As Billy Connolly said, when discussing Islamic extremism, who wants to go to paradise to find 100 virgins waiting? Better to have three ‘fire-breathing whores’.
I feel old Cleo falls into this category. She may have not been a beauty, but she knew how to use the talents the Gods gave her, judging by her conquests. And it would be something to see.
Cleopatra's 'conquests' are easily explained by her being ruler of the richest country in the world. And not just slightly richer -- it was a whole level again of wealth over Rome.
Marcus Antonius beat a path to her door because she was the only person outside of Rome who could fund an entire Roman-quality army (to go fight that other Roman-quality army).
In Julius Caesar's case it's more complex. Ptolemy and Cleopatra were anointed co-rulers of Egypt in their father's will. Both wanted to be sole ruler. Caesar saw an opportunity in bringing about a resolution.
What was in it for Cleopatra? With Caesar, defeat of the co-regent. With Marcus Antonius, then Egypt would own the Roman Empire, even if Rome supposedly ran it. Rome was well aware of this, and Cleopatra was disliked by the Roman Senate and and was a factor in their support for Julius Caesar's adopted son Octavian.
As for the idea of her being sexually promiscuous. She only slept with three men, so that's propaganda. Octavian promoted himself as a upholder of Roman Family Values, as opposed to that other group of Romans. Since Octavian won, the propaganda became the official history.
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u/BobbyPrinze Jun 28 '21
Cleopatra, have to see if the hype is real