Cleopatra

by Susan Walker, Sally-Ann Ashton

Why are we still interested in Cleopatra? She has that eternally attractive combination of sexual allure, political power - even divine status - and personal wealth. She had by any standards an eventful life and an unforgettable death. She very nearly tipped the balance of power at a crucial moment in had she and Antony succeeded in maintaining their empire in the east, our cultural life might be very different today. In this concise, readable, well-illustrated book, Susan Walker and Sally-Ann Ashton look at the historical Cleopatra, at images of Cleopatra as a Greek queen and as ruler of Egypt, at contemporary perceptions of her and at how we see her today. We see how Roman propaganda depicted her as a threatening woman with non-Roman qualities of excessive behaviour and emotional manipulation, a view that has come down through Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and forms the basis of our understanding of her over two thousand years later.

Genres: History

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2006

About the author

Dr Susan Walker (2 spaces), Keeper, Department of Antiquities, Ashmolean Museum

Research Interests: Greek and Roman art; Hellenistic and Roman Egypt.

Reviews

[Lucy Barnhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lucid, engaging, and surprisingly comprehensive little volume on Cleopatra, her rulership, and her reputations contemporary and modern. It's designed for a general audience, so is light on footnotes, relying instead on a selected bibliography at the end, but the expertise of the authors is clear. A clever strategy, I think, is to open the book with a chapter on Cleopatra as (frequently orientalist) icon, before moving on to a detailed consideration of her capabilities and activities as ruler.

I was very impressed by the concision with which the authors (Susan Walker and Sally-Ann Ashton, who seems not to have made it into the Goodreads record) distilled Roman and Egyptian politics of the 1st century C.E. The "greatest hits" of ancient authors' occasionally lubricious commentary on the queen are also included and analyzed... to the delight (I hope) and scandal (certainly) of my future students. Also engaging was the sophisticated analysis of images and image-making. Highly recommended to any interested in Cleopatra and her global reputations.

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

A well-written, interesting and concise book on Cleopatra in a historical and cultural light.

Rather lightweight and short.

It is recommended for beginners and those interested in furthering their knowledge about Cleopatra.

Further analysis in comments.