Biographies Cleopatra VII at the Egyptian Board of Tourism A biographical sketch of Cleopatra at Interoz  Diotima Materials for the Study of Women in the Ancient World. A superb resource with many links related to women and to classical scholarship. The Egyptian Economy and Non-royal Women: Their Status in Public Life A lecture by William A. Ward, Department of Egyptology, Brown University. The Status of Women in Ancient Egyptian Society By Peter A. Piccione of Northwestern University. Ancient Egyptian Women A collection of links. Nova's Mysteries of the Nile PBS site on ancient Egypt. Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema's Painting At CGFA, with biographical information on the painter. As the Nile Turns: The Soap Opera that was Cleopatra You have to see it to believe it. (The Discovery Channel.) Internet Ancient History Sourcebook, Rome At Fordam University. Lucan's Pharsalia Book X. Comparison of Plutarch and Shakespeare Parallel text with images. The Tragedie of Antonie. Doone into English by the Countesse of Pembroke. An original spelling text. Dryden's Translation of Plutarch's Life of Antony And also that of Caesar. The complete texts at MIT. Chaironeia, Plutarch's Home on the Web The Legend of Cleopatra From Chaucer's Legend of Good Women. At Berkeley's Online Classical and Medieval Library. Giulio Cesare A synopsis of the libretto to the opera by Handel. The Marble Faun By Nathaniel Hawthorne. See chapter XIV. Cléopâtre de Virgile à Mankiewicz: Origine et évolution d'un mythe A good short essay by Renaud Calvat. The Cleopatra Costume on Stage and in Film A fascinating multi-part essay with illustrations by C. David Claudon. Staging Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra Program notes from the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Review of Mary Hamer's Signs of Cleopatra By. A.A. Donohue. The House of Ptolemy: Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marcus Antonius and the Transition to a Greco-Roman (Roman Imperial) Egypt A site with a number of good links and an annotated bibliography of a few recent books. Orientalism, Misinformation and Islam By Abu Iman Abd ar-Rahmân Robert Squires. An essay on Orientalism with citations from Edward Said's book. I had a little difficulty finding a website that provided more than either basic information or a report on Elizabeth Taylor, but I eventually discovered “The Cleopatra Website,” written by Eleni. The site provided fairly detailed information on Cleopatra herself, as well as her relationships with both Caesar and Antony. Eleni’s main objective is to refute the common depictions of Cleopatra
as either a “sexy, self-serving, cold-hearted murderess” or an
“enchanting, virtuous damsel that men sought to save and seduce.”
Throughout the article, Cleopatra is continually portrayed as intelligent
and sensible rather than seductive and passionate. First, Eleni argues against
Cleopatra’s reported beauty, providing Cleopatra’s image on an
ancient coin as proof of her average appearance. Later, Cleopatra is portrayed
as a “tough and efficient ruler.” Although the works that we have
read do acknowledge Cleopatra’s strength and power, none have depicted
Cleopatra as quite so practical and unfeeling. According to Eleni, Cleopatra’s
relationships with Caesar and Antony were based on profit, not on love.
