Cleopatra VII Philopator, the iconic Queen of Egypt, was not a direct descendant of Alexander the Great. She was, however, the descendant of Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander’s most trusted generals and companions. Following Alexander’s death in 323 BCE, his generals and successors – diadochi – carved the vast empire, establishing powerful Hellenistic kingdoms. Ptolemy took over control of Egypt, establishing the Ptolemaic dynasty, which would rule over the region for three centuries.

According to some sources, Ptolemy was son of Arsinoe and Phillip II, the father of Alexander the Great. However, this is likely a myth, fabricated to legitimize Ptolemy’s claim and bolster the prestige of his family, linking it to the Argead dynasty of Macedonia.