While Egyptian speakers learned Greek, it was rare that anyone ventured in the opposite direction. To the punishing study of Egyptian, however, Cleopatra applied herself. She was allegedly the first and only Ptolemy to bother to learn the language of the 7 million people over whom she ruled.
Stacy Schiff Cleopatra
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Cleopatra stood out among the Ptolemaic rulers for her dedication to learning Egyptian, a language that was not commonly studied by others, particularly Greek speakers. Despite the challenges of mastering Egyptian, she made a concerted effort to engage with the culture and the populace of her kingdom. This commitment was significant given that she ruled over a diverse population of about 7 million people.

Her determination to learn Egyptian set her apart as a ruler, making her the first Ptolemy to take such an initiative. This effort not only demonstrated her willingness to connect with her subjects but also highlighted her unique approach compared to other rulers of her time, as most were content to speak Greek. Cleopatra’s linguistic endeavors reflect her desire to unify her reign and establish a stronger bond with her people.

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Cleopatra
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Stacy Schiff
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Other quotes in Cleopatra

With her death Egypt became a Roman province. It would not recover its autonomy until the twentieth century.
Stacy Schiff Cleopatra
With her death Egypt became a Roman province. It would not recover its autonomy until the twentieth century.
To one visitor Alexandrian life was just one continuous revel, not a sweet or gentle revel either, but savage and harsh, a revel of dancers, whistlers, and murderers all combined.
Stacy Schiff Cleopatra
To one visitor Alexandrian life was just one continuous revel, not a sweet or gentle revel either, but savage and harsh, a revel of dancers, whistlers, and murderers all combined.
{The Hellenistic Age begins with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and ends in 30 BC, with the death of Cleopatra. It has been perhaps best defined as a Greek era in which the Greeks played no role.}
Stacy Schiff Cleopatra
{The Hellenistic Age begins with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and ends in 30 BC, with the death of Cleopatra. It has been perhaps best defined as a Greek era in which the Greeks played no role.}
Cleopatra stood at one of the most dangerous intersections in history: that of women and power. Clever women, Euripides had warned hundreds of years earlier, were dangerous.
Stacy Schiff Cleopatra
Cleopatra stood at one of the most dangerous intersections in history: that of women and power. Clever women, Euripides had warned hundreds of years earlier, were dangerous.
A good-sized Ptolemaic vessel could carry three hundred tons of wheat down the river. At least two such ships made the trip daily-with wheat, barley, lentils-to feed Alexandria alone.
Stacy Schiff Cleopatra
A good-sized Ptolemaic vessel could carry three hundred tons of wheat down the river. At least two such ships made the trip daily-with wheat, barley, lentils-to feed Alexandria alone.
There was good reason why Cleopatra's subjects viewed time as a coil of endless repetitions.
Stacy Schiff Cleopatra
There was good reason why Cleopatra's subjects viewed time as a coil of endless repetitions.
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