Cleopatra

Cleopatra

I saw this meme today: 

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It’s of course a play on another meme (which is literally the meaning of “meme”): 

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I found that meme on Instagram and broke the cardinal rule of social media: never read the comments section. I was rather surprised at how many people not only bought into this, but didn’t know that Cleopatra was:

-Macedonian (not Egyptian, not Greek, not Roman, not Persian) -not beautiful

I wanted to make a post about this to explain these misconceptions and where they (likely) came from.

Cleopatra VII the Macedonian

Cleopatra VII was part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, and the Ptolemys were Macedonian. They had taken power in Egypt after the death of the famous Macedonian, Alexander the Great (who likely died from alcoholism and/or malaria at age 34, just a fun fact). Many people mistook Alexander the Great for a Greek, but there’s a reason for that: Alexander the Great was a Greek fanboy. He started something called a “Hellenistic Period”…you know “period” is “length of time” and “Hellenistic” means “Greek-like” or “inspired by Greece”. It would be like if famous otaku Baron Trump married one of Japan’s princesses, then went into Mongolia to take over and implemented a bunch of Japanese culture…then, a couple thousand years later, some people might think that Baron Trump was actually Japanese because why on Earth would he implement Japanese rule? It’s not really common to assume that a leader is a mega fanboy, but that’s what happened here. I cannot confirm whether he had a Greek goddess body pillow, but can confirm I made this sweet meme in Paint for my PPT: 

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The Ptolemy rule came to an end shortly after Cleopatra VII’s rule ended, and it was Rome that had ended said rule. This might be why Cleopatra VII was thought to be Roman by some people in the comments section. 

Cleopatra VII was Not Classically Beautiful

We may not know exactly how Cleopatra VII looked, but we can say she wasn’t a beauty queen (and there’s nothing wrong with that unless you’re in a job being judged on how well you fit in with that standard). How can we be sure? Here is how she’s depicted on her coins and in stone reliefs from the time:

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Some sculptures have been made based on these:

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I wouldn’t go as far as to say she looked like someone we would consider “ugly”, but she’s definitely not someone I’d be captivated by based on her looks alone. If that’s the case, then how did “She was so beautiful!” start as a rumor? It had to do with the fact that she was able to impress two other leaders. Some of the people in the comments section mentioned her “several affairs”, but we do know that she was involved with two other leaders: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The tales of her seduction, as told at the time they happened, involve her wit. Accounts of Cleopatra VII describe her well-educated (including that she spoke seven languages) and very charismatic. Combine this with her being the leader of a kingdom, and she suddenly becomes a very attractive prospect for sex, both in terms of sexual interest and reproductive interest. It appeared to be a mutual attraction for her, as she sought to expand her own power and interact with men who were intellectually, militarily, and politically on her level. In other words, she did was literally every other royal has done in history: had sexual encounters with other royalty for the purposes of strengthening political power. 

So if everyone who knew her knew she wasn’t gorgeous, then why did this myth start? 

After the death of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony, a rumor had been started by this guy with a long birth name we eventually came to call Caesar Augustus. He and Antony, along with another Mark, were part of this three-part ruling structure called a Triumvirate. The other Mark (Marcus Lepidus),  was exiled, leaving just Antony and Augustus to lead the Roman Empire. Augustus’ great-uncle was Julius Caesar, and his co-regent was Antony, and both of these dudes had been with Cleopatra VII, producing children that could potentially try to claim/take power from him…especially relevant since both of these dudes were dead. He basically had launched a smear campaign against her after her death that talked about her as if she’s a gorgeous, deadly, conspiring woman who seduces powerful men with both her charm and her beauty. 

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Writers of the time jumped in on this, and some called her a lot of really crappy things. One Roman historian referred to her as “a woman of surpassing beauty…with the power to subjugate everyone.” 

Kind of reminds me of Rasputin, who was creepy and smelled weird but utterly captivated women. Women explained that it was his intense gaze and what he had to say that kept them interested, but upon his death what did the murderers do? Pulled down his pants, cut off his dick, and preserved it, studied why it could be so appealing to women (they claim the girth and wart near the head are a factor). It’s like “He’s interesting” wasn’t good enough…must be dick power! In the same way, “She’s utterly fascinating, charming, and educated” wasn’t good enough…must be a sexy pout and perfect tits!