Eleni states that Antony and Cleopatra “became lovers but that didn’t
affect the business matters between them. Antony needed money, and Cleopatra
wanted support. They each got what they wanted.” A relationship that
is portrayed by Cleopatra: The Foolish Queen of Egypt by Kate Hanley This website was created by a global studies student in 10th grade. I
chose it because her interpretation of Cleopatra's history is so vehemently
prejudiced against her that it is shocking. Her opening sentence "Cleopatra
was a fool which was shown by her severely ambitious actions…"
shows very well the negative tone that the paper will take. The most interesting change in the history is the introduction of Herod, the king of Judea, as a major character in Cleopatra's downfall. Herod is claimed to have been an old time friend of Antony's, and in Antony's absence Cleopatra is said to have tried to seduce him. Her failure to do so caused her to hate him. When Herod convinces Anthony not to give Cleopatra some lands she wants, she becomes "upset with the idea that anyone other than herself should influence Antony" and begins to plot against him. When Rome declares war against Cleopatra, Herod's resources are claimed to have been essential to her victory, and his refusal to help is claimed to have been the reason for Cleopatra's defeat. [Diana] Cleopatra VII by Susan Daniels (1 of 2) The website "Cleopatra VII" was published independently by the author. Included are a brief history of Cleopatra's lineage, rise to power, and suicide. The text largely sticks with historical facts and the common legends surrounding Cleopatra, but it does put forth a few less commonly known pieces of information. Unlike most of the representations of the Cleopatra story in film and writing, this website states that the Library at Alexandria was not burned during the Alexandrian War, and that, most importantly, Cleopatra killed herself in her palace where she had been brought after her capture by Octavian's troops, and not in her mausoleum. The website gives Cleopatra's family history, with one deviation from
what is commonly accepted in literature and history: Cleopatra's two older
sisters are said to have been killed as traitors after their father, whose
throne they had usurped, returned to power. Daniels also states that after
Caesar captured Cleopatra's sister Arsinoe, he lead her through the streets
of Rome in a triumph, but did not kill her as was common practice, instead
sending her to Asia Minor. Her death is here said to come several years
later at Cleopatra's request of Mark Antony, because she felt the The author maintains largely unbiased in the representation of Cleopatra, neither blaming her nor idolizing her for her actions. Differences in historical record are accounted for, as when the author explains that some historians place Caesarian's birth at 47 BC, while others say that it did not occur until 44 BC, that is, after Caesar's death. However, at times Cleopatra, Caesar, and Antony's emotions are given to the reader and represented as fact. When Antony returns to Rome, the author says of Cleopatra, "Surely she was very unhappy that Antony had married Octavia, and no doubt even angrier when Octavia became pregnant." While Daniels does not state these feelings as absolute certainties, she does impose these emotions onto the reader's image of Cleopatra. This imposition is seen most clearly when Daniels actually puts forth a quotation as historical fact. Walking in upon the death scene, "a guard, seeing Charmion adjusting Cleopatra's diadem, asked, 'Charmion, was this right?' And Charmion replied, 'It is entirely right and fitting for a queen descended from so many kings.'" That this quotation, taken almost word for word from Shakespeare, is actually given as a historical event causes the website to lose its otherwise credible tone which almost totally lacks bias. The Cleopatra represented is largely devoid of myth and fantasy, but she also lacks dimension. Her actions are stated but her personality and reasoning are left largely unexplored. [Cheryl] Cleopatra VII by Susan Daniels (2 of 2) This web site is designed by a scholar who has specific interest on Cleopatra VII. Based on historical facts and Plutarch’s text, it objectively narrates Cleopatra’s life stories. Unlike other texts, which mostly focus on Cleopatra, Caesar and Anthony’s romance, this article tries to show a relatively complete image of Cleopatra who is as both a queen and a lover. At the beginning, the author details Cleopatra’s genealogy, which starts from Ptolemy I. She then takes a great space to illustrate how Cleopatra engages to gain her queen throne from her sisters and brothers. Different from all the other texts we have read, Cleopatra actually officially has married twice according to this author. Her second husband is her another brother, who died 3 years after their marriage. Her romance with Caesar and Anthony is largely based on Plutarch’s Mark Anthony and Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra in this article. However, the author does not take legendary