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The Cleopatras: The Forgotten Queens of Egypt
The definitive story of the seven Cleopatras, the powerful goddess-queens of ancient Egypt
One of history’s most iconic figures, Cleopatra is rightly remembered as a clever and charismatic ruler. But few today realize that she was the last in a long line of Egyptian queens who bore that name.
In The Cleopatras , historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the dramatic story of these seven incomparable women, vividly recapturing the lost world of Hellenistic Egypt and tracing the kingdom’s final centuries before its fall to Rome. The Cleopatras were Greek-speaking descendants of Ptolemy, the general who conquered Egypt alongside Alexander the Great. They were closely related as mothers, daughters, sisters, half-sisters, and nieces. Each wielded absolute power, easily overshadowing their husbands or sons, and all proved to be shrewd and capable leaders. Styling themselves as goddess-queens, the Cleopatras ruled through the canny deployment of arcane rituals, opulent spectacles, and unparalleled wealth. They navigated political turmoil and court intrigues, led armies into battle and commanded fleets of ships, and ruthlessly dispatched their dynastic rivals.
The Cleopatras is a fascinating and richly textured biography of seven extraordinary women, restoring these queens to their deserved place among history’s greatest rulers.
One of history’s most iconic figures, Cleopatra is rightly remembered as a clever and charismatic ruler. But few today realize that she was the last in a long line of Egyptian queens who bore that name.
In The Cleopatras , historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the dramatic story of these seven incomparable women, vividly recapturing the lost world of Hellenistic Egypt and tracing the kingdom’s final centuries before its fall to Rome. The Cleopatras were Greek-speaking descendants of Ptolemy, the general who conquered Egypt alongside Alexander the Great. They were closely related as mothers, daughters, sisters, half-sisters, and nieces. Each wielded absolute power, easily overshadowing their husbands or sons, and all proved to be shrewd and capable leaders. Styling themselves as goddess-queens, the Cleopatras ruled through the canny deployment of arcane rituals, opulent spectacles, and unparalleled wealth. They navigated political turmoil and court intrigues, led armies into battle and commanded fleets of ships, and ruthlessly dispatched their dynastic rivals.
The Cleopatras is a fascinating and richly textured biography of seven extraordinary women, restoring these queens to their deserved place among history’s greatest rulers.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published May 21, 2024
About the author
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
20 books50 followersLloyd Llewellyn-Jones is Professor of Ancient History at Cardiff University and a specialist in the histories and cultures of ancient Iran and Greece. He also works on dress and gender in antiquity and on the ancient world in popular culture, especially Hollywood cinema.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 15, 2024
Things you'll learn from this book:
• Despite what films and Shakespeare may have led you to believe, there wasn't just one but seven Cleopatras. Seven!
• None of the Cleos were differentiated by numerals in their time, that is a modern historians' invention to stay sane in the midst of the Ptolemies' alarming lack of naming creativity. You a boy? Your name is always Ptolemy. You a gal? You're a Cleopatra or a Berenice or an Arsinoe. The Ptolemies differentiated themselves not by numbers but by nicknames/monikers, hence Cleopatra Syra is who we know as Cleopatra I, the first of them, and Cleopatra Thea Philopator is our Cleopatra VII, the last of them. (Let's forget that some of the Ptolemies repeated even the nicknames when they were being particularly uncreative, shall we?)
• The "they were women and that was their sin" angle is played a bit much for the modern audience's benefit sometimes. Thedragonless Targaryens, er, Ptolemies on the female line (that is, the Cleos) schemed and murdered their way to the Pharaoh crown just as much as the male Ptolemies did, but they didn't have to do it only because they were women as much as because of the competition created by the custom of siblings co-ruling they had in this dynasty. And the Cleos that were queens by marriage are rather uninteresting: the first Cleo is an utter bore, for example. But the rule of the Cleos that were queens by birthright has nothing to envy a Game of Thrones-style court bloodbath, due to how they had to compete with brother-husbands and sister co-rulers: the Cleopatra VII/Berenice IV/Arsinoe IV lethal drama that coincided with Rome's rise to world power is by no means the only of its kind in this dynasty.
• Last Cleopatra is Best Cleopatra, enough said.
The book is a fine introduction to the history of the Ptolemaic queens called Cleopatra, as I bet most people have no idea there were several of them. Most only hear about the one from the various Cleopatra movies or from William Shakespeare's play plus cursory school history lessons, so this book will be enlightening and educational for them, as it covers the life stories and circumstances in which the seven Cleopatras had to exist, all neatly divided in three parts that go from the beginning (the first Cleos), the apotheosis (some of the more known and better-cunning Cleos) to the decline (the last Cleo when Rome took over). But it's also dry, repetitive, and has a sluggish pace for a divulgation pop-history book, and if you already know enough of the Pharaohs, this won't be much new for you. For me, it was an easy memory refresher more than anything, and very readable.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
• Despite what films and Shakespeare may have led you to believe, there wasn't just one but seven Cleopatras. Seven!
• None of the Cleos were differentiated by numerals in their time, that is a modern historians' invention to stay sane in the midst of the Ptolemies' alarming lack of naming creativity. You a boy? Your name is always Ptolemy. You a gal? You're a Cleopatra or a Berenice or an Arsinoe. The Ptolemies differentiated themselves not by numbers but by nicknames/monikers, hence Cleopatra Syra is who we know as Cleopatra I, the first of them, and Cleopatra Thea Philopator is our Cleopatra VII, the last of them. (Let's forget that some of the Ptolemies repeated even the nicknames when they were being particularly uncreative, shall we?)
• The "they were women and that was their sin" angle is played a bit much for the modern audience's benefit sometimes. The
• Last Cleopatra is Best Cleopatra, enough said.
The book is a fine introduction to the history of the Ptolemaic queens called Cleopatra, as I bet most people have no idea there were several of them. Most only hear about the one from the various Cleopatra movies or from William Shakespeare's play plus cursory school history lessons, so this book will be enlightening and educational for them, as it covers the life stories and circumstances in which the seven Cleopatras had to exist, all neatly divided in three parts that go from the beginning (the first Cleos), the apotheosis (some of the more known and better-cunning Cleos) to the decline (the last Cleo when Rome took over). But it's also dry, repetitive, and has a sluggish pace for a divulgation pop-history book, and if you already know enough of the Pharaohs, this won't be much new for you. For me, it was an easy memory refresher more than anything, and very readable.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2024
The Cleopatras: The Forgotten Queens of Egypt was one of my most highest anticipated books of the year but for me, personally, it wasn't the best book I've ever read about ancient Egypt. However, I would still recommend it to people who want to learn more about the extraordinary Ptolemy dynasty and the amazing Cleopatras that stood out among the men.
I don't think I'm mistaken if I say that most people only know of one Cleopatra in particular, which is Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator. She was the (obvioiusly) 7th Cleopatra and the last queen of Egypt. I knew a bunch of other Cleopatras came before her but I never really delved into their stories before nor do I think there are any books that are just about these seven women in one book (although I could always be mistaken). But that's why I'm glad that Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has written this book because all of the Cleopatras deserve the attention.
Three star rated books are always the hardest for me to review so with this one it isn't an exception. It's always a kind of struggle for me. I liked this book but I didn't end up loving it as much as I would've wanted. It was fascinating for sure. I just felt like it didn't start out very strong but as the book went on and I read chapter after chapter I must say that it did gain strength.
The Cleopatras is divided into three parts. Part one is called Beginning, part two is called Expanding Horizons and part three is called Terminal Decline. The third part, which contained the last five chapters + epilogue, was my favorite part. I thought those chapters were the most interesting and the ones that read quicker for me. Maybe because I finally got used to the mention of so many Cleopatras and Ptolemy's. I knew this going in, of course, that in ancient Egyptian dynasties there were many queens and kings with the same name but even with this in the back of my head I still somewhat struggled with keeping everyone straight. By the time I reached part three I think I finally got a handle on them.
This was my first book by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones and although I didn't end up fully devouring and loving the book, I still want to read some of his other books because I could definitely feel the enthusiasm he has for the ancient world. This was something that I could clearly tell from his writing. I would love to read his book on the Persians. I think it sounds highly fascinating!
I don't think I'm mistaken if I say that most people only know of one Cleopatra in particular, which is Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator. She was the (obvioiusly) 7th Cleopatra and the last queen of Egypt. I knew a bunch of other Cleopatras came before her but I never really delved into their stories before nor do I think there are any books that are just about these seven women in one book (although I could always be mistaken). But that's why I'm glad that Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has written this book because all of the Cleopatras deserve the attention.
Three star rated books are always the hardest for me to review so with this one it isn't an exception. It's always a kind of struggle for me. I liked this book but I didn't end up loving it as much as I would've wanted. It was fascinating for sure. I just felt like it didn't start out very strong but as the book went on and I read chapter after chapter I must say that it did gain strength.
The Cleopatras is divided into three parts. Part one is called Beginning, part two is called Expanding Horizons and part three is called Terminal Decline. The third part, which contained the last five chapters + epilogue, was my favorite part. I thought those chapters were the most interesting and the ones that read quicker for me. Maybe because I finally got used to the mention of so many Cleopatras and Ptolemy's. I knew this going in, of course, that in ancient Egyptian dynasties there were many queens and kings with the same name but even with this in the back of my head I still somewhat struggled with keeping everyone straight. By the time I reached part three I think I finally got a handle on them.
This was my first book by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones and although I didn't end up fully devouring and loving the book, I still want to read some of his other books because I could definitely feel the enthusiasm he has for the ancient world. This was something that I could clearly tell from his writing. I would love to read his book on the Persians. I think it sounds highly fascinating!
August 20, 2024
I’ve debated a bit about how to approach reviewing this book, because I’m in two minds about it. On the one hand, I was captivated from page one. Completely absorbed, I flew through this book and I learned a lot from it.
On the other hand, it might be a bit too introductory if you’re well-versed in this specific period of history.
That being said, I have a few nonfiction reading niches and none of the include Ancient Egypt, so this book was entirely new information to me, and it opened up an area of history that I’m currently excited to learn more about.
That’s the mark of a successful nonfiction book, in my estimation: does it make people want to learn more?
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has an almost conversational way with his prose. I felt like I was sitting in a college class with my favorite professor. He has the ability to break down complex topics in a way that is easy to understand and relatable to the average reader.
I should clarify: I did not feel lectured to, but rather like I was sitting front-row for an epic story.
