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The Cleopatras: the forgotten queens of Egypt
One of history’s most iconic figures, Cleopatra is rightly remembered as a clever and charismatic ruler. But few today realize that she was the last in a long line of Egyptian queens who bore that name.
In The Cleopatras , historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the dramatic story of these seven incomparable women, vividly recapturing the lost world of Hellenistic Egypt and tracing the kingdom’s final centuries before its fall to Rome. The Cleopatras were Greek-speaking descendants of Ptolemy, the general who conquered Egypt alongside Alexander the Great. They were closely related as mothers, daughters, sisters, half-sisters, and nieces. Each wielded absolute power, easily overshadowing their husbands or sons, and all proved to be shrewd and capable leaders. Styling themselves as goddess-queens, the Cleopatras ruled through the canny deployment of arcane rituals, opulent spectacles, and unparalleled wealth. They navigated political turmoil and court intrigues, led armies into battle and commanded fleets of ships, and ruthlessly dispatched their dynastic rivals.
The Cleopatras is a fascinating and richly textured biography of seven extraordinary women, restoring these queens to their deserved place among history’s greatest rulers.
In The Cleopatras , historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the dramatic story of these seven incomparable women, vividly recapturing the lost world of Hellenistic Egypt and tracing the kingdom’s final centuries before its fall to Rome. The Cleopatras were Greek-speaking descendants of Ptolemy, the general who conquered Egypt alongside Alexander the Great. They were closely related as mothers, daughters, sisters, half-sisters, and nieces. Each wielded absolute power, easily overshadowing their husbands or sons, and all proved to be shrewd and capable leaders. Styling themselves as goddess-queens, the Cleopatras ruled through the canny deployment of arcane rituals, opulent spectacles, and unparalleled wealth. They navigated political turmoil and court intrigues, led armies into battle and commanded fleets of ships, and ruthlessly dispatched their dynastic rivals.
The Cleopatras is a fascinating and richly textured biography of seven extraordinary women, restoring these queens to their deserved place among history’s greatest rulers.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2024
104 people are currently reading
1641 people want to read
About the author
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
20 books85 followersLloyd Llewellyn-Jones is Professor of Ancient History at Cardiff University and a specialist in the histories and cultures of ancient Iran and Greece. He also works on dress and gender in antiquity and on the ancient world in popular culture, especially Hollywood cinema.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 15, 2024
Things you'll learn from this book:
• Despite what films and Shakespeare may have led you to believe, there wasn't just one but seven Cleopatras. Seven!
• None of the Cleos were differentiated by numerals in their time, that is a modern historians' invention to stay sane in the midst of the Ptolemies' alarming lack of naming creativity. You a boy? Your name is always Ptolemy. You a gal? You're a Cleopatra or a Berenice or an Arsinoe. The Ptolemies differentiated themselves not by numbers but by nicknames/monikers, hence Cleopatra Syra is who we know as Cleopatra I, the first of them, and Cleopatra Thea Philopator is our Cleopatra VII, the last of them. (Let's forget that some of the Ptolemies repeated even the nicknames when they were being particularly uncreative, shall we?)
• The "they were women and that was their sin" angle is played a bit much for the modern audience's benefit sometimes. Thedragonless Targaryens, er, Ptolemies on the female line (that is, the Cleos) schemed and murdered their way to the Pharaoh crown just as much as the male Ptolemies did, but they didn't have to do it only because they were women as much as because of the competition created by the custom of siblings co-ruling they had in this dynasty. And the Cleos that were queens by marriage are rather uninteresting: the first Cleo is an utter bore, for example. But the rule of the Cleos that were queens by birthright has nothing to envy a Game of Thrones-style court bloodbath, due to how they had to compete with brother-husbands and sister co-rulers: the Cleopatra VII/Berenice IV/Arsinoe IV lethal drama that coincided with Rome's rise to world power is by no means the only of its kind in this dynasty.
• Last Cleopatra is Best Cleopatra, enough said.
The book is a fine introduction to the history of the Ptolemaic queens called Cleopatra, as I bet most people have no idea there were several of them. Most only hear about the one from the various Cleopatra movies or from William Shakespeare's play plus cursory school history lessons, so this book will be enlightening and educational for them, as it covers the life stories and circumstances in which the seven Cleopatras had to exist, all neatly divided in three parts that go from the beginning (the first Cleos), the apotheosis (some of the more known and better-cunning Cleos) to the decline (the last Cleo when Rome took over). But it's also dry, repetitive, and has a sluggish pace for a divulgation pop-history book, and if you already know enough of the Pharaohs, this won't be much new for you. For me, it was an easy memory refresher more than anything, and very readable.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
• Despite what films and Shakespeare may have led you to believe, there wasn't just one but seven Cleopatras. Seven!
• None of the Cleos were differentiated by numerals in their time, that is a modern historians' invention to stay sane in the midst of the Ptolemies' alarming lack of naming creativity. You a boy? Your name is always Ptolemy. You a gal? You're a Cleopatra or a Berenice or an Arsinoe. The Ptolemies differentiated themselves not by numbers but by nicknames/monikers, hence Cleopatra Syra is who we know as Cleopatra I, the first of them, and Cleopatra Thea Philopator is our Cleopatra VII, the last of them. (Let's forget that some of the Ptolemies repeated even the nicknames when they were being particularly uncreative, shall we?)
• The "they were women and that was their sin" angle is played a bit much for the modern audience's benefit sometimes. The
• Last Cleopatra is Best Cleopatra, enough said.
The book is a fine introduction to the history of the Ptolemaic queens called Cleopatra, as I bet most people have no idea there were several of them. Most only hear about the one from the various Cleopatra movies or from William Shakespeare's play plus cursory school history lessons, so this book will be enlightening and educational for them, as it covers the life stories and circumstances in which the seven Cleopatras had to exist, all neatly divided in three parts that go from the beginning (the first Cleos), the apotheosis (some of the more known and better-cunning Cleos) to the decline (the last Cleo when Rome took over). But it's also dry, repetitive, and has a sluggish pace for a divulgation pop-history book, and if you already know enough of the Pharaohs, this won't be much new for you. For me, it was an easy memory refresher more than anything, and very readable.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2025
4.9 "These battling bitches all have Bette Davis Eyes...." stars !!!
To say I enjoyed this book would be a gross understatement. I LURVED it to the maximum !
Some of us know the story of Cleopatra (VII) and Julius Caesar and Mark Antony but this delightful popular history provides us with a whole lot of sociocultural and historical context ! These Ptolemies and Cleopatras were multigenerational and inbred. More twisted brothers and sisters you would not ever meet. Mother-fuckers, sister-killers, brother-lovers and father-haters! Narcissism, sociopathy and grandiosity that make Trump look well adjusted... Unfuckingbelievable and unfuckingbelievably excellent with a focus on the cultures, psychologies and mythologies of those times and the decay, splendor and decline of the Hellenic Egyptian empire.
Our historian writes clearly, succinctly and with expertise. His focus on the powerful Cleopatras and their psychologies was sublime without forgetting about their menfolk. I loved his compassion and admiration for the Cleopatras despite their repellent and evil ways. My one tiny quibble is that as a post-feminist I found some of his interpretations a bit pandering and slightly false but that is neither here nor there when everything else is so bloody amazing....BLOODY being a key word....
To say I enjoyed this book would be a gross understatement. I LURVED it to the maximum !
Some of us know the story of Cleopatra (VII) and Julius Caesar and Mark Antony but this delightful popular history provides us with a whole lot of sociocultural and historical context ! These Ptolemies and Cleopatras were multigenerational and inbred. More twisted brothers and sisters you would not ever meet. Mother-fuckers, sister-killers, brother-lovers and father-haters! Narcissism, sociopathy and grandiosity that make Trump look well adjusted... Unfuckingbelievable and unfuckingbelievably excellent with a focus on the cultures, psychologies and mythologies of those times and the decay, splendor and decline of the Hellenic Egyptian empire.
Our historian writes clearly, succinctly and with expertise. His focus on the powerful Cleopatras and their psychologies was sublime without forgetting about their menfolk. I loved his compassion and admiration for the Cleopatras despite their repellent and evil ways. My one tiny quibble is that as a post-feminist I found some of his interpretations a bit pandering and slightly false but that is neither here nor there when everything else is so bloody amazing....BLOODY being a key word....
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August 13, 2025Quem eram os filhos do Barrigudo? Havia o Grão-de-Bico,/ desonrosamente expulso de Alexandria, que foi para Chipre./ E o Filho da Puta, vindo diretamente de Chipre,/ apoderou-se de Alexandria. Tudo isto foi planeado/ pela própria Puta. Os Alexandrinos, que gostam/ de ridicularizar, deram-lhes os nomes certos, sem dúvida./ E é melhor chamar-lhes «Filho da Puta»,/ «Barrigudo», «Grão-de-Bico» e «A Puta»,/ em vez de «Ptolemeu», em vez de «Cleópatra».
Dinastia, de Kaváfis*
Llewellyn-Jones escolhe encerrar as últimas páginas de As Cleópatras com um poema de Kaváfis que traz à luz do dia os epítetos tudo menos grandiosos com que os alexandrinos brindavam os seus reis e rainhas. Eu decidi começar esta resenha precisamente por aí para não só desenganar a nossa vontade de ver apenas grandiosidade na história da Antiguidade, mas também dar desde já a perceber a dificuldade que é (pelo menos para mim - e, ao que parece, também para os alexandrinos) decorar que Cleópatra, das 7 Cleópatras, é a Cleópatra em questão. E que Ptolomeu, dos quinze Ptolomeus, é o Ptolomeu em questão.
Pois As Cleópatras é o livro que se presta precisamente a essa tarefa inglória de listar e tentar diferenciar, a toda esta distância, cada uma das sete rainhas que governaram o Egipto durante a dinastia ptolomaica, entre cerca de 205 a.C e 30 a.C. São assim qualquer coisa como 170 anos - ou, se quisermos ser mais exatos, 270 anos (para não descurarmos as cinco rainhas não Cleópatras que antecederam todas estas) - sobre os quais nos debruçarmos.
Tudo para chegar ao cerne da questão: procurar explicar o que viabilizou o reinado femíneo de Cleópatra VII (que não só se livra de dois irmãos para governar em nome individual, como se associa a dois poderosos romanos como estratégia de manutenção do reino).
Partindo da sociedade tradicional, em que se incluem as culturas do mundo ptolomaico - que se estende do Egipto ao que é hoje a Palestina -, nas quais o ideal de masculinidade era sustentado por uma noção de «honra» e estava fundamentalmente ligado ao policiamento do comportamento e da sexualidade femininos, uma vez que a honra era geralmente vista como residindo nos corpos das mulheres, como se chega à emancipação de Cleópatra VII? Para Llewellyn-Jones o argumento é só um: a sobrevivência de um modelo feminino e matriarcal face ao domínio patriarcal da Antiguidade.
A busca dinâmica de Cleópatra VII pela autoridade numa cultura dominada pelos homens não era exclusivamente sua, tendo sido antecedida durante um século e meio por uma linhagem de Cleópatras ancestrais, a mãe, as avós e as bisavós de Cleópatra VII. Estas tinham conseguido manter e conservar o poder real no trono, o que possibilitou a Cleópatra VII assumir o leme da governação e administrar o Egito com a sua própria autoridade, sem necessidade de um superior masculino.
Assim, e enquanto nos restantes territórios as mulheres eram relegadas para plano de fundo da vida quotidiana, do contexto social e do aparato político, em Alexandria, duas mãos cheias de rainhas iam moldando as estruturas de poder e criando precedentes em relação ao que lhes era permitido e possível.
Frequentemente casadas com irmãos, talvez como forma de os greco-macedónios recém-chegados ao Egito serem aceites pela população egípcia, que, segundo criam, cultivava o hábito do incesto (não seria tanto assim), as Cleópatras rapidamente perceberam o poder que detinham as relações de consanguinidade, acabando por arquitetar diferentes formas de o conservar. Se isso implicava matar um irmão para casar com outro, ou aceitar uma espécie de ménage retorcida - casando com o padrasto e governando a meias com ele e a mãe (como aconteceu com Cleópatra III) -, eram sacrifícios que estavam dispostas a correr pela manutenção do poder dinástico.
