Amazing facts about Cleopatra - As one of the most powerful women in history, Cleopatra has become an iconic figure. However, her reputation is shrouded in mystery and rumor. It is now said that she wasn't actually that beautiful, and in fact her greatest asset was her intelligence. Or did you know that she was bald, and that she wasn't actually Egyptian? Learn more curious facts about the ruler of ancient Egypt.

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Powerful name - Cleopatra Tea Philopator was born in 69 BC, and died at age 39 on 12 August. The name Cleopatra means 'father's glory'. Tea means goddess and Philopator means loved by her father.

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Daughter of siblings -

In ancient times, it was common for noblemen to marry their relatives to guarantee the purity of lineage. With Cleopatra it was no different. Her parents were brother and sister.

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She was not Egyptian - Cleopatra was of Greek origin and was born in Macedonia. Although she was not an Egyptian, she adopted many local customs and was the first of her family to learn the Egyptian language.

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Famous - She was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, the descendants of Ptolemy I, who ruled Egypt after King Alexander III of Macedonia conquered the country. She was the most famous ruler of her line.

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Married her brothers -

Before his death, Ptolemy chose his children, Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII, as the new rulers of Egypt. Following the dynasty's tradition, Cleopatra married her brother, who was about fifteen at the time.

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She killed three of her brothers - Driven by the ambition of ruling on her own, Cleopatra went to war with her first husband, Ptolemy XIII. With the support of Julius Caesar, she won the battle and killed one of her brothers in the river.

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Cold - Cleopatra was then forced to marry her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, who became her next victim. If that was not enough, she also killed her sister, Arsinoe, as she considered her to be a threat to her throne.

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Wars - Much blood was shed in Egypt because of Cleopatra's greed. She was one of the greatest instigators of wars because of her thirst for power.

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She was not pretty - Even though she was portrayed in the movies by the stunning actress Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra did not became famous because of her beauty.

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She was not seductive - The legend of her being an irresistible woman was created by the Romans, who gossiped that she was a femme fatale who used sex as a political weapon.

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Intelligent - Cleopatra was a skilled strategist and administrator, who was very well educated. It's possible that she could read in 12 languages, she was highly cultured and was famous for conducting her diplomatic meetings in the language of the meeting attendees.

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Julius Caesar - As soon as her brother took power, Cleopatra was exiled to Syria. At this time, the Romans were in the midst of a civil war and Julius Caesar went to Egypt and kill her brother. Together they had a son, Caesarion, who ruled Egypt beside his mother.

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Lived in Rome - Cleopatra lived in Rome together with Julius Caesar. She was known in Rome as Caesar's mistress and the relationship was a scandal. Cleopatra only left Rome after Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Senate.

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Escape - Cleopatra met Mark Antony during her stay in Rome. After the death of Julius Caesar, she had to escape to Egypt.

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Billionaire - Cleopatra was one of the richest women of her time. It is estimated that her fortune would be valued at around $100 billion in today's currency.

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Ostentatious - The ceiling of her palace was adorned with lapis lazuli and agate, and there were Persian rugs everywhere. The place had no less than 100 rooms. Unfortunately, a major earthquake in the fifth century destroyed the palace.

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Bald -

Cleopatra took a lot of care of her appearance. She always wore makeup and loved massages with different types of oil. Like many Egyptians, she waxed her body and shaved her head to avoid lice, and wore wigs to hide her baldness.

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Wrapped up - Cleopatra is said to have surprised Julius Caesar, after he had just won a battle against the Roman Pompey, by hiding in a papyrus bag. According to some biographers, she might have been wrapped in a rug instead.

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Claimed to be the reincarnation of the Goddess Isis - Isis, in Egyptian mythology, was the most important goddess and Cleopatra VII claimed to be her reincarnation. She was known as the new Isis, which gave her a mystical aura.

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Relationship - After a war, Rome was divided between two emperors and Mark Antony allied himself with Octavian. He was supposed to marry the emperor's daughter, but he met Cleopatra during a negotiation and fell for her. The two stayed together and had three children.

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Last love - Mark Anthony, played by Richard Burton in the epic movie that starred Elizabeth Taylor as the protagonist, was Cleopatra's last love.

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Romeo and Juliet of ancient times - Mark Antony killed himself after thinking that Cleopatra had died. With the decline of her power, the ruler decided to die with her beloved.

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Death bed - Cleopatra put on her most elegant clothes and stepped into a scented sarcophagus with an Egyptian snake.

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Bitten by a snake - Legend has it that Cleopatra would have killed herself by allowing a poisonous snake to bite her. However this version of events is disputed by some people. Historian and philosopher Plutarch stated that Cleopatra hid a very potent poison in her clothes.

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Another method - Other historians believe that Cleopatra could have dipped a pin in the snake's venom and poisoned herself with it.

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Inspiration for Shakespeare - The love between Mark Antony and Cleopatra is the subject of one of the most well-known plays by the author William Shakespeare: 'Antony and Cleopatra'. But was 'Romeo and Juliet' not inspired by the couple as well?

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Bohemian -

Cleopatra and Mark Antony loved a party. It is said that during the peak of their passion, around 41 BC, she and Mark Anthony founded a 'drinking club'.

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Banquets - The couple knew how to entertain their guests, offering them plenty of alcohol and food.

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Crazy parties -

Some say that the club was an excuse for wild parties.

See also: What exactly was the Trojan War?

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