I learned a lot from this book, not only about the Cleopatras but also about the world they lived in. Llewellyn-Jones puts the events that transpire and the women involved in them in context with the world they inhabit. This was particularly interesting in a few points, where some of the Cleopatras were portrayed historically as being particularly brutal or determined to attain power (arguably, they were), and the author took time to address how the very fact that she was a woman impacted how her actions were portrayed by those who recorded the history.
To be clear, some of the Cleopatras truly were brutal and strived for power and glory, but the author worked hard to humanize even their most outrageous actions and put them in context in the time in which they lived, which was a magisterial feat, considering some of the events covered in this book.
It’s difficult to keep the family lines in order, and I was grateful that there were family trees in each section of the book. That, along with the author’s careful writing, kept everyone clear in my head as I read. I learned as well that the Cleopatras were not numbered in their lifetime. The numbers came later, as a way to make it easier to keep them apart (there were seven in total, and I greatly appreciated having them numbered as I read).
Some of the Cleopatras get more attention than others, but some lived longer than others and some had their lives recorded a bit better as a result. The few who came before Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra) had scarce information on them, but that was also when the dynasty was starting to crumble and there was just generally less information about them and their lives. I also was interested in the reasoning behind all the familial marriage, and he goes into a bit of the logic behind that (which was fascinating), but it’s not the focus of the story here aside from making the family lines difficult to track.
On a personal level, I found the later Cleopatras to be less interesting than the first three. The earlier women lived when the empire was building and growing and the Cleopatras retained the most power and impact on the political landscape around them (There were also some wild things that happened in their lives.). I found the later ones to be less compelling for a few reasons: there was less information about a few of them, and I’ve already read enough about Cleopatra VII to not really glean more new information about her here (which is going to harken back to my first point about the book: your interest level will wax or wane depending on how much you already know when you start reading). I think what I’m saying is that I realized that I know nearly nothing about this part of the world during the earlier time period, and I realized I wanted to learn more.
Which, as I said earlier in this review, is the mark of a successful nonfiction book: it makes the reader want to learn more.
None of this takes away from the fact that these women lived at the heart of an empire that was rising and falling during a fascinating period of human history. They (sometimes) grabbed power and (sometimes) retained it. They made distinct impacts on the world they inhabited. Some of them are still talked about reverently today. One of them might be one of the most famous female figures in history.
This is history in its most epic form, a true example of reality being stranger than fiction.
The Cleopatras was a fascinating book. While it very much is an overview about the lives of these seven historical figures, it is packed full of interesting information and written in a highly accessible way. If you’re already well-versed in this period of history, you might discover you already know a lot of what’s written here. However, if you’re like me and you know very little about any of this, give the book a try.
I am glad I did.
Read my review: https://www.bookwormblues.net/2024/08...
On the other hand, it might be a bit too introductory if you’re well-versed in this specific period of history.
That being said, I have a few nonfiction reading niches and none of the include Ancient Egypt, so this book was entirely new information to me, and it opened up an area of history that I’m currently excited to learn more about.
That’s the mark of a successful nonfiction book, in my estimation: does it make people want to learn more?
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has an almost conversational way with his prose. I felt like I was sitting in a college class with my favorite professor. He has the ability to break down complex topics in a way that is easy to understand and relatable to the average reader.
I should clarify: I did not feel lectured to, but rather like I was sitting front-row for an epic story.
I learned a lot from this book, not only about the Cleopatras but also about the world they lived in. Llewellyn-Jones puts the events that transpire and the women involved in them in context with the world they inhabit. This was particularly interesting in a few points, where some of the Cleopatras were portrayed historically as being particularly brutal or determined to attain power (arguably, they were), and the author took time to address how the very fact that she was a woman impacted how her actions were portrayed by those who recorded the history.
To be clear, some of the Cleopatras truly were brutal and strived for power and glory, but the author worked hard to humanize even their most outrageous actions and put them in context in the time in which they lived, which was a magisterial feat, considering some of the events covered in this book.
It’s difficult to keep the family lines in order, and I was grateful that there were family trees in each section of the book. That, along with the author’s careful writing, kept everyone clear in my head as I read. I learned as well that the Cleopatras were not numbered in their lifetime. The numbers came later, as a way to make it easier to keep them apart (there were seven in total, and I greatly appreciated having them numbered as I read).
Some of the Cleopatras get more attention than others, but some lived longer than others and some had their lives recorded a bit better as a result. The few who came before Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra) had scarce information on them, but that was also when the dynasty was starting to crumble and there was just generally less information about them and their lives. I also was interested in the reasoning behind all the familial marriage, and he goes into a bit of the logic behind that (which was fascinating), but it’s not the focus of the story here aside from making the family lines difficult to track.
On a personal level, I found the later Cleopatras to be less interesting than the first three. The earlier women lived when the empire was building and growing and the Cleopatras retained the most power and impact on the political landscape around them (There were also some wild things that happened in their lives.). I found the later ones to be less compelling for a few reasons: there was less information about a few of them, and I’ve already read enough about Cleopatra VII to not really glean more new information about her here (which is going to harken back to my first point about the book: your interest level will wax or wane depending on how much you already know when you start reading). I think what I’m saying is that I realized that I know nearly nothing about this part of the world during the earlier time period, and I realized I wanted to learn more.
Which, as I said earlier in this review, is the mark of a successful nonfiction book: it makes the reader want to learn more.
None of this takes away from the fact that these women lived at the heart of an empire that was rising and falling during a fascinating period of human history. They (sometimes) grabbed power and (sometimes) retained it. They made distinct impacts on the world they inhabited. Some of them are still talked about reverently today. One of them might be one of the most famous female figures in history.
This is history in its most epic form, a true example of reality being stranger than fiction.
The Cleopatras was a fascinating book. While it very much is an overview about the lives of these seven historical figures, it is packed full of interesting information and written in a highly accessible way. If you’re already well-versed in this period of history, you might discover you already know a lot of what’s written here. However, if you’re like me and you know very little about any of this, give the book a try.
I am glad I did.
Read my review: https://www.bookwormblues.net/2024/08...
September 3, 2024
Loved this book so much!
September 25, 2024
”The final century and a half of three millenia of male rulership in Egypt was a golden age for royal women, a period when queens finally came into their own. This is the story of Cleopatra VII and the other great Cleopatras, the forgotten queens of Egypt.”
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones' The Cleopatras details the explosive era between 192 and 30 BCE, which was, in Ptolemaic Egypt, a time when powerful queens emerged from the shadows of their husbands, took power for themselves, reshaped the role of a queen and a co-ruler of the Pharaoh and changed the world. At the heart of the book are the seven numbered Cleopatras – the last one being the famous Cleopatra, Cleopatra VII – but in totality, Llewellyn-Jones introduces us to ten incredible women who all bore the name Cleopatra.
I am so, so happy that this book exists. To have a book solely dedicated to shining a light on this incredibly powerful, complex and intriguing line of queens and to showcasing that Cleopatra VII, who is often portrayed as a singular woman and something of a lone wolf in Ptolemaic Egypt, was, on the contrary, the last in a long line of women who all wielded power in their own ways, is so important. The other Cleopatras have been largely written out of history or, if they are mentioned, they are relegated to minor political players or straight-up maligned. I knew there must have been at least six other Cleopatras, cause I knew the famous one was the seventh, but I had never before encountered their stories or been told of their great deeds. Llewellyn-Jones' book is an easy-to-read popularized history book about a complex subject (the family tree alone is a headache to understand, for pretty much every dude is named Ptolemy and every woman either Cleopatra or Berenice, and to top it all of they were all related) and he makes this time period vivid and lifelike, really giving these women their time on the center-stage. I am very thankful to him for writing this book.
First, I wanna talk a little more about how this book recontextualizes Cleopatra VII. No longer is she a unique woman who did something no other woman had done, a lone superb female figure in the otherwise male-dominated Ptolemaic dynasty. Yes, she did amazing and impressive things and was an incredibly astute politician, but she was not singular. It is, I think, a disservice to her and the women who came before her to think of her or depict her as such. She is the culmination of decades of women's work and accomplishments, and she knew that. From the way she depicted herself and named herself, we can see that she knew of other Cleopatras of her family (for example, she positioned herself as the living Isis, just like Cleopatra III did). I really enjoyed this quote from the book: ”If Cleopatra VII smashed through the glass ceiling that positions women as interlopers who cannot fit into a structure that is made by men, then the hammer blows that made the glass splinter and crack were delivered by her ancestresses, the Cleopatras.” Through this line of women, Llewellyn-Jones is able to explore the myriad of ways in which women are able to wield and grasp power and how varied the role of a queen can be: ”By acknowledging this kind of matriarchal legacy, we can begin to explore how princesses learned to be queens and how cultural and personal experiences informed decisions that affected both their family and the realm.” This book is a personal study of these ten Cleopatras, but it is also a wider look at the time period and, most importantly, the concept of female rule and the assumptions, fears, worries, prejudices and misogyny women occupying the seat of power roused in people of the time period.
The Cleopatras all had their own way of ruling, although they all shared certain similarities, such as a hunger for power, a politically savvy mind and a certain kind of ruthlessness, which some embraced most whole-heartedly. The Cleopatras made the role of a Ptolemaic queen something more than it used to be – and in doing so broke most of the norms that governed women's lives at the time which led to them being, at their time but especially after their deaths, to be maligned by historians all over the world – and clawed their way into power through their husbands, children, parents or by themselves by seizing they opportunities they were given. This quote stuck with me: "Some of the Cleopatras shared the same royal husband usually a brother or an uncle, or even a father and became king-makers. Some of the Cleopatras plotted the overthrow of husbands, brothers or sons and were therefore king-breakers too. Some of the Cleopatras bullied their way to power. Some slept their way to the top. Some of the Cleopatras led armies into war and other Cleopatras commanded fleets of ships. Some of the Cleopatras murdered other Cleopatras. All the Cleopatras craved power. And all the Cleopatras, often against all odds, eventually wielded power.”
All the Cleopatras had striking stories but I think, in terms of ruling (I mean, Cleopatra V Berenice III being the first woman in the dynasty to be crowned the sole female ruler of Egypt was pretty cool, for example), the ones that left the biggest impression on me were A) Cleopatra Syra – the first of the Cleopatras, a Seleucid princess given to a Ptolemy to make peace between their families, who became a beloved Queen, a Ptolemy through osmosis and a masterclass in how to assimilate into a foreign court through clever use of religious imagery, cultivating relationships, having multiple children and presenting yourself as a queen devoted solely to her husband and her new country – B) Cleopatra III – an absolutely ruthless woman who could give Cersei Lannister a run for her money, who declared herself as the living Isis and gave herself monikers, titles and positions she had either came up with herself or that had, before, been only ever given to men, and who has gone down in history as more an animal than a woman, a monstrous queen when in reality she was a woman who was, yes, brutal but also just damn good at ruling and keeping her country secure (something men have a trouble swallowing - it is much easier to just demonise a woman than to accept their prowess at a "male job") – and C) Cleopatra VII, the most famous of them all, a woman who has been grossly misunderstood and misinterpreted, cast as the exotic seductress or lovestruck oriental queen, who was, in reality, dead-smart, ruthless when she needed to be, brilliantly manipulative and utterly devoted to the safety and rule of her son, Caesarion.
