In short, she was a brilliant woman and though certain examples of her coinage looks a little witch-like, her busts look attractive, if not rather pretty. Egypt’s Queen had the world’s foremost library at her fingertips, along with the university at Alexandria, and the draw of countless men of science and literature. First, we have to take a look at the basics of her life. Their marriage forged a political alliance between the two powerful leaders during the time when Cleopatra became Antonius’s lover and ally. Cleopatra is a cultural phenomenon; you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who has not at least heard her name. When Octavian arrived at the palace and took her prisoner, intending to march her through the streets of Rome at his triumph, legend says she had an Egyptian asp smuggled into her room and committed suicide as well. While Caesar and Cleopatra have been remembered as the ultimate power couple, Cleopatra and Octavian are among the most famous enemies of ancient history. Also provided are her biography contact information, and book links. He also built her a large entryway near the Theater of Marcellus—smaller theater that was started by Caesar and completed by her son, Marcellus. How did she feel about all of this? Yes, he made concessions to the Queen, too—ones that he may have lived to regret later. It is no wonder that Shakespeare wrote plays about Marc Antony and his tragic fall. In her novel, Carolyn Meyer gives us a very detailed picture of a very realistic transition from Cleopatra the Innocent to Cleopatra the Cynical Ruler. Long story short, Antony and Octavian, Caesar’s nephew and designated heir, ended up being the two most powerful men in Rome. He chose Cleopatra—her wealth and the side benefits of their physical relationship must have meant something to him, for many scholars agree that they married by Egyptian law prior to his Parthian adventure. Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios, are eleven years old when their parents and kingdom are taken away from them. The atmosphere of the court of Ptolemy would not have been easy on a young girl, especially one whose ruthless sisters were much, much older than her. This cynicism Carolyn Meyer portrays is very important because it explains a lot of Cleopatra’s actions in her later life. According to historical accounts, after losing the Battle of Actium to Octavian's forces, Mark Antony committed suicide and Cleopatra followed suit. Caesar Octavian Augustus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, was born September 23, 63 B.C. Frankly, I doubt she was very happy about it, either. Well, that was the theory anyway. When Caeasar followed Pompey into Egypt, he stumbled upon a civil war between Cleopatra and her brother-husband Ptolemy XIII. This isn’t exactly unbelievable, but that depends on your personal religious inclinations if we’re talking about historical accuracy. Though she graduated from Asbury University with a B.A. Again, perhaps. Maybe she really was a narcissistic sociopath; a lot of kings and queens were. Cleopatra tried to negotiate with Octavian, but not wanting to be paraded through Rome in Octavian’s triumph, she killed herself via the bite of an asp. I suspect it was a relationship of convenience for her and that would also explain her surprising dedication to Mark Antony later in her life. Still, he must have had some superb primary sources in comparison to what we have today: “For her actual beauty, it is said, was not in itself so remarkable that none could be compared with her, or that no one could see her without being struck by it, but the contact of her presence, if you lived with her, was irresistible; the attraction of her person, joining with the charm of her conversation, and the character that attended all she said or did, was something bewitching. Fiction has usually been more sympathetic to maligned historical figures than film has because readers expect a lot more from writers in novels. Isis and Osiris, Set and Nepthys, Nut and Geb. She was, however, part of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty and the last Egyptian pharaohs had been long dead by her time. Cleopatra stares at Caesar intently, wearing nothing but a harness that reveals her breasts and a sheer skirt that reveals the curves of her idealized body. Ah, we have now reached Hollywood’s favourite Cleopatra. Naturally, when she smuggled herself into the palace in a rug (or a laundry bag, depending on your source) and became Caesar’s mistress, he took her side and reinstated her as sole ruler of Egypt after her brother drowned trying to escape. Had he won Parthia, it would have eclipsed anything Octavian had done or could do. The son – Caesarion. The rest of the day, I felt as though she was on auto-pilot showing me around and staying distant. First, his previous wife had just died—literally