Greco-Roman Period · Ptolemies

Cleopatra VII

Reign: 52/51 BC (co-regent) 51–30 BC
Dynasty: Ptolemies
Period: Greco-Roman Period, 332 BC to 4th century AD
Capital at the time: Alexandria

Cleopatra VII is listed in the king list under ‘Ptolemies’ and so belongs to this period: Greco-Roman Period (332 BC to 4th century AD). Reign: 52/51 BC (co-regent) 51–30 BC.

Cleopatra VII in portrait

Egypt’s last pharaoh, a queen of the Graeco-Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty.

Cleopatra spoke several languages, including Egyptian, Greek and others, and ruled at first jointly with her brothers, later with her son. Her political alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony secured Egypt’s independence from Rome for a time. After her defeat by Octavian she died in 30 BC; with her death the age of the pharaohs came to an end and Egypt became a Roman province.

What is known about Cleopatra VII

Lover of Caesar and of Antony. Took her own life after the capture of Alexandria by Augustus.
From the German Wikipedia list of pharaohs, CC BY-SA 4.0, translated and edited.

During this reign

30 BCDeath of Cleopatra VII; Egypt becomes a Roman province and the granary of Rome.

Other events of the period

237 BCConstruction begins on the Temple of Horus at Edfu, today the best-preserved temple in Egypt.
196 BCRosetta Stone: a priestly decree for Ptolemy V in hieroglyphs, Demotic and Greek.

More about this period: Greco-Roman Period

Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII in portrait

What is known about Cleopatra VII

During this reign

Other events of the period

Ptolemies: all rulers

Further reading