LOVE LEGENDS

Antony and Cleopatra
The last Pharaoh of Egypt and the dashing Roman general

One of the most famous women in history, Cleopatra VII was the brilliant and beautiful last Pharaoh of Egypt. Although she is often portrayed as a femme fatale, Cleopatra was deeply religious and studied to be a nun. An accomplished mathematician and gifted linguist fluent in nine languages, Cleopatra was also skilled politician popular with her people.

She married her younger brother, Ptolemy, and she became the mistress of the Roman general Julius Caesar. Following Caesar's death, Roman general Marc Antony went to Egypt to advance the growing power of Rome. Cleopatra captivated Antony. Their affair scandalized Roman society and bothered Roman politicians, who were suspicious of Egypt's power.

Yet despite the risks, Antony and Cleopatra married in 36 B.C. The couple planned to conquer Rome. But in 31 B.C. the Roman general Octavian destroyed the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium. Hearing a false report that Cleopatra was dead, Antony fell on his sword. With no hope left, Cleopatra induced a poisonous asp to bite her.

Four thousand years of glorious Pharaonic rule was finally finished. Egypt became a Roman province. Octavian (later Augustus) became the first Roman Emperor, launching a new era in history.

Marie and Pierre Curie

Partners in Love and science

Unable to continue her studies in Poland because universities did not admit women, Maria Sklodowska Curie traveled to Paris in 1891 to attend the Sorbonne.

Known by the French "Marie," she spent every spare hour reading in the library or in the laboratory. The industrious student caught the eye of Pierre Curie, director one of the laboratories where Marie worked.

Curie ardently wooed Marie and made several marriage proposals. They were finally married in 1895 and began their famous partnership. In 1898 they discovered polonium and radium. The Curies and scientist Henri Becquerel won a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 for discovering radioactivity.

When Curie died in 1904, Marie pledged to carry on their work. She took his place at the Sorbonne, becoming the school's first female teacher. In 1911 she became the first person to win a second Nobel Prize, this time for chemistry. She continued to experiment and lecture until her death of leukemia in 1934, driven by the memory of the man she loved.

Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
Grieving emperor who built the Taj Mahal for his late wife

Robin Hood and Maid Marion
True love in Medieval England

Ballads from Medieval England recount the adventures of Robin Hood, a legendary hero who robbed from the rich, the government, and the church, while helping the poor and the oppressed. With his band of Merry Men, he lived in Sherwood Forest, where they hid from the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Maid Marion is presented differently in the many Robin Hood ballads and stories. In some she is portrayed as a Saxon girl who has known Robin Hood all her life, in others she is a Norman noblewoman, or the ward of the Sheriff of Nottingham who spies for Robin Hood. Sometimes she is a damsel in distress, and at others she is depicted as an able swordswoman, or the brains behind the Merry Men.

Yet, almost always, Maid Marion is Robin Hood's true love. According to local legend, they were married in St. Mary's church in Edwinstowe and remained together for the rest of their lives.

Punjab love legends...(Click here to see)

Romeo & Juliet The famous love couple (Click here to see)

Laila Majnu another famous love couple (Coming soon..)

More coming soon...