Plutarch Cleopatra Carpet

Consider the dramatic way she introduced herself to julius caesar and mark antony.

Plutarch cleopatra carpet.

Cleopatra is probably best known for her love affair with the roman. Most of these fanciful anecdotes can be traced back to the writings of the greek essayist and biographer plutarch who was writing over 100 years after the death of. Plutarch tells the famous tale of how cleopatra was hidden in a role of carpet or sleeping bag depending on the translation which was unrolled to reveal her in all her glory. Nevertheless several paintings and films have perpetuated cleopatra s association with the image of the carpet over.

She was the last of the ptolemaic dynasty of pharaohs set up in egypt after the death of alexander the great by descent she was a macedonian princess. Cleopatra was determined to make the most of pothinus miscalculation and managed to arrange a secret meeting with caesar. Cleopatra was not egyptian. But the ancient chronicler plutarch.

Cleopatra queen of egypt was one of the most famous women in history her full name was cleopatra vii thea philopator 69 bc 12 august 30 bc. According to plutarch s famous account a middle aged caesar first laid eyes on cleopatra when she smuggled herself into his quarters and tumbled out of a carpet or more likely a basket of laundry. Plutarch wrote that cleopatra disguised herself with a large sack. The nineteenth century artist jean léon gérome reimagined this scene by depicting a bare breasted cleopatra emerging from the carpet distracting caesar away from his day s work.

51 30 bce was the last ruler of egypt before it was annexed as a province of rome although arguably the most famous egyptian queen cleopatra was actually greek and a member of the ptolemaic dynasty 323 30 bce which ruled egypt after the death of alexander the great l. Cleopatra had herself wrapped in a carpet some sources say it was a linen sack and smuggled into his personal quarters. After her death egypt became the roman province of aegyptus. When julius caesar came to egypt in pursuit of his rival pompey cleopatra saw an opportunity to win a powerful roman ally.

Strabo who provides the earliest historical account on the death says cleopatra committed suicide either by allowing an asp egyptian cobra to bite her or by a toxic ointment for example with a sharp implement such as a hairpin.