this architect. He built himself two tombs in the likeness of the queen’s tomb.

During the reign of Hatshepsut, the Egyptian economy flourished and active trade was carried out. The queen was also an excellent politician; she established contacts with neighboring states of Punt (north Africa). She organized two military campaigns in Nubia and controlled the entire Sinai Peninsula, Southern Syria, Palestine and the Phoenician Islands.

After the death of Hatshepsut, Thutmose III came to power. In retaliation for previous humiliations, he ordered the destruction of all traces of history that could tell descendants about the great queen. The pharaoh ordered to erase all her images, cut out the queen's name from the cartouches and ordered the tomb of the queen's favorite Senmut to be destroyed.

It still remains a mystery how this woman managed to hold the reins of power for such many years in the presence of a living king and the forces of tradition of that time. Hatshepsut, being intelligent, energetic, endowed with extraordinary abilities as a ruler and politician, at the same time remained a feminine and fragile woman. The true queen is still an example for many Egyptians. Historians characterize the times of her reign as an era of peace and prosperity for Egypt.

7. Cleopatra the last and perhaps most famous queen of Egypt. She was not just the last female queen, she was the last independent ruler of Egypt. A politician and mysterious woman who managed to win the hearts of two great Romans of that era, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. During her lifetime, she became a legend of Egypt, and her no less striking death further influenced the romanticism of the image of Cleopatra.

Which of these queens do you think was the FIRST?

In one of his studies, the American cultural theorist Harold Bloom noted that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII is the world's first celebrity. It’s hard to disagree with him, because no other woman managed to perform more vividly on the historical stage. Even the famous Nefertiti pales in comparison. With all this, the image of Cleopatra is shrouded in the fog of fiction, and sometimes dirty slander. What do historians say about this woman more than 2000 years after her death?

Bust of Cleopatra VII

The girl who was destined to become the last queen of Egypt was born in Alexandria in 69 BC. She became another representative of the famous dynasty founded by Ptolemy, a companion of Alexander the Great, who subsequently took possession of Egypt. Cleopatra's ancestors ruled Egypt for about three centuries, during which time they became famous for incest and bloody feuds within the family.

The queen's father was Ptolemy XII Auletes ("Fluteist"), and her mother was Cleopatra V Tryphena. Both were Ptolemies, but it is still difficult for scientists to accurately determine the extent of their relationship. There is also a hypothesis according to which Cleopatra was the daughter of one of the concubines of Ptolemy XII.

Be that as it may, the birth of Cleopatra was not something remarkable. She became the third daughter in a family that had been expecting a son for a long time. She was given a name traditional for the Ptolemaic dynasty (the meaning of the name is “the glory of the father”), without expecting that she would stand out in any way among the string of her namesakes.

However, the future ruler of Egypt began to stand out among others from childhood. The first thing that distinguished her from other descendants of Ptolemy XII was her thirst for knowledge. Scientists suggest that during her life Cleopatra managed to master languages ​​such as Greek, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Abyssinian, Parthian and, of course, Latin.

It is worth noting that Alexandria, where the princess grew up, was the intellectual capital of the then world. Despite her Greek origin, the princess was in awe of the history and culture of Egypt. Before her, none of the Ptolemies bothered to learn the Egyptian language.

Cleopatra's worldview was influenced not only by books, but also by brutal feuds in her own family: the overthrow of Ptolemy XII by her daughter Berenice and the subsequent murder of Berenice by her father. Later, she will not disdain any means on the way to power.

images on coins

Beginning of the reign

Cleopatra received the kingdom according to her father's will; it was not for nothing that she was considered his favorite. According to the will of Ptolemy XII, Rome became the guarantor of the Egyptian state. The document also stated that the 18-year-old girl should become the wife of her brother, 10-year-old Ptolemy XIII, and rule the country with him. The royal couple ascended the throne in 51 BC.

But the actual rulers of Egypt are not Cleopatra and Ptolemy, but the so-called “Alexandrian trio,” which included the royal dignitaries Theodotus, Achilles and Pothinus. They manage to turn Cleopatra's younger brother against her. The queen is accused of wanting to rule alone, which was not far from the truth. As a result, she decides to flee to Syria for a while. Here she gathers an army that sets up camp near the Egyptian border. The army of Ptolemy XIII is ready to confront him.

