2. Cleopatra Seduced Mark Antony to Gain Power
Cleopatra, who ruled Egypt during the first century BC, was a seductive woman who used her prowess to expand her power and influence in ancient Rome. She began her career by seducing Julius Caesar, and her relationship with him only ended with the latter’s assassination. Fortunately for her, Rome was in peril following the assassination of Julius Caesar, and his former colleague, Mark Antony, was desperate to obtain money and power to expand his military might. He met with her in Tarsus, a city in modern-day Turkey, to discuss a plan that would put Antony back at the forefront of Roman power.
Cleopatra was prepared to use Antony’s needs as a means of securing more power for herself, a la the most tried and true method: seduction. When her boat arrived in Tarsus, she was reclining on its deck, surrounded by flowers and exotic scents. Antony was immediately smitten. He was already married, but his wife was in Rome taking care of the empire. The two entered into a relationship that has made its way into history books. Cleopatra was able to solidify her rule of Egypt and more significant portions of the Roman Empire in return for continuing to befuddle Mark Antony with her charms.