Numa cultura onde não existia a ideia de consentimento e as mulheres nunca eram consideradas vítimas de violação, sendo a vítima do crime o pai ou o marido, as Cleópatras jogavam com as peças que tinham e "aceitavam" (não fazemos ideia até que ponto, ou não) os complôs que as uniam a familiares diretos, de forma muitas vezes estratégica, para garantir que conservavam o poderio de um reino de vastas riquezas.
Aproveitando cada oportunidade, foram criando uma imagética de poder associada ao intrinsecamente feminino (chegando a representar o parto como uma afirmação da sua divindade) e uma forma de governar que foi reconquistando território masculino através das ligações patrimoniais, da afirmação da fertilidade e da descendência matrilinear, culminando num estatuto igualitário perante os faraós e originando uma reação que ecoaria através de séculos. Sempre que mulheres e poder surgem lado a lado, a resposta não se faz esperar.
Se Cleópatra III [ou qualquer outra Cleópatra] fosse julgada como um homem, então a sua ânsia de governar, a educação duvidosa que deu aos filhos, o belicismo, a brutalidade e as numerosas jogadas de poder que empreendeu em vida não pareceriam descabidas. Mas Cleópatra III não era um homem e, por isso, foi inscrita na história como uma mulher extremamente transgressora, criticada por ter negado o poder legítimo aos seus filhos e ridicularizada por ser demasiado ambiciosa e exagerada no abuso de um poder que, devido ao seu sexo, nunca deveria ter sido seu.
E isto traz-nos ao princípio de tudo. A tarefa de listar todas as rainhas ptolomaicas, é uma tarefa inglória. Inglória de duas formas: pela dificuldade inerente ao distanciamento, mas, sobretudo, pela dificuldade que acompanha o discurso histórico instituído.
Como se elabora uma narrativa histórica feminina no século XXI? Falo por mim quando digo que me interessa muito mais chegar ao cerne da vida (quotidiana) das mulheres do que ficar pelas intrigas e feitos políticos a que a historiografia masculina obedece. Mas não parece, para já, ser possível derrubar por inteiro essa barreira. E isso fica evidente ao longo da leitura deste livro (e de outros semelhantes). Para já, a inversão da historiografia masculina tem de obedecer a pequenas alterações de foco antes de entrar no pormenor. É inevitável reconhecer que as Cleópatras devem ter sentido alegria, medo, incerteza, excitação, ódio, vergonha, mágoa e uma série de outros sentimentos que as tornaram seres humanos, mas esse escrutínio ainda nos escapa em grande medida. Os registos não contemplam a maioria das expressões femininas e os discursos oficiais (mesmo aqueles que as Cleópatras moldaram) estão mais interessados em subverter a interpretação da estrutura de poder masculino - através da sua apropriação - do que em perpetuar as vivências das mulheres. Assim, sobra relativamente pouco com que reconstruir estas personagens. Vítimas de cancelamento ao longo de séculos, é o seu maior pecado aquilo que, mesmo assim, explica a sua sobrevivência:
O pior crime das Cleópatras? Serem mulheres. E, pior ainda, serem mulheres com poder genuíno para exercer.
Inglória que seja, a tarefa de Llewellyn-Jones fica cumprida. Neste livro reune-se pela primeira vez uma historiografia das 7 Cleópatras do Egipto. Depurar tudo isto, será uma questão de poucos anos.
* Infelizmente, não encontrei qualquer referência à edição ou tradução deste ou outros poemas citados em texto. Assumo que se trate de uma citação a partir de uma edição inglesa ou de uma tradução por parte do autor (menos provável), traduzida posteriormente para português nesta edição.
Dinastia, de Kaváfis*
Llewellyn-Jones escolhe encerrar as últimas páginas de As Cleópatras com um poema de Kaváfis que traz à luz do dia os epítetos tudo menos grandiosos com que os alexandrinos brindavam os seus reis e rainhas. Eu decidi começar esta resenha precisamente por aí para não só desenganar a nossa vontade de ver apenas grandiosidade na história da Antiguidade, mas também dar desde já a perceber a dificuldade que é (pelo menos para mim - e, ao que parece, também para os alexandrinos) decorar que Cleópatra, das 7 Cleópatras, é a Cleópatra em questão. E que Ptolomeu, dos quinze Ptolomeus, é o Ptolomeu em questão.
Pois As Cleópatras é o livro que se presta precisamente a essa tarefa inglória de listar e tentar diferenciar, a toda esta distância, cada uma das sete rainhas que governaram o Egipto durante a dinastia ptolomaica, entre cerca de 205 a.C e 30 a.C. São assim qualquer coisa como 170 anos - ou, se quisermos ser mais exatos, 270 anos (para não descurarmos as cinco rainhas não Cleópatras que antecederam todas estas) - sobre os quais nos debruçarmos.
Tudo para chegar ao cerne da questão: procurar explicar o que viabilizou o reinado femíneo de Cleópatra VII (que não só se livra de dois irmãos para governar em nome individual, como se associa a dois poderosos romanos como estratégia de manutenção do reino).
Partindo da sociedade tradicional, em que se incluem as culturas do mundo ptolomaico - que se estende do Egipto ao que é hoje a Palestina -, nas quais o ideal de masculinidade era sustentado por uma noção de «honra» e estava fundamentalmente ligado ao policiamento do comportamento e da sexualidade femininos, uma vez que a honra era geralmente vista como residindo nos corpos das mulheres, como se chega à emancipação de Cleópatra VII? Para Llewellyn-Jones o argumento é só um: a sobrevivência de um modelo feminino e matriarcal face ao domínio patriarcal da Antiguidade.
A busca dinâmica de Cleópatra VII pela autoridade numa cultura dominada pelos homens não era exclusivamente sua, tendo sido antecedida durante um século e meio por uma linhagem de Cleópatras ancestrais, a mãe, as avós e as bisavós de Cleópatra VII. Estas tinham conseguido manter e conservar o poder real no trono, o que possibilitou a Cleópatra VII assumir o leme da governação e administrar o Egito com a sua própria autoridade, sem necessidade de um superior masculino.
Assim, e enquanto nos restantes territórios as mulheres eram relegadas para plano de fundo da vida quotidiana, do contexto social e do aparato político, em Alexandria, duas mãos cheias de rainhas iam moldando as estruturas de poder e criando precedentes em relação ao que lhes era permitido e possível.
Frequentemente casadas com irmãos, talvez como forma de os greco-macedónios recém-chegados ao Egito serem aceites pela população egípcia, que, segundo criam, cultivava o hábito do incesto (não seria tanto assim), as Cleópatras rapidamente perceberam o poder que detinham as relações de consanguinidade, acabando por arquitetar diferentes formas de o conservar. Se isso implicava matar um irmão para casar com outro, ou aceitar uma espécie de ménage retorcida - casando com o padrasto e governando a meias com ele e a mãe (como aconteceu com Cleópatra III) -, eram sacrifícios que estavam dispostas a correr pela manutenção do poder dinástico.
Numa cultura onde não existia a ideia de consentimento e as mulheres nunca eram consideradas vítimas de violação, sendo a vítima do crime o pai ou o marido, as Cleópatras jogavam com as peças que tinham e "aceitavam" (não fazemos ideia até que ponto, ou não) os complôs que as uniam a familiares diretos, de forma muitas vezes estratégica, para garantir que conservavam o poderio de um reino de vastas riquezas.
Aproveitando cada oportunidade, foram criando uma imagética de poder associada ao intrinsecamente feminino (chegando a representar o parto como uma afirmação da sua divindade) e uma forma de governar que foi reconquistando território masculino através das ligações patrimoniais, da afirmação da fertilidade e da descendência matrilinear, culminando num estatuto igualitário perante os faraós e originando uma reação que ecoaria através de séculos. Sempre que mulheres e poder surgem lado a lado, a resposta não se faz esperar.
Se Cleópatra III [ou qualquer outra Cleópatra] fosse julgada como um homem, então a sua ânsia de governar, a educação duvidosa que deu aos filhos, o belicismo, a brutalidade e as numerosas jogadas de poder que empreendeu em vida não pareceriam descabidas. Mas Cleópatra III não era um homem e, por isso, foi inscrita na história como uma mulher extremamente transgressora, criticada por ter negado o poder legítimo aos seus filhos e ridicularizada por ser demasiado ambiciosa e exagerada no abuso de um poder que, devido ao seu sexo, nunca deveria ter sido seu.
E isto traz-nos ao princípio de tudo. A tarefa de listar todas as rainhas ptolomaicas, é uma tarefa inglória. Inglória de duas formas: pela dificuldade inerente ao distanciamento, mas, sobretudo, pela dificuldade que acompanha o discurso histórico instituído.
Como se elabora uma narrativa histórica feminina no século XXI? Falo por mim quando digo que me interessa muito mais chegar ao cerne da vida (quotidiana) das mulheres do que ficar pelas intrigas e feitos políticos a que a historiografia masculina obedece. Mas não parece, para já, ser possível derrubar por inteiro essa barreira. E isso fica evidente ao longo da leitura deste livro (e de outros semelhantes). Para já, a inversão da historiografia masculina tem de obedecer a pequenas alterações de foco antes de entrar no pormenor. É inevitável reconhecer que as Cleópatras devem ter sentido alegria, medo, incerteza, excitação, ódio, vergonha, mágoa e uma série de outros sentimentos que as tornaram seres humanos, mas esse escrutínio ainda nos escapa em grande medida. Os registos não contemplam a maioria das expressões femininas e os discursos oficiais (mesmo aqueles que as Cleópatras moldaram) estão mais interessados em subverter a interpretação da estrutura de poder masculino - através da sua apropriação - do que em perpetuar as vivências das mulheres. Assim, sobra relativamente pouco com que reconstruir estas personagens. Vítimas de cancelamento ao longo de séculos, é o seu maior pecado aquilo que, mesmo assim, explica a sua sobrevivência:
O pior crime das Cleópatras? Serem mulheres. E, pior ainda, serem mulheres com poder genuíno para exercer.
Inglória que seja, a tarefa de Llewellyn-Jones fica cumprida. Neste livro reune-se pela primeira vez uma historiografia das 7 Cleópatras do Egipto. Depurar tudo isto, será uma questão de poucos anos.
* Infelizmente, não encontrei qualquer referência à edição ou tradução deste ou outros poemas citados em texto. Assumo que se trate de uma citação a partir de uma edição inglesa ou de uma tradução por parte do autor (menos provável), traduzida posteriormente para português nesta edição.
August 3, 2025
“Together the Cleopatras created for themselves, a space in which to exercise supreme power, and by masquerading is compliant wives, daughters and sisters, they dominated the political world of men, for they easily outstripped the Ptolemaic kings in vigour, finesse, ambition, rigour, vision, and ability.”
All of the kings are named Ptolemy (except for the one called Potbelly) and all of the queens (and some non queens) are named Cleopatra. That is a lot to keep track of. Just following the marriages to brothers and uncles took some effort. Cleopatras 2, 3 and 7 were the most interesting to me. However, the book also has a lot of Egyptian history, that was not directly Cleopatra-related. Political machinations and murders abounded. I knew about none of this. There is an extensive list of suggested reading at the end of the book, in case any of the queens was particularly interesting to you. The book is rather dry, but it did hold my interest. The author did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
All of the kings are named Ptolemy (except for the one called Potbelly) and all of the queens (and some non queens) are named Cleopatra. That is a lot to keep track of. Just following the marriages to brothers and uncles took some effort. Cleopatras 2, 3 and 7 were the most interesting to me. However, the book also has a lot of Egyptian history, that was not directly Cleopatra-related. Political machinations and murders abounded. I knew about none of this. There is an extensive list of suggested reading at the end of the book, in case any of the queens was particularly interesting to you. The book is rather dry, but it did hold my interest. The author did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
January 5, 2024
The Cleopatras: The Forgotten Queens of Egypt was one of my most highest anticipated books of the year but for me, personally, it wasn't the best book I've ever read about ancient Egypt. However, I would still recommend it to people who want to learn more about the extraordinary Ptolemy dynasty and the amazing Cleopatras that stood out among the men.
