As a child the fiction section of the library was my home. The non-fiction area was too big and too scary. I just didn’t know where to start! But one day I found a place. A book hung off the shelf with a bright artist interpretation of Cleopatra. I had to pick it up. And just like that I was hooked on history.
A member of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, Cleopatra came from a large family. The youngest daughter of her father’s first marriage, Cleopatra had two younger half-brothers who were considered to be more important than her as they were male heirs. The history of her family shows they were ambitious and her siblings most definitely had this family trait. By time she was 26, Cleopatra had defied the patriarchal system in the Kingdom of Egypt and ruled as the king. She was very intelligent and said to have spoken at least 6 languages! At this time women weren’t even involved in politics yet she clearly was able to keep up with the demands of being a ruler. I loved how much of a boss she was and the story of her life. She was and is still so intriguing. To this day it is not 100% known how she died as the sources are conflicting.
Reading about such a strong woman got me thinking – how many others are there like her? My love of history was born. Cleopatra is a great example of where there is a will there is a way! You want something, there is always a way to get it. She was the only woman ruler in her time when the likes of Julius Caesar and Augustus ruled Rome and the most powerful empire in the world. To me she was such a bad ass! And that’s why she was my heroine.