What Snake Killed Cleopatra? Homework Help!
The death of Cleopatra is one of the most famous stories in ancient history, and the image of an Egyptian queen dying from a snake bite has captured people’s imaginations for over two thousand years. But what actually happened? Was there really a snake involved, and if so, what kind was it? The answer is more complicated (and more interesting) than most people realize.
The Traditional Story
According to the most widely told version of events, Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, died in August of 30 BC after being bitten by an asp. The story goes that after the Roman general Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) conquered Egypt and Cleopatra’s lover Mark Antony had already taken his own life, Cleopatra chose to end her life rather than be paraded through Rome as a prisoner.
The ancient historians Plutarch and Dio Cassius both wrote about Cleopatra’s death, though they lived decades after the event and had to rely on earlier sources and oral traditions. According to Plutarch, a snake was smuggled into Cleopatra’s chambers hidden in a basket of figs. She reportedly pressed the snake to her arm, allowing it to bite her, and died shortly afterward.
What Kind of Snake Was the “Asp”?
The word “asp” as used by ancient writers most likely referred to the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje). This is one of the most iconic snakes in Egyptian culture and was closely associated with royalty and divine power. The uraeus, the rearing cobra symbol worn on the pharaoh’s crown, represented the Egyptian cobra and symbolized sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority.
The Egyptian cobra is a large, venomous snake that can grow up to 8 feet long. Its venom is primarily neurotoxic, meaning it attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis and respiratory failure. Death from an Egyptian cobra bite can occur within hours, though it is not always quick or painless. The venom can also cause significant tissue damage at the bite site.
It is worth noting that the term “asp” has been used throughout history to refer to several different venomous snakes, not just the Egyptian cobra. In some accounts, it has been associated with the horned viper (Cerastes cerastes), which is also native to Egypt. However, most scholars believe the Egyptian cobra is the most likely candidate based on the historical and cultural context.
Did a Snake Really Kill Cleopatra?
While the snake story is the most famous version of Cleopatra’s death, many modern historians and toxicologists have raised serious doubts about it. There are several problems with the traditional account that are worth considering.
First, an Egyptian cobra is a large snake. Sneaking one into a guarded room in a basket of figs would have been extremely difficult. Adult Egyptian cobras can be 5 to 8 feet long and are not easy to conceal. Some versions of the story suggest a smaller snake was used, but smaller cobras produce less venom and would be less likely to deliver a lethal dose.
Second, cobra bites do not always kill, and when they do, the death is often slow and unpleasant, involving paralysis, difficulty breathing, pain, and swelling. This does not match the accounts of Cleopatra dying peacefully and painlessly. If she was seeking a dignified death (which the historical sources suggest was important to her), a cobra bite would have been a risky choice with uncertain results.
Third, Plutarch himself expressed uncertainty about the cause of death. He noted that no snake was found in the room, though some people reported seeing a trail on the beach nearby. He also mentioned the possibility that Cleopatra used poison that she kept hidden in a hollow hairpin.
Alternative Theories
Many scholars now believe that if Cleopatra did take her own life, she more likely used a poison rather than a snake. Cleopatra was known to be knowledgeable about toxicology and had reportedly experimented with various poisons on condemned prisoners to observe their effects. She would have known which poisons caused the quickest and most painless death.
A cocktail of plant based poisons, possibly including hemlock, wolfsbane, and opium, could have produced the peaceful death described in the historical accounts. This theory aligns better with what we know about Cleopatra’s intelligence and her desire for a dignified end.
The snake story may have been promoted after her death because of its powerful symbolism. The Egyptian cobra represented royalty and divine power, so dying by cobra bite was a fittingly dramatic and regal end for the last pharaoh of Egypt. It made for a better story than poison, and over the centuries, the snake version became the dominant narrative.
What type of snake supposedly killed Cleopatra?
The snake traditionally associated with Cleopatra’s death is the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje), referred to as an asp in ancient accounts. This species was closely tied to Egyptian royalty and appeared as the uraeus symbol on the pharaoh’s crown.
Did Cleopatra really die from a snake bite?
Many modern historians doubt the snake story. An Egyptian cobra would have been difficult to smuggle into a guarded room, and cobra bites often cause painful, slow deaths rather than the peaceful end described in ancient accounts. Poison is considered a more likely method.
When did Cleopatra die?
Cleopatra VII died in August of 30 BC in Alexandria, Egypt, shortly after the Roman conquest of Egypt by Octavian (later Emperor Augustus). She was 39 years old at the time of her death.