Llewellyn-Jones does a wonderful job at explaining the time and world the Cleopatras lived in. He spends a lot of time describing the duality of Ptolemaic Egypt – it is a land that is, at the same time, both very Greek and Egyptian, a land that is, in Ptolemaic propaganda, depicted as a happily united kingdom when in reality the Egyptian natives faced a lot of racism and were made into second-class citizens in a political structure that was built to benefit Greeks and used Greek as its official language, casting anyone who didn't speak it into a more vulnerable position. The Greeks were given tax benefits and land, and while Egyptians were largely allowed to live their lives as they used to and worship the gods they did, they did face discrimination in many aspects of life. Ethnic conflict sometimes escalated into rebellions (there was one in the time of Cleopatra Syra, for example) and they were often quelled, after military action, with building projects, grand shows of opulence, amnesties for criminals and support for local temples. Perhaps the most intriguing little nod to how separated the Greek and Egyptian cultures of Ptolemaic Egypt sometimes were was how Greeks called the city of Alexandria "Alexandria that is next to Egypt" not "Alexandria in Egypt". Although the Greeks respected Egyptian culture and art, they did not want to be part of their people, for they were still not, in Greek eyes, as "good" as them. Assimilation was attempted, especially on the religious side: new gods were created to appeal to both cultures and sometimes the worship of many deities assimilated into one organically. It is a fascinating time period in Egypt. Llewellyn-Jones also depicts really well how connected Ptolemaic Egypt was to other empires of its time. The fate of the Seleucid empire is intricately tied to that of the Ptolemaic empire (the Seleucid empire was the stage for the actions of Cleopatras Thea, Tryphaina, IV and Selene), and all throughout the book the presence of Rome lurks in the background until it becomes a a significant power and ends up bringing forth the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Before I go into some of the most chaotic and memorable events of the lives of the Cleopatras (and by chaotic I mean batshit insane, stuff that puts most epic fantasy novels with their court dramas to shame, I mean, the Targaryens have nothing on the Ptolemys), I want to talk about royal incest, a staple of the Ptolemaic dynasty. It might seem baffling to us that they were so hellbent on marrying their siblings and close relatives, but when you put yourself in their shoes and try and understand their worldview, it becomes, if not acceptable in our eyes, then understandable. By marrying brother to sister, the Ptolemys were able to keep power within the family, avoid marriages to those of "lower status", protect the purity of the bloodline and, most importantly, position themselves as people above mere mortals. Incest was common among Greek and Egyptian gods, and by adopting these practices which were, to regular humans, a taboo, the Ptolemys declared themselves godly. It was a way to bolster their own image. Cleopatra Syra, a Seleucid princess turned Ptolemaic queen was eventually even given the moniker of "sister" by her husband to showcase their unity and her role as his co-ruler. She was not a sister by birth but they made her into one, to retain the godly image of brother-sister ruling couple. Fascinating stuff.
Now, on to the wildness. Over and over again while reading the book, I thought: "How can this be real?!" But as is often the case, history is wilder than fiction. I mean, just look at the absolute mess of a triangle that was Potbelly, Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VII - a trio of siblings who were forced to rule together but ended up, time and time again, betraying each other – or the way Potbelly made Cleopatra II's daughter, Cleopatra III, his second wife while still being married to II, causing mother and daughter to become life-long bitter enemies. Potbelly and Cleopatra III were exiled, then they sent Cleopatra II the mutilated remains of her son, then Cleopatra II was exiled and she ended up dabbling in the volatile political situation of the Seleucid kingdom until making her way back to Alexandria to rule once again by the side of her brother and daughter. I mean, what even?! This family was constantly tearing each other apart: there's murders, betrayal, marriage drama, mothers murdering their sons (looking at you, Cleopatra Thea) and sons murdering their mothers (looking at you, Grypus), siblings having each other killed (Cleopatra VII style), a mom, Cleopatra III, who nicknamed her son Chickpea cause she hates him (and how, despite her mom trying her best to get rid of him, he ends up ruling for quite a few years at different times), and so much more. On the Seleucid side of things, we have Cleopatra Thea who married three different guys based on who was on top, politically, at the moment, sisters - Cleopatra VI Tryphaina and Cleopatra IV - on opposite sides of a bloody civil war, and Cleopatra Selene who swoops in, marries both their widows and ends up giving birth to the last independent Seleucid ruler. All of this would make a brilliant HBO show. I am begging the universe that one day I will be able to watch a multi-season high budget historical epic about the shenanigans of the Ptolemaic court.
One small thing before I go into my last big topic, I wanna just say how ridiculous it is that Cleopatra VII's parentage continues to be such a hotly debated topic when it is clear from Egyptian sources that her mom was, in fact, Cleopatra VI. This is once again a reminder about why historians should not stick to one or two sources: if you look at Greco-Roman texts, her mother is unmentioned but if you open your eyes and explore the Egyptian sources - you know, the sources of the country she ruled – her mother is identified pretty much without question.
Finally, I wanna talk about how historians have failed the Cleopatras. They have been viewed, for thousands of years, through a lense that is an unfortunate mix of xenophobia and misogyny. They have been depicted as animalistic, monstrous, hypersexualized, heartless bitches and every other crude thing in the handbook of misogynists. But as Llewellyn-Jones puts it: ”And yet every gender stereotype slung at them says more about the history of scholarship than about the women themselves. The mixed emotions of male commentators through time reveal perhaps more than anything else the deeply contested nature of female rulership.” This phenomenon of making monsters out of powerful women is not exclusive to the Ptolemys but a thing that has happened time and time again in historiography. Luckily, it is a phenomenon modern historians are starting to unpack and question. The Cleopatras and every wrongly maligned historical woman deserves it.
I would recommend The Cleopatras to anyone looking to learn more about the Ptolemaic dynasty and its colourful women or to anyone interested in epic family sagas of history. I also think this book could appeal to fans of shows like The House of the Dragon - the Targaryens were, after all, clearly modelled after the Ptolemys.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones' The Cleopatras details the explosive era between 192 and 30 BCE, which was, in Ptolemaic Egypt, a time when powerful queens emerged from the shadows of their husbands, took power for themselves, reshaped the role of a queen and a co-ruler of the Pharaoh and changed the world. At the heart of the book are the seven numbered Cleopatras – the last one being the famous Cleopatra, Cleopatra VII – but in totality, Llewellyn-Jones introduces us to ten incredible women who all bore the name Cleopatra.
I am so, so happy that this book exists. To have a book solely dedicated to shining a light on this incredibly powerful, complex and intriguing line of queens and to showcasing that Cleopatra VII, who is often portrayed as a singular woman and something of a lone wolf in Ptolemaic Egypt, was, on the contrary, the last in a long line of women who all wielded power in their own ways, is so important. The other Cleopatras have been largely written out of history or, if they are mentioned, they are relegated to minor political players or straight-up maligned. I knew there must have been at least six other Cleopatras, cause I knew the famous one was the seventh, but I had never before encountered their stories or been told of their great deeds. Llewellyn-Jones' book is an easy-to-read popularized history book about a complex subject (the family tree alone is a headache to understand, for pretty much every dude is named Ptolemy and every woman either Cleopatra or Berenice, and to top it all of they were all related) and he makes this time period vivid and lifelike, really giving these women their time on the center-stage. I am very thankful to him for writing this book.
First, I wanna talk a little more about how this book recontextualizes Cleopatra VII. No longer is she a unique woman who did something no other woman had done, a lone superb female figure in the otherwise male-dominated Ptolemaic dynasty. Yes, she did amazing and impressive things and was an incredibly astute politician, but she was not singular. It is, I think, a disservice to her and the women who came before her to think of her or depict her as such. She is the culmination of decades of women's work and accomplishments, and she knew that. From the way she depicted herself and named herself, we can see that she knew of other Cleopatras of her family (for example, she positioned herself as the living Isis, just like Cleopatra III did). I really enjoyed this quote from the book: ”If Cleopatra VII smashed through the glass ceiling that positions women as interlopers who cannot fit into a structure that is made by men, then the hammer blows that made the glass splinter and crack were delivered by her ancestresses, the Cleopatras.” Through this line of women, Llewellyn-Jones is able to explore the myriad of ways in which women are able to wield and grasp power and how varied the role of a queen can be: ”By acknowledging this kind of matriarchal legacy, we can begin to explore how princesses learned to be queens and how cultural and personal experiences informed decisions that affected both their family and the realm.” This book is a personal study of these ten Cleopatras, but it is also a wider look at the time period and, most importantly, the concept of female rule and the assumptions, fears, worries, prejudices and misogyny women occupying the seat of power roused in people of the time period.
The Cleopatras all had their own way of ruling, although they all shared certain similarities, such as a hunger for power, a politically savvy mind and a certain kind of ruthlessness, which some embraced most whole-heartedly. The Cleopatras made the role of a Ptolemaic queen something more than it used to be – and in doing so broke most of the norms that governed women's lives at the time which led to them being, at their time but especially after their deaths, to be maligned by historians all over the world – and clawed their way into power through their husbands, children, parents or by themselves by seizing they opportunities they were given. This quote stuck with me: "Some of the Cleopatras shared the same royal husband usually a brother or an uncle, or even a father and became king-makers. Some of the Cleopatras plotted the overthrow of husbands, brothers or sons and were therefore king-breakers too. Some of the Cleopatras bullied their way to power. Some slept their way to the top. Some of the Cleopatras led armies into war and other Cleopatras commanded fleets of ships. Some of the Cleopatras murdered other Cleopatras. All the Cleopatras craved power. And all the Cleopatras, often against all odds, eventually wielded power.”