I don't think I'm mistaken if I say that most people only know of one Cleopatra in particular, which is Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator. She was the (obvioiusly) 7th Cleopatra and the last queen of Egypt. I knew a bunch of other Cleopatras came before her but I never really delved into their stories before nor do I think there are any books that are just about these seven women in one book (although I could always be mistaken). But that's why I'm glad that Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has written this book because all of the Cleopatras deserve the attention.
Three star rated books are always the hardest for me to review so with this one it isn't an exception. It's always a kind of struggle for me. I liked this book but I didn't end up loving it as much as I would've wanted. It was fascinating for sure. I just felt like it didn't start out very strong but as the book went on and I read chapter after chapter I must say that it did gain strength.
The Cleopatras is divided into three parts. Part one is called Beginning, part two is called Expanding Horizons and part three is called Terminal Decline. The third part, which contained the last five chapters + epilogue, was my favorite part. I thought those chapters were the most interesting and the ones that read quicker for me. Maybe because I finally got used to the mention of so many Cleopatras and Ptolemy's. I knew this going in, of course, that in ancient Egyptian dynasties there were many queens and kings with the same name but even with this in the back of my head I still somewhat struggled with keeping everyone straight. By the time I reached part three I think I finally got a handle on them.
This was my first book by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones and although I didn't end up fully devouring and loving the book, I still want to read some of his other books because I could definitely feel the enthusiasm he has for the ancient world. This was something that I could clearly tell from his writing. I would love to read his book on the Persians. I think it sounds highly fascinating!
I don't think I'm mistaken if I say that most people only know of one Cleopatra in particular, which is Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator. She was the (obvioiusly) 7th Cleopatra and the last queen of Egypt. I knew a bunch of other Cleopatras came before her but I never really delved into their stories before nor do I think there are any books that are just about these seven women in one book (although I could always be mistaken). But that's why I'm glad that Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has written this book because all of the Cleopatras deserve the attention.
Three star rated books are always the hardest for me to review so with this one it isn't an exception. It's always a kind of struggle for me. I liked this book but I didn't end up loving it as much as I would've wanted. It was fascinating for sure. I just felt like it didn't start out very strong but as the book went on and I read chapter after chapter I must say that it did gain strength.
The Cleopatras is divided into three parts. Part one is called Beginning, part two is called Expanding Horizons and part three is called Terminal Decline. The third part, which contained the last five chapters + epilogue, was my favorite part. I thought those chapters were the most interesting and the ones that read quicker for me. Maybe because I finally got used to the mention of so many Cleopatras and Ptolemy's. I knew this going in, of course, that in ancient Egyptian dynasties there were many queens and kings with the same name but even with this in the back of my head I still somewhat struggled with keeping everyone straight. By the time I reached part three I think I finally got a handle on them.
This was my first book by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones and although I didn't end up fully devouring and loving the book, I still want to read some of his other books because I could definitely feel the enthusiasm he has for the ancient world. This was something that I could clearly tell from his writing. I would love to read his book on the Persians. I think it sounds highly fascinating!
January 2, 2025
Super well researched and very entertaining! Perfect for those who want to learn about the Cleopatran period of Ancient Egypt with no filter in terms of gossip and drama.
4 and not 5 stars only because the book is full of too much unnecessary information for the average person who's not studying the Ancient world as a subject.
4 and not 5 stars only because the book is full of too much unnecessary information for the average person who's not studying the Ancient world as a subject.
August 20, 2024
I’ve debated a bit about how to approach reviewing this book, because I’m in two minds about it. On the one hand, I was captivated from page one. Completely absorbed, I flew through this book and I learned a lot from it.
On the other hand, it might be a bit too introductory if you’re well-versed in this specific period of history.
That being said, I have a few nonfiction reading niches and none of the include Ancient Egypt, so this book was entirely new information to me, and it opened up an area of history that I’m currently excited to learn more about.
That’s the mark of a successful nonfiction book, in my estimation: does it make people want to learn more?
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has an almost conversational way with his prose. I felt like I was sitting in a college class with my favorite professor. He has the ability to break down complex topics in a way that is easy to understand and relatable to the average reader.
I should clarify: I did not feel lectured to, but rather like I was sitting front-row for an epic story.
I learned a lot from this book, not only about the Cleopatras but also about the world they lived in. Llewellyn-Jones puts the events that transpire and the women involved in them in context with the world they inhabit. This was particularly interesting in a few points, where some of the Cleopatras were portrayed historically as being particularly brutal or determined to attain power (arguably, they were), and the author took time to address how the very fact that she was a woman impacted how her actions were portrayed by those who recorded the history.
To be clear, some of the Cleopatras truly were brutal and strived for power and glory, but the author worked hard to humanize even their most outrageous actions and put them in context in the time in which they lived, which was a magisterial feat, considering some of the events covered in this book.
It’s difficult to keep the family lines in order, and I was grateful that there were family trees in each section of the book. That, along with the author’s careful writing, kept everyone clear in my head as I read. I learned as well that the Cleopatras were not numbered in their lifetime. The numbers came later, as a way to make it easier to keep them apart (there were seven in total, and I greatly appreciated having them numbered as I read).
Some of the Cleopatras get more attention than others, but some lived longer than others and some had their lives recorded a bit better as a result. The few who came before Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra) had scarce information on them, but that was also when the dynasty was starting to crumble and there was just generally less information about them and their lives. I also was interested in the reasoning behind all the familial marriage, and he goes into a bit of the logic behind that (which was fascinating), but it’s not the focus of the story here aside from making the family lines difficult to track.
On a personal level, I found the later Cleopatras to be less interesting than the first three. The earlier women lived when the empire was building and growing and the Cleopatras retained the most power and impact on the political landscape around them (There were also some wild things that happened in their lives.). I found the later ones to be less compelling for a few reasons: there was less information about a few of them, and I’ve already read enough about Cleopatra VII to not really glean more new information about her here (which is going to harken back to my first point about the book: your interest level will wax or wane depending on how much you already know when you start reading). I think what I’m saying is that I realized that I know nearly nothing about this part of the world during the earlier time period, and I realized I wanted to learn more.
Which, as I said earlier in this review, is the mark of a successful nonfiction book: it makes the reader want to learn more.
None of this takes away from the fact that these women lived at the heart of an empire that was rising and falling during a fascinating period of human history. They (sometimes) grabbed power and (sometimes) retained it. They made distinct impacts on the world they inhabited. Some of them are still talked about reverently today. One of them might be one of the most famous female figures in history.
This is history in its most epic form, a true example of reality being stranger than fiction.
The Cleopatras was a fascinating book. While it very much is an overview about the lives of these seven historical figures, it is packed full of interesting information and written in a highly accessible way. If you’re already well-versed in this period of history, you might discover you already know a lot of what’s written here. However, if you’re like me and you know very little about any of this, give the book a try.
I am glad I did.
Read my review: https://www.bookwormblues.net/2024/08...
On the other hand, it might be a bit too introductory if you’re well-versed in this specific period of history.
That being said, I have a few nonfiction reading niches and none of the include Ancient Egypt, so this book was entirely new information to me, and it opened up an area of history that I’m currently excited to learn more about.
That’s the mark of a successful nonfiction book, in my estimation: does it make people want to learn more?
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has an almost conversational way with his prose. I felt like I was sitting in a college class with my favorite professor. He has the ability to break down complex topics in a way that is easy to understand and relatable to the average reader.
I should clarify: I did not feel lectured to, but rather like I was sitting front-row for an epic story.
I learned a lot from this book, not only about the Cleopatras but also about the world they lived in. Llewellyn-Jones puts the events that transpire and the women involved in them in context with the world they inhabit. This was particularly interesting in a few points, where some of the Cleopatras were portrayed historically as being particularly brutal or determined to attain power (arguably, they were), and the author took time to address how the very fact that she was a woman impacted how her actions were portrayed by those who recorded the history.
To be clear, some of the Cleopatras truly were brutal and strived for power and glory, but the author worked hard to humanize even their most outrageous actions and put them in context in the time in which they lived, which was a magisterial feat, considering some of the events covered in this book.
It’s difficult to keep the family lines in order, and I was grateful that there were family trees in each section of the book. That, along with the author’s careful writing, kept everyone clear in my head as I read. I learned as well that the Cleopatras were not numbered in their lifetime. The numbers came later, as a way to make it easier to keep them apart (there were seven in total, and I greatly appreciated having them numbered as I read).
Some of the Cleopatras get more attention than others, but some lived longer than others and some had their lives recorded a bit better as a result. The few who came before Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra) had scarce information on them, but that was also when the dynasty was starting to crumble and there was just generally less information about them and their lives. I also was interested in the reasoning behind all the familial marriage, and he goes into a bit of the logic behind that (which was fascinating), but it’s not the focus of the story here aside from making the family lines difficult to track.
On a personal level, I found the later Cleopatras to be less interesting than the first three. The earlier women lived when the empire was building and growing and the Cleopatras retained the most power and impact on the political landscape around them (There were also some wild things that happened in their lives.). I found the later ones to be less compelling for a few reasons: there was less information about a few of them, and I’ve already read enough about Cleopatra VII to not really glean more new information about her here (which is going to harken back to my first point about the book: your interest level will wax or wane depending on how much you already know when you start reading). I think what I’m saying is that I realized that I know nearly nothing about this part of the world during the earlier time period, and I realized I wanted to learn more.
Which, as I said earlier in this review, is the mark of a successful nonfiction book: it makes the reader want to learn more.
None of this takes away from the fact that these women lived at the heart of an empire that was rising and falling during a fascinating period of human history. They (sometimes) grabbed power and (sometimes) retained it. They made distinct impacts on the world they inhabited. Some of them are still talked about reverently today. One of them might be one of the most famous female figures in history.
This is history in its most epic form, a true example of reality being stranger than fiction.
The Cleopatras was a fascinating book. While it very much is an overview about the lives of these seven historical figures, it is packed full of interesting information and written in a highly accessible way. If you’re already well-versed in this period of history, you might discover you already know a lot of what’s written here. However, if you’re like me and you know very little about any of this, give the book a try.
I am glad I did.
Read my review: https://www.bookwormblues.net/2024/08...
September 3, 2024
Loved this book so much!
September 25, 2024
”The final century and a half of three millenia of male rulership in Egypt was a golden age for royal women, a period when queens finally came into their own. This is the story of Cleopatra VII and the other great Cleopatras, the forgotten queens of Egypt.”
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones' The Cleopatras details the explosive era between 192 and 30 BCE, which was, in Ptolemaic Egypt, a time when powerful queens emerged from the shadows of their husbands, took power for themselves, reshaped the role of a queen and a co-ruler of the Pharaoh and changed the world. At the heart of the book are the seven numbered Cleopatras – the last one being the famous Cleopatra, Cleopatra VII – but in totality, Llewellyn-Jones introduces us to ten incredible women who all bore the name Cleopatra.
I am so, so happy that this book exists. To have a book solely dedicated to shining a light on this incredibly powerful, complex and intriguing line of queens and to showcasing that Cleopatra VII, who is often portrayed as a singular woman and something of a lone wolf in Ptolemaic Egypt, was, on the contrary, the last in a long line of women who all wielded power in their own ways, is so important. The other Cleopatras have been largely written out of history or, if they are mentioned, they are relegated to minor political players or straight-up maligned. I knew there must have been at least six other Cleopatras, cause I knew the famous one was the seventh, but I had never before encountered their stories or been told of their great deeds. Llewellyn-Jones' book is an easy-to-read popularized history book about a complex subject (the family tree alone is a headache to understand, for pretty much every dude is named Ptolemy and every woman either Cleopatra or Berenice, and to top it all of they were all related) and he makes this time period vivid and lifelike, really giving these women their time on the center-stage. I am very thankful to him for writing this book.
