Incredible Cleopatra Facts That You Didn’t Learn in History Class

We all think we know a lot about the Egyptian Queen because of what Hollywood and Halloween costumes tell us. However, historians have spent thousands of years getting to know the real woman: the politician, the sister, the lover.

Here are 25 facts you definitely didn’t know about the famous female Pharaoh…

Cleopatra Was Actually Greek

Although born in Egypt, she was not actually ethnically Egyptian. She was a member of a Greek dynasty, the Ptolemies, who ruled Egypt for 300 years.

She embraced many of her ancestor’s Greek customs during her reign in Egypt and was the first ever Ptolemaic ruler to speak and write in Egyptian.

She Was The Embodiment of an Egyptian God

As well as embracing the Egyptian language, Cleopatra worshipped Egyptian Gods. She even took it one step further and proclaimed herself as one of them. She advertised herself as the reincarnation of the Egyptian Goddess of life and fertility, Isis.

She Wasn’t As Beautiful As We Think

Contrary to popular belief, Cleopatra wasn’t exactly a picture of beauty. Evidence of her face on ancient coins show us a different woman than Hollywood’s portrayal.

Historians believe it was her intention to depict her self according to political need, such as choosing to be shown with her father’s strong jaw line to emphasize her inherited right to rule.

… But Attractive Nonetheless

Roman propaganda portrayed Cleopatra as a temptress who used her sex appeal and good looks as a political weapon. However, stories of her character stand strong against the stories of her beauty.

According to Plutarch, the Ancient Greek writer and Mark Anthony’s biographer, Cleopatra’s looks weren’t as compelling as her intellectual conversation and sharp intelligence.