Cleopatra Tested Poisons Before Suicide

Cleopatra was determined that she would not be paraded through the streets of Rome before being executed, so she began to test poisons on condemned prisoners to see which one would be best. Deciding that the fast poisons were too painful, and the least painful were too slow, she apparently turned to animal venoms and settled on the bite of an asp. She continued work on her mausoleum to ensure she had a fitting place to see out eternity and left instructions for her mummification when the time came.
Cleopatra by Michelangelo
Cleopatra by Michelangelo
When her fleet surrendered to Octavian’s fleet she assumed the worst and set off for her tomb with her servants Charmion and Eiras, leaving instruction that if anyone asked for her they were to be told she was already dead. However, Mark Anthony was still very much alive and returned to the palace to find her. When he was told that she was dead he fell upon his sword saying “why delay any longer? Fate has snatched away the only thing for which I still wanted to live”. Grievously wounded but still alive he was at last told that Cleopatra lived and he was helped to her tomb by her servants. The entrance was already sealed, so he was hauled up to a window on a rope. Cleopatra then began to mourn him in the traditional manner, by beating her breast, cutting herself and covering her face and hands with his blood. Mark Anthony tried to calm her and they drank a last glass of wine together before he died in her arms.
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