Hello my lovelies 💫 As we continue exploring the Eternal City, let’s take a brief, and fascinating, detour to Egypt… or rather, to one of its most legendary queens: Cleopatra VII. You might be wondering, what does Cleopatra have to do with Rome? The answer? Everything. Her story is more than Egyptian royalty, it’s woven deeply into the heart of Roman politics, power, and passion. And yes, her presence was once very real on Roman soil. Let’s dive into the drama, the legacy, and the places where you can still feel Cleopatra in Rome.
👑 Cleopatra & Julius Caesar: From the Nile to the Tiber
When Cleopatra sailed to Rome in late 46 BCE, she did so as the lover of Julius Caesar and the mother of his son, Caesarion. She arrived not as a guest, but as a queen, a foreign monarch with immense influence. She stayed in Caesar’s villa within the Horti Caesaris (Caesar’s Gardens), presumably without Caesarion. It’s said that her presence caused quite a stir! Many Romans were scandalized, while others were captivated by her charm, intelligence, and grace.
Caesar even had a bronze statue of Cleopatra overlaid with gold erected in the Temple of Venus Genetrix, part of the Forum of Caesar, a bold move that gave her goddess-like status and raised many eyebrows in Roman society. Her time in Rome lasted about two years but was politically explosive. When Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March in 44 BCE, Cleopatra quickly fled the city, her dreams of a Roman-Egyptian dynasty shattered.
💔 Cleopatra & Mark Antony: A Love That Shook an Empire
Years later, Cleopatra would entangle herself with another powerful Roman: Mark Antony. Their love story would inspire Shakespeare, Hollywood, and historians alike. While most of their legendary romance played out in Egypt and at sea, the political tremors reached Rome’s Senate floors and piazzas.
After their defeat at the Battle of Actium, both lovers died by suicide in Egypt. Their deaths paved the way for Octavian (later Augustus) to become Rome’s first emperor, and reshape history. Cleopatra’s story became Roman propaganda. She was painted as a seductress, a threat, a foreign queen who led Roman men astray. But behind that narrative was a woman who dared to stand as an equal to Rome’s greatest!
✨ Cleopatra’s Echoes in Today’s Rome
While there’s no specific Cleopatra monument in Rome, her legacy lingers in several places:
📍 Largo di Torre Argentina: This is where Julius Caesar was assassinated. Standing there, it’s impossible not to think of Cleopatra receiving the news.
📍 The Forum of Caesar: Once adorned with her likeness, this is where power and politics danced with passion and pride.
📍 Palatine Hill: Augustus lived here. From his imperial palace, he reshaped Cleopatra’s image as part of his rise. The myth and legacy of Rome’s first emperor are forever tied to her downfall.
Final Thoughts
Cleopatra never ruled from Rome, but her presence here altered its course forever. She loved, she defied, and she challenged the might of the Republic. Her story, dramatic, powerful, and ultimately tragic, reminds us that history isn’t just about battles or borders, but people.
In Rome, you don’t just visit ruins. You walk through tangled destinies. And Cleopatra? She left her mark not with a sword, but with a gaze, a mind, and a will of steel.
Until next time, keep exploring where history whispers through cobblestones 🏛️
xoxo,
Bubbly 🐍
