Cleopatra is one of the most famous women in history. She was the last Queen of Ancient Egypt and also the last pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Her story is full of mystery, adventure and tragedy. Here are some interesting facts about Cleopatra that kids might enjoy:
1. Cleopatra was born in 69 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. She was the daughter of King Ptolemy XII and Queen Cleopatra V.
2. Cleopatra learned to speak seven languages, including Egyptian, Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew.
3. Cleopatra wasn’t actually Egyptian, but a descendant of Greeks who ruled Egypt after the conquest of Alexander the Great.
4. She was made a co-ruler when she was just 18 years old, alongside her 10-year-old brother, Ptolemy XIII.
5. Cleopatra’s father left Egypt in debt, which led to Cleopatra having to borrow money from Julius Caesar to keep her throne.
6. Cleopatra famously had relationships with two of the most powerful men of the time, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
7. Her relationship with Julius Caesar helped to secure her position as queen, and they had a son together named Caesarion.
8. After the death of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra aligned herself with Mark Antony and they too had children together, twins named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and a son named Ptolemy Philadelphus.
9. Cleopatra was known for her beauty and her use of cosmetics. She would bathe in milk and honey, and was said to have worn perfume made from the petals of the rose.
10. She is famous for her dramatic death, as she committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp, a poisonous snake.