Bust of Caesar from the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

Julius Caesar and Cleopatra

The acquaintance of Cleopatra and Caesar was preceded by the treacherous murder of the Roman commander Gnaeus Pompey, arranged by Egyptian dignitaries. In this way they hoped to gain Caesar's favor, but great commander Didn't appreciate the "service". When Pompey's head was presented to him, he turned away and began to cry.

At this time Cleopatra received detailed information about everything that happened in Alexandria. Having arrived in Egypt to collect his debts, Caesar declared that he was ready to become an arbiter in a dispute between the royal spouses. Soon he calls Cleopatra to him. The Queen of Egypt appears before him suddenly and, importantly, impressively. According to one version, she arrived to Caesar wrapped in a carpet, according to another, she was secretly smuggled in a bed bag. An affair between the 53-year-old Roman consul and the 21-year-old queen breaks out that same night.

Why did she charm Caesar? This is perhaps the main question of her biography. The usual feminine charms were clearly not enough here. Most likely, he appreciated her intelligence, originality, courage and, as ancient authors say, the enchanting voice of an eastern ruler. In addition, in her person he could expect to receive a reliable Egyptian puppet. The morning after meeting Cleopatra, Caesar declares that sister and brother should rule together.

In response, Egyptian dignitaries proclaim the youngest daughter of Ptolemy XII, Arsinoe, queen. A war begins, in which Caesar wins, Arsinoe is captured, and Ptolemy XIII dies. After this, the great Roman organizes the wedding of Cleopatra with her second brother, 16-year-old Ptolemy Neoteros. As a result, with the help of Rome, Cleopatra becomes the de facto sole ruler of Egypt. In 47 BC. The son of Caesar and Cleopatra is born - Ptolemy Caesarion. Caesar leaves Egypt, but soon enough calls Cleopatra to his place.

In Rome, the Egyptian queen was given Caesar's villa. Here she spends about two years. There was even a rumor that Caesar wanted to make an Egyptian his second wife. The great commander’s admiration for this woman greatly disturbed the Roman nobility and became another argument in favor of his liquidation. Caesar's murder forced Cleopatra to flee Rome.

Bust supposedly depicting Mark Antony

Cleopatra and Mark Antony

Shortly after Caesar's death, Queen Cleopatra's co-ruler, Ptolemy XIV, dies. There was a rumor that he would have been poisoned on the orders of his sister, who thus got rid of her future rival. In Rome, meanwhile, one of the prominent positions was occupied by Mark Antony, Caesar's comrade-in-arms. Without thinking twice, he decided to demand money from Cleopatra for a new military campaign.

The fateful meeting of Anthony and Cleopatra took place in 41 BC. in the city of Tarsus on board the queen's magnificently decorated ship. The Egyptian ruler appears before the amorous and vain Anthony in the image of the goddess Aphrodite. She invites the Roman for a sumptuous feast. As a result, Anthony selflessly falls in love with the queen. In the same year, with his hands, she gets rid of her sister Arsinoe, who is in Rome.

In an effort to be with Cleopatra, Anthony practically moves from Rome to the capital of Egypt. True, here he mainly indulges in drinking and entertainment. Soon the lovers have children, twins Alexander and Cleopatra. In 36 BC. Antony turns from Cleopatra's lover into her husband. The marriage takes place despite the fact that Anthony already had a legal wife. In Rome, this union begins to be viewed as a threat to the empire, especially after Mark Antony bestows Roman territories on his children from Cleopatra.

Antony's behavior leads Octavian to declare "war against the Egyptian queen." The culmination of this confrontation is the Battle of Actium, which took place in 31 BC. Its result is the complete defeat of the fleet of Anthony and Cleopatra. Modern historians believe that victory in this battle led Rome to world domination.

Death

In 30 BC. Octavian's troops entered Alexandria. At this time, Cleopatra, along with her trusted servants, locked herself in her own tomb. By mistake or intentionally, Anthony received false news of his beloved’s suicide, after which he threw himself on the sword. He died in Cleopatra's arms.

After the death of her husband, Cleopatra enters into negotiations with Octavian's envoy. Perhaps she still retained a faint hope of retaining the kingdom. Plutarch notes that a Roman officer in love with the queen warned her that Octavian wanted to lead her in chains during his triumph in Rome.

