Was
Cleopatra Motivated by Sex and Love?
Kristen Bellamy
October 3, 2002
I. Background
A. Cleopatra was in a power struggle with her brother Ptolemy
B. When Caesar came to Alexandria it was a golden opportunity for
her to win
him over
II. Her relationship with Caesar
A. Unsure of the seriousness of it
III. Relationship with Marc Antony
A. Most notable relationship
B. Most definitely a love match
Sources
Plutarch. Roman Lives
Grant, Michael. Cleopatra
Cleopatra: First Woman of Power Produced by David Lint
Lovric, Michelle Cleopatra's Face: Fatal Beauty
Quotes about Cleopatra
"Oh God, how happy would he be who could hold that lady naked
and willing in his arms!" -Jean de Tuim
"You know she's not much used to lonely nights." -John
Dryden
"She became so debauched that she often sold herself as a
prostitute; but she was so beautiful that many men bought a night
with her at the price of their own death"
-Aurelius Victor (4th century Roman historian and biographer)
On Caesar, "As for the war in Egypt, some people claim that
he damaged his reputation and risked his life needlessly for no
real reason, and it was just that he was so passionately in love
with Cleopatra" -Plutarch
On Cleopatra's carpet scheme, "This ruse is said to have opened
Caesar's eyes to the side of Cleopatra that was far from innocent
and to have made him fall for her."- Plutarch
"She abducted Antony so successfully that while his wife Fulvia
was fighting Caesar in Rome in defense of his affairs, and while
there was a Parthian army hovering near Mesopotamia, with Labienus
newly appointed by the Parthian king's generals as commander-in-chief
for the planned invasion of Syria, he was carried off by her to
Alexandria where he indulged in the pastimes and pleasures of a
young man of leisure, and spent and squandered on luxuries that
commodity which Antiphon called the most costly in the world- namely,
time." -Plutarch
Summary:
Kate Tiffany
Summary: Was Cleopatra Motivated by Sex and Love
When Caesar arrived at Alexandria in 48 BC he found the government
in the middle of a power struggle. Both Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra
were vying for power, and this is the time when Cleopatra is said
to have rolled herself up in a carpet in order to see Caesar. Cleopatra
may have thought this to be a perfect opportunity to win Caesar
over. She needed Caesar and his support, not only regain the throne
of Egypt but also to solidify her control and power base.
Her relationship with Caesar is unclear as to the seriousness of
it. Their relationship may have been based more on need because
Cleopatra needed him in order to hold onto her power in Egypt. However,
since Caesar never mentions his relationship with Cleopatra in any
of his writing we don't know the seriousness of their relationship.
Cleopatra's relationship with Marc Antony is the most notable. Their
first know meeting was at Tarsus, and their relationship may have
started out as one of necessity as well. Antony needed funding from
Cleopatra for a campaign, and Cleopatra needed the support of Rome,
and Antony being one of the triumvirs, thus to keep control. However,
their relationship started it more than likely grew into a relationship
of love. Cleopatra did have 3 children with Antony, and they stayed
together for eleven years, even after a civil war started because
of their relationship.