Cleopatra

by Patricia Southern

This book describes the critically acclaimed life of the infamous Queen of Egypt. Cleopatra was intimately involved in the critical years that saw the Roman Republic transformed into the Roman Empire. How this transition appeared to the Queen of Egypt - and the part she played in it - is the subject of Pat Southern's engrossing new biography. Descended from the first Ptolemy, one of the companions of Alexander the Great, Cleopatra was the last in a long line of Macedonian rulers of Egypt. It was Julius Caesar's involvement in an Alexandrian civil war that led to her being set up as the Queen of Egypt. She also had an affair with Caesar and for two years, was his guest in Rome. On his assassination, she returned to Alexandria - where, in turn, Mark Antony was to become her guest and lover. Over the years of their acquaintance, they produced three children. Their behaviour allowed Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) to brand the Egyptian Queen as Rome's arch worse than Hannibal, nearer than the Parthians - and powerful, as she had access to Mark Antony's legions. In the civil war that followed, Cleopatra failed to revive Antony's fighting spirit after their defeat at Actium. He was to die in her arms, having committed suicide. A few days later, she too was to die.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Elia Princess of Starfall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleopatra VII Thea Philopater,
Queen of Egypt,
lover of Julius Caesar, Conqueror of Spain and Gaul and elected Dictator
and
Mark Antony, Triumvir and Lord of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Cleopatra is a legendary and elusive figure, a confusing mixture of the historical, mythic and defamatory.
She was the last monarch of Egypt and of mostly Macedonian Greek descent, although there is the possibility that she might have had either Syrian or Egyptian ancestry.

She came from the Ptolemaic dynasty, descended from one of Alexander the Great's generals Prolemy I Soter, an ambitious, ruthless, despotic and murderous family who married brother to sister, assassinated each other as a way of life and portrayed themselves as divine gods.

Her reign of 22 tumultuous years as a prosperous, respected and intelligent Queen ended after the battle of Actium in 30 b.c and witnessed her dramatic death by asp bite rather than be paraded as a Captive of Rome in a Triumph.

Patricia Southern tells the story of Cleopatra in a calm, reasoned and easily grasped manner. She is logical and thoughtful but seems to glide rather quickly over issues and does not go into heavy detail.

A decent, well rounded introduction for beginners.

Those interested in something deeper should consult either Michael Grant or Stacy Schiff.