To avoid public humiliation, the Egyptian queen decides to commit suicide. Before this, she gives Octavian a letter asking him to bury her with Antony. Soon the ruler is found dead. Cleopatra died on August 12, 30 BC. in royal attire, reclining on a golden bed.

One of possible reasons The death of the queen is called a snake bite; according to another version, it was a pre-prepared poison. The location of Cleopatra's tomb and her mummy have not yet been discovered. After the death of Cleopatra VII, Egypt became a Roman province.

Appearancelast queen of Egypt. This woman is usually associated with the image of a fatal beauty. But even by the standards of her time, she looked quite ordinary. Plutarch wrote that it can hardly be called “incomparable.” According to him, she was more impressive with her charm and persuasiveness of speech.

The portraits on the coins depict a woman with big eyes, protruding chin and long nose with a hump. The queen's height was no more than 152 cm, while she was plump and stocky.

Cleopatra's underwater palace. The proposed palace is located off the coast of Alexandria. The ruins of this ancient building were flooded as a result of an earthquake that occurred one and a half thousand years ago. Now it is located at a depth of 50 m. The possibility of creating an underwater museum on its territory is being discussed.

The fate of children. Cleopatra had four children. Son Caesarion from Julius Caesar and three children from Mark Antony - twins Cleopatra and Alexander, as well as son Ptolemy. The shortest story was the life of the queen's eldest son. He was killed by order of Octavian, and the twins and Ptolemy were given to Octavia, Octavian’s sister, to raise. ex-wife Mark Antony. Cleopatra's only daughter was subsequently married to Yuba II, the ruler of Mauritania.

Ancient Egypt is one of the centers of human civilization, which arose back in the 4th millennium BC. and existed for more than 4 thousand years. At the head of this huge state was the pharaoh. It is implied that he was a man, since the word “pharaoh” does not even exist in a feminine form. And yet, there were periods when women took the reins of government into their own hands, when powerful priests, military leaders, and hardened palace intriguers bowed their heads before a woman and recognized her power over them. (website)

Woman in Ancient Egypt

What always amazed all ancient travelers to Egypt was the position of women in society. Egyptian women had rights that Greek and Roman women could not even dream of. Egyptian women were legally endowed with the right of property and inheritance, along with men they could conduct commercial and production activities, concluded contracts on their own behalf and paid bills. We would say “recognized as full-fledged owners of small, medium and large businesses.”

Egyptian women operated cargo ships, were teachers, and were scribes. Aristocrats became officials, judges, rulers of nomes (regions), and ambassadors. The only areas where Egyptian women were not allowed were medicine and the army. But this too is questioned. In the tomb of Queen Yahhotep, among other decorations, two Orders of the Golden Fly were found - awards for outstanding service on the battlefield.

The pharaoh's wife often became his adviser and closest assistant, and ruled the state along with him. Therefore, it is not surprising that when the pharaoh died, the inconsolable widow took upon herself the burden of governing the state. History has preserved for us the names of several mistresses of Ancient Egypt.

Nitocris (c. 2200 BC)

She Neitikert (Excellent Neith) ruled Egypt for twelve years. All these years, Beautiful Nate managed to keep an iron rein on the entire country. Egypt knew neither revolts nor coups. Her death was a disaster for the country. Priests, courtiers, officials and military men began to tear each other apart in the struggle for the throne, and this continued for a century and a half (the First Transition Period).

Nefrusebek (c. 1763 - 1759 BC)

The name Nefrusebek meant “beauty of Sebek.” (Sebek is a god with the head of a crocodile. Yes, the Egyptians had strange ideas about beauty.) The reign did not last long, no more than 4 years, but during this time she managed to become not only a pharaoh, but also a High Priestess, and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, lead a series of reforms and a victorious campaign in Nubia.

To pacify the regional aristocrats, she married one of the influential nomarchs (ruler of the nome, i.e. governor), but kept the title of pharaoh for herself. The husband, deceived in his hopes, hired a killer and he killed the queen.

Subsequent events showed how right Nefrusebek was in not entrusting the management of the country to her husband. The newly emerged contender for the title of pharaoh failed to retain power. For Egypt, an era of civil wars and coups began, which lasted about 250 years.

