Rehabilitating Cleopatra.

CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt, d. 30 B.C.; QUEENS -- Egypt -- Biography; QUEENS in literature; QUEENS in motion pictures; REPUTATION (Sociology)

The article presents a biography of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. It discusses her status as a woman ruler in ancient times and argues that her reputation as a sexual deviant is misguided due to the efforts of the Roman emperor Octavian to elevate his own name. It explores her struggles for power as a member of the Ptolemy family, mentions depictions of her life in cinema and literature, and chronicles her relationships with Roman leaders such as Mark Antony and Julius Caesar.