Cleopatra: The Queen Who Shaped History!

#32 Week 7

Author

Sigrun Sørumgård
February 13, 2025

Discover the life and legend of Egypt’s last pharaoh!

  1. How old was Cleopatra when she became queen of Egypt?

  2. Which city served as Cleopatra's capital?

  3. What language did Cleopatra grow up speaking, reading, and writing?

  4. What method did Cleopatra reportedly use to secretly meet Julius Caesar in Alexandria?

  5. What was the name of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar’s son?

  6. Which Egyptian goddess was Cleopatra often associated with?

  7. Which famous playwright wrote a tragedy about Cleopatra’s life in 1609?

  8. Who played Cleopatra in the 1963 film, named exactly Cleopatra?

  9. Which Roman leader did Cleopatra fall in love with after Julius Caesar was killed?

  10. How old was Cleopatra when she died?

The Wonder Wall

  • At the height of her power 2000 years ago, Cleopatra's empire stretched across the Mediterranean, from modern-day Libya in the West, through Egypt to Syria in the East — the largest amount of territory any woman has ever ruled.

  • She was the absolute ruler over seven million people and the richest woman in the world. Worth 95.8 billion dollars in today's currency, she was probably the richest person in her time.

  • Soon after her death, rumours began circulating that she allowed a venomous asp to bite her breast. "The snake is a symbol Egyptian royalty and Egyptian queens have snakes on their brow," says Joyce Tyldesley, senior lecturer in Egyptology at the University of Manchester. "It was very symbolic. It was a good death." In essence, the story of an asp bite killing Cleopatra was fitting and symbolic. A "perfect end" to Cleopatra's incredible story. But some archeologists don't buy that tale. Cleopatra was a gifted chemist and knew her way around poisons, but the actual circumstances of her death are unclear, as is her final resting place.

Yesterday´s Questions & Answers

  1. The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed is an Orthodox church in Red Square, Moscow. By what name is it more commonly known?

    Saint Basil's Cathedral. The word 'red' in Russian, krasnyj, is related to the word krasivyj, beautiful. So it's not only the Red Square of Moscow but the Beautiful Square - krasnaya ploshad'.

  2. In literature, what iconic red book features the adventures of a rebellious young girl named Hester Prynne, set in 17th-century New England?

    The Scarlet Letter: A Romance is a work of historical fiction by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850.

  3. The Red Panda lives in the forests of which mountain range?

    Himalayas

  4. By what nickname was German World War One fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen better known?

    The Red Baron

  5. In art, what colour is "complementary" to red?

    Green

  6. What American state's name means "coloured red"?

    Colorado derives from the Spanish 'ruddy' or 'red'. Spanish explorers named a river they found “Rio Colorado” translating to “coloured red”.

  7. Which red gemstone is considered the birthstone for the month of July?

    Ruby is the July birthstone – and it's one of the most coveted of gems. The name is derived from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red” – the color of love and passion.

  8. The "Red Scare" in the United States refers to a period of heightened fear of what?

    Communism

  9. The Red Cross is an international humanitarian organization. What year was it founded?

    The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement started in 1863 and was inspired by Swiss businessman Henry Dunant.

  10. Who wrote The Hunt For Red October?

    The Hunt for Red October is the debut novel by American author Tom Clancy, first published on October 1, 1984.