Hatshepsut (c. 1489-1468 BC)

Hatshepsut undoubtedly had both will and strong character. With a living male heir, she managed to seize the throne, declared herself pharaoh, took the name Maatkar and the priests crowned her as a man. During ceremonies, she often wore an artificial beard in order to completely resemble a male pharaoh. Both “male” and “female” images of Queen Hatshepsut have been preserved.

Hatshepsut. Women's and men's options

How this masquerade was perceived by the nobles and the people is unclear, but Hatshepsut achieved absolute power, which many male pharaohs did not have, and became the greatest female ruler in the history of Ancient Egypt.

Her reign became the Golden Age for Egypt. Developed agriculture, the queen distributed land to the peasants for free and issued loans for the purchase of slaves. Abandoned cities were restored. Organized a research expedition to the country of Punt (present-day Somalia).

Hatshepsut. Female Pharaoh

Conducted several successful military campaigns, led one campaign (to Nubia) herself, i.e. She also proved herself to be a military leader. Built on her orders, the mortuary temple of Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut is the pearl of Egypt, along with the pyramids, and is under the protection of UNESCO.

Unlike other queens, Hatshepsut was able to create a mechanism of succession and after her death the title and throne were safely accepted by Thutmose III. This time Egypt did without cataclysms, which once again proves that Hatshepsut had statesmanship.

Tausert (c. 1194-1192)

Tausert was the wife of Pharaoh Seti II. The marriage was childless. When Seti died, Seti's bastard son Ramses-Saptahu seized power, behind whom stood the keeper of the seal, the gray cardinal of Egypt, Bai. However, after 5 years of the reign of the new pharaoh, Bai was accused of corruption and executed, and a year later Ramses-Saptahu himself died from an unknown illness. As we can see, Tausert was a determined woman and did not suffer from excessive sentimentality.

According to some sources, it ruled for 2 years, according to others for 7 years, but these years were not calm for Egypt. A civil war began in the country. Tausert died for unknown reasons, but this did not stop the civil war. Her successor, Pharaoh Setnakht, with great difficulty restored order in the country and resolved another political crisis in the country.

Cleopatra (47-30 BC)

It would be a stretch to call the famous queen a pharaoh. Egypt was Hellenized and bore little resemblance to the ancient country. Cleopatra's reign cannot be called successful. Egypt was a semi-colony of Rome, legionnaires rampaged through the country and it all ended in a war with Rome, which Cleopatra lost. Egypt lost the remnants of even a ghostly independence and became part of the Roman Empire. Thus, Cleopatra became not only the last female pharaoh in the history of Egypt, but the last Egyptian pharaoh in general.

Cleopatra VII Philopator is an Egyptian queen, whose biography is still discussed to this day. Not being attractive in appearance, Cleopatra managed to gain the attention of two great Roman commanders - and. This love triangle has found its echoes in many books and films: directors make films, and writers talk about the image of this femme fatale on the pages of their works.

Childhood and youth

Cleopatra was born on November 2, 69 BC. The true place of birth still remains a mystery, but it is generally accepted that her homeland is the cultural center of the ancient world, Alexandria. Contrary to popular belief, the queen did not have a drop of Egyptian blood and came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by the Diadochi Ptolemy I, and therefore had Greek roots.

Almost nothing is known about Cleopatra’s childhood and youth. But it is worth assuming that the future ruler voraciously read books in the Library of Alexandria and studied music, since she knew how to reason philosophically, think logically, played various instruments and knew eight foreign languages.

This is surprising because in those days the Greeks did not care about the education of children, especially girls. For example, her sister Berenice was of a completely opposite nature: she loved entertainment, was quite lazy and thoughtless. In 58-55 BC. Cleopatra had to watch as her father Ptolemy XII Auletes was expelled from the country, and power was concentrated in the hands of his daughter Berenice (the ancient Greek historian Strabo noted that Berenice was the only legitimate daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, so there is an opinion that Cleopatra was born from a concubine).

Later, by the forces of the Romans under the leadership of Aulus Gabinius, the king again ascended the throne of Egypt. However, he could not skillfully use power, so repression, delinquent behavior in society and brutal murders spread under him. Thus, Ptolemy subsequently became a puppet controlled by Roman governors. Of course, these events left an imprint on Cleopatra’s mind: later the girl recalled the reckless reign of her father, who remained in her memory as the person whose mistakes she needed to learn from.

