Cleopatra (born 70/69 BCE—died August 30 BCE, Alexandria) was an Egyptian queen, famous in history and drama as the lover of Julius Caesar and later as the wife of Mark Antony. She became queen on the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, in 51 BCE and ruled successively with her two brothers Ptolemy XIII (51–47) and Ptolemy XIV (47–44) and her son Ptolemy XV Caesar (44–30). After the Roman armies of Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) defeated their combined forces, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide, and Egypt fell under Roman domination. Cleopatra actively influenced Roman politics at a crucial period, and she came to represent, as did no other woman of Classical antiquity, the prototype of the romantic femme fatale.

Studying Cleopatra's political influence and tragic end is not only fascinating but also offers valuable insights into ancient history and the portrayal of powerful women. 🏛️