Cleopatra
She was the last pharaoh of Kemet and last member of the Ptolemy dynasty. She was a polymath that spoke several languages. There were political problems during her reign. Julius Caesar was her boyfriend and she married Mark Anthony. The Romans killed her or she commited suicide.
Education
She had access to the Library of Alexandria and scholars were a part of her entourage. The Greek alphabet was taught to her at a young age. When she got older she learned several more languages. They are as follows: Kemetic, Nubian, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin. She was great at public speaking. She was taught math and science. In the Library of Alexandria she wrote books on medicine.
Ptolemy Dynasty
After Alexander conquered Kemet, he went to an oracle. She told him his father is Amen. Amen to the Greeks was Zeus. The Kemetians saw the Greeks as liberators, because they were oppressed by the Persians. A fishing village in Lower Egypt became Alexandria. It was a major center of learning in the ancient world. There was a huge library there!!!!!
After Alexander conquered Kemet, he went to an oracle. She told him his father is Amen. Amen to the Greeks was Zeus. The Kemetians saw the Greeks as liberators, because they were oppressed by the Persians. A fishing village in Lower Egypt became Alexandria. It was a major center of learning in the ancient world. There was a huge library there!!!!!
Ptolemy I Soter was a general in Alexander's army. He became the pharaoh of Kemet after Alexander died. Soter stole Alexander's corpse and buried him in Kemet. He had two wives and they both was from Macedonia. Both wives had children with him. But he treated kids from his second wife better than kids from his first.
There were 17 pharaohs of this dynasty. It was common for members of this dynasty to marry their each other. It was also common for members of this family to kill each other, so they could be ruler. The children of dynasty got a great education, because they had access to books and scholars in the library of Alexandria. This dynasty ruled for 275 years.
Some of the Ptolemies were crowned by priests of Ptah. Those priests were close to the royal family. They had a lot to do with the cult of Arsinoe II. The priests of Ptah were known as "The Greatest of the Directors of Craftsmanship." They lived in Het-Ka-Ptah, which the Greeks called Memphis."
Political Problems
Cleopatra father was Ptolemy XII. He bribed Pompey and Julius Caesar, so Rome would be an ally to Kemet. At that time Cyprus was apart of the Kemetic empire. Rome invaded and Ptolemy XII (PXII) didn't defend it. Kemetians revolted because of this and PXII was exiled to Rome. His wife became pharaoh for a year. Her daughter poisoned her. Then one of his daughters became pharaoh 4 a year. PXII had her killed then he became pharaoh again. Cleopatra became coregent with him after that. She was only 14 years old at that time.
Cleopatra became pharaoh after he died and Ptolemy XIII (PXIII) became coregent. She was the only member of the Ptolemy dynasty to learn Metu Neter. She was exiled to Syria by Alexandrian officials, because she sent sum Roman soldiers there for trial. They murdered the son of the Syrian governor. While she was in Syria her brother became pharaoh.
Pompey lost to Caesar, so he moved to Kemet. PXIII advisers killed him by decapitation. Caesar came Kemet and was handed the head of Pompey. He was saddened by this, because Pompey was his friend. Julius wanted Cleopatra to rule with her brother (PXIII). Cleopatra snuck in Kemet from Syria by being rolled into a carpet. The carpet was unrolled in front of Caesar. She was 21 years old then.
PXIII went war with Cleopatra for the throne of Kemet. Caesar tried to resolve it, but it didn't work. He had a naval battle with PXIII forces and the lighthouse was damaged. Cleopatra won the war and PXIII was killed. Her 11 year old brother Ptolemy XIV became coregent. Arsinoe was paraded in Rome in chains. Then she was executed for being on the losing team.
Romance with JC
Julius Caesar became Cleopatra significant other. They had a son named Caesarion, which means little Caesar. She traveled to Rome and lived in Caesar villa. The Romans didn't like Cleopatra and they were upset Caesar was dating her. Cleopatra made a temple of Julius Caesar after he died. She wanted people to remember her son's father.
Romance with Mark
Cleopatra threw a big party for him once he got to Kemet. After that he fell in love with her. He divorced his wife. She was Octavius sister (Octavia) and they had children. He married Cleo in 32 BCE. They had 2 kids together: they were twins. A boy and a girl. Their names were Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Helios is the sun god and Selene is the moon god in Greek mythology. They are also brother and sister. There last child was named Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Mark Anthony was going to make Alexandria the second capital of the Roman Empire. Cleo helped him with a battle, so he gave her territory as a way of saying thank you. The territories were Judea, Syria, Cyrus, Arabia, Phoenicia, and more.
Downfall
After Mark Anthony fought Rome in a sea battle to protect Kemet. He was killed, then Rome invaded. Cleopatra was put on house arrest. She committed suicide, or so it seems. An investigator said the Romans killed her and made it seem like a suicide. Caesarion was killed by Roman soldiers. The 3 other children were given to Octavia.
Conclusion
Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Kemet. She got a great education and was a member of the Ptolemy dynasty. She spoke 6 languages and was a polymath. There was a lot of scandals in that dynasty. JC was her boyfriend and she married MA. Both of her significant others were murdered. She was finally taken out by the Romans and her kids lost their birthright. The oldest son lost his life. Her life was like a real life movie!!!!!!
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemaic_dynasty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra
https://www.britannica.com/place/Egypt
https://www.livescience.com/19838-antony-cleopatra-babies-sculpture.html#