All the Cleopatras had striking stories but I think, in terms of ruling (I mean, Cleopatra V Berenice III being the first woman in the dynasty to be crowned the sole female ruler of Egypt was pretty cool, for example), the ones that left the biggest impression on me were A) Cleopatra Syra – the first of the Cleopatras, a Seleucid princess given to a Ptolemy to make peace between their families, who became a beloved Queen, a Ptolemy through osmosis and a masterclass in how to assimilate into a foreign court through clever use of religious imagery, cultivating relationships, having multiple children and presenting yourself as a queen devoted solely to her husband and her new country – B) Cleopatra III – an absolutely ruthless woman who could give Cersei Lannister a run for her money, who declared herself as the living Isis and gave herself monikers, titles and positions she had either came up with herself or that had, before, been only ever given to men, and who has gone down in history as more an animal than a woman, a monstrous queen when in reality she was a woman who was, yes, brutal but also just damn good at ruling and keeping her country secure (something men have a trouble swallowing - it is much easier to just demonise a woman than to accept their prowess at a "male job") – and C) Cleopatra VII, the most famous of them all, a woman who has been grossly misunderstood and misinterpreted, cast as the exotic seductress or lovestruck oriental queen, who was, in reality, dead-smart, ruthless when she needed to be, brilliantly manipulative and utterly devoted to the safety and rule of her son, Caesarion.
Llewellyn-Jones does a wonderful job at explaining the time and world the Cleopatras lived in. He spends a lot of time describing the duality of Ptolemaic Egypt – it is a land that is, at the same time, both very Greek and Egyptian, a land that is, in Ptolemaic propaganda, depicted as a happily united kingdom when in reality the Egyptian natives faced a lot of racism and were made into second-class citizens in a political structure that was built to benefit Greeks and used Greek as its official language, casting anyone who didn't speak it into a more vulnerable position. The Greeks were given tax benefits and land, and while Egyptians were largely allowed to live their lives as they used to and worship the gods they did, they did face discrimination in many aspects of life. Ethnic conflict sometimes escalated into rebellions (there was one in the time of Cleopatra Syra, for example) and they were often quelled, after military action, with building projects, grand shows of opulence, amnesties for criminals and support for local temples. Perhaps the most intriguing little nod to how separated the Greek and Egyptian cultures of Ptolemaic Egypt sometimes were was how Greeks called the city of Alexandria "Alexandria that is next to Egypt" not "Alexandria in Egypt". Although the Greeks respected Egyptian culture and art, they did not want to be part of their people, for they were still not, in Greek eyes, as "good" as them. Assimilation was attempted, especially on the religious side: new gods were created to appeal to both cultures and sometimes the worship of many deities assimilated into one organically. It is a fascinating time period in Egypt. Llewellyn-Jones also depicts really well how connected Ptolemaic Egypt was to other empires of its time. The fate of the Seleucid empire is intricately tied to that of the Ptolemaic empire (the Seleucid empire was the stage for the actions of Cleopatras Thea, Tryphaina, IV and Selene), and all throughout the book the presence of Rome lurks in the background until it becomes a a significant power and ends up bringing forth the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Before I go into some of the most chaotic and memorable events of the lives of the Cleopatras (and by chaotic I mean batshit insane, stuff that puts most epic fantasy novels with their court dramas to shame, I mean, the Targaryens have nothing on the Ptolemys), I want to talk about royal incest, a staple of the Ptolemaic dynasty. It might seem baffling to us that they were so hellbent on marrying their siblings and close relatives, but when you put yourself in their shoes and try and understand their worldview, it becomes, if not acceptable in our eyes, then understandable. By marrying brother to sister, the Ptolemys were able to keep power within the family, avoid marriages to those of "lower status", protect the purity of the bloodline and, most importantly, position themselves as people above mere mortals. Incest was common among Greek and Egyptian gods, and by adopting these practices which were, to regular humans, a taboo, the Ptolemys declared themselves godly. It was a way to bolster their own image. Cleopatra Syra, a Seleucid princess turned Ptolemaic queen was eventually even given the moniker of "sister" by her husband to showcase their unity and her role as his co-ruler. She was not a sister by birth but they made her into one, to retain the godly image of brother-sister ruling couple. Fascinating stuff.
Now, on to the wildness. Over and over again while reading the book, I thought: "How can this be real?!" But as is often the case, history is wilder than fiction. I mean, just look at the absolute mess of a triangle that was Potbelly, Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VII - a trio of siblings who were forced to rule together but ended up, time and time again, betraying each other – or the way Potbelly made Cleopatra II's daughter, Cleopatra III, his second wife while still being married to II, causing mother and daughter to become life-long bitter enemies. Potbelly and Cleopatra III were exiled, then they sent Cleopatra II the mutilated remains of her son, then Cleopatra II was exiled and she ended up dabbling in the volatile political situation of the Seleucid kingdom until making her way back to Alexandria to rule once again by the side of her brother and daughter. I mean, what even?! This family was constantly tearing each other apart: there's murders, betrayal, marriage drama, mothers murdering their sons (looking at you, Cleopatra Thea) and sons murdering their mothers (looking at you, Grypus), siblings having each other killed (Cleopatra VII style), a mom, Cleopatra III, who nicknamed her son Chickpea cause she hates him (and how, despite her mom trying her best to get rid of him, he ends up ruling for quite a few years at different times), and so much more. On the Seleucid side of things, we have Cleopatra Thea who married three different guys based on who was on top, politically, at the moment, sisters - Cleopatra VI Tryphaina and Cleopatra IV - on opposite sides of a bloody civil war, and Cleopatra Selene who swoops in, marries both their widows and ends up giving birth to the last independent Seleucid ruler. All of this would make a brilliant HBO show. I am begging the universe that one day I will be able to watch a multi-season high budget historical epic about the shenanigans of the Ptolemaic court.
One small thing before I go into my last big topic, I wanna just say how ridiculous it is that Cleopatra VII's parentage continues to be such a hotly debated topic when it is clear from Egyptian sources that her mom was, in fact, Cleopatra VI. This is once again a reminder about why historians should not stick to one or two sources: if you look at Greco-Roman texts, her mother is unmentioned but if you open your eyes and explore the Egyptian sources - you know, the sources of the country she ruled – her mother is identified pretty much without question.
Finally, I wanna talk about how historians have failed the Cleopatras. They have been viewed, for thousands of years, through a lense that is an unfortunate mix of xenophobia and misogyny. They have been depicted as animalistic, monstrous, hypersexualized, heartless bitches and every other crude thing in the handbook of misogynists. But as Llewellyn-Jones puts it: ”And yet every gender stereotype slung at them says more about the history of scholarship than about the women themselves. The mixed emotions of male commentators through time reveal perhaps more than anything else the deeply contested nature of female rulership.” This phenomenon of making monsters out of powerful women is not exclusive to the Ptolemys but a thing that has happened time and time again in historiography. Luckily, it is a phenomenon modern historians are starting to unpack and question. The Cleopatras and every wrongly maligned historical woman deserves it.
I would recommend The Cleopatras to anyone looking to learn more about the Ptolemaic dynasty and its colourful women or to anyone interested in epic family sagas of history. I also think this book could appeal to fans of shows like The House of the Dragon - the Targaryens were, after all, clearly modelled after the Ptolemys.
July 23, 2024
I confess, this is not one of my strongest areas of history so I've thoroughly enjoyed learning!
March 22, 2024
I LOVED this book.
A lot.
I've always been a huge fan of Cleopatra VII (THE Cleopatra to most people), but always wanted to know more about her equally impressive and just as badass ancestors. This book does an excellent job of introducing you to the tangled web of the Ptolemies, who make the Habsburgs look like amateurs with the "keep it in your family" department!
It gives you a lot of information about the infamous dynasty, but doesn't make you feel bogged down like you're reading a dry history text.
Definitely going to purchase this one for my collection! Thanks to Netgalley for the Advance review copy!
A lot.
I've always been a huge fan of Cleopatra VII (THE Cleopatra to most people), but always wanted to know more about her equally impressive and just as badass ancestors. This book does an excellent job of introducing you to the tangled web of the Ptolemies, who make the Habsburgs look like amateurs with the "keep it in your family" department!
It gives you a lot of information about the infamous dynasty, but doesn't make you feel bogged down like you're reading a dry history text.
Definitely going to purchase this one for my collection! Thanks to Netgalley for the Advance review copy!
July 4, 2024
"Cleopatra VII comes into her own when we understand that she was one of a long line of extraordinary ruling women - that she was one of the Cleopatras."
Have you been watching House of the Dragon recently? Well, I have a book recommendation for you that makes the world of Game of Thrones look tame.
Many of us, if not most, will be familiar with Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt and lover of both Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. The stories surrounding her are legendary, however less is known of the equally mythic women who ruled before her.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones masterfully weaves the tales of the seven ruling women known as Cleopatra throughout the bloody and complex history of the Ptolemaic dynasty. From the death of the beloved Alexander the Great and assumption of the first Ptolemy king to the death of Cleopatra VII and the annexation of Egypt into Rome, each woman is carefully scrutinised in a balanced narrative that evokes the seriousness of the subject while including much-welcomed accessibility for ease of understanding.
For a dynasty who were not strangers to "keeping it within the family" and playing the deadly game of kings and queens, this lively account of powerful women is sure to please history buffs everywhere.
Thank you to @headlinebooks who kindly sent me this beautiful copy to review.
Have you been watching House of the Dragon recently? Well, I have a book recommendation for you that makes the world of Game of Thrones look tame.
Many of us, if not most, will be familiar with Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt and lover of both Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. The stories surrounding her are legendary, however less is known of the equally mythic women who ruled before her.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones masterfully weaves the tales of the seven ruling women known as Cleopatra throughout the bloody and complex history of the Ptolemaic dynasty. From the death of the beloved Alexander the Great and assumption of the first Ptolemy king to the death of Cleopatra VII and the annexation of Egypt into Rome, each woman is carefully scrutinised in a balanced narrative that evokes the seriousness of the subject while including much-welcomed accessibility for ease of understanding.
For a dynasty who were not strangers to "keeping it within the family" and playing the deadly game of kings and queens, this lively account of powerful women is sure to please history buffs everywhere.
Thank you to @headlinebooks who kindly sent me this beautiful copy to review.
August 6, 2024
Llewelyn-Jones must be a masochist. Why else would you delve into the world of the Cleopatras and Ptolemies, a teeming, near incomprehensible mess of identically named, power-hungry potentates? Yet with a forensic eye for enlightening sources and a firm grasp on the significance of religious cults in the ancient world, the author extracts a digestible tale amongst the incest and fratricide.
Such ingredients will always make for a pleasingly gruesome potboiler, but Llewelyn-Jones’ raison d’être is to correct an oversight in our collective historic conscience; that the name Cleopatra conjures the image of just one pop-culture phenomenon, the 7th of her name. In spelling out the legacy of the Cleopatras that came before, the author gives each a mawkish epitaph extolling their legacy, breaking up the tone of an otherwise impressive history.
