The Egyptian queen, shown here in a 19th-century engraving, sneaked back from exile and surprised Julius Caesar. Granger Collection, New York Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt for 21 years a generation ...

Cunning, charming and captivating, the Egyptian ... he met Cleopatra, the woman who would set Roman nerves on edge for most of the next 20 years. Cleopatra was soon to become Queen of Egypt ...

Throughout the years, archaeologists have discovered ancient mummies adorned with gold tongues and nails, along with a bust that may depict the famous Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII in Alexandria ...