The 'myth' of Cleopatra : a reception-historical study

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: Cleopatra VII of Egypt (69-30 BCE) has a protean story. She was awoman of variety, great appeal and passion. She was also an astutepolitician. Her charisma and eventful life as the last pharaoh of Egypt,the last of the Ptolemaic line that assumed power after the death ofAlexander the Great, have been described in various histories and tales.She was one of the protagonists at a cataclysmic time in world history,when the Roman empire was expanding.The Greek historian Plutarch included her history in his lives of the greatGreeks and Romans as she had captured the emotions of two verypowerful Romans, firstly Julius Caesar by whom she had a son namedCaesarion, and secondly Mark Antony. The Cleopatra myth was born inthe second half of the first century BCE, after the assassination ofCaesar. His successors, Mark Antony and Octavian (who was to becomeCaesar Augustus) were competing for power after having punishedCaesar's murderers.At first they divided the Roman world among them. As the mostinfluential and experienced, Mark Antony chose as his arena of powerthe richest and most important part, the Oriental Mediterranean, thejewel and breadbasket of which was Egypt. He became allied to its queen,Cleopatra, and together they strove to regain the empire of Alexander theGreat.Octavian had taken possession of the western part of the Mediterraneanwhich included Rome. As he feared Cleopatra's power, coveted thewealth of Egypt and resented her influence on Antony, he launched asuccessful and virulent propaganda war against her, before actuallydeclaring war on her and emerging victorious from the struggle.Cleopatra was therefore depicted by ancient writers and historians as adepraved, luxurious and cruel Oriental despot who ruled men by passion and unnatural temptation. She was accused of having emasculatedAntony and alienated him from his Roman compatriots.U sing these sources, writers such as William Shakespeare and GeorgeBernard Shaw carried on the negative tradition. So did other authors, aswell as the masters of art and fllms.The Cleopatra of popular tradition became an enchantress rather thanan ambitious intellectual and astute politician. Her story contained agreat deal of disinformation and myth. She was perceived in history,literature and the visual arts as a symbol on which the creators projectedtheir own views and desires. Her image has been received according tothe tradition and reality of period and place, as art mirrors values andbeliefs.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University