The Life and Times of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

What It's About

First published in 1914, this is a biography of Cleopatra VII, the last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt. Drawing on his own years living and working in Egypt, Weigall sets out to correct what he saw as the unfair, moralising portrait left by classical authors, and structures the book in two parts: Cleopatra's relationship with Julius Caesar, and her later relationship with Mark Antony. Rather than the scheming seductress of popular legend, he presents her as an intelligent and patriotic ruler, fighting by whatever means available to keep her kingdom independent of Rome.

Key Concepts

The book's central argument is that Cleopatra's alliances with Caesar and Antony were calculated political strategy rather than romantic folly, aimed at preserving Egypt's sovereignty against Roman expansion. Weigall is explicit about pushing back against the "injustice" and "adverse partiality" he finds in ancient sources, offering a more sympathetic reconstruction of her motives and character throughout.

About the Author

Arthur Weigall (1880–1934) was an English Egyptologist who served as Inspector-General of Antiquities for the Egyptian government from 1905 to 1914, working extensively in the Valley of the Kings and Upper Egypt under Flinders Petrie. He later worked as a journalist and playwright, and became publicly associated with the "Curse of the Pharaohs" story following his coverage of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.