Also of significance are the works of the Jewish historian Josephus ( Josephus 1928 and Josephus 1930–1965 ), whose interest was limited to the southern Levant, but this was an area of importance to Cleopatra. According to Cassius Dio small puncture wounds were found on Cleopatra's arm, but he echoed the claim by Plutarch that nobody knew the true cause of her death. Cleopatra, on the other hand, needed Caesar’s support to regain full control of his brother’s Egypt. No contemporary records exist of Cleopatra’s life, so the majority of her story has been learnt through historians like Plutarch (46 AD–120 AD) and Dio Cassius (155 AD–235 AD).
This essay will analyse how Cassius Dio characterized Cleopatra in the passage provided and compare it with other written sources. Even Cassius Dio conceded that Cleopatra “had a knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to everyone”. While Western historians exclusively used accounts of Cleopatra written by Roman writers such as Plutarch and Cassius Dio, Medieval Arabic historians were said to work from translated Egyptian sources, which showed Cleopatra as a strong and able queen. He shows that she is wise, that she respects her place in society, by asking for “admission” to Caesar’s presence. This is perhaps the closest we can get to the real Cleopatra and the character behind the face on the coins. Plutarch's narrative of Cleopatra's death does not make clear until the end that the two women who alone accompanied the queen in her mausoleum were Charmion and Eiras (Plutarch, Antony 77.2; 79.2–3; 84.3). Cleopatra is one of the most famous female figures in the ancient history whose study is mainly emphasised from the Roman point of view. The following 10 fascinating facts about Cleopatra will shed light on the family, life, rule, connections, and death of this celebrated Egyptian queen: 1. Cassius Dio translated by Earnest Cary « Dio 50.32 | Dio 50.33 | Dio 50.34 | About This Work » 33 The battle was indecisive for a long time and neither antagonist could get the upper hand anywhere, but the end came in the following way. Cleopatra VII Philopator (Koinē Greek : Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ, Kleopátra Philopátōr ; 69 – 10 or 12 August 30 BC) [note 2] was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Therefore, Plutarch is more concerned with Antony’s actions as he expects more from a Roman man. Dio makes reference to Cleopatra’s character and intellect, he states that she is “brilliant…to listen to” which is a note to say her mind is astute and goes on to her “charming voice”. According to Cassius Dio small puncture wounds were found on Cleopatra's arm, but he echoed the claim by Plutarch that nobody knew the true cause of her death. However, since no contemporary accounts exist of Cleopatra’s life, most of her story is known through later historians like Plutarch (46 AD – 120 AD), Dio Cassius (155 AD – 235 AD) and others.

Romans viewed Egyptian way of life as inferior and “barbaric” compared to the civility of Roman culture as was reiterated by many Roman historians such as Cassius Dio (Moohan, 2008. p. 27). Second in importance is the Roman History of Cassius Dio (see Dio 1914–1927), the only continuous extant history of Cleopatra’s era. The historian Cassius Dio tells how she was, without informing his brother, charmed Caesar with his pretty dress and his spirit.
note..] This is quite a different view of Cleopatra than the one proposed by early Western historians. 65 – 66) reveals that Roman image of Cleopatra originated in the fierce campaign Octavian started against her as part of his preparation for his war against Antony. The Greek historian Cassius Dio offers a terrible description of the way in which the ships from Italy, which were lighter and easier to turn, attacked the large galleys from the east; with catapults, torches were shot to the ships of Antony, and in the end, his fleet burned to destruction. Cassius Dio 51.14.3, who does not name the two θεράπαιναι who die with Cleopatra. Cleopatra is a famous figure in history renowned for her beauty and there are various legends related to her. Cleopatra's character is generally presented as an overly ambitious, hedonistic seductress, who manipulated both men to achieve her goals. The attitudes of other Romans towards the relationship between Cleopatra and Antony was clearly similar to the impression given by Cassius Dio. 158 Plutarch, Antony 85.7; cf. Burstein (2004 pp. Authors, such as Virgil, Josephus, Plutarch and Cassius Dio, elaborated different portraits of the queen but only described her love story with the two Romans.