The Search for Cleopatra by Michael Foss

Author:Michael Foss [Foss, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2011-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

Stela depicting the birth of the child-god Harpocrates before the eyes of Amun-Re, the goddess Nechbet and Cleopatra.

The winged scarab above the child (pardy damaged) symbolizes the King of Upper and Lower Egypt.

The Roman world had fallen to the triumvirs. The only obstacles now standing in their way were the resistance that Pompey’s son Sextus was stirring up in Sicily and the contrary pulls of their own ambitions. After some sparring the empire was divided between the three men. Italy was declared to be common ground for all of them. Lepidus, who was suspected of an agreement with young Pompey, was promised North Africa once he had cleared his name. Octavian took Spain and Sardinia but continued to be based in Rome. Antony the general of the victory at Philippe took what seemed to be the lion’s share. Transalpine Gaul fell to him and all the eastern possessions of the empire, where he accepted the task of settling the legions and raising the money for the long-delayed conquest of Parthia.

In Rome, Antony now appeared to be first among men; but the contradictions of his brawling, easy-going, pleasure-loving character fated him always to fall under the shadow of another’s superior resolution. He was brilliant at many things, but he lacked the single-minded application to turn talent into achievement. He was a dashing, forceful cavalry commander, but too brash and careless for the gritty perseverance needed in a good general He might win a battle but less easily a campaign. He was a persuasive orator, a philhellene, a quick mind with sharp instincts and good understanding. He was affable and warm-hearted and often generous to his enemies. It was Antony who had covered dead Brutus with his cloak at Philippi, to prevent the dreadful butcheries that Octavian wished to inflict on the body But in other cases Antony, too, was capable of that unfeeling Roman cruelty.

In the conduct of state business, Antony could charm and beguile important men, and he could thump the table in the rough camaraderie of the camp, drinking the night away with his sweat-stained troops. He had the cunning for sudden stratagems, but not the craft for the long tedious pull of a political campaign. He loved drink and women, and abused them both in the name of good fellowship, but it is a matter of doubt who finally was the master, love or Antony. He was ambitious, but even ambition – that deadly serious part of a great Roman’s gravitas – could not keep his attention. His mind wandered – women, food, drink, prowess at arms, mighty deeds, jokes, entertainments, convivial company, sleep, and then another sun-filled day to keep him amused. Perhaps he could not teach himself to care enough for world and reputation. What came easily he would take, but he would not pay the price for the hard accomplishments.

Antony was about forty when history offered him the chance of greatness, a big burly bear of a man with wild curls. In rude good health,

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