Cleopatra's First Selfie
Cleopatra's First Selfie
My name is Cleopatra, and before I ruled Egypt, I was just a princess with a brand-new… well, you wouldn't call it a "phone" back then, would you? Let's just say I had a shiny, magical way to capture moments. I was determined to take the best selfie ever seen in all of Egypt!
A Royal Portrait
I stood in the grand courtyard of our palace in Alexandria. The tall stone walls seemed to stretch into the sky. The sun was super bright, making the shadows dark and mysterious. I made sure my uraeus, that golden cobra crown, was perfectly placed on my head. It wasn't easy being a princess, you know! There were protocols and lots of rules for royalty.
"Smile, Cleopatra!" I whispered to myself, holding my brand-new magical device high. This "selfie" thing was trickier than it looked. I wanted to capture the power of my nemes, the royal headcloth. My best eyeliner was on point, and I was wearing my nice, beaded, royal collar. Everything had to be perfect. This selfie had to show everyone that I was ready to rule one day. If I ever got the chance!
A Sneaky Plan
- Uraeus:
- A golden cobra crown, a symbol of Egyptian royalty.
- Nemes:
- The royal headcloth worn by pharaohs.
- Pharaoh:
- An ancient Egyptian ruler.
- courtyard:
- An open, unroofed area surrounded by the walls of a palace or building.
- protocols:
- Official rules or proper ways of behaving in formal situations or royal settings.
- chambers:
- Private rooms inside a large building or palace, often used as bedrooms.
- devised:
- Planned, invented, or thought up a clever idea or strategy.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Describe the setting where Cleopatra is taking her selfie.
- 2What is a *uraeus*, and why is it important?
Where this passage belongs
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About this fiction passage for Middle School
“Cleopatra's First Selfie” is a fiction reading passage about Ancient Egypt, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (430 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.