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(3.35) | 4 | Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was the most powerful woman of the ancient Mediterranean, and the only person standing between Rome and its dominion over the world. She was wife to Julius Caesar, and bore his only son. After his death, she took his greatest general, Mark Antony, as her lover and consort-and as her partner in a vast political enterprise. Together, they strove to unite Egypt and Rome under one throne. Throne of Isis shows us an extraordinary woman wielding the power to which she was born. Here is the Cleopatra who took the throne of Egypt and held it, despite Rome, for nearly thirty years. Here is the woman who spoke twelve languages, studied philosophy and the arts, and could debate with the greatest scholars of the age. Here is the woman who fell in love with a man she meant to use. And here is historical fiction at its best.… (more) |
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| Epigraph |
Now's the time to drink,
now's the time to strike the earth with freedom's foot,
now's the time to deck the couch of the gods
with the banquets of the dancing priests,
my friends.
Before this it was a forbidden thing
to draw the Caecuban wine
from our grandfathers' cellars,
while the mad queen was preparing
ruin and destruction
for the Capitol and the empire
With her flock of freaks and perverts,
frenzied enough to dream of victory,
and drunk on sweet good fortune.
But the escape of scarce one ship from the flames
moderated her rage,
and Caesar brought her mind,
mad drunk with the wine of Mareotis,
under the power of true fear -
Driving her with ships in close pursuit
as she flew from Italy,
as the hawk pursues the tender dove
or the swift hunter the hare
in Haemonia's wintry fields -
that he would lead in chains
That prodigy of fate.
She, seeking a more noble death,
did not in womanly wise fear the sword,
nor seek hidden shores with her swift fleet.
And she, bold woman, looked even on her fallen palace
with serene face, and bravely took in her hands
the savage serpents,
to drink deep their black poison.
Fiercely she resolved to die,
loathing to be borne in cruel Liburnian galleys,
loathing to be led, cast down from her throne,
in a Roman's haughty triumph -
no humble woman, she.
- Horace, Odes Lxxxvii (trans. by Judith Tarr)  | |
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| Dedication |
To Bruce and Tracey
for all the help, advice, and moral support,
particularly the input on matters military | |
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| First words |
Once, the chamber had been all gold. | |
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▾References References to this work on external resources.  Wikipedia in English (1)
▾Book descriptions Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was the most powerful woman of the ancient Mediterranean, and the only person standing between Rome and its dominion over the world. She was wife to Julius Caesar, and bore his only son. After his death, she took his greatest general, Mark Antony, as her lover and consort-and as her partner in a vast political enterprise. Together, they strove to unite Egypt and Rome under one throne. Throne of Isis shows us an extraordinary woman wielding the power to which she was born. Here is the Cleopatra who took the throne of Egypt and held it, despite Rome, for nearly thirty years. Here is the woman who spoke twelve languages, studied philosophy and the arts, and could debate with the greatest scholars of the age. Here is the woman who fell in love with a man she meant to use. And here is historical fiction at its best. ▾Library descriptions No library descriptions found. ▾LibraryThing members' description
| Book description |
CLEOPATRA, QUEEN OF EGYPT She was the most powerful woman of the ancient Mediterranean, and the only person standing between Rome and its dominion over the world. she was wife to Julius Caesar, and bore his only son. After his death she took Marc Antony, Caesar's great general, as lover and consort - and as her partner in a vast political enterprise. History tells of Cleopatra's devotion to Egypt and her war with Rome. Shakespeare tells of the tragic love affair. But here is the Cleopatra who took the throw of Egypt and held it for decades despite Rome's efforts. This is the woman who spoke twelve languages, studied philosophy and the arts, and could debate with the greatest scholars and orators of the age. And here is the woman who fell in love with a man she meant to use, and who, in the last splendid moments of her life, became immortal. -------------------------------- IN THE SACRED SHRINE OF EGYPT The queen lit the incense in its golden censer, sent the sweet smoke on its course toward heaven. She poured the libation from golden cup into golden bowl. She spoke names of Gods and powers, one by one and in order as reverence decreed. Dione murmured the words with her, but otherwise did nothing, said nothing. this was not her rite or her invocation; it was not for her to step forward in it, except as friend and fellow priestess. Cleopatra bowed to the power of the Gods that was in this place, and returned to the sarcophagus. Again she laid her hands on it. "Give me a sign," she said. Her voice was much as it always was, low and sweet, like silk over the steel of her will. "Show me what I am to do. My Osiris is dead. My Horus, My Caesarion, is a child still, and has no father. My kingdom, my Two Lands, will be devoured by Roman vultures, unless there is more strength in alll of us than we have needed before." | |
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