Review: Neferura by Malayna Evans

Synopsis: There are many paths to power. They all come with a price.

Neferura, princess and high priestess of Kemet, knows her duty is to her people. When your mother is the great Pharaoh, it is hard to forget. But Neferura's unique position at court comes with high stakes for her country, especially when she's forced to serve her vile half-brother, a man determined to stop Neferura's potential rise.

Peace, it seems, never lasts for women who wield power in the open. Especially when they cross a vengeful man.

When Neferura overhears Thutmose's plot to end her mother's rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wise-woman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wise-woman wields more power than Neferura knew possible—power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves before everything crumbles at the hands of a tyrant.

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Honestly, I was not as engaged as I thought I would be. I love Hatshepsut - so the fate of her daughter quite naturally intrigued me, even if from an historical fiction perspective. I am even open to "alternate" conclusions as to the fate of an equally enigmatic historical figure; however, this just didn't do it for me.

I would most likely suggest that the intended audience is teens / young adults as it certainly was not up to the standard I would expect from a work of historical fiction aimed at an adult audience, especially an audience seeking out something out of the box (and for which they themselves have some knowledge about).

Kudos for taking on Neferura though, and for the line taken to explain her sudden and mysterious disappearance from history, but as I said from the outset - I was not overly engaged.

Review: Cleopatra's Daughter by Jane Draycott

Synopsis: The first biography of Cleopatra Selene – daughter of Cleopatra VII – princess, prisoner and African queen.

In 1895, archaeologists excavating a villa outside Pompeii discovered a hoard of Roman silverware. In the centre of one dish was a female figure with thick, curly hair, deep-set eyes, a slightly hooked nose and a strong jaw, and sporting an elephant scalp headdress. Modern scholars believe this woman is Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the infamous Cleopatra and Mark Antony.

Using this discovery as her starting-point, Jane Draycott recreates the life and times of a remarkable woman. Unlike her siblings, who were either executed as threat to Rome's new ruler, Augustus, or simply forgotten, Cleopatra Selene survived and prospered. She was a princess who became a prisoner; a prisoner who became a queen; an Egyptian who became Roman; and a woman who became a powerful ruler in her own right at a time when women were marginalised. Her life shines new light on the conflict between the politics, culture and history of Rome and Egypt, as well as the relationship between Rome and one of its most significant allied kingdoms, Mauretania.

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Cleopatra Selene ... " ... born a princess of one of the most ancient kingdoms in the classical world, only to lose her entire family, her birthright and her rank, and become a Roman prisoner, and succeed in being crowned Queen of an entirely different and brand new kingdom, and rule it successfully for two decades ..."

I really enjoyed this book on one of history's more neglected personalities. Overshadowed by her more famous mother, Cleopatra Selene lived in most interesting times - a period when Egypt, a mighty empire in its own right, came into conflict with another stronger nation whose imperical aspirations would dominate both the region and her life.

Draycott utilises what is readily available - archaeological evidence, historical documents and contemporary histories - to flesh out the life of this cultured and politically astute woman. However, as with many women throughout history, actual, verifiable evidence is often lacking, making the retelling more general than specific. Many women are often overshadowed by either famous parents, siblings or marriage partner, and Cleopatra Selene is one. As a result, Draycott uses more generalised knowledge to re-imagine what her life may have looked like - and that is fine, as long as this is not taken for actual fact.

From the very little we know of Cleopatra Selene, we know she is a survivor, a diplomat, and an astute ruler.  As a result of her hard work, Mauretania became wealthy - especially through the export of purple dye - and she attracted many intellectuals and scholars.  Juba himself was said to have been highly educated as a result of his time spent in Rome as a "spoil of war" following the death of his father.  We can only assume that Cleopatra Selene's intent was to re-create her lost homeland of Egypt in this new kingdom of hers.  

Cleopatra Selene II died fairly young, and we are left wondering about what could have been had she lived longer - would she have achieved a greatness to rival her mother and namesake - we will never know. This is a worthy tome to pick up if this is your area of interest or if long lost historical women are on your research radar.

See also article by Jane Draycott for History Today.

Historical Fiction - Ancient Egypt

Selection of historical fiction titles set in ancient Egypt:

The Forgotten Pharaoh - David Adkins

The ancient civilisation is enjoying unprecedented prosperity during the 18th Dynasty under some of Egypt’s most famous Pharaohs – Ahmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun. But every empire has its rivals – here the Hittites, the Mittani, Nubians and Assyrians – and every royal family its enemies. Smenkhkare is the youngest son of Amenhotep III and brother to Akhenamun – later to become the ruler Akhenaten – and Thutmose, plus three older sisters. The Forgotten Pharaoh, explores the extraordinary and dangerous life and times of a real but little known figure from history – from his child-marriage to exile and then reinstatement in Thebes as pharaoh of one of the most influential dynasties of the ancient civilised world.