Such ingredients will always make for a pleasingly gruesome potboiler, but Llewelyn-Jones’ raison d’être is to correct an oversight in our collective historic conscience; that the name Cleopatra conjures the image of just one pop-culture phenomenon, the 7th of her name. In spelling out the legacy of the Cleopatras that came before, the author gives each a mawkish epitaph extolling their legacy, breaking up the tone of an otherwise impressive history.
January 18, 2024
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
Most people know Cleopatra, the famous queen who allegedly chose death by asp instead of facing defeat at the hands of the Romans, but not many may know she was the last in a long line of queens that shared her name. There was, in fact, seven Cleopatra's in the Ptolemy dynasty that became queen, each with her own interesting tales to tell. The book takes a look at all seven women, their lives, and what was going on in Egypt during their reigns. It's clear a lot of research went into this book, as there is a good amount of detail about not only the queens and the royal family, but also of Egypt, its political and social landscapes, and the culture surrounding royalty. Any chance to learn more about Egyptian women who held power is interesting, as they weren't always well documented, and some were erased from the records after their death. But, women in Egypt often ruled, whether as a co-ruler, a regent, or pharaoh in their own right, and it's always fascinating to see how these women wielded their influence. While I did feel like the writing was a bit dry and sometimes hard to slog through, this book was a good read and offers a lot of information about these little-known women.
Most people know Cleopatra, the famous queen who allegedly chose death by asp instead of facing defeat at the hands of the Romans, but not many may know she was the last in a long line of queens that shared her name. There was, in fact, seven Cleopatra's in the Ptolemy dynasty that became queen, each with her own interesting tales to tell. The book takes a look at all seven women, their lives, and what was going on in Egypt during their reigns. It's clear a lot of research went into this book, as there is a good amount of detail about not only the queens and the royal family, but also of Egypt, its political and social landscapes, and the culture surrounding royalty. Any chance to learn more about Egyptian women who held power is interesting, as they weren't always well documented, and some were erased from the records after their death. But, women in Egypt often ruled, whether as a co-ruler, a regent, or pharaoh in their own right, and it's always fascinating to see how these women wielded their influence. While I did feel like the writing was a bit dry and sometimes hard to slog through, this book was a good read and offers a lot of information about these little-known women.
June 25, 2024
Despite the confusion of so many Cleopatra and Ptolemy characters, Mr. Llewellyn-Jones has written a brilliantly entertaining and fascinating history of the Cleopatras. He managed to bring to life long-dead and long-forgotten people and places, despite the lack of much source material on some of them. Well done!!!
August 11, 2024
A well researched, fascinating look at the Ptolemaic queens who bore the name Cleopatra, and their influence on the family dynasty and ancient world politics.
August 3, 2024
Nog niet eens zo heel lang geleden heb ik van Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones al De Perzen gelezen, een mooi staaltje geschiedschrijving. In De Cleopatra's gaat hij op een ander interessant aspect van de oude beschavingen, iets dat maar weinig mensen weten: dat er niet alleen dé Cleopatra is geweest, maar dat zij de laatste was van een hele reeks. Dat op zich wist al wel, maar verder rijkte mijn kennis ook niet.
In 300 bladzijdes vertelt hij het verhaal van de laatste Egyptische dynastie, die van de Ptolemaeën, voor het Oude Egyptische Rijk overgenomen werd door de Romeinen en voorgoed ten onder ging. Maar de nadruk ligt dus niet op die geschiedenis zelf, maar op de rol die de vrouwelijke farao's, de Cleopatra's, daarbij gespeeld hebben. Dit boek vertelt echt hun levensverhaal, en dat wordt heel erg duidelijk gemaakt omdat het historische discours inderdaad niet in die mate rechtlijnig is dat echt 'de geschiedenis' duidelijk wordt, maar wel dat hun levensloop sterk belicht wordt.
Nu moet ik je meteen waarschuwen: De Perzen was al niet erg opbeurend, en van dit boek word je helemaal depressief. De Ptolemaeïsche dynastie was er een die bol stond van de incest, waarbij ooms en nichten met elkaar trouwden, broers en zussen, zoons en dochters, tot er zodanig gecompliceerde stambomen ontstonden doordat een broer achtereenvolgens ook wel met meer van zijn zussen of omgekeerd trouwde, waarna die dan weer trouwden met een kind van een andere echtgeno(o)t(e) enzovoorts. Dat maakt het ten eerste voor ons niet gewoon wansmakelijk en afstotend maar ronduit walgelijk, en dat het hele boek door, het maakt het ook ontzettend complex. Temeer daar bijna alle vrouwen Cleopatra heetten en bijna alle mannen Ptolemaeus.
Naast de incest staat het boek ook bol van verraad, wraak, moord en wat je verder maar kunt verzinnen. Dat sommige - de meeste - van de Cleopatra's geniale koninginnen waren, daar valt niet aan te tornen. Maar hoe ze hun eigen nichten, zussen en dochters soms misbruikten, verminkten en vermoorden is afschuwelijk.
Kort gezegd: lees dit boek als je geen sterke maag hebt. Geloof me. Lichte kost is wel het laatste dat je dit boek kunt noemen.
Maar interessant is het natuurlijk wel. Llewellyn-Jones geeft een goed beeld van alle Cleopatra's apart, de verhoudingen met hun andere familieleden, hun rol in de geschiedenis en de wereld rondom hen. Hij neemt een ander standpunt in dan de meeste geschiedkundigen en dat loont echt wel, dat maakt dit boek bijzonder. De enige inhoudelijke opmerking die ik heb, is deze: naast de stambomen die erin zitten (waarvoor dank! Ik heb ze goed gebruikt) had een eenvoudige tijdlijn misschien ook handig geweest om aan te geven welke koninginnen en koningen er op welk moment aan de macht waren, welke in ballingschap waren enzovoorts. Dat had iets meer overzicht gegeven, wat soms wel nodig was.
Het is vooral complex op momenten waarop er echt ingegaan wordt op alle intriges binnen de faraofamilie, omdat die dan allemaal zitten te konkelfoezen en er heel wat namen de revue passeren - en zoals gezegd, met al die herhalende namen wordt het er niet gemakkelijk op. Wanneer het gaat over de bredere geschiedenis, de ontwikkelingen buiten het hof, is het eenvoudiger. Maar ja, het doel is natuurlijk om een beschrijving van de historie te geven, dus als auteur kun je het ook niet gemakkelijker maken dan het is.
Ook deze vertaling is weer van Aad Janssen & Pon Ruiter, en net als vorige keer ben ik daar heel tevreden over. Alles is vlot, correct vertaald, de schrijfwijze van de namen zit logisch in elkaar en voor zover ik kan beoordelen is er nergens een Romeins nummer fout geplaatst - want dat soort fouten is rap gemaakt, natuurlijk. Knap werk dus van de hele ploeg voor de Nederlandse uitgave.
Verder ga ik dit boek echt nooit meer lezen, en stiekem hoop ik ook dat ik nooit meer zoiets te lezen krijg, want anders verhang ik me waarschijnlijk, puur uit ellende.
8/10
In 300 bladzijdes vertelt hij het verhaal van de laatste Egyptische dynastie, die van de Ptolemaeën, voor het Oude Egyptische Rijk overgenomen werd door de Romeinen en voorgoed ten onder ging. Maar de nadruk ligt dus niet op die geschiedenis zelf, maar op de rol die de vrouwelijke farao's, de Cleopatra's, daarbij gespeeld hebben. Dit boek vertelt echt hun levensverhaal, en dat wordt heel erg duidelijk gemaakt omdat het historische discours inderdaad niet in die mate rechtlijnig is dat echt 'de geschiedenis' duidelijk wordt, maar wel dat hun levensloop sterk belicht wordt.
Nu moet ik je meteen waarschuwen: De Perzen was al niet erg opbeurend, en van dit boek word je helemaal depressief. De Ptolemaeïsche dynastie was er een die bol stond van de incest, waarbij ooms en nichten met elkaar trouwden, broers en zussen, zoons en dochters, tot er zodanig gecompliceerde stambomen ontstonden doordat een broer achtereenvolgens ook wel met meer van zijn zussen of omgekeerd trouwde, waarna die dan weer trouwden met een kind van een andere echtgeno(o)t(e) enzovoorts. Dat maakt het ten eerste voor ons niet gewoon wansmakelijk en afstotend maar ronduit walgelijk, en dat het hele boek door, het maakt het ook ontzettend complex. Temeer daar bijna alle vrouwen Cleopatra heetten en bijna alle mannen Ptolemaeus.
Naast de incest staat het boek ook bol van verraad, wraak, moord en wat je verder maar kunt verzinnen. Dat sommige - de meeste - van de Cleopatra's geniale koninginnen waren, daar valt niet aan te tornen. Maar hoe ze hun eigen nichten, zussen en dochters soms misbruikten, verminkten en vermoorden is afschuwelijk.
Kort gezegd: lees dit boek als je geen sterke maag hebt. Geloof me. Lichte kost is wel het laatste dat je dit boek kunt noemen.
Maar interessant is het natuurlijk wel. Llewellyn-Jones geeft een goed beeld van alle Cleopatra's apart, de verhoudingen met hun andere familieleden, hun rol in de geschiedenis en de wereld rondom hen. Hij neemt een ander standpunt in dan de meeste geschiedkundigen en dat loont echt wel, dat maakt dit boek bijzonder. De enige inhoudelijke opmerking die ik heb, is deze: naast de stambomen die erin zitten (waarvoor dank! Ik heb ze goed gebruikt) had een eenvoudige tijdlijn misschien ook handig geweest om aan te geven welke koninginnen en koningen er op welk moment aan de macht waren, welke in ballingschap waren enzovoorts. Dat had iets meer overzicht gegeven, wat soms wel nodig was.
Het is vooral complex op momenten waarop er echt ingegaan wordt op alle intriges binnen de faraofamilie, omdat die dan allemaal zitten te konkelfoezen en er heel wat namen de revue passeren - en zoals gezegd, met al die herhalende namen wordt het er niet gemakkelijk op. Wanneer het gaat over de bredere geschiedenis, de ontwikkelingen buiten het hof, is het eenvoudiger. Maar ja, het doel is natuurlijk om een beschrijving van de historie te geven, dus als auteur kun je het ook niet gemakkelijker maken dan het is.
Ook deze vertaling is weer van Aad Janssen & Pon Ruiter, en net als vorige keer ben ik daar heel tevreden over. Alles is vlot, correct vertaald, de schrijfwijze van de namen zit logisch in elkaar en voor zover ik kan beoordelen is er nergens een Romeins nummer fout geplaatst - want dat soort fouten is rap gemaakt, natuurlijk. Knap werk dus van de hele ploeg voor de Nederlandse uitgave.
