Every day in history is like a snowflake from heaven’s snowflake garden. It’s unique and it is fragile. Put it in your brain before it melts. This is what happened on August 30, 30 BC…

And down goes Cleopatra! On August 30, 30 BC, Cleopatra ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt committed suicide rather than kowtow to the Roman Emperor Octavian. She may have died from the bite of a poisonous snake, it may not have been, but it was suicide nonetheless. Either way, Cleopatra had quite a run.

The Guffaw admits to never watching the Liz Taylor movie (though that is the image stuck in the old bean). We’ll hit the highlights and save some suspense for the movie. Cleopatra ruled Egypt as the heiress to the Ptolemaic dynasty (Ptolemy was a general under Alexander the Great and took over Egypt after Alexander’s empire broke apart). She was not Arab or Egyptian (though she did learn Egyptian which endeared her to Egyptians). Technically, she co-ruled Egypt with two different brothers at different times (both named Ptolemy).  The first started a civil war. Cleopatra seduced Julius Caesar and he defeated the first brother. A couple years later, she seduced Mark Anthony (is this what broke up Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez? The Guffaw is so current) after Caesar was no more (Mark Anthony was part of a triumvirate that ruled Rome). Mark Anthony and Cleopatra got it on and had twins. Mark Anthony lost to Octavian in civil war and the power couple was chased back to Egypt.   

Skipping all the melodramatic Romeo and Juliet stuff, Mark Anthony died in her arms. Cleopatra put on her game face and tried to seduce Octavian. Third time was not a charm. Thus ended Cleopatra’s run to the top. Hey, she bagged two of history’s greatest characters and ruled a kingdom; kudos Cleopatra, kudos.