Greek World Quiz 4

On the basis of this chapter, what can you say about Cleopatra (upbringing, character, etc.)?

Cleopatra was an intelligent, clever, and humorous women. She had great skills with oratory that enabled her to control every situation she was in and gain great popularity with others. This skill was very useful for her rise to power and defeating of her brother. It enabled her to gain the approval of Caesar and later Mark Antony. She had the best possible education as a child and learned much about Macedonian literature and history as well as Egyptian history. Reportedly she was exceedingly clever and had a very good sense of humor. She also learned the Egyptian language and was viewed as a living link to Alexander the Great which made her very popular. Reportedly beautiful.

On the basis of this chapter, what you can say about Julius Caesar?

Caesar had an affair with Cleopatra after falling for her charm and choose to back her in the battle for the throne. He was very well educated like Cleopatra and he enjoyed luxury which was uncommon for Macedonians. Caesar would have been fascinated by Cleopatra's ties to Alexander the Great and how she was basically born a goddess. He would have been captivated by her beauty and charm which is why he decided to support her.

What do you learn from this chapter about the history and character of the Ptolemies? Be specific.

This chapter discusses how the Ptolemies were a wealthy family of Macedonians who took the throne of Egypt by force with Ptolemy who stole Alexander the Great's body. The family was accustomed to intermarriage in order to prevent in-laws and limit the number of people with a claim to the throne. Cleopatra married her own brother. The Ptolemies partook in lots of incest, but this did not lead to disabled children. Instead, the incest led to lots of family murder. Husbands murdered wives, brothers, uncles and siblings went to war with one another in order to gain power over the throne. Cleopatra's father became king after his relatives in Egypt were killed and he was hiding in Syria to avoid being murdered.

As discussed in this chapter, how did the status of women in Egypt differ from their role elsewhere in the ancient world?

Egyptian women had the right to own property and make business decisions. They had the right to divorce their husbands and keep their property. Additionally, they were supported in their divorces. They were also empowered to select their own marriages which tended to occur later in life. Macedonian women on the other hand married young and lived under the control of their fathers. Macedonian fathers were only required to care for their eldest daughter and could do with them whatever they wanted.

What does the title of this chapter—"Dead Men Don't Bite"—refer to?

Dead Men Don't Bite refers to Theodotus' line when discussing the general Pompey who had ties to the Ptolemaic family. It was best to neither befriend or offend Pompey, so that he did not murder Cleopatra whether through false loyalties or outright war. Pompey was killed off of Pelusium, so he no longer was a risk. The Ptolemy advisors killed Pompey to please Caesar and harm Cleopatra, but it upset Caesar instead. The title also refers to the continuous strategy of murder that haunted the Ptolemaic family. With heavy amounts of inbreeding the family murdered one another at every turn in order to claim unquestioned power.
The Greeks though women were too powerful in Egyptian society

Achillas (see also p. 13)

A regent who ruled for Ptolemy and commander of the royal guard. Angered by Caesar's support for Cleopatra he attempted to poison him and mobilized his men against him. "A man of remarkable nerve." Supported Arsinoe's claim to be queen.

Alexandria, city of

Burned by Caesar a little bit when he burned ships in the harbor. City of grandeur, lots of expensive designs and huge city and they eat lots of rare and expensive foods and worshiped with very expensive goods.

Arsinoe (Cleopatra's sister)

Didn't believe in Cleopatra and betrayed her and her brother. She was declared queen and joined Achilles.

Auletes (Cleopatra's father)

Did not expand Egypt's borders and allied with Romans to Mithridate's' disapproval. Paid the Romans for protection. Left his kingdom to Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII knowing that they would not be able to rule together. All of the other siblings were basically cut out of the will. This did stop Arsinoe from working to get the throne. Auletes means flute player which was a name you used behind his back because it wasn't a compliment. Seen as a negative thing because it was associated as a lower-class activity. Not a powerful, well disciplined, structured individual. Spent a lot of money bribing people in Rome to support his claim to the throne. Civil war between Cleopatra and Ptolemy.

Caesar and Cleopatra

Had an affair and helped one another as allies.

Mithradates the Great

Criticized Auletes for working with the Romans and proposed an alliance to overthrow the greedy conquerors. Both sides opposed Rome, but they took different approaches, Egypt worked with Rome and he criticized it.

