• Character Notes o Mark Antony (83-30 B.C.): A Roman politician and general. He was an ally of Julius Caesar and the main rival of his successor Octavian. He also had a romantic and political alliance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, which was his ultimate downfall. o Cleopatra (69-30 B.C): Also known as Cleopatra VII Philopator, is the Egyptian Queen. She was to become the last monarch of the Ptolemaic Empire. In 48 BC she became the ally and lover of Julius Caesar until his assassination. o Octavian (83 B.C. – 14 C.E.): the former supporter and loyal friend of Caesar.
• Pre-story Notes o Julius Caesar was assassinated in Rome in March if 44 BCE. This caused Rome to go into turmoil and created a power vacuum. Various factions were competing …show more content…
By 48 B.C. he was supporting Caesar’s left wing at the Battle of Pharsalus, then he was violently explained from the senate because of anti-Caesar factions. Soon Caesar assumed his fifth and final consulship, Antony became his co-consul. o Antony had heard rumors of a plot against Caesar, but was unable to warn him. He then processed to flee, but then came back to take Caesar’s place.
• Antony Meets Cleopatra o In 41BC Cleopatra was summed to Tarsus by Antony. She was dressed in the robes of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Antony, who equated himself with the god Dionysus (Greek god of wine), was instantly won over. Both saw personal advantages in each other; Cleopatra wanted power in Rome and Egypt, while Antony saw the support of Rome’s largest and wealthiest client valuable to his campaign against the might of the Parthians. o Soon they became allies and lovers, Antony went with Cleopatra to Alexandria. In that year, Cleopatra bore Antony the twins Alexander Helios (Sun) and Cleopatra Selene (Moon).
• Mark Returns to …show more content…
o In 32 BC, Octavian had the Senate deprive Antony of his powers and declared war against Cleopatra. Of course, Antony sided with Cleopatra.
• The Battle of Actium & The invasion of Egypt. o There was a naval Battle of Actium, which took place near the town of Preveza in northwestern Greece on Sep 2nd, 31 BC. Mark Antony’s combined force of 230 vessels and 50,000 sailors were defeated by Octavian’s navy commanded by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. This effectively handed control of the Roman world over to Octavian. o In Roman tradition, Antony committed suicide by falling on his sword.
• The Death of Cleopatra o Cleopatra was taken to Octavian who said she would be paraded in the streets of Rome as part of his Triumph. Perhaps unable to bear the thought of humiliation, on August 12, 30 BC she wore her royal robes and lay upon a golden couch with a diadem on her brow. According to tradition, she had an asp (Egyptian cobra) brought to her concealed in a basket of figs and died from the bite. Two female servants also died with
• Pre-story Notes o Julius Caesar was assassinated in Rome in March if 44 BCE. This caused Rome to go into turmoil and created a power vacuum. Various factions were competing …show more content…
By 48 B.C. he was supporting Caesar’s left wing at the Battle of Pharsalus, then he was violently explained from the senate because of anti-Caesar factions. Soon Caesar assumed his fifth and final consulship, Antony became his co-consul. o Antony had heard rumors of a plot against Caesar, but was unable to warn him. He then processed to flee, but then came back to take Caesar’s place.
• Antony Meets Cleopatra o In 41BC Cleopatra was summed to Tarsus by Antony. She was dressed in the robes of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Antony, who equated himself with the god Dionysus (Greek god of wine), was instantly won over. Both saw personal advantages in each other; Cleopatra wanted power in Rome and Egypt, while Antony saw the support of Rome’s largest and wealthiest client valuable to his campaign against the might of the Parthians. o Soon they became allies and lovers, Antony went with Cleopatra to Alexandria. In that year, Cleopatra bore Antony the twins Alexander Helios (Sun) and Cleopatra Selene (Moon).
• Mark Returns to …show more content…
o In 32 BC, Octavian had the Senate deprive Antony of his powers and declared war against Cleopatra. Of course, Antony sided with Cleopatra.
• The Battle of Actium & The invasion of Egypt. o There was a naval Battle of Actium, which took place near the town of Preveza in northwestern Greece on Sep 2nd, 31 BC. Mark Antony’s combined force of 230 vessels and 50,000 sailors were defeated by Octavian’s navy commanded by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. This effectively handed control of the Roman world over to Octavian. o In Roman tradition, Antony committed suicide by falling on his sword.
• The Death of Cleopatra o Cleopatra was taken to Octavian who said she would be paraded in the streets of Rome as part of his Triumph. Perhaps unable to bear the thought of humiliation, on August 12, 30 BC she wore her royal robes and lay upon a golden couch with a diadem on her brow. According to tradition, she had an asp (Egyptian cobra) brought to her concealed in a basket of figs and died from the bite. Two female servants also died with