Cleopatra’s Secret Audience with Caesar

He entered Alexandria with a small but elite force and declared himself arbiter of the Ptolemaic

succession dispute. Cleopatra, still in exile, recognized her opening. According to Plutarch,

she arranged to be smuggled into the palace rolled inside a strōmatos—a sack used for bedding

or a carpet—evading Ptolemy’s guards and appearing before Caesar alone, in the middle of

the night. Whether the tale is embellished or not, the effect was undeniable:

Caesar, a man known for his sharp political instincts and fascination with strong women,

was immediately captivated by her intellect, linguistic prowess, and strategic clarity.

Their alliance was swift.