From the Greek name
Κλεοπατρα (Kleopatra) which meant "glory of the father", derived from
κλεος (kleos) "glory" combined with
πατηρ (pater) "father" (genitive
πατρος), This was the name of queens of Egypt from the Ptolemaic royal family, including Cleopatra VII, the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp. Shakespeare's tragedy 'Antony and Cleopatra' (1606) is based on her.