First, I wanna talk a little more about how this book recontextualizes Cleopatra VII. No longer is she a unique woman who did something no other woman had done, a lone superb female figure in the otherwise male-dominated Ptolemaic dynasty. Yes, she did amazing and impressive things and was an incredibly astute politician, but she was not singular. It is, I think, a disservice to her and the women who came before her to think of her or depict her as such. She is the culmination of decades of women's work and accomplishments, and she knew that. From the way she depicted herself and named herself, we can see that she knew of other Cleopatras of her family (for example, she positioned herself as the living Isis, just like Cleopatra III did). I really enjoyed this quote from the book: ”If Cleopatra VII smashed through the glass ceiling that positions women as interlopers who cannot fit into a structure that is made by men, then the hammer blows that made the glass splinter and crack were delivered by her ancestresses, the Cleopatras.” Through this line of women, Llewellyn-Jones is able to explore the myriad of ways in which women are able to wield and grasp power and how varied the role of a queen can be: ”By acknowledging this kind of matriarchal legacy, we can begin to explore how princesses learned to be queens and how cultural and personal experiences informed decisions that affected both their family and the realm.” This book is a personal study of these ten Cleopatras, but it is also a wider look at the time period and, most importantly, the concept of female rule and the assumptions, fears, worries, prejudices and misogyny women occupying the seat of power roused in people of the time period.
The Cleopatras all had their own way of ruling, although they all shared certain similarities, such as a hunger for power, a politically savvy mind and a certain kind of ruthlessness, which some embraced most whole-heartedly. The Cleopatras made the role of a Ptolemaic queen something more than it used to be – and in doing so broke most of the norms that governed women's lives at the time which led to them being, at their time but especially after their deaths, to be maligned by historians all over the world – and clawed their way into power through their husbands, children, parents or by themselves by seizing they opportunities they were given. This quote stuck with me: "Some of the Cleopatras shared the same royal husband usually a brother or an uncle, or even a father and became king-makers. Some of the Cleopatras plotted the overthrow of husbands, brothers or sons and were therefore king-breakers too. Some of the Cleopatras bullied their way to power. Some slept their way to the top. Some of the Cleopatras led armies into war and other Cleopatras commanded fleets of ships. Some of the Cleopatras murdered other Cleopatras. All the Cleopatras craved power. And all the Cleopatras, often against all odds, eventually wielded power.”
All the Cleopatras had striking stories but I think, in terms of ruling (I mean, Cleopatra V Berenice III being the first woman in the dynasty to be crowned the sole female ruler of Egypt was pretty cool, for example), the ones that left the biggest impression on me were A) Cleopatra Syra – the first of the Cleopatras, a Seleucid princess given to a Ptolemy to make peace between their families, who became a beloved Queen, a Ptolemy through osmosis and a masterclass in how to assimilate into a foreign court through clever use of religious imagery, cultivating relationships, having multiple children and presenting yourself as a queen devoted solely to her husband and her new country – B) Cleopatra III – an absolutely ruthless woman who could give Cersei Lannister a run for her money, who declared herself as the living Isis and gave herself monikers, titles and positions she had either came up with herself or that had, before, been only ever given to men, and who has gone down in history as more an animal than a woman, a monstrous queen when in reality she was a woman who was, yes, brutal but also just damn good at ruling and keeping her country secure (something men have a trouble swallowing - it is much easier to just demonise a woman than to accept their prowess at a "male job") – and C) Cleopatra VII, the most famous of them all, a woman who has been grossly misunderstood and misinterpreted, cast as the exotic seductress or lovestruck oriental queen, who was, in reality, dead-smart, ruthless when she needed to be, brilliantly manipulative and utterly devoted to the safety and rule of her son, Caesarion.
Llewellyn-Jones does a wonderful job at explaining the time and world the Cleopatras lived in. He spends a lot of time describing the duality of Ptolemaic Egypt – it is a land that is, at the same time, both very Greek and Egyptian, a land that is, in Ptolemaic propaganda, depicted as a happily united kingdom when in reality the Egyptian natives faced a lot of racism and were made into second-class citizens in a political structure that was built to benefit Greeks and used Greek as its official language, casting anyone who didn't speak it into a more vulnerable position. The Greeks were given tax benefits and land, and while Egyptians were largely allowed to live their lives as they used to and worship the gods they did, they did face discrimination in many aspects of life. Ethnic conflict sometimes escalated into rebellions (there was one in the time of Cleopatra Syra, for example) and they were often quelled, after military action, with building projects, grand shows of opulence, amnesties for criminals and support for local temples. Perhaps the most intriguing little nod to how separated the Greek and Egyptian cultures of Ptolemaic Egypt sometimes were was how Greeks called the city of Alexandria "Alexandria that is next to Egypt" not "Alexandria in Egypt". Although the Greeks respected Egyptian culture and art, they did not want to be part of their people, for they were still not, in Greek eyes, as "good" as them. Assimilation was attempted, especially on the religious side: new gods were created to appeal to both cultures and sometimes the worship of many deities assimilated into one organically. It is a fascinating time period in Egypt. Llewellyn-Jones also depicts really well how connected Ptolemaic Egypt was to other empires of its time. The fate of the Seleucid empire is intricately tied to that of the Ptolemaic empire (the Seleucid empire was the stage for the actions of Cleopatras Thea, Tryphaina, IV and Selene), and all throughout the book the presence of Rome lurks in the background until it becomes a a significant power and ends up bringing forth the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Before I go into some of the most chaotic and memorable events of the lives of the Cleopatras (and by chaotic I mean batshit insane, stuff that puts most epic fantasy novels with their court dramas to shame, I mean, the Targaryens have nothing on the Ptolemys), I want to talk about royal incest, a staple of the Ptolemaic dynasty. It might seem baffling to us that they were so hellbent on marrying their siblings and close relatives, but when you put yourself in their shoes and try and understand their worldview, it becomes, if not acceptable in our eyes, then understandable. By marrying brother to sister, the Ptolemys were able to keep power within the family, avoid marriages to those of "lower status", protect the purity of the bloodline and, most importantly, position themselves as people above mere mortals. Incest was common among Greek and Egyptian gods, and by adopting these practices which were, to regular humans, a taboo, the Ptolemys declared themselves godly. It was a way to bolster their own image. Cleopatra Syra, a Seleucid princess turned Ptolemaic queen was eventually even given the moniker of "sister" by her husband to showcase their unity and her role as his co-ruler. She was not a sister by birth but they made her into one, to retain the godly image of brother-sister ruling couple. Fascinating stuff.
Now, on to the wildness. Over and over again while reading the book, I thought: "How can this be real?!" But as is often the case, history is wilder than fiction. I mean, just look at the absolute mess of a triangle that was Potbelly, Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VII - a trio of siblings who were forced to rule together but ended up, time and time again, betraying each other – or the way Potbelly made Cleopatra II's daughter, Cleopatra III, his second wife while still being married to II, causing mother and daughter to become life-long bitter enemies. Potbelly and Cleopatra III were exiled, then they sent Cleopatra II the mutilated remains of her son, then Cleopatra II was exiled and she ended up dabbling in the volatile political situation of the Seleucid kingdom until making her way back to Alexandria to rule once again by the side of her brother and daughter. I mean, what even?! This family was constantly tearing each other apart: there's murders, betrayal, marriage drama, mothers murdering their sons (looking at you, Cleopatra Thea) and sons murdering their mothers (looking at you, Grypus), siblings having each other killed (Cleopatra VII style), a mom, Cleopatra III, who nicknamed her son Chickpea cause she hates him (and how, despite her mom trying her best to get rid of him, he ends up ruling for quite a few years at different times), and so much more. On the Seleucid side of things, we have Cleopatra Thea who married three different guys based on who was on top, politically, at the moment, sisters - Cleopatra VI Tryphaina and Cleopatra IV - on opposite sides of a bloody civil war, and Cleopatra Selene who swoops in, marries both their widows and ends up giving birth to the last independent Seleucid ruler. All of this would make a brilliant HBO show. I am begging the universe that one day I will be able to watch a multi-season high budget historical epic about the shenanigans of the Ptolemaic court.
One small thing before I go into my last big topic, I wanna just say how ridiculous it is that Cleopatra VII's parentage continues to be such a hotly debated topic when it is clear from Egyptian sources that her mom was, in fact, Cleopatra VI. This is once again a reminder about why historians should not stick to one or two sources: if you look at Greco-Roman texts, her mother is unmentioned but if you open your eyes and explore the Egyptian sources - you know, the sources of the country she ruled – her mother is identified pretty much without question.
Finally, I wanna talk about how historians have failed the Cleopatras. They have been viewed, for thousands of years, through a lense that is an unfortunate mix of xenophobia and misogyny. They have been depicted as animalistic, monstrous, hypersexualized, heartless bitches and every other crude thing in the handbook of misogynists. But as Llewellyn-Jones puts it: ”And yet every gender stereotype slung at them says more about the history of scholarship than about the women themselves. The mixed emotions of male commentators through time reveal perhaps more than anything else the deeply contested nature of female rulership.” This phenomenon of making monsters out of powerful women is not exclusive to the Ptolemys but a thing that has happened time and time again in historiography. Luckily, it is a phenomenon modern historians are starting to unpack and question. The Cleopatras and every wrongly maligned historical woman deserves it.
I would recommend The Cleopatras to anyone looking to learn more about the Ptolemaic dynasty and its colourful women or to anyone interested in epic family sagas of history. I also think this book could appeal to fans of shows like The House of the Dragon - the Targaryens were, after all, clearly modelled after the Ptolemys.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones' The Cleopatras details the explosive era between 192 and 30 BCE, which was, in Ptolemaic Egypt, a time when powerful queens emerged from the shadows of their husbands, took power for themselves, reshaped the role of a queen and a co-ruler of the Pharaoh and changed the world. At the heart of the book are the seven numbered Cleopatras – the last one being the famous Cleopatra, Cleopatra VII – but in totality, Llewellyn-Jones introduces us to ten incredible women who all bore the name Cleopatra.
I am so, so happy that this book exists. To have a book solely dedicated to shining a light on this incredibly powerful, complex and intriguing line of queens and to showcasing that Cleopatra VII, who is often portrayed as a singular woman and something of a lone wolf in Ptolemaic Egypt, was, on the contrary, the last in a long line of women who all wielded power in their own ways, is so important. The other Cleopatras have been largely written out of history or, if they are mentioned, they are relegated to minor political players or straight-up maligned. I knew there must have been at least six other Cleopatras, cause I knew the famous one was the seventh, but I had never before encountered their stories or been told of their great deeds. Llewellyn-Jones' book is an easy-to-read popularized history book about a complex subject (the family tree alone is a headache to understand, for pretty much every dude is named Ptolemy and every woman either Cleopatra or Berenice, and to top it all of they were all related) and he makes this time period vivid and lifelike, really giving these women their time on the center-stage. I am very thankful to him for writing this book.
First, I wanna talk a little more about how this book recontextualizes Cleopatra VII. No longer is she a unique woman who did something no other woman had done, a lone superb female figure in the otherwise male-dominated Ptolemaic dynasty. Yes, she did amazing and impressive things and was an incredibly astute politician, but she was not singular. It is, I think, a disservice to her and the women who came before her to think of her or depict her as such. She is the culmination of decades of women's work and accomplishments, and she knew that. From the way she depicted herself and named herself, we can see that she knew of other Cleopatras of her family (for example, she positioned herself as the living Isis, just like Cleopatra III did). I really enjoyed this quote from the book: ”If Cleopatra VII smashed through the glass ceiling that positions women as interlopers who cannot fit into a structure that is made by men, then the hammer blows that made the glass splinter and crack were delivered by her ancestresses, the Cleopatras.” Through this line of women, Llewellyn-Jones is able to explore the myriad of ways in which women are able to wield and grasp power and how varied the role of a queen can be: ”By acknowledging this kind of matriarchal legacy, we can begin to explore how princesses learned to be queens and how cultural and personal experiences informed decisions that affected both their family and the realm.” This book is a personal study of these ten Cleopatras, but it is also a wider look at the time period and, most importantly, the concept of female rule and the assumptions, fears, worries, prejudices and misogyny women occupying the seat of power roused in people of the time period.