death of Cleopatra directly, but leave there a few possibilities. [Rime] Cleopatra, the Last Pharaoh (1 of 3) I found this web site using the HotBot search engine. The web site is a page from the Alexandria homepage- a geographical and historical site about the city. The site also includes web pages concerning Mark Antony and Caesar. The Cleopatra page gives an overview of her reign in Egypt chronologically, beginning with a brief history of the Ptolemies and in particular Cleopatras father, Ptolemy XII. The author of the brief history states that when Cleopatra inherits Egypts throne Egypt is already losing its independence to Rome, with Ptolemy XII paying tribute to Rome to keep them away from his Kingdom. Thus Cleopatras reign in Egypt begins with the country already under pressure from Rome. The author of the article poses the fundamental question of Cleopatras motives: Was she trying to save her throne or did she have a more noble cause? The placement of the italics leads me to believe that the author supports the first proposal rather than the second. The history which follows this question conveys the image of Cleopatra as a whore who seduces Caesar, and Antony to promote her own power. Rather than falling in love with Antony, Cleopatra chooses Mark Antony over his rival, Octavian, after the death of Caesar because Mark Antony seemed to prevail [over Octavian]. Since Antony appears more powerful to her, Cleopatra supports him and they become lovers. The choice that Cleopatra makes suggests that had Octavian been more powerful in Rome directly following Caesars death, the roles of Antony and Octavian would have been exchanged. Once Antony dies, the author implies that Cleopatra then tries to seduce Octavian: the Roman Emperor had no intention of any relation, reconciliation, or even negotiation with the Egyptian Queen. Again, the authors words, although not stating Cleopatras actions, leads the reader that Cleopatra tries to make Octavian her lover, like she had with Caesar and Antony before him, but fails. This Cleopatra moves from Caesar to Antony to Octavian without a moment of sadness or remorse for the previous lovers death. The portrayal of Cleopatra on this web page, accurate or not, differs from the depictions of Cleopatra in Mary Sidneys and Shakespeares plays, who both exhibit true feelings for Antony. The Cleopatra in this article fits Hughes-Hallets description of a harlot Queen who uses her sexuality to promote her own power. The author of this article answers his/her own question about Cleopatras motives, although never addressing it explicitly. Cleopatras love for Antony or Caesar are never mentioned in the article and the reader is led to believe that Cleopatra uses both men for political purposes only. [Katy] Cleopatra: The Last Pharaoh (2 of 3) I located a brief historical writing on Cleopatra provided by geocities
historical database on Ancient Egypt. This piece makes a clear attempt to
expel any current notion that Cleopatra was a glorious and respectable individual,
insulting Caesar and Anthony in the process. Although this writing is heavily
slanted in disfavor of Cleopatra, it still reflects This piece begins by paying greater attention to the teenage years of
Cleopatra than any other work we have examined thus far. The piece describes
Cleopatra's marriage to her brother and her eventual exile, before examining
her final rise to power. Throughout the work efforts are made to dispel
any false rumors about her being an admirable character, both physically
and personally. "She was far from beautiful, despite her glamorous
image today. She is depicted on ancient with a long hooked nose and masculine
features." The work proceeds to tell tales of her two famed love affairs,
referring to the gluttonous tendencies and lavish surroundings of Cleopatra
and her lovers. Apparently "Cleopatra and Caesar enjoyed a leisurely
two-month cruise on the Nile." The writer also mentions that prior
to the demise of Anthony and Cleopatra, "Anthony returned to Cleopatra
to party away their final days together." Anthony is often insulted
with subjective comments referring to him as "an unsophisticated, pleasure-loving
man." In some accordance with Shakespeare, this piece mentions that
following Actium Anthony began to reject Cleopatra: "For three days
Anthony sat alone in the prow of Cleopatra's ship, refusing to see or speak
to her." Cleopatra,
The Last Pharoah (3 of 3) The Search for Cleopatra's Palace The website that I found, "The Search for Cleopatra's Palace,"
is sponsored by the Discovery Channel which also sponsored the movie that
we watched, The Real Cleopatra, and there was, in fact, a link to a site
about the movie. The site begins by telling the story of Cleopatra and her
family as a means of setting up Alexandria as a great and mystical city.
The site is mainly about the current underwater search for her lost palace
and all the artifacts of the Ptolemy family that are being found in this
search. In order to secure her position as Queen and help her create a
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