Frequently Asked Questions About The World of Cleopatra Selene

Why Do You Hate Ancient Romans So Much? (And Other Frequently Asked Questions) - Thu, 23 Feb 2012
A few years ago, I was enraptured by the life story of a nine year old Egyptian princess who was taken prisoner by the Romans, dragged through the streets in chains, and yet went on to be the most powerful queen in Augustus’ empire. I decided to write some books about her, the most recent [...]

Did Augustus Really Persecute Isis Worship? - Mon, 16 May 2011
A common misconception held even by some classics majors who ought to know better is that Rome was tolerant of every foreign god and the idea that Augustus suppressed Isis worship is a fictional literary flourish. While it’s true that Rome generally accorded respect to foreign gods, there are a few religions that fell afoul of [...]

Juba II and Cleopatra Selene: Was it a Love Match? - Fri, 25 Feb 2011
The King and Queen of Mauretania enjoyed an apparently stable marriage of at least twenty years in duration. In a time when spouses were swapped like fruitcakes at family gatherings, this was somewhat of an anomaly and leads many to wonder whether or not theirs was a love story. Birds of a Feather The two certainly shared [...]

Of What Importance Was King Herod in the Life of Cleopatra’s Daughter? - Tue, 31 Aug 2010
Though no ancient sources directly link the two monarchs, it’s difficult to write a novel about the life of Cleopatra’s daughter without referencing one of her mother’s bitterest enemies. Herod the Great was Cleopatra VII’s rival even before her affair with the Roman Triumvir, Antony. As a Ptolemy, Cleopatra maintained a hereditary claim on Judea, but [...]

How Did Cleopatra Really Die? - Tue, 06 Jul 2010
The story of Cleopatra’s death, as handed down to us by her conqueror, is that she killed herself by means of a poisonous snake. According to Suetonius, the stunned Octavian summoned snake charming Psylli to suck the poison from puncture wounds found on her arm. Later, she was depicted in a wax effigy during Octavian’s [...]