Cleopatra VII, the final ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, is remembered for much more than her romantic liaisons with Roman generals.

Ascending the throne at 17, Cleopatra was a woman of exceptional intellect, ruling for over two decades until her death at 39. One of her most notable attributes was her mastery of nine languages, including Egyptian, which helped her connect with her subjects and strengthen her reign.

Unlike many of her predecessors, who primarily spoke Greek, Cleopatra’s fluency in hieroglyphics reflected her dedication to Egyptian culture and governance.

In addition to her linguistic prowess, Cleopatra was an active scholar. She studied a variety of fields, including astronomy, geography, history, economics, and alchemy, which aided her in diplomacy and kingdom management.

Her experiments with herbal remedies, cosmetics, and scientific inquiry were well-known. Tragically, much of her written work was lost in the fire that destroyed the Library of Alexandria.

However, through later scholars like Galen, some of her remedies survived, illustrating her lasting impact on the world of medicine and beauty.