Verder ga ik dit boek echt nooit meer lezen, en stiekem hoop ik ook dat ik nooit meer zoiets te lezen krijg, want anders verhang ik me waarschijnlijk, puur uit ellende.
8/10
May 24, 2024
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones starts out describing how Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, otherwise known as the Cleopatra, gets all the glory and attention, in both fiction and academia, with her life story presented in a vacuum.
Llewellyn-Jones argues that when you put her in context of her family and dynasty, you see where a lot of her skills, abilities, and determination came from, and that the Ptolemaic dynasty deserves, if not praise (too much bloodshed for that), then at least recognition of their actions, and he presents here their family story, a soap opera on the grandest of scales.
Be aware, the Ptolemaic dynasty named every single boy Ptolemy and almost every single girl Cleopatra (with a few Arsinoe’s and Berenike’s thrown in for flavor).
And by every one – I don’t mean one every generation – I mean every single son and every single daughter was getting the same name, so, on average, at any give point, the royal palace was filled with grandma Cleopatra, married to her brother Ptolemy, and their three daughters named Cleopatra, and a son named Ptolemy, who was married to one of his Cleopatra sisters, and those two then had two sons named Ptolemy and two daughters named Cleopatra.
So it’s always “King Ptolemy” and “Queen Cleopatra” on the throne. Then, to make it more confusing for the historical record, whenever there was a rebellion and a Ptolemy would push his brother off the throne or a Cleopatra would usurp her aunt, or a Ptolemy would take the throne back from his usurping nephew, they would re-do the numbering of regnal years for, you know, stability, to make it look like they had always been on the throne, which throws a lot of dating off.
But they had nicknames! Which you think would help… but, given some of their actions and (inbred) features, they tended to pick up nicknames that were incredibly filthy. The names look all pretty and smart in ancient Greek, but when you translate them into modern English you get insults that would get you thrown out of most Open Mic nights. Like, if I were to write down some of their nicknames in modern English here, I think I might violate a morality clause in Goodreads’ User Agreement Terms of Service.
And while all of this is a headache for historians, it also shows how the Ptolemy’s embraced a mentality that everyone was replaceable. When everyone has the same name, it helps foster an environment where someone could easily be pushed out and replaced by a relative – something about the same name made it much less of a moral quandary for both the usurper and his/her followers.
The book traces the entire dynasty from the too-soon death of Alexander the Great to the suicide of Cleopatra VII, following both the family members personal lives, as well as how they fit into a much bigger geo-political picture, with both the actions of neighboring countries as well as the rising power of Rome across the sea having a large impact on the rise and fall of each generation.
And we see how all these Cleopatras were determined to be Queen Regnant - they saw no reason why they should not rule in their right and very often took matters into their own hands, clearly seeing the patriarchy as something that just did not apply to them.
Llewellyn-Jones examines statues, wall reliefs (bemoaning we haven’t found any Ptolemaic graves), mosaics, coins, private letters, public declarations, official records, unofficial gossip, and more to get as close as possible to this remarkable family – both utterly alien in some of their actions and yet all too human with many of their emotions.
June 5, 2024
Everyone knows Cleopatra, perhaps the most famous woman in the Ancient world. Her affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony have been the plots of countless plays, books, movies, and TV shows. Her death by an Asp (if that is what occurred) has been immortalized.
While everyone knows her as "Cleopatra", officially, she is Cleopatra VII of Egypt. As is denoted by the "VII", she was the seventh Cleopatra to rule over Egypt. Yet, outside of scholars, the other six before her are virtually unknown. This book seeks to solve that by placing Cleopatra VII in the wider context of her family history by writing a multi-biography of the Cleopatras who ruled in the century before Egypt's conquest by Rome.
Each Cleopatra was a member of or married into the Ptolemy family, founded by Ptolemy, a general of Alexander the Great. The 300-year reign of the Ptolemys embodies the worst traits of a monarchy. The family took incest to another level, with many couples being full-blooded siblings. At one point in the story, there is a polyamorous marriage between Ptolemy VIII (the book refers to him as "Potbelly") and his full-sister Cleopatra II as well as his step-daughter/full-neice Cleopatra III. The Ptolemies were decadent, fat, and loved pleasure. The family was more concerned with plotting against each other than ruling Egypt, and their squabbles worthy of a soap opera eventually brought the dynasty down with the rule of Rome. However, as the book details, there was a method to the gross madness no matter how much society reviles it.
The book focuses on the Cleopatras and tries (with limited sources from the time) to discern not only *what* these characters did, but *why*. The bias against the Cleopatras is strong due to the mostly male-dominated viewpoint throughout history. They have been portrayed as murderous, power-hungry, emotional, sex-crazed people. In reality, the Cleopatras had to make do with their life station to survive. The book does a good job of portraying these women as political players who often had to make difficult choices to survive the bloody world of the Ptolemies. To be clear, the Cleopatras were murderous and power-hungry, but their actions were not out of line with the men of the family either.
Overall, the book is well written and a good introduction to the Ptolemy family through the lens of the Cleopatras. The biggest issue with this book is it starts slow with lots of exposition into the world that bogs down in certain sections. Of course, the context is necessary, but the way it is presented feels somewhat disjointed which adds to the book's sluggish pace early on. The book picks up when it transitions into a more traditional narrative storyline about a third of the way in. Afterward, the book becomes much more enjoyable and easier to read. For anyone looking for a good read about Ptolemaic Egypt, this is a good book to read.
While everyone knows her as "Cleopatra", officially, she is Cleopatra VII of Egypt. As is denoted by the "VII", she was the seventh Cleopatra to rule over Egypt. Yet, outside of scholars, the other six before her are virtually unknown. This book seeks to solve that by placing Cleopatra VII in the wider context of her family history by writing a multi-biography of the Cleopatras who ruled in the century before Egypt's conquest by Rome.
Each Cleopatra was a member of or married into the Ptolemy family, founded by Ptolemy, a general of Alexander the Great. The 300-year reign of the Ptolemys embodies the worst traits of a monarchy. The family took incest to another level, with many couples being full-blooded siblings. At one point in the story, there is a polyamorous marriage between Ptolemy VIII (the book refers to him as "Potbelly") and his full-sister Cleopatra II as well as his step-daughter/full-neice Cleopatra III. The Ptolemies were decadent, fat, and loved pleasure. The family was more concerned with plotting against each other than ruling Egypt, and their squabbles worthy of a soap opera eventually brought the dynasty down with the rule of Rome. However, as the book details, there was a method to the gross madness no matter how much society reviles it.
The book focuses on the Cleopatras and tries (with limited sources from the time) to discern not only *what* these characters did, but *why*. The bias against the Cleopatras is strong due to the mostly male-dominated viewpoint throughout history. They have been portrayed as murderous, power-hungry, emotional, sex-crazed people. In reality, the Cleopatras had to make do with their life station to survive. The book does a good job of portraying these women as political players who often had to make difficult choices to survive the bloody world of the Ptolemies. To be clear, the Cleopatras were murderous and power-hungry, but their actions were not out of line with the men of the family either.
Overall, the book is well written and a good introduction to the Ptolemy family through the lens of the Cleopatras. The biggest issue with this book is it starts slow with lots of exposition into the world that bogs down in certain sections. Of course, the context is necessary, but the way it is presented feels somewhat disjointed which adds to the book's sluggish pace early on. The book picks up when it transitions into a more traditional narrative storyline about a third of the way in. Afterward, the book becomes much more enjoyable and easier to read. For anyone looking for a good read about Ptolemaic Egypt, this is a good book to read.
April 23, 2024
I got the ARC of this book from Netgalley for honest review. This is my opinion about the book.
I really like history, especially history of ancient civilizations like Egypt. This book itself has the potential to be a very interesting read, because the topic is cool and unusual.
Of all the seven Cleopatras of Egypt, only Cleopatra VII Philopator’s life has been continuously discussed. Not many people know (or particularly interested) in the other Cleopatras.
This book tried to introduce the other Cleopatras to the reader. It's really full of information. Almost everything that readers want to know about Ptolemaic Egypt can be found in this book. Moreover, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, who wrote this book, is indeed a historian. I trust his credibility as an author.
Unfortunately, all the dense information in this book seems scattered. After discussing the history of Cleopatra I, the author can suddenly talk about the name Cleopatra which is also popular in Greek mythology.
It feels such a pity, the dense and actually important information is easily overlooked because it is piled into one. Moreover, one chapter can tell about several Cleopatras at once.
This way of storytelling will be difficult for modern readers who are not used to long texts. (short attention span due to overconsumption of social media contents). It’s a shame if the historical facts that the author has painstakingly summarized just pass by in the reader’s memory. I even had to make notes in phone every time there was interesting information that I wanted to remember.
The information should be broken down into several chapters and sub-chapters. The chapter about Cleopatra Syra, for example, could be divided into “Background of Cleopatra Syra”, “Conditions of the Seleucid and Egyptian Kingdom during Cleopatra Syra’s time”, “Cleopatra Syra’s Marriage”, and “Cleopatra Syra’s Role as Queen of Egypt”. This way, readers will definitely find it easier to remember the points conveyed by the author.
In the end, this book is an important read. This book could even be made into an interesting docuseries if added with perspectives from other historians.
I really like history, especially history of ancient civilizations like Egypt. This book itself has the potential to be a very interesting read, because the topic is cool and unusual.
Of all the seven Cleopatras of Egypt, only Cleopatra VII Philopator’s life has been continuously discussed. Not many people know (or particularly interested) in the other Cleopatras.
This book tried to introduce the other Cleopatras to the reader. It's really full of information. Almost everything that readers want to know about Ptolemaic Egypt can be found in this book. Moreover, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, who wrote this book, is indeed a historian. I trust his credibility as an author.
Unfortunately, all the dense information in this book seems scattered. After discussing the history of Cleopatra I, the author can suddenly talk about the name Cleopatra which is also popular in Greek mythology.
It feels such a pity, the dense and actually important information is easily overlooked because it is piled into one. Moreover, one chapter can tell about several Cleopatras at once.
This way of storytelling will be difficult for modern readers who are not used to long texts. (short attention span due to overconsumption of social media contents). It’s a shame if the historical facts that the author has painstakingly summarized just pass by in the reader’s memory. I even had to make notes in phone every time there was interesting information that I wanted to remember.
