World Report: November 13, 1998 Vol.4 No.9
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Raising Royal Treasures
It's a tale full of romance, sneaky tricks, tragedy and, most of all, girl power. On top of that, it's true. The real-life story of Cleopatra, a beautiful 17-year-old girl when she became the powerful ruler of ancient Egypt, has fascinated people for thousands of years. Dozens of plays, books and movies have told of her quest for power and love. Now new information about Cleopatra's life is coming to the surface. Parts of her ancient royal court have been found near Alexandria, Egypt--under water!
Finding A Lost Island
Ancient Egyptian writings and drawings show that Cleopatra owned a royal palace on an island named Antirhodos (An-teer-uh-dose). The island was near Alexandria, the capital city of Egypt during Cleopatra's reign in the first century B.C.
Although the city of Alexandria still exists today, floods and earthquakes buried Antirhodos under water more than 1,600 years ago. But it wasn't lost for good. In 1996 undersea explorer Franck Goddio found it beneath just 18 feet of water, off the shore of Alexandria. The ruins of what appears to be Cleopatra's palace lay buried in layers of mud, seaweed and garbage.
Goddio and his team of divers have spent two years uncovering statues, columns, pavement and pottery that may have belonged to the young queen. Their work is sponsored in part by the Discovery Channel, which will broadcast a television special on the new findings next March.
Among the most sensational finds are two statues of sphinxes, imaginary creatures with the head of a human and the body of a lion. The faces of the sphinxes are in surprisingly good shape. So good, that experts have been able to identify one face as that of King Ptolemy (Tall-uh-mee) XII, Cleopatra's father.
How does it feel to come face to face underwater with an ancient sphinx? "It's fascinating!" Goddio told TFK. "You see the sphinx, and it's looking at you. You know that it's the father of Cleopatra and that Cleopatra once saw it. It's like a dream."
One Queen, Two Love Stories
Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII began to rule Egypt together in 51 B.C. In keeping with royal custom, the brother and sister were married! But Ptolemy did not want to share the
throne, and he forced Cleopatra out of the palace.
During this time, another great civilization was rising to power in Rome. Its main leader, Julius Caesar (See-zer), traveled to Egypt. In order to meet with him, Cleopatra is said to have sneaked into the palace rolled up in a carpet! Caesar soon fell in love with Cleopatra. He helped her push Ptolemy aside and take control of Egypt.
Romans were angered by Caesar's ties with Egypt's queen. Some feared that he had grown too powerful. Four years after meeting Cleopatra, Caesar was murdered by his enemies.
Three years passed before a new Roman leader, Mark Antony, met Cleopatra. Just like Caesar before him, Antony fell in love with her. He moved into Cleopatra's palace at Antirhodos.
Soon people back in Rome feared that Antony was more interested in Egypt than in his own empire. They turned against him and Egypt. In despair, Cleopatra and Antony took their own lives. Ancient Egypt's last queen died at the age of 39. Soon after her death, the Romans took control of Egypt.
Though her reign ended 2,000 years ago, Cleopatra continues to enchant people everywhere. For that reason, Goddio hopes to set up an underwater museum at the palace site. Visitors would be able to explore and experience Cleopatra's world up close. "To be there, underwater where she reigned and died," says Goddio, "is unbelievable."
Did You Know?
- Egypt began as two kingdoms, Upper and Lower Egypt. They were united in 3100 B.C.
- Egypt's kings were called pharaohs (fair-ohs).
- Ancient Egyptians loved games! Kids played leapfrog and tug-of-war. Grownups played a board game called senet. Players threw sticks to determine which way to move on the board.
- Egyptians invented a written alphabet called hieroglyphics. It used pictures to represent words.
- Egyptians worshipped hundreds of gods and goddesses. Ra (Rah), the sun god, was the most important, but there was even a cat goddess named Bastet!
