Cleopatra Wasn’t Egyptian—And Other Myths Debunked
Introduction Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, is one of history’s most famous figures. Yet, despite being synonymous with ancient Egypt, she wasn’t ethnically Egyptian. This is just one of many myths surrounding her life. From her beauty to her death, misconceptions about Cleopatra persist in popular culture. Let’s separate fact from fiction and debunk some of the biggest myths about this legendary queen. Myth 1 : Cleopatra Was Egyptian Truth : She Was Greek (Macedonian) - Cleopatra was a descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great’s generals. - The Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE) ruled Egypt but remained culturally Greek, speaking Greek and following Greek customs. - While she embraced Egyptian traditions (unlike her predecessors), her ancestry was Macedonian Greek. Why the Confusion? Hollywood often portrays her as an exotic Egyptian queen, but in reality, she was part of a foreign ruling class. My...