The story of Cleopatra's life has been told in many different forms. Cleopatra in all forms was a woman of mystery, power, sin, and eroticism.

When you think of the name Cleopatra what comes to mind? Many people may think that she was a saint for not just reason and that she committed suicide in the face of adversity. Other people may think that she was a deceiving, power hungry killer that had an obsession with men. In the two thousand years since Cleopatra's death the vision of her has changed immensely (Hughes-Hallet 1). According to Lucy Hughes -Hallett, "the vision of Cleopatra has been recreated over and over again, each time in a form that fits the prejudices and fantasies of the age that produced it "(1). For example, Cecil B. Demille created a movie about her life making her "the wickedest woman in history " (1). According to George Bernhard Shaw she was an emotionally disturbed sex kitten; to the painters of the Renaissance she was a helpless victim; to the poets of Romanticism she was a terrifying femme fatale, and to Arabic historian Al- Masudi she was a scholar and a sage (1).

He had just arrived in Tarsus. He summoned Cleopatra to that city in order that they might discuss " political and financial matter of her fleet in the mouth of the Cydnus River (10). Antony took his seat in the marketplace and awaited her arrival. Cleopatra was in no mood and sent for Antony to her enchanted garden where she planned to seduce him (11). Her main objective for wanting Antony was to stir up a quarrel between himself and Octavian - Lepidus the third member of the triumvirate, was a man of no account. With Antony's generalship and her own money they would overthrow Octavian and get the Roman throne (11).

drunken monster who had promised to the Egyptian prostitute the Roman Empire as the price of her love (14)."

Cleopatra's love interest soon changed to another Roman soldier named Mark Antony (Shaw 8). He was younger, sturdier, handsomer, more passionate but equally reckless. He was a giant of a fighter with the mind of a child and the appetites of a god. He was full of pranks to amuse people and full of schemes o enslave them. Devoid of sober judgement, he was as intemperate in his generosity as in his cruelty. His soldiers idolized him. He was so much like them. Once, when driven with his legion of Rome, "he gave"-in the words of Plutaich-" a most wonderful example to his soldiers. He who had just quitted so much luxury, made no difficulty now of drinking foul water and feeding on wild fruits and roots." Anton greeted life with gusts of laughter (8). He cared little for public opinion. " Your philosophers tell you how a man ought to live." He acted on impulse rather than on deliberation. Impulsively he presented his cook with a rich estate (another man's property he acquired by for!

Because of the complaints Caesar was receiving he left Cleopatra and set sail for Pontus in Asia Minor (7). He wanted to return home as a triumphant soldier rather than as a triumphant lover. He wanted to bring home a newly subjected country as a present. Caesar succeeded in subjugating Pontus, and reported his victory in three words: veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered). Under the coaching of Cleopatra he had learned to regard himself as a god, and to boast like a god (7).

In order to collect the funds for the perpetration of their crime- they called it " the establishment of a Roman peace," - Antony was commissioned to journey to the countries of the Orient, and it was on this journey that Antony met Cleopatra, and, like Caesar before him, became her devoted slave (10).

Knowledge to be of Grecian influence (6). Due to Alex's admiration of the Greek people Alexandria was built in Grecian style (Hornblow 7). Alexandria became one of the most prosperous cities in the world under Alexander's rule and because the center of trade for three continents- Europe, Asia, and Africa (7). Alexander later died and his brother Ptolemy Auletes XI took over the throne. Ptolemy was very pessimistic. He wanted the blood of his royal family to remain Macedonian so he made a rule that brother and sisters were to marry each other and keep for themselves and their offspring the right to govern (7). The rule caused many difficulties due to the sharing of a kingdom by siblings. The rule led to weak rulers and horrible feud (7).

Throughout history pictures of Cleopatra have been of a very beautiful woman, with dark skin and long beautiful black hair. That description is one of an Egyptian but in fact Cleopatra and all of her ancestors were Greek (Thomas 6). The founder of her royal family was Ptolemy I, who

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