CLEOPATRA postage of THE TIMELESS QUEEN OF EGYPT

Few names in history evoke as much intrigue, power, and allure as Cleopatra. She is remembered not just as the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, but as a woman whose intelligence, charisma, and political acumen left an indelible mark on the ancient world.

- Umasha Caldera

Cleopatra VII Philopator, to give her full title, was a figure of beauty, brains, and ambition; traits that allowed her to navigate the treacherous waters of royal power in one of the most fascinating eras of history.

Born in 69 BCE into the Ptolemaic dynasty, Cleopatra's life was marked by grandeur, intrigue, and sometimes danger.

The Ptolemies were descendants of one of Alexander the Great's generals, Ptolemy I Soter, and ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years.

This dynasty was Greek in origin, which meant that while Cleopatra was born in Egypt, her family spoke Greek, practiced Hellenistic traditions, and often struggled with the native Egyptian culture they ruled. Despite this, Cleopatra distinguished herself by embracing Egyptian customs, even learning the language a rare feat among her family. She famously presented herself not just as a queen, but as a living goddess, the embodiment of Isis, the Egyptian goddess of fertility and magic.

Cleopatra's early life was not without turbulence. The Ptolemaic dynasty was infamous for its internal conflicts, with sibling rivalries often turning deadly. Cleopatra ascended to the throne at the tender age of 18, co-ruling initially with her younger brother Ptolemy XIII. Ancient accounts paint a picture of a sharp and ambitious young queen, determined to claim her rightful place amidst political chaos. Egypt at the time was no longer the dominant power it once was. Rome had emerged as a formidable force, and navigating this reality would define Cleopatra's reign.

It was Cleopatra's encounter with Julius Caesar that catapulted her from the royal palace to the pages of history. The story is Legendary: after being exiled by her brother in a power struggle, Cleopatra had herself smuggled into the royal palace in Alexandria, famously rolled in a carpet (or possibly a sack, according to some historians) to meet Caesar.