Essay Sample on Ancient Rome and Cleopatra

📌Category: Historical Figures, History, Roman Empire
📌Words: 470
📌Pages: 2
📌Published: 16 February 2022

The conflict between Cleopatra and Roman historical figures made Cleopatra famous in western world. If she didn’t have interactions with Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian, she would not be as famous as she is today. Cleopatra was viewed as an enemy by the Romans because she bewitched one of the greatest Roman, Mark Antony. Most of the historical resources we have of Cleopatra were documented by Romans. As a result, most of them intended  on demeaning her reputation. For this reason, historical material should be carefully investigated as it could be both factual and nonfactual.

Since Antony switched sides from a general to an ally and political partner, Cleopatra was accused of witchcraft.When she allegedly tempted him and announced her  witchcraft love, as the Romans called it, they claimed he went insane.  On the word of Romans Antony and Cleopatra’s love was entirely manipulation of Cleopatra. However, Antony was also accountable for their unity and infatuation. Moreover,  becoming ally with Antony was a good strategy for Cleopatra. As a consequence, she became more powerful as a ruler and brought stability to Egypt and restored the monarchy of Plotwmaic Egypt. 

In Augustus speech, he slandered her by indicating her as a woman rather than uttering her name.He also showed radical contrast between Egypt and Rome.For example, Egyptians worshipped reptiles, beast and it was degrading to be lead by a female. Romans presented her as an Egyptian but she was also a member of Greek elite. Romans did it deliberately in order to portray her as a leader of barbarous Egyptian culture and outline extreme differences between Egypt and Rome.

She was harshly criticised by Plutarch due to the influence she had on Antony. Antony lost his sense of responsibility in consequence of Cleopatra’s manipulation. Because of her, Plutarch conclude that Antony had his moral failure. According to Plutarch, she had charming personality rather than a beautiful appearance. In coins of Cleopatra, her image was not flattering instead she was displayed as strong and powerful leader. Though she was regarded as a monster, her death was noble act according to Horace. Aristocratic Roman used to prefer death instead of humiliation which was also a similar case in Cleopatra’s life. 

Cleopatra was illustrated as mad queen in Horace’s poem.  Horace denoted Cleopatra as queen because  queen was more hated term than king in Rome. Due to the fact that it had all the negative connotations of king and also woman did not have political role during that time. Thus Horace could influence public negatively about Cleopatra through his poem. Octavian declared war against Cleopatra instead of Antony to evade the occurance of civil war.  Even though, Egypt was not in a threatening position for Rome.

To conclude, the portrayal of Cleopatra in Roman resources was undoubtedly based on their own agenda. They showcased her in a way which would be an advantage for them. Hence, Roman historical resources are not entirely reliable. To a certain extent,  Roman sources can be reliable where their motives are inspected thoroughly.

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