Rule of Egypt

After Ptolemy XII Auletes returned what was rightfully his, the heiress Berenice was beheaded. After the death of the king, according to tradition, which called for the preservation of the divine blood royal families, 17 (18) year old Cleopatra married her 9 (10) year old brother Ptolemy XIII and began to rule Egypt. True, formally, since she could only have full power cyclically: in ancient times, girls were destined for a secondary role. She ascended the throne as Thea Philopator, meaning "goddess, loving father».

It is worth saying that Egypt was desirable for the Romans, despite the fact that 96% of the territory in this country is occupied by deserts. But the valleys - the treasure troves of the Nile civilization - are famous for their exceptional fertility. Therefore, during the reign of Cleopatra, one of the most powerful empires - the Roman - laid claim to the territory of Egypt: some of the outer regions of Ta-kemet belonged to the Romans, but the country itself was not completely conquered. Therefore, Egypt (also due to financial debts) turned into a dependent state.

The first years of her reign turned out to be difficult for Cleopatra, because there was not enough food in the country: an insufficient flood of the Nile provoked a two-year crop failure. In addition, the battle for the throne began - internecine wars between brother and sister. Initially, the queen removed her husband and ruled the country alone, but, becoming older, Ptolemy XIII did not accept the arbitrariness of his relative and, relying on his tutor Pothin, who was also the regent and de facto ruler, organized a rebellion against Cleopatra. The people were told that the girl had stopped obeying the ruling trio of Pothinus, Theodatus and Achilles and wanted to overthrow her younger brother.

The queen fled to Syria and thus remained alive. Being an uninvited guest in the Middle East, the girl dreamed of returning full power. Around the same time, the dictator and ancient Roman commander Gaius Julius Caesar went to Alexandria in order to overtake his sworn enemy Pompey: defeated in the civil war (Battle of Pharsalus), Gnaeus fled to Egypt. However, Julius was unable to get even with his enemy personally, because when the emperor arrived in the Nile Valley, Pompey had already been killed.

Caesar had to stay in Alexandria due to weather conditions unfavorable for the long journey, so the ruler of Rome did not miss the opportunity to collect the accumulated debts of Ptolemy XII Auletes from his successor (ten million denarii). So Julius took part in the conflict between the comrades of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, hoping to benefit both himself and the Romans.

In turn, the queen needed to win Caesar’s trust, so, according to a beautiful legend, in order to win the commander over to her side, the resourceful girl secretly entered the Alexandria Palace: she wrapped herself in a carpet (or in a bed bag) and ordered her faithful slave to deliver a generous gift . Julius, fascinated by the beauty of the young queen, took her side.

But it is worth noting that the commander came to Egypt with a small army (3,200 warriors and 800 horsemen). Ptolemy XIII took advantage of this circumstance. Society supported the ruler, so Julius had to hide in the royal quarter, putting his life in danger. In winter, Julius Caesar again invaded Egypt and defeated the army of supporters of Ptolemy XIII, who drowned in the Nile. Therefore, Cleopatra again ascended the throne and ruled together with the young Ptolemy XIV.

Personal life

Legends are still made about Cleopatra's personal life. Thanks to the cinema, this ambitious girl was seen in the performances of (“Cleopatra” (1963)), (“Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra” (2002)) and other film actresses who played the ruler. Therefore, many believe that Cleopatra is a fatal beauty who seduced men with just one look. But, contrary to popular belief, the appearance of the Egyptian queen was rather mediocre.

What Cleopatra looked like is not known for certain. But we can judge from some statues and a bust from Cherchell in Algeria (there is an opinion that this bust belongs to Cleopatra’s daughter Selene II), as well as from the face depicted on coins, that the queen had a rather large nose and a narrow chin. But women's charms and intelligence helped Cleopatra make her faithful admirers out of men. She was not a noble person; sometimes cruelty could be traced in her character. For example, the queen often tested poisons on prisoners and watched them die in order to test the effect of a dangerous potion on the body.

It was rumored that Cleopatra was a loving girl. In fact, promiscuity between a man and a woman was not condemned in Rome and Ancient Egypt; kings and queens had several lovers and concubines. According to legend, madmen paid with their lives to share a bed with the Siren of the Nile: after a night with Cleopatra, their heads became trophies and were exhibited in the palace.

