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When Julius Caesar, and later Mark Antony first met Cleopatra she saw to it they were both in turn dazzled and enchanted. Her golden barge would pull up at the wharf at Alexandria; the mighty Roman would be brought aboard to more splendor than he could ever have imagined.
Cleopatra was dazzling with jewels, diamonds, necklace of intricate gold, and a feast of foods not known in Rome. She won both hearts of Caesar, and then Mark Antony with her opulence and grandeur. She was like no queen or mortal woman they had ever yet seen.
When she was in this new world of more primitive growing Rome, her opulence was as they had never beheld before. She was quickly resented. Cleopatra knew she was not popular in Rome, and soon Julius, knives in his Emperor back, was dead. Cleopatra had already departed on her golden ship back to Alexandria.
Enough of Rome. She had been isolated, her vast riches resented, and she longed to be home to civilized, cultural behavior. Cleopatra had seen enough of pagan Rome, and could only reflect on how her mighty ancestor Alexander had believed in one God and godly behavior, compared to these self indulgent vulgar new rich Romans.
Soon, Rome reacted. As Mark Antony had been closest to Julius, he was made First of Three who would together rule Rome. He should go to Alexandria and demand that this proud Greek Queen of Egypt pledge her alliance, and really, her subservience to Rome.
However, as she had with Julius, Cleopatra wove her feminine charms over Mark Antony until his demands for her loyalty had him pledging his loyalty to her. Cleopatra was petite, lovely, greatly adorned, and she adorned Mark Antony with her finery and spices and silks from more to the east than Romans would venture.
And, in contrast to old worn out Julius, Cleopatra was at first madly in love with Mark Antony. Later, on his return from the great battle of Actium, his wounds made him appear tired, old and ugly.
And soon, wounded, bloated, taking too much to the wine, Cleopatra came to despise him for a time, until their love overcame all and he died actually in the arms of Cleopatra as she took her snake to her bosom and died as Romans burst into her chambers, wanting them both alive for the victory parade through Rome
But while it did last, this was a true love relationship between Mark Antony, at that time the first of three of Rome, and the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra.
Alas, Mark should have stayed in Rome. Cleopatra charmed him, loved him, rejected him, drove him mad, died in his arms; and they had created Augustus Caesar, and now the Roman Empire.
An accomplished but ill fated few years for a lady who died at 30, and who lives on in the minds of many.
Cleopatra had enough of ignorant, rough, uncultured Rome. Then came Mark Antony: Cleopatra charmed him. She made passionate love to him. In battle did she reject him which drove him mad. He did manage to die in her arms, and she held the snake to her bosom. And now the second in Rome declared himself Augustus Caesar and thus began the Roman Empire.
Author Resource:- Derek Dashwood notices how much history still tells us of the motivations of what makes people do as they do, and we show examples at Roman Empire Heritage Antiques
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