The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles - Lauren Lee Merewether

Salvation in the Sun 

Amidst a power struggle between Pharaoh and the priesthood of Amun, Queen Nefertiti helps the ill-prepared new Pharaoh, Amenhotep, enact his father's plan to regain power for the throne. But what seemed a difficult task only becomes more grueling when Amenhotep loses himself in his radical obsessions. Standing alone to bear the burden of a failing country and stem the tide of a growing rebellion, Nefertiti must choose between her love for Pharaoh and her duty to Egypt in this dramatic retelling of a story forgotten by time.

Secrets in the Sand

The power struggle for the throne should have ended long ago, yet it rages onward, shrouded in conspiracy and murder. Pharaoh Akhenaten's plan to regain power from the priesthood of Amun is done, but his religious zeal has stripped the economy and the people’s morale. Whisperings of rebellion fill the streets as enemies close in on Egypt’s borders, leaving Nefertiti to fend off political wolves as she attempts to stabilize the nation and keep her crown.

Valley of the Kings - Terrance Coffey

In the year 1355 BCE, the land of Egypt was the superpower of the known world. King Tut's father, Akenaten, the so-called 'heretic pharaoh,' and his wife, Queen Nefertiti, are on the verge of catapulting Egypt into a revolution that will forever divide its people and rip the most powerful empire on the earth from its foundation. Inspired by the actual Hittite and Amarna letters of 14th century BCE, 'Valley of the Kings: The 18th Dynasty' is an epic novel of intrigue, passion, and betrayal, resurrecting the thrilling story of a singular leader whose beliefs were both visionary and disastrous.

The Beadnet Dress - Mark Garjewski

Set during the building of King Khufu’s great pyramid, between the years 2571 and 2566 BC, The Beadnet Dress is the story of the seamstress Maetkra, the 167th person to bear a sacred talisman given her family by the falcon god nearly three thousand years earlier, detailing her rise from worker in King Khufu’s pyramid village to become a member of his court, and her subsequent fall. And it’s the story of Ahmes, the man Maetkra loves, low-born on an estate in the Nile delta, his life caught up in and shaped by royal machinations beyond his control.

Beauty of Re - Mark Garjewski

The story of Neferure, the Beauty of Re, caught in the struggle for control of New Kingdom Egypt between her mother, Hatshepsut, and her half-brother, Thutmose III, and the subsequent creation of the world’s first empire.

Pharaoh's Daughter - Julius Lester

Born into slavery, adopted as an infant by a princess, and raised in the palace of mighty Pharaoh, Moses struggles to define himself. And so do the three women who love him: his own embittered mother, forced to give him up by Pharaoh's decree; the Egyptian princess who defies her father and raises Moses as her own child; and his headstrong sister Almah, who discovers a greater kinship with the Egyptian deities than with her own God of the Hebrews. Told by Moses and his sister Almah from alternating points of view, this stunning novel by Newbery Honor-author Julius Lester probes questions of identity, faith, and destiny.

The First Dynasty Series - Lester Picker

The First Pharaoh retells the story of Narmer and his epic journey, seen through his eyes and those of his Chief Scribe, the shaman Anhotek. Book I of The First Dynasty Series, The First Pharaoh gives us an understanding of the culture Narmer lived in and shaped, the battles he fought to unite his people, the woman he loved and nearly lost, the enemies even in his own court who plotted against him, and his many successes and painful failures. Above all, we see how Narmer’s loving relationship with Anhotek defined his personal vision for his country and its people.

The Dagger of Isis traces the life of Meryt-Neith, the first female ruler of a united Egypt. From her marriage to King Wadjet to her eventual coronation after his death, this tale of intrigue and betrayal follows her ascension, the wars she fought and the loves that gave meaning to her life. This saga takes us on a journey throughout ancient Egypt and into nearby lands, as Meryt-Neith struggles to bring honor to her family's dynasty.

With the sudden death of his father, 16-year old Qa'a is thrust onto the throne, unprepared for rule. He is at the mercy of the cunning Chief Priest, Khenemet and his evil disciple. A chance meeting with a successful trader, Nomti, creates a friendship that brings glory to the Two Lands. But Qa'a's missteps bring the newly unified country to war. Unrest follows as the underground leaders of Lower Kem foment a rebellion that challenges King Qa'a's rule.

