yes, I would try to alternate. (frankly, talking about Adam and Eve at anytime makes me cringe-but I'm getting very close to bringing up religion )
however, look at the rest of those examples: they all list the man first. and you said yourself that Cleopatra was the more powerful. doesn't that say something to you about how we have tended to think, in the past? ceertainly, in some cases, it's done for poetic/rhythmic reasons. but I would rather be the one to make the words(and the world) change than to force the next generation to keep dealing with our old stereotypical habits. we can do better, and those of us that are so aware of the power of words should be the first to make those changes.

<many big smiles-said with a light heart>



formerly known as etaoin...