Cleopatra has been praised and vilified both during§her life and in the two centuries afterward.§How can we separate the derogatory characterization§of her from the reality? The Romans,§under the reign of Augustus, engaged in a mudslinging§campaign against Cleopatra and her§lover Mark Antony. He feared Cleopatra for her§association with Julius Caesar and the son she§had by him. When Mark Antony joined up with Cleopatra§after Caesar s assassination she posed§a very real threat to Augustus Caesar s empire.§Something had to be done.§Ever since Cleopatra put the asp to her bosom...