The information should be broken down into several chapters and sub-chapters. The chapter about Cleopatra Syra, for example, could be divided into “Background of Cleopatra Syra”, “Conditions of the Seleucid and Egyptian Kingdom during Cleopatra Syra’s time”, “Cleopatra Syra’s Marriage”, and “Cleopatra Syra’s Role as Queen of Egypt”. This way, readers will definitely find it easier to remember the points conveyed by the author.
In the end, this book is an important read. This book could even be made into an interesting docuseries if added with perspectives from other historians.
May 22, 2024
This was a real Game of Thrones and much bloodier and stranger than any fiction. Llewellyn-Jones, for perhaps the first time, brings together the thoroughly researched biographies/histories of the Cleopatras because the infamous one from movies and plays was the 7th (and a few others that weren't numbered) and the last. She didn't show up in a vacuum, the ones before her laid the path to break the usually very restrictive and silent role women were suppose to live. And they did it with intelligence, masterful politics, betrayal, and murder.
While it was hard at times to keep track of the different people this was not the fault of the author. The family had two main names they used over several generations: Ptolemy and Cleopatra. To add to the confusion they married each other: sisters and brothers, fathers and daughters, uncles and nieces. They did use descriptors that helps identify them and the book had charts as well. Some reviewers claimed it was a bit dry but I didn't find it so. Yes, it was written by a scholar but it was meant for the general public; there wasn't footnotes everywhere and no inaccessible language was used. The chapters could have been broken down into subheadings which could have helped with keeping track of things. Also, I would have preferred more notes but there was a listing of sources in the back.
The author went beyond just the written records which could be contradictory and heavily biased against any powerful woman. He included archaeological and numismatical evidence. Where there were gaps he used other materials that described similar or likely events such as high social tiered weddings from that time period. He did a very good job of showing how these women made the most of the opportunities they had and subverted roles to assert influence and gain power.
It turned out, the Cleopatras usually were much better rulers than their male counter-parts. But it was no life for the meek. More than one died at the hands of relatives. Read about one of the most powerful dynasty of women in the ancient world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
While it was hard at times to keep track of the different people this was not the fault of the author. The family had two main names they used over several generations: Ptolemy and Cleopatra. To add to the confusion they married each other: sisters and brothers, fathers and daughters, uncles and nieces. They did use descriptors that helps identify them and the book had charts as well. Some reviewers claimed it was a bit dry but I didn't find it so. Yes, it was written by a scholar but it was meant for the general public; there wasn't footnotes everywhere and no inaccessible language was used. The chapters could have been broken down into subheadings which could have helped with keeping track of things. Also, I would have preferred more notes but there was a listing of sources in the back.
The author went beyond just the written records which could be contradictory and heavily biased against any powerful woman. He included archaeological and numismatical evidence. Where there were gaps he used other materials that described similar or likely events such as high social tiered weddings from that time period. He did a very good job of showing how these women made the most of the opportunities they had and subverted roles to assert influence and gain power.
It turned out, the Cleopatras usually were much better rulers than their male counter-parts. But it was no life for the meek. More than one died at the hands of relatives. Read about one of the most powerful dynasty of women in the ancient world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
April 12, 2024
When I was a child I saw one documentary on Ancient Egypt and fell in love. For most of my young life, I was determined to be an Egyptologist (later I would change to history teacher) and I loved how reading this book reminded me of that.
I enjoyed this author's writing style and how he tackles his subject. I feel he walks a very nice balance between engaging and factual. I know many might not feel the same as me, but when I'm reading to learn I hate the novelization of historical figures (unless there are ample sources from the person). It feels too disingenuous to stuff words into the mouth of someone long gone, it ruins my trust in the material. This author, however, maintained that trust throughout the book. I appreciated his acknowledgment of shortcomings when it comes to the historical record and yet he used available information and context to suggest how our topics could've reacted.
I think this book is digestible for anybody, with or without prior knowledge. The benefit of exploring a dynasty of women is that you get a full picture of that period of history and the events that shaped it. I highly recommend this book for history lovers and casual dabblers alike. It was such a refreshing take on the Cleopatras and his characterization of Cleopatra VII struck a chord in me, and I would love to see a full book by this author on just her. It's very different from the books I read when I was younger and getting into history. The story this author tells seems so much more faceted. And if that fails to convince you, just read it for that sweet sweet family drama because who doesn't love backstabbing women and their brother-uncle-husbands?
I will definitely be going through the recommended readings in the back, I'm hooked. I also hope the physical copies include images of the mentioned artifacts because if it does then it's a guaranteed purchase for me.
I enjoyed this author's writing style and how he tackles his subject. I feel he walks a very nice balance between engaging and factual. I know many might not feel the same as me, but when I'm reading to learn I hate the novelization of historical figures (unless there are ample sources from the person). It feels too disingenuous to stuff words into the mouth of someone long gone, it ruins my trust in the material. This author, however, maintained that trust throughout the book. I appreciated his acknowledgment of shortcomings when it comes to the historical record and yet he used available information and context to suggest how our topics could've reacted.
I think this book is digestible for anybody, with or without prior knowledge. The benefit of exploring a dynasty of women is that you get a full picture of that period of history and the events that shaped it. I highly recommend this book for history lovers and casual dabblers alike. It was such a refreshing take on the Cleopatras and his characterization of Cleopatra VII struck a chord in me, and I would love to see a full book by this author on just her. It's very different from the books I read when I was younger and getting into history. The story this author tells seems so much more faceted. And if that fails to convince you, just read it for that sweet sweet family drama because who doesn't love backstabbing women and their brother-uncle-husbands?
I will definitely be going through the recommended readings in the back, I'm hooked. I also hope the physical copies include images of the mentioned artifacts because if it does then it's a guaranteed purchase for me.
September 9, 2024
Yes, there were SEVEN Cleopatras, and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells you all about them. Well, if we had eight Henrys, the Ptolemies had their share. I've always been curious about the Hellenistic era, as it bears many resemblances to ours, and the book does a good job in sorting out this stew of Cleopatras, Ptolemies, their courts, intrigue, hopes, and how things were run in Egypt; actually better than one remembers. The author does a lot to correct the popular history that Egypt was an ill-run mess until Rome came in and shaped them up. And also swiped their grain to keep the show in Rome going. Compare "grain" to "oil," and I see very similar comparisons.
I liked how we see different Cleopatras, but a common strain runs through them to be rulers, maintain the power of the dynasty, and for God's sake, keep the Romans out. I admit I got a bit lost in all the musical chairs of Cleopatras. but there is a good picture of what this world was like and how it leads to Cleopatra the VII (OUR Cleopatra). Llewellyn-Jones does a very good job dismissing the popular history we have of her, and captures the uneasy dilemma Egypt had of being ancient, wise, but also having to deal with Rome, the new and very aggressive kid on the block.
We think we know this era, but the author kept me reading on new facts about rulers, the rituals, sense of spectacle and the allure of Alexandria. The book is well-illustrated, and photos of the likenesses of these rulers helps to make them human and identifiable. The Ptolemies always reminded me of a class of British who might have invaded India and gone native to maintain their conquest. The Greek world and Egyptian world mingled in the embrace this Greek family had with the anonymous and enduring land of the Pharaohs. And all we have is the Kennedys. poor us.
I liked how we see different Cleopatras, but a common strain runs through them to be rulers, maintain the power of the dynasty, and for God's sake, keep the Romans out. I admit I got a bit lost in all the musical chairs of Cleopatras. but there is a good picture of what this world was like and how it leads to Cleopatra the VII (OUR Cleopatra). Llewellyn-Jones does a very good job dismissing the popular history we have of her, and captures the uneasy dilemma Egypt had of being ancient, wise, but also having to deal with Rome, the new and very aggressive kid on the block.
We think we know this era, but the author kept me reading on new facts about rulers, the rituals, sense of spectacle and the allure of Alexandria. The book is well-illustrated, and photos of the likenesses of these rulers helps to make them human and identifiable. The Ptolemies always reminded me of a class of British who might have invaded India and gone native to maintain their conquest. The Greek world and Egyptian world mingled in the embrace this Greek family had with the anonymous and enduring land of the Pharaohs. And all we have is the Kennedys. poor us.
June 5, 2024
So finally I have been off my feet for the last two days. To pass the time I have been experiencing the craziness that was the Ptolemy family and in particular the seven women who ruled Egypt named Cleopatra.
The dynasty began with Ptolemy I, who was a general and kinsmen of Alexander the Great. Following Alexander’s death, Ptolemy seized both his body and the throne of Egypt and established the longest and last dynasty of ancient Egypt, albeit in Hellenized form, melding Greek and Egyptian traditions.
Although 15 rulers named Ptolemy sat on the throne, although by the time Ptolemy V reigned, the male line really ran out of gas. Increasingly the women played a large role in governing the country and eliminating various family members in horrible ways.
The horrible family dynamics of the Ptolemy family, which included incest, multiple marriages with mothers and daughters, and dismemberment was not just limited to the Egyptian royal house, but also the neighboring Seleucid empire. In fact Cleopatra I (the name may be translated as “daddy’s girl) was originally a Seleucid, sent to Egypt to seal one of many peace deals between the two Hellenistic kingdoms.
This book is incredibly well researched, although many of the surviving sources are Roman and consequently lurid. Orientalism is not a modern phenomenon. The author, Lloyd Lewellyn Jones of the University of Cardiff (where else?) is already the author of an excellent book on the Persian Empire and this work is an excellent addition to his work.
The dynasty began with Ptolemy I, who was a general and kinsmen of Alexander the Great. Following Alexander’s death, Ptolemy seized both his body and the throne of Egypt and established the longest and last dynasty of ancient Egypt, albeit in Hellenized form, melding Greek and Egyptian traditions.
Although 15 rulers named Ptolemy sat on the throne, although by the time Ptolemy V reigned, the male line really ran out of gas. Increasingly the women played a large role in governing the country and eliminating various family members in horrible ways.
The horrible family dynamics of the Ptolemy family, which included incest, multiple marriages with mothers and daughters, and dismemberment was not just limited to the Egyptian royal house, but also the neighboring Seleucid empire. In fact Cleopatra I (the name may be translated as “daddy’s girl) was originally a Seleucid, sent to Egypt to seal one of many peace deals between the two Hellenistic kingdoms.
This book is incredibly well researched, although many of the surviving sources are Roman and consequently lurid. Orientalism is not a modern phenomenon. The author, Lloyd Lewellyn Jones of the University of Cardiff (where else?) is already the author of an excellent book on the Persian Empire and this work is an excellent addition to his work.