As I tell my students: history isn’t just some old collection of names and dates, it’s human drama that still happens today. 

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H-Hello! Since I saw the last ask about Sesshomaru, and since I love him too... I can a ask for the NSFW version of the headcanons? Thank you in advance! *HIDES*

Finally~ My day has come~

WARNING! 18+ CONTENT BELOW~ PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru merely gives chaste kisses on occasion. He’s not one for PDA (initially) and keeps things pretty vanilla. At first.

He is addicted to marking his partner’s neck. Laves and nibbles over their pulse where their scent is the strongest.

Loves to dominate his partner. Growls and uses just enough strength to pin them beneath his muscular body. Uses his strong hips to keep them in place. 

Apprehensive of blow jobs at first. Nervous about having teeth that close to his member. However, over time he learns to enjoy it greatly. So much so that he enjoys face-fucking (if his partner allows). 

Champ at oral sex. He is a master with his mouth. Laves his tongue over their sex, harsh sucks, vibrating growls push his partner closer to completion. He can’t really use his fingers because of his claws, but has considered trimming them on one hand for their pleasure. 

Has the most glorious penis known to any species, ever. Longer than seven inches and gloriously thick. Smooth flawless skin with a pink head that turns crimson when he’s aroused. This dick definitely gives his partner a healthy, pleasurable stretch.

Makes sure they are thoroughly prepared before sex. Keeps oil/lubricant on hand to help them out, and chances are his partner will achieve at least one orgasm before penetration.

Enjoys multiple positions. His go-to’s are missionary and doggy, though he has no qualms contorting his partner into any position that has them screaming. His pace will depend on his mood. Slow and sensual when he is relaxed; long and deep when he is stressed; and a brutal fuck when he’s feeling jealous or hostile. He will also take his partner’s feelings into consideration, since he would never want to harm or force them.

Not much for sex in public places, but that doesn’t mean he won’t spice things up. The bedroom is where most of the action takes place; but he also enjoys sex in the bath, in his office, and in his private gardens. Any place that is safe and saturated in his scent will be used for any form on intimacy. 

Grunts and growls low in his chest. No more will really come from this beast. May growl louder when he climaxes, and bares his sharp canines. However, he adores his partner moaning and crying loudly beneath him. Does whatever he can to elicit the sweetest noises from them. 

This youkai cums a lot, much more than a human. Spurts thick white ropes about 20 times. Completely overfills his partner, but it’s his body’s way of trying to assure pregnancy. 

Rubs his scent all over his partner following intercourse. Makes sure his pheromones completely mix into their scent before he can calm down. He uses it as a way to mark his partner in both protection and possession. 

Requires his partner to bathe after intercourse. Most ften carries them to the bath and washes them down himself. He rubs a sponge gently over their skin, and insists on using his own bathing soaps and oils. Washes them thoroughly before washing himself. 

Prefers laying nude wrapped around is partner. Buries his nose in their nape, and keeps their hips firmly pressed against his own. Often licks their luscious skin and purrs deep in his chest until they fall asleep. 

Always the dominant in the relationship. Often initiates sex/intimacy of any kind. Whenever his partner initiates or rides him, he still steers them under a firm hand. Not to say he doesn’t enjoy his partner bouncing on his cock; but often pistons his hips into theirs from below until they collapse onto his chest. 

OMEGAVERSE! AU

Extremely sensitive to the scent of his mate. His pure Alpha instincts have him crazy for them in seconds. 

Knaws on their scent gland regularly. Completely entranced by their scent and taste on his tongue. There is usually a mark left on their neck, but neither mind. Usually starts his day overwhelming his senses with them, mouth watering and brain foggy. 

Marks their neck after the initial mating, but often nibbles and sucks over the mark. Loves to see his mate’s knees go weak as he assaults the sensitive spot. 

Loves to feel his mate claw down his back when they fuck. The burning track marks around his spine only make his hips buck faster and harder into his mate. 

