Shrewd Businesswoman

Most likely everyone has heard of Cleopatra. She belonged to the Ptolemaic dynasty. She was a descendant of Ptolemy, who was one of Alexander the Great’s generals. Her family ruled Egypt from the city of Alexandria, which was, of course, named after Alexander the Great. A strange fact about the Ptolemaic dynasty is that every male ruler was named Ptolemy, which makes studying them pretty confusing. Cleopatra was not, of course, a male descendant, and women were often considered incapable of learning, or at least incapable of learning very well. Nevertheless, while Ancient Egyptian is known as one of the hardest languages to learn, Cleopatra mastered it…along with eight other languages, including Ancient Greek, Ancient Iranian, Ancient Parthian, Syriac, Ethiopian, Troglodyte, Hebrew, and Arabic. While she was “just a woman,” she proved herself to be very intelligent. Of course, IQ could not be measured in those days, and as we all know, women are just as intelligent as men, so for Cleopatra to master nine languages, while an amazing feat, is not unheard of among women or men.

Cleopatra VII was famous for her political skill and romantic ties to Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She was also a shrewd entrepreneur with a thriving perfume and cosmetics empire. Her factories near the Dead Sea produced some of the most coveted beauty products of the ancient world, like Kohl eyeliner, rouge, and luxurious fragrances. She personally experimented with ingredients and formulas, often testing them on herself. This booming beauty business brought immense wealth to Egypt and shaped cosmetic trends across the Roman Empire. Her lavish recipes featured crushed pearls, gold flakes, and rare plant extracts from Africa and Asia, making her creations exclusive to royalty and the wealthy elite. Cleopatra was very much ahead of her time when it came to manufacturing and business. Truly, she was lightyears ahead of many of the men in her era and even modern eras.

Cleopatra VII, born around 70/69 BCE, was the last reigning monarch of Egypt’s Ptolemaic Kingdom. The daughter of Ptolemy XII, she ascended to the throne with her brother, Ptolemy XIII, after their father’s death. Her famous ties with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony played a key role in her fight to keep Egypt free from Roman control. Though of Greek heritage, she fully embraced Egyptian culture and earned a reputation for her sharp mind and political skill. Her rule came to an end with her death in 30 BCE, marking the fall of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the start of Roman rule in Egypt.