The Price of Nofret's Nose - SR Anand

When Idut, the Lord and Master of the Amaat Household, falls to his death at the Net-uri quarry, his younger brother Lumeri witnesses something that leads him to believe that Idut's death wasn't an accident. Back in Memphis, Idut's lovely young wife struggles to overcome her own dark fears, while his blind mother who is mostly confined to her chambers, hears and knows everything that goes on in the house.  His quest to find justice for his brother takes Lumeri to the ancient city of Qift, where he learns an incredible truth that devastates him, but the dark reign of evil is just beginning.

Khu - Jocelyn Murray

In a land steeped in myth and superstition, a raid on a small village leaves a young boy, Khu, its only survivor. Fate paves a strange and mystical path through dark and uncertain times, when the split powers of Upper and Lower Egypt compete for sovereignty over a realm plagued by instability, rebellion and fear. In this tale of virtue, vice and valor, the destiny of a divided nation is inextricably linked to that of the boy Khu, in the struggle to restore Egypt to a unified and glorious kingdom.

Queen of Egypt - Kylie Quinlan

Ankhesenamun needs to produce an heir to the throne -- quickly. Pharaoh Tutankhamun is young and weak. His chief advisors are planning his quiet removal and Ankhesenamun hopes to hold them off by producing an heir who can become a stronger Pharaoh.  When Pharaoh's advisors move the court from the desert city of Akhetaten back to ancient Memphis, Ankhesenamun is thrown into a new world of danger, secrets, and old gods. 

The Mask of Ra - PC Doherty

A compelling and dramatic novel set against the background of Egypt's eighteenth dynasty--a time of great change, as warlike Pharaohs fought to control not only the tribes on their western and southern borders, but to bring their subjects firmly under their rule.

The Mummifiers Daughter - Nathaniel Burns

The Mummifier's Daughter carries us back to a land steeped in gods, god-kings, ritual and magic. It paints for the reader a detailed picture of Pharaonic Egypt in all its shadowed glory. Faithfully recreating one of the most remarkable eras in Egypt’s history, bestselling author Nathaniel Burns weaves a shudderingly ominous tale of ancient Egypt’s mysteries with a cast of characters the modern reader will recognize even though millenia have passed.

There are ten titles in the series:The Mummifier's Daughter, Princess of Egypt, the Curse of Anubis, Secret of the 7th Scarab, the Forgotten Papyrus, the Prince of Nubia, the Tenth Plague, Mystery of the Temple, Pharaoh's Gold, the Trader's pact

In Maat's Service - Kathrin Bruckmann

Hori and his fellow students celebrate their graduation from medical school. In a bar brawl, he accidentally kills the vizier's eldest son. For punishment, the king renders an unusual verdict: life in the service of the dead at the weryt, the walled-off embalming compound.

There are three in the series: Apprenticed to Anubis; Shadows of the Damned; the Bitter Taste of Death 

Murder by the Gods - William Collins

Narmer, the son of the Scorpion King, has become the first ruler of a united Egypt and founder of the country's First Dynasty. He has succeeded in uniting the peoples of Upper and Lower Egypt but is now under attack by forces unknown. When he suddenly collapses after receiving a mysterious threat from the god Seth, the Crown Prince is convinced it is the gods who are trying to kill his family. Prince Horus-Aha solicits the help of his friend Akhom and their quest takes the two young men into an underworld of darkness where they discover the killer may be more human than they had been led to believe

Gods of the Desert Winds - William Collins

The Followers of Set, god of darkness, threaten the royal family as the young warriors join the Army of the North's advances into the northern desert of Zin. Rumors of hidden gold lead Ako and the king's army to a mysterious mountain, whose summit breathes fire and mysterious gods of the winds disturb earth and sky. (sequel to Murder by the Gods)

Murder at Abu Simbel - William Collins

At Abu Simbel in ancient Egypt, death lurks beneath the giant statue of Rameses. Returning from a lion hunt, Prince Meren and his brother stop at the new temple worksite and discover the body of the Chief Architect. Meren suspects Kashta, the Nubian who had been their guide. 

Death Beneath the Sphinx - William Collins

In the land of the Pharaohs, the Sphinx keeps watch. Stretched out over the hot sands, it protects the great pyramid and Pharaoh Khufu's memory.For 5,000 years it has kept its secrets. Until now At midnight, in the new temple below it, two young men set in motion a murder that will shake the foundation of the court.