The Cleopatras all had their own way of ruling, although they all shared certain similarities, such as a hunger for power, a politically savvy mind and a certain kind of ruthlessness, which some embraced most whole-heartedly. The Cleopatras made the role of a Ptolemaic queen something more than it used to be – and in doing so broke most of the norms that governed women's lives at the time which led to them being, at their time but especially after their deaths, to be maligned by historians all over the world – and clawed their way into power through their husbands, children, parents or by themselves by seizing they opportunities they were given. This quote stuck with me: "Some of the Cleopatras shared the same royal husband usually a brother or an uncle, or even a father and became king-makers. Some of the Cleopatras plotted the overthrow of husbands, brothers or sons and were therefore king-breakers too. Some of the Cleopatras bullied their way to power. Some slept their way to the top. Some of the Cleopatras led armies into war and other Cleopatras commanded fleets of ships. Some of the Cleopatras murdered other Cleopatras. All the Cleopatras craved power. And all the Cleopatras, often against all odds, eventually wielded power.”
All the Cleopatras had striking stories but I think, in terms of ruling (I mean, Cleopatra V Berenice III being the first woman in the dynasty to be crowned the sole female ruler of Egypt was pretty cool, for example), the ones that left the biggest impression on me were A) Cleopatra Syra – the first of the Cleopatras, a Seleucid princess given to a Ptolemy to make peace between their families, who became a beloved Queen, a Ptolemy through osmosis and a masterclass in how to assimilate into a foreign court through clever use of religious imagery, cultivating relationships, having multiple children and presenting yourself as a queen devoted solely to her husband and her new country – B) Cleopatra III – an absolutely ruthless woman who could give Cersei Lannister a run for her money, who declared herself as the living Isis and gave herself monikers, titles and positions she had either came up with herself or that had, before, been only ever given to men, and who has gone down in history as more an animal than a woman, a monstrous queen when in reality she was a woman who was, yes, brutal but also just damn good at ruling and keeping her country secure (something men have a trouble swallowing - it is much easier to just demonise a woman than to accept their prowess at a "male job") – and C) Cleopatra VII, the most famous of them all, a woman who has been grossly misunderstood and misinterpreted, cast as the exotic seductress or lovestruck oriental queen, who was, in reality, dead-smart, ruthless when she needed to be, brilliantly manipulative and utterly devoted to the safety and rule of her son, Caesarion.
Llewellyn-Jones does a wonderful job at explaining the time and world the Cleopatras lived in. He spends a lot of time describing the duality of Ptolemaic Egypt – it is a land that is, at the same time, both very Greek and Egyptian, a land that is, in Ptolemaic propaganda, depicted as a happily united kingdom when in reality the Egyptian natives faced a lot of racism and were made into second-class citizens in a political structure that was built to benefit Greeks and used Greek as its official language, casting anyone who didn't speak it into a more vulnerable position. The Greeks were given tax benefits and land, and while Egyptians were largely allowed to live their lives as they used to and worship the gods they did, they did face discrimination in many aspects of life. Ethnic conflict sometimes escalated into rebellions (there was one in the time of Cleopatra Syra, for example) and they were often quelled, after military action, with building projects, grand shows of opulence, amnesties for criminals and support for local temples. Perhaps the most intriguing little nod to how separated the Greek and Egyptian cultures of Ptolemaic Egypt sometimes were was how Greeks called the city of Alexandria "Alexandria that is next to Egypt" not "Alexandria in Egypt". Although the Greeks respected Egyptian culture and art, they did not want to be part of their people, for they were still not, in Greek eyes, as "good" as them. Assimilation was attempted, especially on the religious side: new gods were created to appeal to both cultures and sometimes the worship of many deities assimilated into one organically. It is a fascinating time period in Egypt. Llewellyn-Jones also depicts really well how connected Ptolemaic Egypt was to other empires of its time. The fate of the Seleucid empire is intricately tied to that of the Ptolemaic empire (the Seleucid empire was the stage for the actions of Cleopatras Thea, Tryphaina, IV and Selene), and all throughout the book the presence of Rome lurks in the background until it becomes a a significant power and ends up bringing forth the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Before I go into some of the most chaotic and memorable events of the lives of the Cleopatras (and by chaotic I mean batshit insane, stuff that puts most epic fantasy novels with their court dramas to shame, I mean, the Targaryens have nothing on the Ptolemys), I want to talk about royal incest, a staple of the Ptolemaic dynasty. It might seem baffling to us that they were so hellbent on marrying their siblings and close relatives, but when you put yourself in their shoes and try and understand their worldview, it becomes, if not acceptable in our eyes, then understandable. By marrying brother to sister, the Ptolemys were able to keep power within the family, avoid marriages to those of "lower status", protect the purity of the bloodline and, most importantly, position themselves as people above mere mortals. Incest was common among Greek and Egyptian gods, and by adopting these practices which were, to regular humans, a taboo, the Ptolemys declared themselves godly. It was a way to bolster their own image. Cleopatra Syra, a Seleucid princess turned Ptolemaic queen was eventually even given the moniker of "sister" by her husband to showcase their unity and her role as his co-ruler. She was not a sister by birth but they made her into one, to retain the godly image of brother-sister ruling couple. Fascinating stuff.
Now, on to the wildness. Over and over again while reading the book, I thought: "How can this be real?!" But as is often the case, history is wilder than fiction. I mean, just look at the absolute mess of a triangle that was Potbelly, Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VII - a trio of siblings who were forced to rule together but ended up, time and time again, betraying each other – or the way Potbelly made Cleopatra II's daughter, Cleopatra III, his second wife while still being married to II, causing mother and daughter to become life-long bitter enemies. Potbelly and Cleopatra III were exiled, then they sent Cleopatra II the mutilated remains of her son, then Cleopatra II was exiled and she ended up dabbling in the volatile political situation of the Seleucid kingdom until making her way back to Alexandria to rule once again by the side of her brother and daughter. I mean, what even?! This family was constantly tearing each other apart: there's murders, betrayal, marriage drama, mothers murdering their sons (looking at you, Cleopatra Thea) and sons murdering their mothers (looking at you, Grypus), siblings having each other killed (Cleopatra VII style), a mom, Cleopatra III, who nicknamed her son Chickpea cause she hates him (and how, despite her mom trying her best to get rid of him, he ends up ruling for quite a few years at different times), and so much more. On the Seleucid side of things, we have Cleopatra Thea who married three different guys based on who was on top, politically, at the moment, sisters - Cleopatra VI Tryphaina and Cleopatra IV - on opposite sides of a bloody civil war, and Cleopatra Selene who swoops in, marries both their widows and ends up giving birth to the last independent Seleucid ruler. All of this would make a brilliant HBO show. I am begging the universe that one day I will be able to watch a multi-season high budget historical epic about the shenanigans of the Ptolemaic court.
One small thing before I go into my last big topic, I wanna just say how ridiculous it is that Cleopatra VII's parentage continues to be such a hotly debated topic when it is clear from Egyptian sources that her mom was, in fact, Cleopatra VI. This is once again a reminder about why historians should not stick to one or two sources: if you look at Greco-Roman texts, her mother is unmentioned but if you open your eyes and explore the Egyptian sources - you know, the sources of the country she ruled – her mother is identified pretty much without question.
Finally, I wanna talk about how historians have failed the Cleopatras. They have been viewed, for thousands of years, through a lense that is an unfortunate mix of xenophobia and misogyny. They have been depicted as animalistic, monstrous, hypersexualized, heartless bitches and every other crude thing in the handbook of misogynists. But as Llewellyn-Jones puts it: ”And yet every gender stereotype slung at them says more about the history of scholarship than about the women themselves. The mixed emotions of male commentators through time reveal perhaps more than anything else the deeply contested nature of female rulership.” This phenomenon of making monsters out of powerful women is not exclusive to the Ptolemys but a thing that has happened time and time again in historiography. Luckily, it is a phenomenon modern historians are starting to unpack and question. The Cleopatras and every wrongly maligned historical woman deserves it.
I would recommend The Cleopatras to anyone looking to learn more about the Ptolemaic dynasty and its colourful women or to anyone interested in epic family sagas of history. I also think this book could appeal to fans of shows like The House of the Dragon - the Targaryens were, after all, clearly modelled after the Ptolemys.
November 19, 2024
I listened to the audio version, which was excellently narrated. This was a fascinating book if, at times, a little too sympathetic to its topic - in particular, the very jarring defence of Cleopatra III, which came after several chapters persuasively arguing that she and her dreadful husband, Ptolemy VIII, had in fact behaved with a brutality that was exceptional even by contemporary standards. It felt like a contradiction of everything that had been said about her before in the same book. Some of the figures who feature prominently, chiefly the magnificent Cleopatra I and her daughter Cleopatra II, are rescued from historical obscurity to show the extraordinary brilliance with which they ruled. The author's portrait of the complexities of colonial society in Ptolemaic Egypt is nuanced and deeply interesting.
November 4, 2025
Cleopatra was the most famous queen in Egyptian history. However, she was the seventh Cleopatra to have that name. This book tells the story of the seven of the Cleopatras in Ptolemaic Egypt. Even though they were the last queens of Egypt, they were the most powerful. They were able to rule as kings and even led armies into battle. Cleopatra VII emulated her powerful female ancestors and used their stories to form her own queenship.
I have read many biographies of Queen Cleopatra VII. So, I knew the gist about the previous Ptolemaic Cleopatras. This biography goes further in depth. It begins with Cleopatra I. She was a Seleucid princess who married into the Ptolemaic dynasty. She would rule as regent for son, Ptolemy VI. Cleopatra II was one of my favorite Cleopatras. She ruled alongside her two brothers and briefly ruled as queen regnant. I also like her daughter, Cleopatra III. She was originally an obedient royal consort. When her husband died and her sons became kings, Cleopatra III ruled like an Egyptian king. I felt sorry for Cleopatra V Berenice III because she was queen regnant for a year, but was murdered by her nephew. Cleopatra VI was the mother of Cleopatra VII, but there is very little information on her. She briefly co-reigned with her daughter, Berenice IV. There was just a basic outline of Cleopatra VII because there has already been a lot of material on her. However, this book did dispel many myths that surrounded the famous Cleopatra.
Overall, this was a very comprehensive biography of the Cleopatra Ptolemies. I thought that the book was very readable and fascinating. There were times that the author went on random tangents that did not relate to the Cleopatras. There were also some parts of the biography that I thought were drawn out. I also liked how the biography also discussed how some Ptolemaic princesses married into the Seleucid dynasty and discussed their queenship in the dynasty. The Cleopatras is an engrossing read, especially if you are a fan of Cleopatra! I recommend this for fans of Kara Cooney, Jane Draycott, and Joyce A. Tyldesley!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
I have read many biographies of Queen Cleopatra VII. So, I knew the gist about the previous Ptolemaic Cleopatras. This biography goes further in depth. It begins with Cleopatra I. She was a Seleucid princess who married into the Ptolemaic dynasty. She would rule as regent for son, Ptolemy VI. Cleopatra II was one of my favorite Cleopatras. She ruled alongside her two brothers and briefly ruled as queen regnant. I also like her daughter, Cleopatra III. She was originally an obedient royal consort. When her husband died and her sons became kings, Cleopatra III ruled like an Egyptian king. I felt sorry for Cleopatra V Berenice III because she was queen regnant for a year, but was murdered by her nephew. Cleopatra VI was the mother of Cleopatra VII, but there is very little information on her. She briefly co-reigned with her daughter, Berenice IV. There was just a basic outline of Cleopatra VII because there has already been a lot of material on her. However, this book did dispel many myths that surrounded the famous Cleopatra.
Overall, this was a very comprehensive biography of the Cleopatra Ptolemies. I thought that the book was very readable and fascinating. There were times that the author went on random tangents that did not relate to the Cleopatras. There were also some parts of the biography that I thought were drawn out. I also liked how the biography also discussed how some Ptolemaic princesses married into the Seleucid dynasty and discussed their queenship in the dynasty. The Cleopatras is an engrossing read, especially if you are a fan of Cleopatra! I recommend this for fans of Kara Cooney, Jane Draycott, and Joyce A. Tyldesley!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
November 12, 2024
Whoa, a nonfiction Game of Thrones, with some very effective female rulers.
