Cleopatra died on August 12 in the year 30 BC, so it is on this day that we celebrate her life. Born Cleopatra VII Philopator in 69 (or 70) BC, she was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. You’ll notice I said, “active.” That’s because when her son Caesarion was about three years old, he was made co-ruler alongside his mother, and since he died 11 days after his mother, technically, he would be the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, even if his role was mostly only ceremonial. Cleopatra was the real power behind the crown.

In the same way as other imperial houses, individuals from the Ptolemaic administration frequently wedded inside the family to safeguard the virtue of their bloodline. With regards to tradition, Cleopatra was hitched to her sibling and co-ruler Ptolemy XIII, who was 10 years of age (she was 18). After his demise, Cleopatra wedded his more youthful sibling Ptolemy XIV. She was 22, and he was 12. Obviously, those were just stately relationships. Her genuine loves were Julius Ceaser and later Marc Antony.

Cleopatra has her first kid Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar “Caesarion” on June 23, 47 BC. After the passing of Julius Ceasar, she wedded Marc Antony, and together they had three kids. First were the twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Helios is Greek for Sun and Selene implies the moon. The twins were brought into the world in the year 40 BC. Then, she had a child and her last youngster in 36 BC. His name was Ptolemy Philadelphus.

We honor the life of Cleopatra not because of the scandalous way she died but because of the way she lived. She was a woman with influence and power, that two thousand years later, has still left her mark on society.