What she did have above all other women was the ability to distract a man. In reality, Cleopatra was physically unexceptional and had no political power, yet both Caesar and Antony, brave and clever men, saw none of this. What they saw was a woman who constantly transformed herself before their eyes, a one-woman spectacle. Her dress and makeup changed from day to day, but always gave her a heightened, goddesslike appearance. Her voice, which all writers talk of, was lilting and intoxicating. Her words could be banal enough, but were spoken so sweetly that listeners would find themselves remembering not what she said but how she said it.

Cleopatra provided constant variety—tributes, mock battles, expeditions, costumed orgies. Everything had a touch of drama and was accomplished with great energy. By the time your head lay on the pillow beside her, your mind was spinning with images and dreams. And just when you thought you had this fluid, larger-than-life woman, she would turn distant or angry, making it clear that everything was on her terms. You never possessed Cleopatra, you worshiped her. In this way a woman who had been exiled and destined for an early death managed to turn it all around and rule Egypt for close to twenty years.

From Cleopatra we learn that it is not beauty that makes a Siren but rather a theatrical streak that allows a woman to embody a man’s fantasies. A man grows bored with a woman, no matter how beautiful; he yearns for different pleasures, and for adventure. All a woman needs to turn this around is to create the illusion that she offers such variety and adventure. A man is easily deceived by appearances; he has a weakness for the visual. Create the physical presence of a Siren (heightened sexual allure mixed with a regal and theatrical manner) and he is trapped. He cannot grow bored with you yet he cannot discard you. Keep up the distractions, and never let him see who you really are. He will follow you until he drowns.

We’re dazzled by feminine adornment, by the surface, \ All gold and jewels: so little of what we observe \ Is the girl herself. And where (you may ask) amid such plenty \ Can our object of passion be found? The eye’s deceived \ By Love’s smart camouflage.

—OVID, CURES FOR LOVE, TRANSLATED BY PETER GREEN

 

 

He was herding his cattleon Mount Gargarus, thehighest peak of Ida, whenHermes, accompanied byHera, Athene, andAphrodite delivered thegolden apple and Zeus’smessage: “Paris, since youare as handsome as you arewise in affairs of the heart,Zeus commands you tojudge which of thesegoddesses is the fairest.”“So be it,” sighed Paris.“But first I beg the losersnot to be vexed with me. Iam only a human being,liable to make the stupidestmistakes.” • Thegoddesses all agreed toabide by his decision. •“Will it be enough tojudge them as they are?”Paris asked Hermes, “orshould they be naked?” •“The rules of the contestare for you to decide,”Hermes answered with adiscreet smile.•“In thatcase, will they kindlydisrobe?” • Hermes toldthe goddesses to do so, andpolitely turned his back. •Aphrodite was soon ready,but Athene insisted thatshe should remove thefamous magic girdle, whichgave her an unfairadvantage by makingeveryone fall in lovewith the wearer. “Verywell,” said Aphroditespitefully. “I will, oncondition that you removeyour helmet—you lookhideous urithorrt it.” • “Now, if you please, Imust judge you one ata time,” announcedParis.... Come here,Divine Hera! Will youother two goddesses be goodenough to leave us for awhile?” • “Examine meconscientiously,” said Hera,turning slowly around, anddisplaying her magnificentfigure, “and remember thatif you judge me the fairest,I will make you lord of allAsia, and the richest manalive. ” . • “I am not to bebribed my Lady... Verywell, thank you. Now Ihave seen all that I need tosee. Come, DivineAthene!” • “Here I am,”said Athene, stridingpurposefully forward.“Listen, Paris, if you haveenough common sense toaward me the prize, I willmake you victorious inall your battles, as wellas the handsomest andwisest man in the world.