I've read bits and pieces about the Ptolemys, but I never read a detailed history before this. It deals with the seven Cleopatras who were all smart and took to politics like a fish swims in water.
Cleopatra VII first seduced and controlled Julius Caesar, which eventually led to his assassination! Beware the Ides of March! She then repeated this with Marc Antony and held off the Romans for a while longer. If she'd been a little luckier, her family might of ruled for another 50 years.
Also the rulers nicknames were hysterical, Potbelly, Chickpea, the Cunt, etc. An enjoyable read.
I've read bits and pieces about the Ptolemys, but I never read a detailed history before this. It deals with the seven Cleopatras who were all smart and took to politics like a fish swims in water.
Cleopatra VII first seduced and controlled Julius Caesar, which eventually led to his assassination! Beware the Ides of March! She then repeated this with Marc Antony and held off the Romans for a while longer. If she'd been a little luckier, her family might of ruled for another 50 years.
Also the rulers nicknames were hysterical, Potbelly, Chickpea, the Cunt, etc. An enjoyable read.
March 22, 2024
I LOVED this book.
A lot.
I've always been a huge fan of Cleopatra VII (THE Cleopatra to most people), but always wanted to know more about her equally impressive and just as badass ancestors. This book does an excellent job of introducing you to the tangled web of the Ptolemies, who make the Habsburgs look like amateurs with the "keep it in your family" department!
It gives you a lot of information about the infamous dynasty, but doesn't make you feel bogged down like you're reading a dry history text.
Definitely going to purchase this one for my collection! Thanks to Netgalley for the Advance review copy!
A lot.
I've always been a huge fan of Cleopatra VII (THE Cleopatra to most people), but always wanted to know more about her equally impressive and just as badass ancestors. This book does an excellent job of introducing you to the tangled web of the Ptolemies, who make the Habsburgs look like amateurs with the "keep it in your family" department!
It gives you a lot of information about the infamous dynasty, but doesn't make you feel bogged down like you're reading a dry history text.
Definitely going to purchase this one for my collection! Thanks to Netgalley for the Advance review copy!
July 23, 2024
I confess, this is not one of my strongest areas of history so I've thoroughly enjoyed learning!
January 2, 2025
I checked this hardcover out of my library.
Brief Summary: Cleopatra, one of the most popular historical figures, was the seventh of her name. Llewellyn-Jones' work brings the previously eclipsed Cleopatras into the spotlight. The lives and relationships of each popular Cleopatra are explored using available primary and secondary sources.
Thoughts: This book was interesting. Llewellyn-Jones researched each of these women and condensed the information into a fun, well-written read. This is a must-read if you are a lover of Egyptian history. Cleopatra I was interesting to learn about because of her important role in helping to forge the foundation of the Ptolemaic dynasty. My favourite woman to read about in this book is Cleopatra III. The political intrigue that she survived and her impact on Egyptian politics was fascinating and I previously knew nothing about her.
A con of this book is even with Llewellyn-Jones' diligence and clear writing the relationships and lineage of the main players were still confusing. Luckily family trees are included in the book, but those had to be referenced frequently.
Llewellyn-Jones' writing was enjoyable and clear throughout the book. The political intrigue each woman faced was vivid on the page and it felt like reading a drama rather than a nonfiction work. Additionally, with the limited sources that have survived about each of the subjects the author was able to balance environmental history with the biographical aspects of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Brief Summary: Cleopatra, one of the most popular historical figures, was the seventh of her name. Llewellyn-Jones' work brings the previously eclipsed Cleopatras into the spotlight. The lives and relationships of each popular Cleopatra are explored using available primary and secondary sources.
Thoughts: This book was interesting. Llewellyn-Jones researched each of these women and condensed the information into a fun, well-written read. This is a must-read if you are a lover of Egyptian history. Cleopatra I was interesting to learn about because of her important role in helping to forge the foundation of the Ptolemaic dynasty. My favourite woman to read about in this book is Cleopatra III. The political intrigue that she survived and her impact on Egyptian politics was fascinating and I previously knew nothing about her.
A con of this book is even with Llewellyn-Jones' diligence and clear writing the relationships and lineage of the main players were still confusing. Luckily family trees are included in the book, but those had to be referenced frequently.
Llewellyn-Jones' writing was enjoyable and clear throughout the book. The political intrigue each woman faced was vivid on the page and it felt like reading a drama rather than a nonfiction work. Additionally, with the limited sources that have survived about each of the subjects the author was able to balance environmental history with the biographical aspects of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
July 4, 2024
"Cleopatra VII comes into her own when we understand that she was one of a long line of extraordinary ruling women - that she was one of the Cleopatras."
Have you been watching House of the Dragon recently? Well, I have a book recommendation for you that makes the world of Game of Thrones look tame.
Many of us, if not most, will be familiar with Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt and lover of both Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. The stories surrounding her are legendary, however less is known of the equally mythic women who ruled before her.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones masterfully weaves the tales of the seven ruling women known as Cleopatra throughout the bloody and complex history of the Ptolemaic dynasty. From the death of the beloved Alexander the Great and assumption of the first Ptolemy king to the death of Cleopatra VII and the annexation of Egypt into Rome, each woman is carefully scrutinised in a balanced narrative that evokes the seriousness of the subject while including much-welcomed accessibility for ease of understanding.
For a dynasty who were not strangers to "keeping it within the family" and playing the deadly game of kings and queens, this lively account of powerful women is sure to please history buffs everywhere.
Thank you to @headlinebooks who kindly sent me this beautiful copy to review.
Have you been watching House of the Dragon recently? Well, I have a book recommendation for you that makes the world of Game of Thrones look tame.
Many of us, if not most, will be familiar with Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt and lover of both Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. The stories surrounding her are legendary, however less is known of the equally mythic women who ruled before her.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones masterfully weaves the tales of the seven ruling women known as Cleopatra throughout the bloody and complex history of the Ptolemaic dynasty. From the death of the beloved Alexander the Great and assumption of the first Ptolemy king to the death of Cleopatra VII and the annexation of Egypt into Rome, each woman is carefully scrutinised in a balanced narrative that evokes the seriousness of the subject while including much-welcomed accessibility for ease of understanding.
For a dynasty who were not strangers to "keeping it within the family" and playing the deadly game of kings and queens, this lively account of powerful women is sure to please history buffs everywhere.
Thank you to @headlinebooks who kindly sent me this beautiful copy to review.
August 6, 2024
Llewelyn-Jones must be a masochist. Why else would you delve into the world of the Cleopatras and Ptolemies, a teeming, near incomprehensible mess of identically named, power-hungry potentates? Yet with a forensic eye for enlightening sources and a firm grasp on the significance of religious cults in the ancient world, the author extracts a digestible tale amongst the incest and fratricide.
Such ingredients will always make for a pleasingly gruesome potboiler, but Llewelyn-Jones’ raison d’être is to correct an oversight in our collective historic conscience; that the name Cleopatra conjures the image of just one pop-culture phenomenon, the 7th of her name. In spelling out the legacy of the Cleopatras that came before, the author gives each a mawkish epitaph extolling their legacy, breaking up the tone of an otherwise impressive history.
Such ingredients will always make for a pleasingly gruesome potboiler, but Llewelyn-Jones’ raison d’être is to correct an oversight in our collective historic conscience; that the name Cleopatra conjures the image of just one pop-culture phenomenon, the 7th of her name. In spelling out the legacy of the Cleopatras that came before, the author gives each a mawkish epitaph extolling their legacy, breaking up the tone of an otherwise impressive history.
October 31, 2024
I managed to keep all of the Cleopatras and Ptolemys separate, but had less luck with the Antiochuses. Either way, it was a fascinating read and I learned a lot about an era I previously knew almost nothing about.
October 27, 2025
No me parece erróneo afirmar que la mayoría de las personas solo está familiarizada con una Cleopatra en particular: Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, la séptima de su nombre y la última reina de Egipto. Aunque sabía de la existencia de otras Cleopatras antes que ella, nunca había explorado en detalle sus vidas, y dudo que haya un libro dedicado exclusivamente a estas siete figuras femeninas (aunque podría estar equivocada). Por eso, me complace que Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones haya publicado esta obra, ya que todas las Cleopatras merecen ser reconocidas.
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November 11, 2024
I ended up enjoying this - I did feel like it was a little hard at first because it was a lot of background historical information but then picked up once the first Cleopatra entered the narrative.
I did this as an audiobook which I'd recommend.
I did this as an audiobook which I'd recommend.
October 7, 2025
Shout-out to Cleopatra IV for killing her sister so she could rule for ONE year. Talk about a grindset.
Obviously Cleopatra VII is MY Queen. 😍😍
Good history, entertaining, and lots of primary sources.
Obviously Cleopatra VII is MY Queen. 😍😍
Good history, entertaining, and lots of primary sources.
January 18, 2024
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
Most people know Cleopatra, the famous queen who allegedly chose death by asp instead of facing defeat at the hands of the Romans, but not many may know she was the last in a long line of queens that shared her name. There was, in fact, seven Cleopatra's in the Ptolemy dynasty that became queen, each with her own interesting tales to tell. The book takes a look at all seven women, their lives, and what was going on in Egypt during their reigns. It's clear a lot of research went into this book, as there is a good amount of detail about not only the queens and the royal family, but also of Egypt, its political and social landscapes, and the culture surrounding royalty. Any chance to learn more about Egyptian women who held power is interesting, as they weren't always well documented, and some were erased from the records after their death. But, women in Egypt often ruled, whether as a co-ruler, a regent, or pharaoh in their own right, and it's always fascinating to see how these women wielded their influence. While I did feel like the writing was a bit dry and sometimes hard to slog through, this book was a good read and offers a lot of information about these little-known women.
Most people know Cleopatra, the famous queen who allegedly chose death by asp instead of facing defeat at the hands of the Romans, but not many may know she was the last in a long line of queens that shared her name. There was, in fact, seven Cleopatra's in the Ptolemy dynasty that became queen, each with her own interesting tales to tell. The book takes a look at all seven women, their lives, and what was going on in Egypt during their reigns. It's clear a lot of research went into this book, as there is a good amount of detail about not only the queens and the royal family, but also of Egypt, its political and social landscapes, and the culture surrounding royalty. Any chance to learn more about Egyptian women who held power is interesting, as they weren't always well documented, and some were erased from the records after their death. But, women in Egypt often ruled, whether as a co-ruler, a regent, or pharaoh in their own right, and it's always fascinating to see how these women wielded their influence. While I did feel like the writing was a bit dry and sometimes hard to slog through, this book was a good read and offers a lot of information about these little-known women.
June 25, 2024
Despite the confusion of so many Cleopatra and Ptolemy characters, Mr. Llewellyn-Jones has written a brilliantly entertaining and fascinating history of the Cleopatras. He managed to bring to life long-dead and long-forgotten people and places, despite the lack of much source material on some of them. Well done!!!
February 3, 2025
A well researched, fascinating look at the Ptolemaic queens who bore the name Cleopatra, and their influence on the family dynasty and ancient world politics.
August 3, 2024
Nog niet eens zo heel lang geleden heb ik van Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones al De Perzen gelezen, een mooi staaltje geschiedschrijving. In De Cleopatra's gaat hij op een ander interessant aspect van de oude beschavingen, iets dat maar weinig mensen weten: dat er niet alleen dé Cleopatra is geweest, maar dat zij de laatste was van een hele reeks. Dat op zich wist al wel, maar verder rijkte mijn kennis ook niet.
In 300 bladzijdes vertelt hij het verhaal van de laatste Egyptische dynastie, die van de Ptolemaeën, voor het Oude Egyptische Rijk overgenomen werd door de Romeinen en voorgoed ten onder ging. Maar de nadruk ligt dus niet op die geschiedenis zelf, maar op de rol die de vrouwelijke farao's, de Cleopatra's, daarbij gespeeld hebben. Dit boek vertelt echt hun levensverhaal, en dat wordt heel erg duidelijk gemaakt omdat het historische discours inderdaad niet in die mate rechtlijnig is dat echt 'de geschiedenis' duidelijk wordt, maar wel dat hun levensloop sterk belicht wordt.