Murder in Pharaoh's Palace - William Collins

Shepseskaf, a young Egyptian physician, rescues a small kitten from drowning and in doing so, saves a kingdom. Little Miu changes not only his life, but also the lives of everyone he knows and loves. Following an emergency call to Pharaoh’s palace, Shep finds himself in a mysterious and dangerous adventure. His cat accompanies him on his travels even to crime scenes where for reasons known only to her, important clues end up in her traveling basket. It is a tale filled with romance and danger in the glorious days of Ancient Egypt.

The Forgotten Prince - Monika Mangal

At the beginning of King Seti's third regnal year, the aspiring architect in the making Siamun sets out from his hometown Iunu in order to join the royal architects. In doing so, he hopes to make the most of his exceptional talent and the knowledge he has acquired during his studies in the temple of Ra. While Siamun pretends to be the son of a lesser architect, he anxiously guards the secret of his true parentage which must never be unravelled.

Women in Antiquity - Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press has released a number of interesting books in the Women of Antiquity series. Here are a few that interested me personally:

Galla Placidia: The Last Roman Empress by Hagith Sivan

This new biography of Galla (c.390 - 450) is organized according to her changing roles as bride, widow, bereaved mother, queen and empress. It examines her relations with men in power, her achievements as a politician, her skills at establishing power bases and political alliances, and her efficiency at accomplishing her desired goals. (side note: I have this one myself!)

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint by David Potter

Potter penetrates the highly biased accounts of Theodora found in the writings of her contemporaries and takes advantage of the latest research on early Byzantium to craft a modern, well-rounded, and engaging narrative of Theodora's life. 

Zenobia: Shooting Star of Palmyra by Nathanael Andrade

This book situates Zenobia in the social, economic, cultural, and material context of her Palmyra. By doing so, it aims to shed greater light on the experiences of Zenobia and Palmyrene women like her at various stages of their lives. Not limiting itself to the political aspects of her governance, it contemplates what inscriptions and material culture at Palmyra enable us to know about women and the practice of gender there, and thus the world that Zenobia navigated

Boudicca: Warrior Woman of Roman Britain by Caitlin C. Gillespie

Introduces readers to the life and literary importance of Boudica through juxtaposing her different literary characterizations with those of other women and rebel leaders. This study focuses on our earliest literary evidence, the accounts of Tacitus and Cassius Dio, and investigates their narratives alongside material evidence of late Iron Age and early Roman Britain.

Arsinoe of Egypt & Macedon by Elizabeth Donnelly Carney

First ever biography (in english) of Arsinoë II (c. 316-c.270 BCE), daughter of the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Although Arsinoë was the pivotal figure in the eventual evolution of regnal power for Ptolemaic women --and despite a considerable body of recent scholarship across many fields relevant to her life-- there has been no up-to-date biography in English of her life.

Berenice II and the Golden Age of Ptolemaic Egypt by Dee L. Clayman

First ever biography (in english) of Berenice II (c. 264-221 BCE), daughter of King Magas of Cyrene and wife of Ptolemy III Euergetes. which offers a portrait of a woman who had access to the cultural riches of both Greece and Egypt and who navigated her way carefully through the opportunities and dangers they presented, ultimately using them to accrue unprecedented honors that were all but equal to those of the king.

Cleopatra by Duane W Roller

First comprehensive biography of Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt to draw solely from the source material from the Greco-Roman period: literary sources, Egyptian documents (Cleopatra's own writings), and representations in art and coinage produced while she was alive.

Cleaoptra's Daughter and Other Royal Women of the Augustan Era by Duane W Roller

The first detailed study of a number of royal women who were major players in the world of the latter first century BC and the early part of the following century. In addition to Cleopatra Selene (daughter of Cleoptra VII), other women of note included in this book are Pythodoris of Pontos, Salome of Judaea, Glaphyra of Cappadocia, Dynamis of Bosporos, Abe of Olbe, and Mousa of Parthia.

Clodia Metelli: The Tribune's Sister by Marilyn B. Skinner

First full-length biography of Clodia Metelli widow of the consul Metellus Celer in any language. As the eldest sister of the populist demagogue P. Clodius Pulcher, she used her wealth and position to advance her brother's political goals. For that she was brutally reviled by Clodius' enemy, the orator M. Tullius Cicero.

Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age by Barbara M. Levick

Provides an learned introduction to the lives of these two important classical women of the Roman Empire - Faustina the Elder (c. 97-140) and her daughter Faustina II (c. 130-175).  The book traces Faustina I's formation of her family's heritage amid a new empire through to Faustina II's enhancement of that legacy, focusing especially on the younger Faustina's deep involvement in palace politics and her possible role in the revolt of Avidius Cassius in 175.