only months or less prior to his betrothal to Octavia. Ocatavius Caesar is both a menacing adversary for Antony and a rigid representation of Roman law and order. Naturally, they decided to go to war over who would be the most powerful and Antony’s liaison with the wicked Eastern queen gave Octavian the necessary moral high ground to go to war with his brother-in-law. Cleopatra has been a favourite subject of many artists. However, since we barely see her and we only see her from the point of view of Caesar, there isn’t really much to go on. She had her sisters murdered in order to gain her position as heir despite being the third oldest daughter. You may not know all of the details of Cleopatra’s life, but most people can give a basic summary of her short (but memorable) life. Elizabeth Taylor in one of her more famous roles. Both inextricably linked to Caesar, Cleopatra was his lover while Octavian was his adopted son, and they created monumental chapters in the history of both ancient Egypt and Rome. Cleopatra and Caesar had a son named Sazareon. Cleopatra was a fascinating figure, and if you want to immerse yourself in the world where Egypt met Rome, you should try The Last Pharaoh series. Antonius: Soldier of Fate is the last book in the trilogy, spotlighting the romance between Antonius and Cleopatra and the historic war with Octavian Caesar. At the time, Octavia was in a late-term pregnancy by Marcellus, who had died before their baby was born. Silver cups with mythological analogies of Octavian’s and Antonius’s peace at Brundisium were crafted, coins with both Antonius’s and Octavia’s profiles, side by side were minted. At her feet, Apollodoros holds the rug that was used to smuggle her into the palace. Why? Antony and Cleopatra. They encounter war, political intrigue, assassinations, family tragedies and more, all while surrounded by historical figures such as Gaius Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Gaius Octavian and Cleopatra. (his father smirks) She takes another sip and notices that her faithful friend (servant) is gone. People who study the Roman world are still divided on their opinions of him. She was managing increasing revenue, led Egypt through several years of drought, and had built a strong relationship with the native Egyptians in Upper Egypt—something none of her Ptolemaic forbears had achieved. Nobody really knows whether real love existed between them. Octavia was a true example of the loyal, nurturing Roman matron all of her life, in both her marriage to Marcellus and then to Antonius. He needed secure allies at his back and gold to pay his army, which was one-hundred THOUSAND strong! Thank you for your comments, Jan. But the appearance of this “love triangle” was one of practicality, regardless of any emotion involved. What a fascinating look into this period in history and so much to speculate. Plutarch wrote a splendid description of the Queen (though he lived a century after her!) Second—well, it was Octavian’s idea, NOT Antonius’s! Becoming Caesar’s mistress was a brilliant political move and it probably was just political at the beginning. Octavian won at the Battle of Actium and after a mix-up at the palace, Antony stabbed himself, believing Cleopatra was dead. Did Octavia love Antonius? Or, maybe she truly believed Isis was guiding her and did the goddess’ bidding. But who was the real Cleopatra? Those two things are easy to assume, because they’re perhaps the only two, with those names, to have had a substantial historical relationship. She completed a Masters program at Hollins University with an emphasis in Ancient Roman studies, which helped prepare her for authoring her present works. Moran is a historical fiction author and I have really enjoyed most of her books. In a court where poison was common and sedition was sometimes open, you can see how Cleopatra would have grown up quickly and become very cynical about humanity. When he finally headed East again, he did so alone. Thank you for sharing, Linnea and Brook! In researching the Antonius Trilogy, Brook’s travels have led her to Italy, Egypt, Greece, and even Turkey to explore places where Antony once lived, fought, and eventually died. She experimented with different poisons on prisoners when it looked like she might have to commit suicide. Why? Oh I just love all the intrigue in the Roman world. 