Plutarch Cleopatra Carpet

In 48 bc the resourceful cleopatra forbidden by her brother ptolemy xiii to meet with the roman general had herself wrapped in a carpet or according to some historians a linen sack and smuggled into caesar s quarters.

Plutarch cleopatra carpet. Strabo who provides the earliest historical account on the death says cleopatra committed suicide either by allowing an asp egyptian cobra to bite her or by a toxic ointment for example with a sharp implement such as a hairpin. According to plutarch s famous account a middle aged caesar first laid eyes on cleopatra when she smuggled herself into his quarters and tumbled out of a carpet or more likely a basket of laundry. Cleopatra was not egyptian. After her death egypt became the roman province of aegyptus.

Most of these fanciful anecdotes can be traced back to the writings of the greek essayist and biographer plutarch who was writing over 100 years after the death of. Consider the dramatic way she introduced herself to julius caesar and mark antony. Cleopatra is probably best known for her love affair with the roman. Nevertheless several paintings and films have perpetuated cleopatra s association with the image of the carpet over.

When julius caesar came to egypt in pursuit of his rival pompey cleopatra saw an opportunity to win a powerful roman ally. Cleopatra was determined to make the most of pothinus miscalculation and managed to arrange a secret meeting with caesar. The death of cleopatra vii the last ruler of ptolemaic egypt occurred on either 10 or 12 august 30 bc in alexandria when she was 39 years old. But the ancient chronicler plutarch.

Cleopatra had herself wrapped in a carpet some sources say it was a linen sack and smuggled into his personal quarters. According to egyptology scholar alexander mcdaniel this myth is accurate to a text written by greek philosopher and biographer plutarch with one key exception. Plutarch wrote that cleopatra disguised herself with a large sack. The nineteenth century artist jean léon gérome reimagined this scene by depicting a bare breasted cleopatra emerging from the carpet distracting caesar away from his day s work.

Plutarch tells the famous tale of how cleopatra was hidden in a role of carpet or sleeping bag depending on the translation which was unrolled to reveal her in all her glory.