She was also extremely intelligent in writing Cosmetics, a book that explored innovation in surgery and the medicinal stages of painkillers, according to many ancient Arabic texts (Park). Her supposed scientific knowledge was most certainly associated with her political abilities, as Plutarch says: “Cleopatra's beauty was not so remarkable in itself; it was the impact of his spirit that was irresistible. The attractiveness of her person, combined with the charm of her conversation and the characteristic intelligence of everything she said and did, was captivating. It was a delight just to hear the sound of his voice. As if it were a many-stringed instrument, it could pass from one language to another” (Plutarch, Antony 27.2), although he was writing from the perspective of a citizen during the reign of Emperor Hadrian and therefore had no first-hand or reliable source of information. Despite this, Cleopatra was a ruthless and powerful ruler. It is reported that she killed all her competitors for her right to the Egyptian throne, these competitors being members of her family. Although on the other hand other sources represent her as a sexual being of unimaginable beauty, "For she was a woman of surpassing beauty, and at that time, when she was in the prime of life , she was most striking; she also possessed a charming voice and knowing how to make herself pleasant to everyone, being brilliant to look at and listen to, with the power to captivate everyone, even an already overwhelmed love-thirsty man. … She therefore asked to be admitted into his presence, and having obtained permission, she adorned and beautified herself so as to appear before him in the most majestic and at the same time the most pitiful form” (Dio) This. being in contradiction with other sources although it is the case.