Nile River

Symbolic of rebirth and fed the Egyptian people.

Pothinus (see also p. 13)

A regent who ruled for Ptolemy and a eunuch. Turned Ptolemy against Cleopatra. He killed Pompey and presented the head to Julius Caesar.

Ptolemy XIII (a brother of Cleopatra)

Declared co ruler with his sister by his father. The two fought for control, but he was eventually killed after losing control because Cleopatra aligned herself with the Romans.

Ptolemy XIV (a brother of Cleopatra)

The boy married Cleopatra at the age of twelve to unite the last of the power struggle for the Egyptian throne.
Common Roman idea that Cleopatra seduced Caesar. Other view was that Caesar could sleep with any women he wanted because he was so powerful, so he chose Cleopatra. Cleopatra was bright and well brought up. Probably a virgin when she met Caesar. Doubt that the son Cleopatra had was the son of Caesar. Caesar had sex a lot, but never had any children so there were rumors that he was impotent, so the likelihood that he was the father of Cleopatra's child is doubtful. First child that he claimed. Ultimate power couple.
Cleopatra identified with Isis which was enormously power with the Egyptians. Goddess of fertility. Cleopatra had a son which matched this perfectly

Caesarion (also use an outside source if necessary)

Ptolemy XV Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion, was the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt, reigning with his mother Cleopatra from 2 September 44 BC until her death by 12 August 30 BC, and as sole ruler until his death was ordered by Octavian, who would later become the first Roman emperor as Augustus. Son of Caesar.

Isis (also use an outside source if necessary)

Great mother Isis, the goddess of healing and magic, was crucial to ancient Egyptian religious beliefs. She is known today by her Greek name Isis; however, the ancient Egyptians called her Aset. Her name translates to “Queen of the Throne” which is reflected in her headdress, which is typically a throne. Cleopatra closely associated with her as the goddess of love affairs, mercy, and mothers.

Cleopatra in Rome --

Cleopatra traveled to Rome as a client queen in 46 and 44 BC, where she stayed at Caesar'svilla. After the assassinations of Caesar and (on her orders) Ptolemy XIV in 44 BC, she named Caesarion co-ruler. The trip from Alexandria to Rome could easily that 3 to 4 weeks, but the trip from Rome to Alexandria only took about a week due to wind conditions. When you went from Alexandria to Rome you had to go along the coast of Israel, Turkey, Greece and the around tip of Italy up to Rome. Not pleasant to travel from Alexandria to Rome and Cleopatra made this trip at least once maybe twice. Lived in villa of Caesar that was nice, but away from the action of Rome and Caesar had a nicer home in the center of Rome more in the action. Cleopatra was set up as his mistress even though she was a queen. Stayed in Rome when Caesar was assassinated by the Republicans trying to keep the Republic. Caesar was to be named dictator for life which greatly upset people. He was trying to set up a monarchy. No one directly attacked Cleopatra so she had to decide who she was going to support. Initially she supported both Anthony and Octavian. She did not fit in in Rome and many of her skills did not fit a Roman women who was supposed to be be submissive not outgoing.

Cicero (also use an outside source if necessary)

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher and Academic Skeptic, who tried to uphold republican principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire. Wrote tons of letters that survived making him famous and giving him good pr. He was murdered eventually. He hated Cleopatra.

Cleopatra and Caesar's Death -

Cleopatra traveled to Rome as a client queen in 46 and 44 BC, where she stayed at Caesar'svilla. After the assassinations of Caesar and (on her orders) Ptolemy XIV in 44 BC, she named Caesarion co-ruler

Mark Antony and Octavian (also use other chapters)

In his will Caesar had bequeathed his wealth and title to his posthumously adopted son Octavian. ... Along with their lesser rival Lepidus, Octavian and Antony formed the Second Triumvirate, splitting Rome's provinces between them: Octavian would rule the West, Antony the East and Lepidus Africa. Enemies

What would have happened if Antony and Cleopatra came out on top?

Caesar always was surrounded by people who wanted to knock him down.

Mystery religions in Egypt that you could choose to join and learn their secret rituals

Alexandra

Highborn mother and law of Herod. Insulted when Herod overlooked her son Aristobulus so she wrote to Cleopatra for help and she tried to help her by going to Antony. Herod eventually gave in and made Aristobulus high priest but arrested her. She once again asked Cleopatra for help and she planned an escape with coffins, but Herod caught her.

