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Table of Contents
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was one of the most famous women in history. Her name was Cleopatra VII Philopator and she ruled Ancient Egypt for 21 years. She was the last of the Pharaohs set up in Egypt by Alexander the Great.
See the fact file below for more information on the Cleopatra or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Cleopatra worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ASCENSION TO THRONE
- Although she was known simply as Cleopatra, her full name was Cleopatra VII Philopator and she was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 69 BC. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V.
- In 51 BC, upon the death of her father, Cleopatra co regent ruled Egypt with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII. By 49 BC, Cleopatra fled to Syria and raised an army of mercenaries against her brother who initially backstabbed her.
- Meanwhile in Egypt, Ptolemy had Pompey, the general murdered and welcomed Julius Caesar of Rome in Alexandria.
CLEOPATRA, MEN, AND THE THRONE
- After four months of war against Ptolemy XIII, Julius Caesar won the battle and was able to gain Egypt for resources. Caesar aimed to return to Rome using the Egyptian wealth. Cleopatra sought support from Caesar and regained the throne together with her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV.
- In 47 BC, Cleopatra gave birth to the conqueror’s son, Ptolemy Caesar, also known as Caesarion or Little Caesar.
- By 44 BC, Julius Caesar was murdered. As a result, Cleopatra returned to Egypt from Rome. Ptolemy XIV’s death soon followed. Cleopatra then ruled Egypt with her son Caesarion (Ptolemy XV).
- Cleopatra and Caesar ruled Ancient Egypt together from 44 BC to 30 BC. When Caesarion was named co-ruler by his mother on September 2, 44 BC, he was only three years old.
- At the same time, Cleopatra recognised herself as the New Isis. In Egyptian mythology, the goddess Isis was the sister-wife of Osiris and mother to Horus.
- After Caesar’s death, the triumvirate in Rome composed of Mark Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus was in conflict against Caesar’s assassins Cassius and Brutus.
- Cleopatra sent troops to Rome in support of the triumvirate which resulted in victory.
- After Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, Cleopatra sided with Mark Antony in opposition to Caesar’s legal heir, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (also known as Augustus).
- Cleopatra then had a relationship with Mark Antony and had three children with him. These children were the twins Cleopatra Selene II and Alexander Helios, and another son, Ptolemy Philadelphus.
DEATH, RULE OF EGYPT, AND OTHER FACTS
- After Mark Antony’s troops lost the Battle of Actium to Octavian’s forces, Antony committed suicide. Cleopatra followed suit and, according to tradition, she killed herself by letting a poisonous snake, called an asp, bite her on August 12, 30 BC.
- Caesarion, Cleopatra’s son, ruled Ancient Egypt very briefly, but he was too young and was easily defeated and killed on the orders of Octavian, who would later become known as the Roman ruler Augustus. It is thought that Caesarion died on 23 August, 30 BC at the age of 17.
- After Caesarion was killed, Egypt became a province of Rome and was renamed Aegyptus.
- To this day, Cleopatra is a popular and well-known name in Western culture. She has appeared in many works of art and dramatizations of her story. For example, Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, George Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra and the 1963 film, Cleopatra.
- Cleopatra was known for her beauty in the ancient world just as she is today. It is said that took baths in donkey milk to preserve the beauty and youth of her skin. The legend says that 700 donkeys were needed to provide the quantity of milk necessary for her daily bath.
Cleopatra Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Cleopatra across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Cleopatra worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, who was one of the most famous women in history. Her name was Cleopatra VII Philopator and she ruled Ancient Egypt for 21 years. She was the last of the Pharaohs set up in Egypt by Alexander the Great.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Cleopatra Facts
- The New Isis
- Beauty v. Brains
- Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra
- Cleopatra Crossword
- The Lost Tomb
- Cleopatra’s Mark
- Cleopatra’s Legacy
- Cleopatra in Letters
- The Last Queen of Egypt
- Mapping Africa
- Hieroglyphics
- Egyptian Beauty
- Egyptian Leadership
- Cleopatra’s Clock
- Powerful Woman
- Women in Egyptian History
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Link will appear as Cleopatra Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 24, 2021
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.