An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

196. Julius Caesar & Cleopatra (Part 2)

June 14, 2022

Description

Join Tom and Dominic for the second episode of this four part mini-series on Cleopatra, where they discuss her relationship with Julius Caesar and the role this relationship played in the politics...
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Books Referenced

Parallel Lives

Author: Plutarch

Context:

Referenced throughout as a primary historical source for descriptions of Cleopatra's appearance, personality, and charisma. Plutarch's account includes details about her speaking multiple languages and the story of her arriving to meet Caesar in a bag/carpet.

Antony and Cleopatra

Author: William Shakespeare

Context:

Referenced for its portrayal of Cleopatra, specifically quoting 'age cannot wither her nor custom stale her infinite variety' and Enobarbus's description of seeing Cleopatra 'hop 40 paces through the public street.'

Commentarii (Commentaries on the Civil War)

Author: Julius Caesar

Context:

Mentioned as Caesar's own written accounts of his military campaigns, noting that he barely mentions Cleopatra in them and doesn't mention crossing the Rubicon, suggesting he wanted to avoid drawing attention to certain matters.

Roman History

Author: Cassius Dio

Context:

Referenced as a later historian who wrote about this period of Roman history, specifically noted for NOT including the story of Cleopatra arriving in a carpet/bag to meet Caesar, unlike Plutarch.