Aristobulus

Brother of Mariamme Herod's wife and descendant of a family of Jewish high priests. He was handsome and tall and a perfect candidate for the next high priest, but Herod overlooked him. Became high priest eventually. Was murdered by Herod.

Artavasdes

The Armenian king who betrayed Anthony by convincing him to invade Media and then abandoning him. Even After this Anthony held nothing against him and continued to treat him respectfully. Anthony eventually captured him and his family and gifted them to Cleopatra.

Cleopatra as Pharaoh

Anthony made her Queen of kings and she was more of an emperor at this point with the support of the Romans and the huge amount of influence and power she held.

Donations of Alexandria

Ceremony for Cleopatra and Anthony's great success. She was viewed as a god who was continuing Alexander the Great's legacy and even associated with the coming of the Messiah by the Jews. Unnecessary ceremony because they still had a lot of problems to deal with and their subjects knew that they were dignified and supremacy.

Cleopatra and Herod (the Great)

They met up in Jerusalem to discuss Rome and holding on to power. Cleopatra was given Judea and they needed to discuss Herod's obligations as ruler. Herod gave into Cleopatra's desires in order to be free to rule. Cleopatra continued to work against Herod helping his enemy Alexandra his mother-in-law.

Parthia (Parthians)

Anthony's campaign there did not go well and he had lost many men in a retreat after being abandoned by his Armenian allies. Cleopatra was blamed for throwing Anthony off and causing him to mislead the campaign ending in disaster. The real problem was that he trusted the wrong men and was not cunning and gave into compassion.
Gossip spreading something negative about a person?
Gave west to Octavian and East to Mark Antony and they were supposed to share power, but they ended up just fighting for power. Chapter 6 Cleopatra and Antony had already met and had a child. They split up the empire between their four children at the end of their ceremony as rulers. Herod is in Bible as the man who tried to track down and kill Jesus as an infant. No record of his supposed order to kill all boys under the age of 2. Herod go to be king of the Jews because he convinced the Romans to give him the position, so he didn't really get along with his subjects. Murdered family members in his life. Octavian said it was better to be Herod's swine than his son.

Actium

Northern point of the defensive line Antony established to protect supply lines to Alexandria and Egypt after Octavian declared war. Offered an excellent harbor and a good place for a battle. Where Pompey opted for a land battle that went horribly.

Agrippa

Talented lieutenant of Octavian. Made a swift crossing to Greece to disrupt Antony's supply lines and capture his southern base. Anthony was unable to fight back.

Ahenobarbus

Antony's most distinguished supporter whom Cleopatra failed to endear herself too. He saw Cleopatra as a liability and had been through a lot with Anthony. He defected to Octavian's side eventually and Anthony sent all of his household to meet him.

Antonia

Cleopatra's immense flag ship with ten banks of oars and beautifully decorated did not inspire pride in the troops. Used to carry her treasure and avoid the fighting between Antony and Octavian. Used to escape a naval battle with Octavian.

Antony and Octavian

The pair had a lot of bad blood between them and land disputes upset them. Each claimed the other was withholding their rightful lands. Both failed to keep promises and Anthony called Octavian a coward and Octavian called Anthony an alcoholic. Each came at the other for sleeping around.

Athens

Many statues of Cleopatra and Antony were erected there after Cleopatra's influence. Antony openly expressed a lot of affection for Cleopatra in Athens and divorced Octavia, forcing her to leave the city.

Nicolaus of Damascus

Entrusted by Cleopatra to teach her children. He was a logician and skilled at oratory. He taught them philosophy, rhetoric, and proper history.

Plancus

The dancing fish of the Alexandrian revel, deserted to return to Rome. He was a born courtier who would have been looking to take the path of least resistance and deserting was not so. He was known for having good political instincts and something inspired him to lose confidence in Anthony. He told Octavian about Anthony's relations with Cleopatra and what he put in his will.

Spear drenched in pig blood

Octavian did this and launched it himself as a symbol of condemning Cleopatra for her hostile intent and acts. No charges were actually held against her because she had done nothing but be a loyal vassal to Rome. This was probably a made up ritual of Octavian that he claimed was traditional. Expelling Cleopatra for treason was actually meant to attack Anthony who chose to stand by her and therefore deprived of his consulship by the senate because of it.