Cleopatra

Family: Egypt · Role: queen · First appears: Book I, Chapter 4

Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, urged Antony to kill Herod (son of Antipater and Cypros) and give her the kingdom of Judea, “and entreated him to bestow the kingdom of Judea upon her.” In Book I, Chapter 4, Ptolemy Lathyrus fled into Egypt while pursued by his mother. In Chapter 5, she prevailed with Tigranes, who abandoned his siege after agreements and presents from Alexandra.

By Chapter 12, Antony was already in love with Cleopatra “to the degree of slavery.” At Alexandria in Chapter 14, she received Herod (son of Antipater and Cypros) with great splendor and hoped he would command her forces, but he rejected her solicitation. In Chapter 18, Antony transferred Herod’s territory, including the plantations at Jericho, to Cleopatra; Herod then leased those places back from her for two hundred talents a year. Around the same time, Antony returned from Parthia with Artabazes captive and presented him, his money, and his spoils to Cleopatra.

Cleopatra employed Athenio as one of her generals and persuaded Antony to send Herod (son of Antipater and Cypros) against the Arabians when the war about Actium began. Her relationships with Herod (son of Antipater and Cypros) and Malichus (king of Arabia) are described as enmity, while Lysanias and Malichus (king of Arabia) were taken off on her account. By Book I, Chapter 20, Antony and Cleopatra were dead when Augustus came into Egypt.