2. It is my pleasure to introduce Brook Allen, blogger and author of the Antonius series. He wasn’t getting much from his brother in law. Perhaps she actually believed she was doing the will of Isis, but I suspect she cultivated her association with the mother goddess to win the support of the native Egyptians. Sometimes even negative press was welcome, since scandal always lent a spotlight on someone wanting the attention. View Historical Background Lesson (1).pptx from HISTORY 123 at Glenwood High School. One of the best portrayals I’ve seen in historical fiction surprisingly comes from Carolyn Meyer in Cleopatra Confesses. They married for prestige and power as you said, but sometimes I think they also married to promote scandal. Cleopatra the evil, ruthless witch who seduced men to save her own skin. Octavian’s victory was made all the easier by the hasty departure of Cleopatra’s Egyptian fleet which was nominally allied to Mark Antony since his … Indeed, the Romans loved having themselves in the spotlight. Antonius: Soldier of Fate is the last book in the trilogy, spotlighting the romance between Antonius and Cleopatra and the historic war with Octavian Caesar. Long story short, Antony and Octavian, Caesar’s nephew and designated heir, ended up being the two most powerful men in Rome. While researching abroad, she consulted with scholars and archaeologists well-versed in Hellenistic and Roman history, specifically pinpointing the late Republican Period in Rome. I’ll get into my thoughts after the synopsis. She must not have thought the porticus built in her honor was enough, for after her son Marcellus died, she gifted Rome with a library near the “Porticus Octavia”. Everyone projects their own life experiences onto their interpretations of historical figures and I am no different. His status as the founder of the Roman Principate (the first phase of the Roman Empire) has consolidated an enduring legacy as one of the most effective and controversial leaders in human history. He loved whoring, having a mistress, he craved and enjoyed sex, and he was proud of his expertise in bed and his masculine ability to have sons. It was a pleasure merely to hear the sound of her voice, with which, like an instrument of many strings, she could pass from one language to another…”. Indeed, the Romans themselves loved intrigue! Though it’s unclear exactly what happened, Caesar wanted the couple to divorce at one point so that Octavia could marry the recently widowed Pompeius Magnus. Still planning to take up Julius Caesar’s banner against the Parthian Empire, Antonius needed coin. The room is filled with aristocratic vampire families and they can hear the plots and plans they all have to marry their daughter's off (her father laughs) and how their sons will inherit their business empires. And I decided that I would make Octavia a pivotal figure in my story and attempt to explain his choice. We’ll never know, but people intrigued with Antonius and Cleopatra’s romance should be mindful that before Antonius was ever fully committed to Cleo, there was this unusual and unwanted love triangle adding a lot of angst to the whole story. After the death of their parents, twins Alexander and Selene and younger brother Ptolemy are in a dangerous position, left to the mercy of their father's greatest rival, Octavian Caesar. But the appearance of this “love triangle” was one of practicality, regardless of any emotion involved. Even negative promotion is better than no promotion at all! His mother and brothers had all died, and he had already propagated a solid alliance with Egypt—the world’s breadbasket—for support in this endeavor. MORE. Brook belongs to the Historical Novel Society and attends conferences as often as possible to study craft and meet fellow authors. She was not and held him in her arms as she died. But then Caesar went on to become a dictator of Rome but in 44 BCE he was murdered. It is always fun to conjecture how history could have turned if historical figures made different decisions. However, Caesar does not kill them as expected, but takes the trio to Rome to be paraded as part of his triumphant return and to demonstrate his solidified power. Yes, he made concessions to the Queen, too—ones that he may have lived to regret later. in Music Education, Brook has always loved writing. That makes me skeptical about it being a pleasing event for him. Antonius: Soldier of Fate is the last book in the trilogy, spotlighting the romance between Antonius and Cleopatra and the historic war with Octavian Caesar. Brook’s second book is Antonius: Second in Command, dealing with Antony’s tumultuous rise to power at Caesar’s side and culminating with the civil war against Brutus and Cassius. Antonius’s marriage to Octavia occurred right after his first liaison with Cleopatra. The Cleopatra that was interested in doing the will of Isis, her patroness. The Cleopatra who became ruthless and cynical because of her life experiences. Never had a marriage been so lauded. After Caesar’s assassination in 44 B.C., she latched on to Mark Antony (who I’ll refer to as such, but his Latin name was Marcus Antonius). In researching the Antonius Trilogy, Brook’s travels have led her to Italy, Egypt, Greece, and even Turkey to explore places where Antony once lived, fought, and eventually died. 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