
( AlexAnton / Adobe Stock)Īlthough the marriage with Calpurnia was political, the Romans were annoyed by the behavior of their leader. The ruins of the Caesar Forum and the Temple of Venus Genetrix in Rome, Italy, where Caesar is said to have erected a golden statue of Cleopatra to the dismay of the Romans. Their romance was a huge scandal in Rome because Caesar was already married to Calpurnia Pisonis. Officially it was because she was a foreign head of state and thus couldn't stay inside Rome, but in fact it was a very comfortable situation for the couple to have a little bit of privacy. She resided in Caesar’s luxury house outside Rome. His nickname was Caesarion, which means “little Caesar.”Ĭleopatra visited Rome with her son in the summer of 46 BC.

As a result of this romance, in 47 BC Cleopatra gave birth to their son Ptolemy Caesar.
#Cleopatra and julius caesar painting full
She wasn't a classical beauty, but her voice sounded like a lyre, and she was full of charm. She spoke at least eight languages, and was well-versed in astronomy, mathematics, alchemy, and history. (Francesco Gasparetti / CC BY 2.0 )Ĭaesar and Cleopatra soon became lovers, but they also created a relationship based on common interests and passions. When Caesar saw her, he was very intrigued.Ĭleopatra VII and her son Caesarion, the product of her powerful relationship and alliance with Caesar, at the Temple of Dendera in Egypt. According to Plutarch, she entered past the guards rolled up in a carpet that Apollodorus the Sicilian was carrying. Caesar was already 52, and well-advanced in his political life. Their story began when Cleopatra was 21 years old. For that reason, the senators of Rome whispered that the queen of Egypt must have been a witch, as she had such a strong influence on the thoughts of the famous Roman. The Dramatic Death of Cleopatra – Was It Really Suicide?Īccording to the Roman gossip mill, Julius Caesar was under Cleopatra's spell.Unraveling History: The Final Fates of the Children of Cleopatra VII?.

Octavian’s Trolling and Propaganda Against Mark Antony.

The affair between Caesar and Cleopatra, particularly the beginning of their romance, became one of the most famous in the world. To achieve her goals, she decided to connect her dynasty with the greatest man of her time: Julius Caesar. After three centuries of Ptolemaic rule, she hoped to end the impoverished state of Egypt. ( Public domain ) The Most Famous Couple of the Ancient WorldĬleopatra VII was the last queen of Egypt and descended from the dynasty created by Ptolemy I Soter. While Caesar and Cleopatra, seen here in an 1866 painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, were the ultimate power couple, Cleopatra and Octavian became enemies. For centuries, people have asked the same question: what would have happened if Cleopatra and Octavian had become allies instead of adversaries? Both inextricably linked to Caesar, Cleopatra was his lover while Octavian was his adopted son, and they created monumental chapters in the history of both ancient Egypt and Rome. While Caesar and Cleopatra have been remembered as the ultimate power couple, Cleopatra and Octavian are among the most famous enemies of ancient history.