Nu moet ik je meteen waarschuwen: De Perzen was al niet erg opbeurend, en van dit boek word je helemaal depressief. De Ptolemaeïsche dynastie was er een die bol stond van de incest, waarbij ooms en nichten met elkaar trouwden, broers en zussen, zoons en dochters, tot er zodanig gecompliceerde stambomen ontstonden doordat een broer achtereenvolgens ook wel met meer van zijn zussen of omgekeerd trouwde, waarna die dan weer trouwden met een kind van een andere echtgeno(o)t(e) enzovoorts. Dat maakt het ten eerste voor ons niet gewoon wansmakelijk en afstotend maar ronduit walgelijk, en dat het hele boek door, het maakt het ook ontzettend complex. Temeer daar bijna alle vrouwen Cleopatra heetten en bijna alle mannen Ptolemaeus.
Naast de incest staat het boek ook bol van verraad, wraak, moord en wat je verder maar kunt verzinnen. Dat sommige - de meeste - van de Cleopatra's geniale koninginnen waren, daar valt niet aan te tornen. Maar hoe ze hun eigen nichten, zussen en dochters soms misbruikten, verminkten en vermoorden is afschuwelijk.
Kort gezegd: lees dit boek als je geen sterke maag hebt. Geloof me. Lichte kost is wel het laatste dat je dit boek kunt noemen.
Maar interessant is het natuurlijk wel. Llewellyn-Jones geeft een goed beeld van alle Cleopatra's apart, de verhoudingen met hun andere familieleden, hun rol in de geschiedenis en de wereld rondom hen. Hij neemt een ander standpunt in dan de meeste geschiedkundigen en dat loont echt wel, dat maakt dit boek bijzonder. De enige inhoudelijke opmerking die ik heb, is deze: naast de stambomen die erin zitten (waarvoor dank! Ik heb ze goed gebruikt) had een eenvoudige tijdlijn misschien ook handig geweest om aan te geven welke koninginnen en koningen er op welk moment aan de macht waren, welke in ballingschap waren enzovoorts. Dat had iets meer overzicht gegeven, wat soms wel nodig was.
Het is vooral complex op momenten waarop er echt ingegaan wordt op alle intriges binnen de faraofamilie, omdat die dan allemaal zitten te konkelfoezen en er heel wat namen de revue passeren - en zoals gezegd, met al die herhalende namen wordt het er niet gemakkelijk op. Wanneer het gaat over de bredere geschiedenis, de ontwikkelingen buiten het hof, is het eenvoudiger. Maar ja, het doel is natuurlijk om een beschrijving van de historie te geven, dus als auteur kun je het ook niet gemakkelijker maken dan het is.
Ook deze vertaling is weer van Aad Janssen & Pon Ruiter, en net als vorige keer ben ik daar heel tevreden over. Alles is vlot, correct vertaald, de schrijfwijze van de namen zit logisch in elkaar en voor zover ik kan beoordelen is er nergens een Romeins nummer fout geplaatst - want dat soort fouten is rap gemaakt, natuurlijk. Knap werk dus van de hele ploeg voor de Nederlandse uitgave.
Verder ga ik dit boek echt nooit meer lezen, en stiekem hoop ik ook dat ik nooit meer zoiets te lezen krijg, want anders verhang ik me waarschijnlijk, puur uit ellende.
8/10
In 300 bladzijdes vertelt hij het verhaal van de laatste Egyptische dynastie, die van de Ptolemaeën, voor het Oude Egyptische Rijk overgenomen werd door de Romeinen en voorgoed ten onder ging. Maar de nadruk ligt dus niet op die geschiedenis zelf, maar op de rol die de vrouwelijke farao's, de Cleopatra's, daarbij gespeeld hebben. Dit boek vertelt echt hun levensverhaal, en dat wordt heel erg duidelijk gemaakt omdat het historische discours inderdaad niet in die mate rechtlijnig is dat echt 'de geschiedenis' duidelijk wordt, maar wel dat hun levensloop sterk belicht wordt.
Nu moet ik je meteen waarschuwen: De Perzen was al niet erg opbeurend, en van dit boek word je helemaal depressief. De Ptolemaeïsche dynastie was er een die bol stond van de incest, waarbij ooms en nichten met elkaar trouwden, broers en zussen, zoons en dochters, tot er zodanig gecompliceerde stambomen ontstonden doordat een broer achtereenvolgens ook wel met meer van zijn zussen of omgekeerd trouwde, waarna die dan weer trouwden met een kind van een andere echtgeno(o)t(e) enzovoorts. Dat maakt het ten eerste voor ons niet gewoon wansmakelijk en afstotend maar ronduit walgelijk, en dat het hele boek door, het maakt het ook ontzettend complex. Temeer daar bijna alle vrouwen Cleopatra heetten en bijna alle mannen Ptolemaeus.
Naast de incest staat het boek ook bol van verraad, wraak, moord en wat je verder maar kunt verzinnen. Dat sommige - de meeste - van de Cleopatra's geniale koninginnen waren, daar valt niet aan te tornen. Maar hoe ze hun eigen nichten, zussen en dochters soms misbruikten, verminkten en vermoorden is afschuwelijk.
Kort gezegd: lees dit boek als je geen sterke maag hebt. Geloof me. Lichte kost is wel het laatste dat je dit boek kunt noemen.
Maar interessant is het natuurlijk wel. Llewellyn-Jones geeft een goed beeld van alle Cleopatra's apart, de verhoudingen met hun andere familieleden, hun rol in de geschiedenis en de wereld rondom hen. Hij neemt een ander standpunt in dan de meeste geschiedkundigen en dat loont echt wel, dat maakt dit boek bijzonder. De enige inhoudelijke opmerking die ik heb, is deze: naast de stambomen die erin zitten (waarvoor dank! Ik heb ze goed gebruikt) had een eenvoudige tijdlijn misschien ook handig geweest om aan te geven welke koninginnen en koningen er op welk moment aan de macht waren, welke in ballingschap waren enzovoorts. Dat had iets meer overzicht gegeven, wat soms wel nodig was.
Het is vooral complex op momenten waarop er echt ingegaan wordt op alle intriges binnen de faraofamilie, omdat die dan allemaal zitten te konkelfoezen en er heel wat namen de revue passeren - en zoals gezegd, met al die herhalende namen wordt het er niet gemakkelijk op. Wanneer het gaat over de bredere geschiedenis, de ontwikkelingen buiten het hof, is het eenvoudiger. Maar ja, het doel is natuurlijk om een beschrijving van de historie te geven, dus als auteur kun je het ook niet gemakkelijker maken dan het is.
Ook deze vertaling is weer van Aad Janssen & Pon Ruiter, en net als vorige keer ben ik daar heel tevreden over. Alles is vlot, correct vertaald, de schrijfwijze van de namen zit logisch in elkaar en voor zover ik kan beoordelen is er nergens een Romeins nummer fout geplaatst - want dat soort fouten is rap gemaakt, natuurlijk. Knap werk dus van de hele ploeg voor de Nederlandse uitgave.
Verder ga ik dit boek echt nooit meer lezen, en stiekem hoop ik ook dat ik nooit meer zoiets te lezen krijg, want anders verhang ik me waarschijnlijk, puur uit ellende.
8/10
May 24, 2024
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones starts out describing how Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, otherwise known as the Cleopatra, gets all the glory and attention, in both fiction and academia, with her life story presented in a vacuum.
Llewellyn-Jones argues that when you put her in context of her family and dynasty, you see where a lot of her skills, abilities, and determination came from, and that the Ptolemaic dynasty deserves, if not praise (too much bloodshed for that), then at least recognition of their actions, and he presents here their family story, a soap opera on the grandest of scales.
Be aware, the Ptolemaic dynasty named every single boy Ptolemy and almost every single girl Cleopatra (with a few Arsinoe’s and Berenike’s thrown in for flavor).
And by every one – I don’t mean one every generation – I mean every single son and every single daughter was getting the same name, so, on average, at any give point, the royal palace was filled with grandma Cleopatra, married to her brother Ptolemy, and their three daughters named Cleopatra, and a son named Ptolemy, who was married to one of his Cleopatra sisters, and those two then had two sons named Ptolemy and two daughters named Cleopatra.
So it’s always “King Ptolemy” and “Queen Cleopatra” on the throne. Then, to make it more confusing for the historical record, whenever there was a rebellion and a Ptolemy would push his brother off the throne or a Cleopatra would usurp her aunt, or a Ptolemy would take the throne back from his usurping nephew, they would re-do the numbering of regnal years for, you know, stability, to make it look like they had always been on the throne, which throws a lot of dating off.
But they had nicknames! Which you think would help… but, given some of their actions and (inbred) features, they tended to pick up nicknames that were incredibly filthy. The names look all pretty and smart in ancient Greek, but when you translate them into modern English you get insults that would get you thrown out of most Open Mic nights. Like, if I were to write down some of their nicknames in modern English here, I think I might violate a morality clause in Goodreads’ User Agreement Terms of Service.
And while all of this is a headache for historians, it also shows how the Ptolemy’s embraced a mentality that everyone was replaceable. When everyone has the same name, it helps foster an environment where someone could easily be pushed out and replaced by a relative – something about the same name made it much less of a moral quandary for both the usurper and his/her followers.
The book traces the entire dynasty from the too-soon death of Alexander the Great to the suicide of Cleopatra VII, following both the family members personal lives, as well as how they fit into a much bigger geo-political picture, with both the actions of neighboring countries as well as the rising power of Rome across the sea having a large impact on the rise and fall of each generation.
And we see how all these Cleopatras were determined to be Queen Regnant - they saw no reason why they should not rule in their right and very often took matters into their own hands, clearly seeing the patriarchy as something that just did not apply to them.
Llewellyn-Jones examines statues, wall reliefs (bemoaning we haven’t found any Ptolemaic graves), mosaics, coins, private letters, public declarations, official records, unofficial gossip, and more to get as close as possible to this remarkable family – both utterly alien in some of their actions and yet all too human with many of their emotions.
June 5, 2024
Everyone knows Cleopatra, perhaps the most famous woman in the Ancient world. Her affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony have been the plots of countless plays, books, movies, and TV shows. Her death by an Asp (if that is what occurred) has been immortalized.
While everyone knows her as "Cleopatra", officially, she is Cleopatra VII of Egypt. As is denoted by the "VII", she was the seventh Cleopatra to rule over Egypt. Yet, outside of scholars, the other six before her are virtually unknown. This book seeks to solve that by placing Cleopatra VII in the wider context of her family history by writing a multi-biography of the Cleopatras who ruled in the century before Egypt's conquest by Rome.
Each Cleopatra was a member of or married into the Ptolemy family, founded by Ptolemy, a general of Alexander the Great. The 300-year reign of the Ptolemys embodies the worst traits of a monarchy. The family took incest to another level, with many couples being full-blooded siblings. At one point in the story, there is a polyamorous marriage between Ptolemy VIII (the book refers to him as "Potbelly") and his full-sister Cleopatra II as well as his step-daughter/full-neice Cleopatra III. The Ptolemies were decadent, fat, and loved pleasure. The family was more concerned with plotting against each other than ruling Egypt, and their squabbles worthy of a soap opera eventually brought the dynasty down with the rule of Rome. However, as the book details, there was a method to the gross madness no matter how much society reviles it.
The book focuses on the Cleopatras and tries (with limited sources from the time) to discern not only *what* these characters did, but *why*. The bias against the Cleopatras is strong due to the mostly male-dominated viewpoint throughout history. They have been portrayed as murderous, power-hungry, emotional, sex-crazed people. In reality, the Cleopatras had to make do with their life station to survive. The book does a good job of portraying these women as political players who often had to make difficult choices to survive the bloody world of the Ptolemies. To be clear, the Cleopatras were murderous and power-hungry, but their actions were not out of line with the men of the family either.
