São Paulo – The life of Egyptian queen Cleopatra is the theme of a book by a Brazilian journalist. Arlete Salvador, who worked in the press in the country, is specialized in politics and a master in foreign relations, and launched, early this month, work “Cleopatra”, issued by Contexto Publishing House. The subtitle is “How the last queen of Egypt lost the war, the throne and her life only to become one of the main myths of history”. Is it a biography about the queen? Far from that.
Arlete starts the history book with two questions that surround the Cleopatra myth. How did she die? The first chapter brings scenes of a movie produced in Hollywood in 1963, with Elizabeth Taylor in the main role, in which the queen’s life ends with a bite by a king cobra – to which she consented. The theory that the controversial Cleopatra committed suicide, in fact, is the official story.
Arlete recalls that there are just two consistent reports about the life of Cleopatra, Greek thinker Plutarch and Roman historian Cassius Dio. They both confirm the hypothesis of suicide, but place doubt on the hypothesis of the snake bite, which could have caused Cleopatra’s and her ladies-in-waiting’s death. The writings of Cassius Dio and Plutarch, however, are based on reports. "Both wrote their books over one century after the death of the queen," said Arlete.
For this reason, the writer also presents more recent theories about Cleopatra’s death, including the one that she was poisoned by Octavian, to whom she lost the throne, and also tells the story of archaeological research, yet unfinished, that may bring new light on the matter.
The first chapter also introduces another question about Cleopatra: her beauty. Was she beautiful or ugly? Coins showing her face show a thin woman with a large nose and pointy chin. However, actress Elizabeth Taylor left in the head of most people an image of a beautiful queen. Arlete poses questions and brings out a new point of view on the history of the queen of Egypt, who lived up to 30 b.C.
As presented by the author herself, the book is written in simple language, close to that of the reader. Almost a chat. "It is not a historic compendium, although I have nothing against them. It is a great story," said Arlete, recalling that she also covered the political and cultural aspect of the time, one of great political efervescence. Egypt left the line of Ptolemy, an originally Greek line of which Cleopatra was the last queen, and fell into the hands of the Roman Empire, through Octavian, who would become Augustus, the first Roman emperor.
The process
Arlete explains that the entire process, deciding on the matter, researching and writing, took two years. And why did a Brazilian decide to write about Cleopatra? "Contexto Publishing House was preparing a collection of biographies of warriors and I suggested Cleopatra as I wanted to write about a woman," said the journalist. In the research, Arlete fell in love with her character and ended up an admirer. "She had no fear or qualms about power. For this reason, lke many women to this date, she was criticised and attacked. I found Cleopatra’s story very current," said Arlete.
In the initial search, looking through book shops, the journalist identified that there was nothing about the queen on the bookshelves. And she noticed this was a great opportunity. She believes, in fact, that this lack of information on Cleopatra was filled by speculation and fantasy. "That is natural when the topic is such an ancient and controversial character. My book puts some things in place, separating true information from speculation," she said. Arlete says that she wrote her book with a "political and feminist" side.
Like the queen, Arlete says that her life is also not exactly what society expects to see. "I am 50, single and have no children. I do exercise, write, travel and have never wanted kids," she said. Her many trips took her to Greece, the land of origin of Ptolemy. But, according to her, Cleopatra is not present in Greece. She has not yet had time to go to Egypt. "But, anyway, there is not much left to see from the time of Cleopatra and the dynasty of Ptolemy," said Arlete.
Service
Title: Cleopatra
Autora: Arlete Salvador
Publishing House: Contexto
Pages: 160
Subject: History
Price: 29.90 Brazilian reals (US$ 19,00)
*Translated by Mark Ament
