Cleopatra VII was the last active ruler of Egypt before it became a province of Rome. So much has been written about her that the folklore has almost entirely eclipsed the historical figure; added to that has been her more recent cultural mis-appropriation as an African queen (and therefore a woman of colour)... very far from the truth, alas! She was a Ptolemy, a dynasty of Macedonian Greeks descended from Alexander's general of the same name. The Ptolemies never married into Egyptian families, spoke Kione Greek and preferred to adopt a Hellenic style, only donning Egyptian clothing for ceremonial events. Even her name is Greek, meaning "Glory of her Father". Ironically, even though Cleopatra was the last ruler of her dynasty, she was also the first to actually be able to speak Egyptian ; she was well known for her intelligence and linguistic ability. She was also a shrewd and ruthless political player, having had her siblings assassinated and deftly playing Roman factions one off against the other for two decades before defeat by Octavian at Actium and her suicide by poison at age 39 (the popular account of snakebite is much disputed). I have modelled her appearance (as far as I am able within the limits of DAZ and G8) based on the most contemporary sources available; a first century bust in the Antikensammlung, Berlin and a painting from Herculaneum showing her with red hair and pearl hair pins.