by Stephanie Dray | Jan 31, 2012 | Articles, Daughters of the Nile, Lily of the Nile, Song of the Nile
The star of my new novel, SONG OF THE NILE, is Cleopatra Selene. However, another young woman plays a very prominent role, and that is Julia, the daughter of Rome’s first emperor. Though their parents were mortal enemies, in my novel, the two teenaged girls form a...
by Stephanie Dray | Jan 5, 2012 | Fun Stuff, Song of the Nile
If it’s good to be the king, it’s even better to be the emperor. At least in ancient Rome. Unless your guards are waiting for you with daggers, or an angry wife feeds you poisoned mushrooms, you get to be the center of the world…wherever you go. Now, when...
by Stephanie Dray | Dec 16, 2011 | Food, Fun Stuff, Miscellany
Guest Post by Heather DominDecember used to be a month – now it’s a whole year. ~Seneca I think many of us can relate to this ancient observation by Seneca. From its origin as a single holy day in December, the Roman festival of Saturnalia snowballed into a...
by Stephanie Dray | Jul 12, 2011 | Daughters of the Nile, Lily of the Nile, Research, Song of the Nile
Augustus Caesar’s most lasting monument is the Ara Pacis, a monument to peace. It’s a splendid work of propaganda, and one could spend a lifetime unraveling all its hidden symbols and meanings. After having defeated Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Augustus...
by Stephanie Dray | Jun 27, 2011 | Articles, Daughters of the Nile, Research
Cross-posted from: Unusual Historicals With the wicked Egyptian seductress dead, the Romans had every reason to believe the Republic would return to normal. Oh, some might argue that Cleopatra’s conqueror now meant to destroy the Republic and rule as king. He had,...