Cleopatra Selene,daughter of Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Mark Antony,was the only member of the Ptolemaic dynasty to survive after her parents were defeated by the future Roman emperor Augustus at the Battle of Actium. Paraded as a prisoner in a Roman triumph,then brought up in the household of Augustus'sister Octavia,she would marry a North African prince,becoming co-ruler of the Roman client-state of Mauretania. Jane Draycott recreates the life and times of a woman who became a powerful ruler in her own right at a time when most women were marginalised,and whose remarkable life shines new and revelatory light on Roman politics,society and culture in the early years of the Empire.
MEDIA REVIEWS
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLCISBN: 9781800244825Number of pages: 336Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
Anyone who wants to learn more about (an) underappreciated female ruler should read this bookDraycott brings to life the little-known story of an intelligent,powerful woman of mixed Macedonian,Roman,and Egyptian heritage making her own way in exciting historical timesA vibrant and fascinating portrait of a great woman who deserves her place in the pantheon of Roman queensFascinating! Full of fabulous facts about ancient Rome,Egypt and North Africa. I loved all the details of life in Cleopatra's world supported by a feast of visual and literary referencesJane Draycott has written an excellent account of Cleopatra's daughter - princess,captive,and queen. In Draycott's capable hands,the archaeological evidence tells half the tale,and it is intriguing. Here,Cleopatra Selene finally attains her rightful place in historyIt is extraordinary that such a story has remained untold for so long. The historian and archaeologist Jane Draycott has masterfully pieced together a rich range of literary and artistic sources to create this immensely readable account of a great queen,Egyptian and Roman,who wielded power at a time when women were largely marginalised.
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