Cleopatras Initial Encounter With Caesar Essay -- Egypt History Paper

Cleopatras Initial Encounter With Caesar Cleopatra is desperate-she needs to gain the skunk of Egypt before her inadequate younger brother, Ptolemy, convinces Caesar to grant him full situation. But alas, Cleopatra has been banished from Egypt by the ruthless Pothinus. Fortunately, the brilliant Cleopatra devises a plan to enter her Egyptian castle rolling up in a carpet, posing as a giving for the great Caesar. Her loyal servant, Apollodoros, carries her through a secret passageway and into the palace, where they are met by Caesars guards. They continue into Caesars quarters, where Apollodoros unrolls the carpet to reveal the stunning Cleopatra. Caesar is impressed not alone by Cleopatras intelligence, but also by her undeniable beauty, and pronounces Cleopatra the sole ruler of Egypt. such is the story of the meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra as told by Plutarch and others that followed him. The extent of the storys truth stay a mystery, but it is likely that Plutarch intromitd it in his account merely for frolic value-it is only fitting that the alluring Cleopatra enters the castle with such a cat valium appearance. Because it is written in Plutarchs interpretation, many perceive the story as fact and include it in their own works. The shot, however-and the portrayal of Cleopatra within it-vary among different compositions. Regardless of the likely fictitious aspect of the scene, it is an important one, for it is in this scene that the level of Cleopatras strength and power is revealed. INTELLIGENT YET INFERIORInitially, it appears as though the rug scene is a display of Cleopatras wit, for she uses her intelligence to devise a plan to enter the palace. In addition, it seems that Cleopatra has heightened ... ...lmi, Sr. With Billy Zane, Leonor Varela, and Timothy Dalton. ABC/Hallmark Entertainment, 1999.Cleopatra. Dir. Mankiewicz. With Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Rex Harrison. 20th nose candy Fox, 1963.Foreman, Laura. Cleopatras Palace In Search of a Legend. New York Discovery Books, 1999.George, Margaret. The Memoirs of Cleopatra. New York St. Martins Press, 1997.Gerome, denim Leon. Cleopatra and Caesar. Private Collection.Hamer, Mary. Signs of Cleopatra. New York Routledge, 1993.Hughes-Hallet, Lucy. Cleopatra Histories, Dreams, Distortions. New York Harper & Row, 1990.Plutarchs Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romanes c. 100 C.E.. Trans. Sir doubting Thomas North (1579). Ed. Geoffrey Bullough, Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare. Vol. V. Columbia UP, 1964.Shaw, Bernard. Caesar and Cleopatra 1898. New York Penguin, 1957. Cleopatras Initial Encounter With Caesar Essay -- Egypt History PaperCleopatras Initial Encounter With Caesar Cleopatra is desperate-she needs to gain the throne of Egypt before her inadequate younger brother, Ptolemy, convinces Caesar to grant him full power. But alas, Cleopatra has been banished from Egypt by the ruthless Pothinus. Fortunately, the brilliant Cleopatra dev ises a plan to enter her Egyptian castle rolled up in a carpet, posing as a gift for the great Caesar. Her loyal servant, Apollodoros, carries her through a secret passageway and into the palace, where they are met by Caesars guards. They continue into Caesars quarters, where Apollodoros unrolls the carpet to reveal the stunning Cleopatra. Caesar is impressed not only by Cleopatras intelligence, but also by her undeniable beauty, and pronounces Cleopatra the sole ruler of Egypt.Such is the story of the meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra as told by Plutarch and others that followed him. The extent of the storys truth remains a mystery, but it is likely that Plutarch included it in his account merely for entertainment value-it is only fitting that the alluring Cleopatra enters the castle with such a grand appearance. Because it is written in Plutarchs interpretation, many perceive the story as fact and include it in their own works. The scene, however-and the portrayal of Cleopatra withi n it-vary among different compositions. Regardless of the probable fictitious aspect of the scene, it is an important one, for it is in this scene that the level of Cleopatras strength and power is revealed. INTELLIGENT YET INFERIORInitially, it appears as though the rug scene is a display of Cleopatras wit, for she uses her intelligence to devise a plan to enter the palace. In addition, it seems that Cleopatra has heightened ... ...lmi, Sr. With Billy Zane, Leonor Varela, and Timothy Dalton. ABC/Hallmark Entertainment, 1999.Cleopatra. Dir. Mankiewicz. With Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Rex Harrison. 20th Century Fox, 1963.Foreman, Laura. Cleopatras Palace In Search of a Legend. New York Discovery Books, 1999.George, Margaret. The Memoirs of Cleopatra. New York St. Martins Press, 1997.Gerome, Jean Leon. Cleopatra and Caesar. Private Collection.Hamer, Mary. Signs of Cleopatra. New York Routledge, 1993.Hughes-Hallet, Lucy. Cleopatra Histories, Dreams, Distortions. New York Ha rper & Row, 1990.Plutarchs Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romanes c. 100 C.E.. Trans. Sir Thomas North (1579). Ed. Geoffrey Bullough, Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare. Vol. V. Columbia UP, 1964.Shaw, Bernard. Caesar and Cleopatra 1898. New York Penguin, 1957.