August 1, 2024
Read if you're in the mood for something: challenging, informative, & reflective
Pacing? Medium
Book Rating: 3.5 stars
This book is not very easy to follow in the audio format. I slowed it down to 1.70x speed and my usual is 1.90-1.95x speed for non-fiction. But with so many people having the same names it was confusing and hard to keep track of who was who.
It was still an extremely interesting book. I enjoyed the new perspective on this historical period. I learned quite a bit about ancient Egypt in Elementary school, obliviously with certain parts, like incest, glossed over. I've also read more about it as an adult. However, this new more feminist perspective was refreshing, especially coming from a white male author.
Narrator Rating: 3.25 stars
The author was a decent narrator. But I still think the book could have used a professional.
Content Warnings
August 17, 2024
A rare book that fills in a much needed historical gap between Alexander and end of Hellenic rule throughout the Middle East. Many love the successor kingdoms to Alexander the Great, this one explores the female side of the Ptolemy and Seleucid dynasties. It’s actually the interruption of the familial dynasty, when lacking surviving female members, that the line of Cleopatra is produced. She is a Seleucid Princess married into the Ptolemaic family. An entire chapter is devoted to incest, where it is explained as a move to distinguish the Royal Family by wrapping themselves in this general taboo. Since their god-like status sets them apart from mere mortals, they aren’t beholden to the general Hellenic societal revulsion toward the practice. Though they note that in the Greek world at the time, 1st cousin marriages are everyday happenings and uncle-niece marriages were quite common as well. There was an interesting scientific and anthropological presentation on incest, it was described as being the most general taboo found throughout every human society. There are functions and alarms built into our evolutionary development at work there as well. They do have some Jewish connections in there as well, especially related to court. It depends on the era and what other regions the Ptolemy’s control. There is definitely an Egyptian “Temple Culture” reflected back upon the Hellenized Jews of the Ptolemaic kingdom.
February 4, 2024
The Cleopatras by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is the first of its kind in how it explores the Cleopatras of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and overall Llewellyn-Jones' approach appears thorough and offers a refreshing portrayal of women in power.
"The Cleopatras' worst crime? Being women. And worse still, being women with genuine power to wield."
From Cleopatra I Syra to Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra we all know), Llewellyn-Jones provides an excellent critique of scholarship on female power and leadership in history. In particular, his focus on numismatic, epigraphic and statuary evidence was promising as for once conclusions were (for the majority of the time) drawn from how these figures genuinely portrayed themselves during their reigns. Of course, at times where there is a lack of contemporary evidence, storytelling invariably carried the main threads of this discussion of power. But, as someone who studied Classics, this is incredibly difficult to avoid when attempting to reconstruct timelines and the lives of historical figures long dead.
I'd recommend The Cleopatras for anyone fairly new to the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt but at times the writing might feel 'dense' for the average non-fiction reader. It is definitely beneficial to have some familiarity with the Hellenistic period and imperial expansion during the Roman Republic. The Cleopatras provides a richer backdrop to this period of history when we understand in more depth the power wielded by Egypt's queens in both the Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires, and the enigma that is Cleopatra VII is finally put in context.
"Cleopatra VII comes into her own when we understood that she was one of a long line of extraordinary ruling women - that she was one of the Cleopatras."
"The Cleopatras' worst crime? Being women. And worse still, being women with genuine power to wield."
From Cleopatra I Syra to Cleopatra VII (the Cleopatra we all know), Llewellyn-Jones provides an excellent critique of scholarship on female power and leadership in history. In particular, his focus on numismatic, epigraphic and statuary evidence was promising as for once conclusions were (for the majority of the time) drawn from how these figures genuinely portrayed themselves during their reigns. Of course, at times where there is a lack of contemporary evidence, storytelling invariably carried the main threads of this discussion of power. But, as someone who studied Classics, this is incredibly difficult to avoid when attempting to reconstruct timelines and the lives of historical figures long dead.
I'd recommend The Cleopatras for anyone fairly new to the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt but at times the writing might feel 'dense' for the average non-fiction reader. It is definitely beneficial to have some familiarity with the Hellenistic period and imperial expansion during the Roman Republic. The Cleopatras provides a richer backdrop to this period of history when we understand in more depth the power wielded by Egypt's queens in both the Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires, and the enigma that is Cleopatra VII is finally put in context.
"Cleopatra VII comes into her own when we understood that she was one of a long line of extraordinary ruling women - that she was one of the Cleopatras."
May 17, 2024
This was an interesting and informative read that goes far beyond the common and stereotypical Hollywood depiction of Cleopatra VII, who is the only Cleopatra most people have ever heard of. It examines the roles of not one but seven queens of Egypt named Cleopatra, all of Hellenic blood.
They were the descendants of Ptolemy, the general of Alexander the Great, and were related to each other in multiple and complex ways. Yet each of them had some talent, whether it lay in their intelligence, charm, charisma, strategic approaches or some combination of the aforementioned, that enabled them to wield so much power at a time women were not traditionally held in such high regard.
The material could perhaps have been organised in more user friendly fashion, but this book will be greatly enjoyed by those interested in taking a closer look at the workings of Ptolemaic Egypt, as well as anyone interested in having the veil pulled aside for a clearer view of these powerful female rulers of the ancient world. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
They were the descendants of Ptolemy, the general of Alexander the Great, and were related to each other in multiple and complex ways. Yet each of them had some talent, whether it lay in their intelligence, charm, charisma, strategic approaches or some combination of the aforementioned, that enabled them to wield so much power at a time women were not traditionally held in such high regard.
The material could perhaps have been organised in more user friendly fashion, but this book will be greatly enjoyed by those interested in taking a closer look at the workings of Ptolemaic Egypt, as well as anyone interested in having the veil pulled aside for a clearer view of these powerful female rulers of the ancient world. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 10, 2024
"The Cleopatras" is Egyptian history through a unique filter--focusing on the stories of the many Cleopatras predating "the" Cleopatra.
What's good: The book is relatively accessible for those not familiar with Egyptian pharaohs and their history. The author does the best job possible in keeping straight a cast of characters who are mostly one of two names (Ptolemy or Cleopatra). The book manages to pull together evidence from a range of sources, including the most glancing references in half-broken tablets. Until the last quarter of the book, I was able to stay interested *and* keep the strands of the different royals' stories separate in my head. (In the last quarter, I did have a bit of Cleo fatigue.)
What's iffier: Some of the conclusions do make me side-eye the author. For example, there's a conclusion about one young princess' actions that could be right--but also could be wrong, because there's little evidence to say conclusively.
With gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
What's good: The book is relatively accessible for those not familiar with Egyptian pharaohs and their history. The author does the best job possible in keeping straight a cast of characters who are mostly one of two names (Ptolemy or Cleopatra). The book manages to pull together evidence from a range of sources, including the most glancing references in half-broken tablets. Until the last quarter of the book, I was able to stay interested *and* keep the strands of the different royals' stories separate in my head. (In the last quarter, I did have a bit of Cleo fatigue.)
What's iffier: Some of the conclusions do make me side-eye the author. For example, there's a conclusion about one young princess' actions that could be right--but also could be wrong, because there's little evidence to say conclusively.
With gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 23, 2024
The author sets out to redeem the importance of the various Cleopatras who sat on the throne of Ptolemaic Egypt, and sometimes on the throne of the neighboring Seleucid Empire. This he does well. From both Greek and Egyptian histories, inscriptions, and papyri he shows they played an important, and sometimes leading role. The Ptolemaic reliance on brother sister marriage underlines this.
The problem in assessing HOW important they were is that the male was usually credited with decisions. The author has to argue from probability: this often, but not always, appears logical.
A bit too often, however, the relevant Cleopatra “must have known” or would have understood how to solve a problem better than her husband. And we really don’t know this. That’s why this intriguing and pioneering study gets a 4.
Book is worth reading!
And, btw, both the Cleopatras and the Ptolemies were a blood thirsty and vindictive lot.
The problem in assessing HOW important they were is that the male was usually credited with decisions. The author has to argue from probability: this often, but not always, appears logical.
A bit too often, however, the relevant Cleopatra “must have known” or would have understood how to solve a problem better than her husband. And we really don’t know this. That’s why this intriguing and pioneering study gets a 4.
Book is worth reading!
And, btw, both the Cleopatras and the Ptolemies were a blood thirsty and vindictive lot.
May 18, 2024
This chronicle reveals the dramatic lives of the seven remarkable Cleopatras—a dynasty of goddess-queens who ruled over the last centuries of Hellenistic Egypt. Tracing their kingdom’s final years before the Roman conquest, this book recounts the lost world of ancient Egypt, where these iconic women wielded absolute power: navigating political turmoil, leading armies, and ruthlessly dispatching rivals in their pursuit of glory.
This era of Egyptian history is largely unsung, so I was happy to read about how these fierce queens ruled as consorts and in their own right. Interesting and well-researched, the book focuses on dynastic conflict.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This era of Egyptian history is largely unsung, so I was happy to read about how these fierce queens ruled as consorts and in their own right. Interesting and well-researched, the book focuses on dynastic conflict.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 28, 2024
Very interesting account of how one dynasty ruled Egypt, then was supplanted by the Romans. That sounds kind of boring. It isn't. The 7 Cleopatras described in this book lived in a world without any of the rules (regarding things like multi-generational incest and murder) that we take for granted. Page after page, just when you think they can't possibly top their last act of depravity, there's more. Wow.
It can be a little difficult to keep track of all of the characters that have the same name, but Llewellyn-Jones does a great job keeping them all straight, with excellent genealogical charts and clever use of nicknames.
Amazing story, excellent writing.
It can be a little difficult to keep track of all of the characters that have the same name, but Llewellyn-Jones does a great job keeping them all straight, with excellent genealogical charts and clever use of nicknames.
Amazing story, excellent writing.
September 8, 2024
An absolutely phenomenal description of a history that to most has been either at best obscure or at worst forgotten. The six Cleopatra's (who by the way originated in Syria not Libya as some contemporary pseudo-historians claim) that preceded the most famous one, actually establish the groundwork and set the style and mold for the events and the historical interactions of nations and people and what was then the center of the world, the Mediterranean. This historical account although categorized as nonfiction, read like an exciting novel but every fact and every reference has been researched and authenticated. In short, a wonderful book.
August 5, 2024
If there is one fact to take away, it is that this family was toxic. I had no idea how messed up the Ptolemy dynasty was so I couldn’t stop reading. There were so many moments where I looked up and said “What did I just read?” It was a great nonfiction about a family that makes me very thankful for my own. It covers all of the twisted relationships and historical relevance while being focus on the amazing Cleopatras. Definitely recommend!
I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
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