Overall, the book is well written and a good introduction to the Ptolemy family through the lens of the Cleopatras. The biggest issue with this book is it starts slow with lots of exposition into the world that bogs down in certain sections. Of course, the context is necessary, but the way it is presented feels somewhat disjointed which adds to the book's sluggish pace early on. The book picks up when it transitions into a more traditional narrative storyline about a third of the way in. Afterward, the book becomes much more enjoyable and easier to read. For anyone looking for a good read about Ptolemaic Egypt, this is a good book to read.
While everyone knows her as "Cleopatra", officially, she is Cleopatra VII of Egypt. As is denoted by the "VII", she was the seventh Cleopatra to rule over Egypt. Yet, outside of scholars, the other six before her are virtually unknown. This book seeks to solve that by placing Cleopatra VII in the wider context of her family history by writing a multi-biography of the Cleopatras who ruled in the century before Egypt's conquest by Rome.
Each Cleopatra was a member of or married into the Ptolemy family, founded by Ptolemy, a general of Alexander the Great. The 300-year reign of the Ptolemys embodies the worst traits of a monarchy. The family took incest to another level, with many couples being full-blooded siblings. At one point in the story, there is a polyamorous marriage between Ptolemy VIII (the book refers to him as "Potbelly") and his full-sister Cleopatra II as well as his step-daughter/full-neice Cleopatra III. The Ptolemies were decadent, fat, and loved pleasure. The family was more concerned with plotting against each other than ruling Egypt, and their squabbles worthy of a soap opera eventually brought the dynasty down with the rule of Rome. However, as the book details, there was a method to the gross madness no matter how much society reviles it.
The book focuses on the Cleopatras and tries (with limited sources from the time) to discern not only *what* these characters did, but *why*. The bias against the Cleopatras is strong due to the mostly male-dominated viewpoint throughout history. They have been portrayed as murderous, power-hungry, emotional, sex-crazed people. In reality, the Cleopatras had to make do with their life station to survive. The book does a good job of portraying these women as political players who often had to make difficult choices to survive the bloody world of the Ptolemies. To be clear, the Cleopatras were murderous and power-hungry, but their actions were not out of line with the men of the family either.
Overall, the book is well written and a good introduction to the Ptolemy family through the lens of the Cleopatras. The biggest issue with this book is it starts slow with lots of exposition into the world that bogs down in certain sections. Of course, the context is necessary, but the way it is presented feels somewhat disjointed which adds to the book's sluggish pace early on. The book picks up when it transitions into a more traditional narrative storyline about a third of the way in. Afterward, the book becomes much more enjoyable and easier to read. For anyone looking for a good read about Ptolemaic Egypt, this is a good book to read.
April 27, 2025
The Cleopatras: The Forgotten Queens of Egypt by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones shines a much-deserved spotlight on the seven queens named Cleopatra who ruled over Hellenistic Egypt. This compelling book uncovers their astute political maneuvers, intricate family connections, and the formidable challenges they encountered from Roman powers and internal strife.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones passionately aims to reveal the complex power dynamics of Ptolemaic Egypt (323–30 BC) through the lens of these remarkable queens, challenging the historical tendency to marginalize women. His vivid portrayal illustrates how these queens skillfully navigated violent court politics, employing strategic marriages with close relatives to fortify their dynastic claims and influence.
This is the first book to bring together the lives of the seven Cleopatras, the powerful queens who dominated Egypt in the last centuries of its independence before it was swallowed up into the Roman empire. It showcases an exceptional time in history – a period of more than a century and a half (192 bce–30 bce) – when a remarkable group of women, the Cleopatras, managed to overcome the limitations of the gender roles they had been assigned at birth. They challenged the various patriarchal norms and values which traditionally have silenced women (even queens) and relegated them to the bedroom and the birth-stool.
One of the book's most compelling aspects is its reliance on a rich tapestry of sources, including archaeological discoveries that deepen our understanding of the Ptolemaic dynasty. While ancient historians often portrayed them in a negative light, inscriptions and coins shed light on how these rulers sought to shape their public images. The Cleopatras masterfully aligned themselves with revered Egyptian goddesses like Hathor and Isis, strategically enhancing their status and authority.
Moreover, the author delves into the vibrant daily life and culture of Ptolemaic Egypt, emphasizing the significant role of religion in their governance while also highlighting the often fraught relationships with native Egyptians, who resented their foreign rulers. The precarious position of these royal women compelled them to craft their public image meticulously, a struggle that resonates powerfully with contemporary audiences.
Among the standout figures are Cleopatra II and Cleopatra III, a formidable mother-daughter duo who both married the notoriously ruthless Ptolemy VIII, a ruler known for his violent quest for power. Their gripping stories expose the treachery and intrigue of court life, making their experiences all the more poignant.
As we arrive at Cleopatra VII, it becomes clear how the legacies of the preceding Cleopatras shaped her ascent to power, illuminating a rich history of resilience and influence. This book not only reveals the dazzling narratives of these queens but also reclaims their rightful place in the annals of history—reminding us that their stories are ones of strength, strategy, and indomitable spirit.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones passionately aims to reveal the complex power dynamics of Ptolemaic Egypt (323–30 BC) through the lens of these remarkable queens, challenging the historical tendency to marginalize women. His vivid portrayal illustrates how these queens skillfully navigated violent court politics, employing strategic marriages with close relatives to fortify their dynastic claims and influence.
This is the first book to bring together the lives of the seven Cleopatras, the powerful queens who dominated Egypt in the last centuries of its independence before it was swallowed up into the Roman empire. It showcases an exceptional time in history – a period of more than a century and a half (192 bce–30 bce) – when a remarkable group of women, the Cleopatras, managed to overcome the limitations of the gender roles they had been assigned at birth. They challenged the various patriarchal norms and values which traditionally have silenced women (even queens) and relegated them to the bedroom and the birth-stool.
One of the book's most compelling aspects is its reliance on a rich tapestry of sources, including archaeological discoveries that deepen our understanding of the Ptolemaic dynasty. While ancient historians often portrayed them in a negative light, inscriptions and coins shed light on how these rulers sought to shape their public images. The Cleopatras masterfully aligned themselves with revered Egyptian goddesses like Hathor and Isis, strategically enhancing their status and authority.
Moreover, the author delves into the vibrant daily life and culture of Ptolemaic Egypt, emphasizing the significant role of religion in their governance while also highlighting the often fraught relationships with native Egyptians, who resented their foreign rulers. The precarious position of these royal women compelled them to craft their public image meticulously, a struggle that resonates powerfully with contemporary audiences.
Among the standout figures are Cleopatra II and Cleopatra III, a formidable mother-daughter duo who both married the notoriously ruthless Ptolemy VIII, a ruler known for his violent quest for power. Their gripping stories expose the treachery and intrigue of court life, making their experiences all the more poignant.
As we arrive at Cleopatra VII, it becomes clear how the legacies of the preceding Cleopatras shaped her ascent to power, illuminating a rich history of resilience and influence. This book not only reveals the dazzling narratives of these queens but also reclaims their rightful place in the annals of history—reminding us that their stories are ones of strength, strategy, and indomitable spirit.
July 27, 2025
#thecleopatras by #lloydllewellynjones published in 2024. I anticipated that this was going to be a biography of the seven cleopatras. I assumed it would be divided into seven parts or chapters and go through each one chronologically cradle to grave. But the book is more than that. It spends more time than I expected providing essential background and context to Egypt at that time. It discusses the influence of Rome, the reliability of certain sources and provides information about cultural practices/opinions as well as religion. It provides extensive family trees which become vital as the complexity of the family web becomes more intricate. I had no idea there was so much incest and intermarriage with several of the cleopatras having multiple husbands. Some of the relationships can become quite confusing as most of the women are called cleopatra and most of the men are called Ptolemy and the relationships are not linear with grandparent to parent to child to grandchild as brothers and sisters marry each other and nieces and uncles marry each other and cousins marry cousins. Mind boggling. Even the stories about the cleopatras that were not queens of Egypt were interesting - particularly cleopatra Thea in chapter 8: the same princess being used for marriage with foreign allies multiple times (some even simultaneously!) Cleopatra II, iii and Cleopatra Thea seem to get the lion’s share of the page count presumably as the author had already done a lot of research on them and published it with a colleague. As a result the reader is more engaged with their story. Ptolemy viii (potbelly) was a piece of work: Killed his nephew, married his sister, had a son with her, married his niece while still married to his sister and killed the son he had with his sister and sent her the son’s dismembered corpse. Ptolemy ix married two of his sisters cleopatra iv and cleopatra Selene (although not at the same time). Such a ruthless family with parents and children murdering each other for power and control. Cleopatras iv, v and vi are only briefly mentioned as supposedly they did not reign for all that long. Cleopatra vii (the famous one) gets only 40 pages (20 for Julius Caesar 20 for Marc Antony). I really enjoyed this and I wanted it to be longer. Perhaps the restrictions of publishing popular history limit the scope/depth/page count? Perhaps the lack of sources? Perhaps by design so you seek out separate biographies for each one? (Although I doubt they exist for any of them except vii)
March 31, 2025
This was a tough book to read and I imagine a harder one to write, all thanks to the incestuous marriages of pharaohs and queens of the Ptolemy descendants -- originally Greeks whose founder served with Alexander the Great -- who ruled Egypt until the death of Cleopatra VII (the last Ptolemaic queen who married two of her brothers but also had children by Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony). Llewellyn-Jones is as helpful as he can be: he carefully lists the Cleopatras who will be featured in the book (Cleopatra I Syra, Cleopatra II, Cleopatra Thea, Cleopatra III, Cleopatra IV, Cleopatra Tryphaina, Cleopatra Selene, Cleopatra V Berenice III, Cleopatra VI Tryphaina, and Cleopatra VII), includes complex family trees, adds a list of the intermarriages between the Seleucids (the pharaohs descended from Alexander the Great's general who inherited the Egyptian kingdom upon Alexander's death), and introduces each section with a helpful listing of the Cleopatras, their husbands, and their descendants who will be featured. But this paragraph alone suggests how difficult his research and our understanding might be:
"Cleopatra Selene was widowed for the second time in two years, but within months of Kyzikenos' death the now-forty-year-old Cleopatra Selene accepted a marriage proposal from his heir, her eighteen-year-stepson, Antiochus X Eusebes, who was also her nephew by her sister, Cleopatra IV (Cleopatra Selene was also the niece of his maternal grandmother, Cleopatra Thea.)"
Hard to beat that for a paragraph that takes a lot of re-reading. So it is to Llewellyn-Jones' credit that the book is readable and interesting. This long line of Cleopatras is a line of women who ruled, raised armies and even led them, had children, plotted, murdered, and above all were powerful queens. (Their male husbands/brothers/other relatives were not always up to the task of ruling. Their nicknames alone -- Potbelly and Chickpea -- give an indication of their status.) At a time when most of us know very little about "Cleopatra" other than what we saw in the Elizabeth Taylor movie, this book does a wonderful job of bringing her predecessors, as well as herself, to life. I really appreciate the deep research and the clear writing.
"Cleopatra Selene was widowed for the second time in two years, but within months of Kyzikenos' death the now-forty-year-old Cleopatra Selene accepted a marriage proposal from his heir, her eighteen-year-stepson, Antiochus X Eusebes, who was also her nephew by her sister, Cleopatra IV (Cleopatra Selene was also the niece of his maternal grandmother, Cleopatra Thea.)"
Hard to beat that for a paragraph that takes a lot of re-reading. So it is to Llewellyn-Jones' credit that the book is readable and interesting. This long line of Cleopatras is a line of women who ruled, raised armies and even led them, had children, plotted, murdered, and above all were powerful queens. (Their male husbands/brothers/other relatives were not always up to the task of ruling. Their nicknames alone -- Potbelly and Chickpea -- give an indication of their status.) At a time when most of us know very little about "Cleopatra" other than what we saw in the Elizabeth Taylor movie, this book does a wonderful job of bringing her predecessors, as well as herself, to life. I really appreciate the deep research and the clear writing.
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