Ptolemy XIII, now a teenager, officially became the sole ruler. But he made a fatal miscalculation: he thought his sister would simply fade away.
Cleopatra, ever the strategist, saw her opening. The famous “carpet scene” (she had herself rolled in a rug and delivered to Caesar’s chambers) worked. She charmed Rome’s most powerful general, and Caesar agreed to enforce their father’s original will: Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII must rule . cleopatra and brother
She loved her children. She loved power. But as for her brothers? They were simply obstacles. Ptolemy XIII, now a teenager, officially became the
When we think of Cleopatra, we usually picture the glamorous finale: the gold barge, the rolled-up carpet, the snake bite, and the dramatic romance with Rome’s most powerful men (Julius Caesar and Mark Antony). The famous “carpet scene” (she had herself rolled
Ptolemy XIII was not happy. The teenage king stormed out of the palace, threw off his diadem, and rallied the Egyptian mob against the Roman intruders. For nearly six months, Alexandria became a war zone. Caesar’s small force was besieged in the royal quarter, and at one point, he had to swim for his life.