Craves the taste of their slick. Whether merely horny or mindlessly in heat, Sesshomaru will spend lengthy amounts of time between their thighs. He growls lightly as he slurps and gulps down every drop of their essence. 

Has a thick, smooth knot. It takes quite a bit of force to stuff the entire thing into his partner. Makes sure they orgasm a couple of times before he gives them his knot. Loves when they orgasm around his knot, since they will both have longer and stronger orgasms. 

Purrs at the sight if his cum dripping out of their hole. Not only is the sight pleasing to his inner beast; but the aroma it gives off, both of their fertile scents mixing together, drives him absolutely wild. 

Rubs his scent all over his mate’s things. Whether it be merely rubbing his scent glands on something, or even smearing his cum; he wants his scent wrapped around them.

His mate’s nipples are extremely sensitive. Sometimes he is gentle with them, merely teasing and licking over the nubs. Others, he will assault the little pebbles with his tongue and teeth until they cry out beneath him. His infatuation with them only gets greater when they get pregnant and start leaking milk.

MODERN! AU

He is is not super experienced. He has lain with a couple of partner’s before, but he has not had time to indulge in romantic or sexual relationships. 

Not much of one for porn, but he has watched and read quite a few things to educate himself on the different types of sexuality, gender, kinks, and methods. He doesn’t know if he will ever use the information, but he retains it regardless. 

His initial experience with his partner is very slow and sensual. He uses the time to study their reaction to everything. He listens to their voice and watches their body contort as he licks, touches, and thrusts into them. Keeps it all in the back of his mind for later use.

His job often stresses him out, so he will return home with a lot of pent up anger resting on his shoulders. This often results in him wanting to fuck. Hard. Loves to bend his partner over any surface and ram into them as soon as they are prepared. Growls and grunts as he takes them over the edge repeatedly. 

He is not much of one to use toys in the bedroom, but he has a strange fascination with using vibrators of different varieties on his partner. The strong vibe patterns create the must beautiful looks of pleasure on their face, and he likes to see how close he can drive them to the edge before cumming. However, he does not allow them to come from the fake toy. They are only allowed to cum around his thick cock.

Speaking of bedroom, he would definitely be open to moving around their sexual escapades. His entire penthouse (save for Rin’s room) is open for sex. He particularly finds that he enjoys pressing them against the large glass wall, fucking them in the pool, and eating them out on the kitchen counter. 

Once more comfortable with his partner, he gets more adventurous. He likes blindfolding them and typing them down so he can torture them for hours. Orgasm denial is his favorite game and he knows how to play it like a master. 

Is very careful about using condoms with his partner unless they say otherwise, and even then he is apprehensive. While the idea of being with his partner for the rest of his life, he only wants to cross that bridge when they are both absolutely ready. Not to mention the thought of another child is a large pill for him to swallow. He has Rin to think of, and he wants her to be completely acclimated and prepared to the idea of new people in their lives before making that decision.

Worships his partner’s body with every ounce of his being. He isn’t prejudiced about shape or size, gender or ethnicity. He just wants someone he can connect to, and boy does he. He connects to them all over the place, frequently. 

These are the ones I could come up with off the top of my head. There will probably be more that spring up down the road lol. Thank you, @yaminohimeyume for the wonderful request. I hope you enjoy it, because I know I did!

~Admin C

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one of my favorite (read: least favorite) things about how people treat cleopatra is she’s so often called a slut or is only ever portrayed as being this incredibly sexy, often scantily-clad seductress, when in actuality 1. while some ancient sources describe her as somewhat pretty, it generally seems that what was attractive about her was her intellect, charm, and voice, and the sources that refer to her as extremely sexy/slutty are specifically out to condem her, 2. she was a brilliant politician who chose her affairs as a way of securing power for her country and not just so she could have a bunch of sex (which shouldn’t be an issue anyway), and 3. one of the men she had an affair with was mark antony, ancient roman super slut supreme, a man known for his love of sex and tendency to wear extremely short tunics for the sake of showing off his sexy legs/probably also his dick

i’m not saying there’s anything wrong with portraying cleopatra as beautiful or even sexy, because she clearly had allure. all i’m saying is that, if your cleopatra is wearing less clothing than your mark antony, there’s probably a problem in your depiction of them

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