Beautiful legends are still made up about the relationship between the Egyptian queen and the Roman commander Julius Caesar. Indeed, it was love at first sight. For the sake of 21-year-old Cleopatra, the emperor forgot his mistress Servilia.

After defeating Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra and Caesar set off on a pleasure trip along the Nile, accompanied by 400 ships. June 23, 47 BC The lovers had a son, Ptolemy Caesar (Caesarion). It can be said that because of his alliance with Cleopatra, Caesar brought disaster upon himself. The Egyptian queen, her brother and son arrived in Rome, surrounded by a large retinue. The girl was disliked because of her arrogance, so she was called the queen without adding a name (“I hate the queen,” Cicero wrote in his manuscript).

Those close to Caesar were sure that the dictator wanted to become the new pharaoh and make Alexandria the capital of Rome. The Romans did not like this turn of events, and for this and other reasons a conspiracy arose against Julius. March 15, 44 BC Caesar was killed. After the death of Julius, a civil war began between the Romans, in which Cleopatra did not intervene. Mark Antony was proclaimed ruler eastern territory Rome.

The commander was going to accuse the queen of assisting against Caesar, but Cleopatra, knowing about Mark’s amorousness and vanity, acted with feminine cunning. She arrived on a gilded ship full of treasures, dressed as Aphrodite, and charmed the ancient Roman commander. Thus began a romance that lasted about ten years. In 40 BC. The lovers gave birth to twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. In the autumn of 36 BC. The third child, Ptolemy Philadelphus, was born.

Death

There are many fictions about the death of Cleopatra, so it is almost impossible to reconstruct this event with the greatest accuracy. The generally accepted version is the story that was presented. True, his version was later interpreted in their own way by writers, because Cleopatra’s biography provided background for romantic works. So, others wrote poems about the queen.

Octavian Augustus, the legitimate heir to the Roman throne, arrived in Rome in the spring. Local residents welcomed young man, however active army and the admirers of Caesar stood on the side of Mark Antony. The Mutino War soon followed, from which Octavian emerged victorious. When Augustus moved towards Alexandria, Mark Antony was given false news about the death of the queen. Mark could not withstand such a tragedy, so he threw himself on his own sword. At that moment, Cleopatra and her maids locked themselves in the tomb; The wounded lover of the Egyptian seductress was taken there.

Mark died in the arms of a crying girl. The queen wanted to demonstratively stab herself with a dagger, but began negotiations with Octavian’s subject. The Siren of the Nile hoped to bribe Augustus with her charms in order to restore the state, but all attempts were in vain. After the death of her beloved, Cleopatra fell into depression, starved herself and did not get out of bed. Cornelius Dolabella informed the widow that she would be exiled to Rome for Octavian's triumph.

According to ancient Roman custom, Augustus, in honor of the victory over Egypt, was going to lead Cleopatra behind the triumphal chariot, chained like a slave. But the queen managed to avoid shame: in a pot of figs, which was delivered to the palace at the behest of Cleopatra, a snake was hidden - its bite gave the woman a quiet and painless death. Where Cleopatra’s mummy is located is still unknown, but most likely, the queen and her lover Mark Antony are buried under the necropolis temple near Taposiris Magna (modern Abusir).

• Ancient alchemists believed that Cleopatra was the owner of the philosopher's stone and could turn any metal into gold.
• According to legend, the queen met with Mark Antony on Cleopatra Island, famous for its golden sand, which was brought there especially for the Egyptian seductress.

• Cleopatra was fond of cosmetology. According to rumors, the queen bathed in a bath with milk and honey. She also made creams from a mixture of herbs and lard.
• According to another version, Cleopatra was killed by poison, which she stored in a hollow head pin.

Memory

Movies:

• Cleopatra (1934)
• Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
• Two Nights with Cleopatra (1954)
• Legions of Cleopatra (1959)
• Cleopatra (1963)
• Discovery: Queens of Ancient Egypt (TV) (2000)
• Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer (TV) (2009)

Books:

• The Diaries of Cleopatra. Book 1: The Rise of a Queen (Margaret George)
• Cleopatra (Karin Essex)
• Cleopatra. The Last of the Ptolemies (Michael Grant)
• Cleopatra's last passion. A new novel about the Queen of Love (Natalia Pavlishcheva)