Book Review: Cleopatra: A Life

A figure of intrigue and controversy in her own lifetime and painted as a femme fatale after her death, the last Pharaoh of Egypt has inspired more scandals and myths than any other woman of the ancient world (except perhaps the infamous Helen of Troy). In her groundbreaking biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff peels away all of the later layers of mythology from Cleopatra and paints a bold and refreshing new picture of this remarkable queen.

Focusing strictly on near-contemporary Classical sources, Schiff chronicles Cleopatra's rise to power as the ruler of the wealthiest and most productive land in the Mediterranean. Aside from being a crafty politician and clever propagandist (not to mention utterly ruthless when she wanted to be), Cleopatra's capital of Alexandria was the preeminent center of education the ancient world, and she could duel with the greatest intellectual minds of her day. Even more than all that, Cleopatra fought fiercely to protect her people, her country and her culture from the encroaching presence of Roman domination.

Accompanied by two beautiful sets of images depicting maps, art and artifacts related to Cleopatra's reign, Schiff's work is written in a very clear and simple language that requires virtually no sophisticated knowledge of history to understand and enjoy.

The Last of the Pharaohs: Fact vs Fiction

Cleopatra. Few names are charged with as much mystique and legend as that of Ancient Egypt's last ruling queen. Whether you imagine profile portraits on ancient artifacts or Elizabeth Taylor's 1963 blockbuster performance, this last vestige of the age of the Pharaohs has left her permanent mark on history. But is that mark the truth?

Recently I saw two television documentaries examining Cleopatra's life, the world she lived in, and the centuries of lore and myth surrounding her reign. The first one, produced by the National Geographic channel as part of their Egypt Unwrapped series examined the standard Cleopatra story with a fresh insight as to what the events of her life actually signify. Case in point, one thing Cleopatra is famous for (or infamous, depending on your point of view) is seducing Julius Ceasar and Mark Antony, and bearing children to both of them.

This has led Cleopatra to be cast as a temptress, but according to the opinions of experts interviewed for the program, what she was actually doing was forming political alliances with the Roman Empire in order to protect the interests of Egypt. The children that she bore could have a legitimate claim to the thrones of both nations, thereby helping Cleopatra to remain secure in her powers.

The other documentary, presented by the Science Channel as part of their Unearthing Ancient Secrets series take an even more dramatic stance on the validity of the Cleopatra story. The last pharaoh's death by suicide, usually by the bite of a poisonous snake, is one of the most iconic scenes in her story. But is it fact or fiction?

Puzzled by the many inconsistencies and supposed "red flags" in ancient accounts, Pat Brown, an experienced criminal profiler, applies modern forensics technology and enlists the help of respected experts to prove her ultimate theory: that Cleopatra did not commit suicide, but rather was murdered after the Roman Empire took control of Egypt, possibly on the orders of her victorious rival Ocatvian. Ms. Brown investigates the case very thoroughly and finds surprisingly concrete evidence to back up her claims.

For anyone interested in these and other fine programing please visit:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ and http://science.discovery.com/