Sabina Augusta: An Imperial Journey by T Corey Brennan

Sabina Augusta (ca. 85-ca. 137), wife of the emperor Hadrian (reigned 117-38), accumulated more public honors in Rome and the provinces than any imperial woman had enjoyed since the first empress, Augustus' wife Livia. Indeed, Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome. She was the most travelled and visible empress to date. Hadrian also deified his wife upon her death.

Turia: A Roman Woman's Civil War by Josiah Osgood

In this book, Josiah Osgood reconstructs the life of Turia, more fully than it has been before by bringing in alongside the eulogy stories of other Roman women who also contributed to their families' survival while working to end civil war. He shows how the wife's story sheds rare light on the more hidden problems of everyday life for Romans, including a high number of childless marriages. This unique narrative is more than a biography of one woman: it is a portrait of a vivid period in Roman history and a tribute to married love 

Eurydice and the Birth of Macedonian Power by Elizabeth Donnelly Carney

Examines Eurydice - the wife of Amyntas III, the mother of Philip II, and two other short-lived kings of Macedonia, and grandmother of Alexander the Great. This study examines the nature of her public role as well as the factors that contributed to its expansion and to the expanding power of Macedonia.

Hypatia The Life and Legend of an Ancient Philosopher by Edward J. Watts

First full English-language scholarly treatment of Hypatia in over 25 years which takes advantage of new techniques for reading ancient letter collections and philosophical and mathematical commentaries.  Watts uncovers a number of previously unnoticed early modern sources and uses them to speak at length about Hypatia's modern legacy. 

Perpetua:  Athlete of God by Barbara K. Gold

Perpetua was an early Christian martyr who died in Roman Carthage in 203 CE. This book will investigate and try to make sense of all aspects of Perpetua's life, death, and circumstances: her family and life in Carthage, Christians and Romans in Carthage and in the Roman empire in this period, the comparisons of martyrs to athletes, the influence of these martyr tales upon the Acts of the Apostles and the Greek novel, the reactions of later church fathers like Augustine to her story and her popularity, and the gendering of this text.

Monica: An Ordinary Saint by Gillian Clark

This tome seeks to illuminate Monica (mother of St Augustine) in the context of the societal expectations and burdens that shaped her and all ordinary women. Weighing Augustine's discussion of his mother against other evidence of women's lives in late antiquity, Clark achieves portraits both of Monica individually, and of the many women like her.

Ptolemies of Egypt by P. G. Elgood

Alexander the Great died, and in the division of his mighty empire the land of Egypt was allotted to one Ptolemy, an officer who had followed the great commander through his wars of conquest. 

Three hundred years later there died by her own hand Cleopatra, last of her line, destined for immortality at the hands of Shakespeare. 

Between Alexander’s officer and the lover of Caesar and Antony stretched an unbroken line of descent, and for three centuries the land of Egypt was ruled for better or for worse by the dynasty of the Ptolemies.

The administrative and economic conditions of Ptolemaic Egypt have been exhaustively examined, and there is an abundance of textbooks on these subjects. But the kings and queens of the period, virile if not specially virtuous rulers, have received less attention. 

This book has been written with the object of rescuing their personality from oblivion, and it gives to the general public a colourful picture of a period of world history which is normally confined to the text-books of the student.

Ptolemies of Egypt by PJ Elgood

Alexander the Great died, and in the division of his mighty empire the land of Egypt was allotted to one Ptolemy, an officer who had followed the great commander through his wars of conquest. 

Three hundred years later there died by her own hand Cleopatra, last of her line, destined for immortality at the hands of Shakespeare. 

Between Alexander’s officer and the lover of Caesar and Antony stretched an unbroken line of descent, and for three centuries the land of Egypt was ruled for better or for worse by the dynasty of the Ptolemies.

The administrative and economic conditions of Ptolemaic Egypt have been exhaustively examined, and there is an abundance of textbooks on these subjects. But the kings and queens of the period, virile if not specially virtuous rulers, have received less attention. 

This book has been written with the object of rescuing their personality from oblivion, and it gives to the general public a colourful picture of a period of world history which is normally confined to the text-books of the student.

Review: The Drowning King by Emily Holleman

Egypt 51BC - the House of Ptolemy is about to take its final steps on the political stage. The power struggle that is about to unfold is centred around three siblings - sisters Cleopatra & Arsinoe, and their brother Ptolemy. Fueling the flames are a cast of political hangers-on, palace eunuchs, Egyptians and Romans.

We all know the story of Cleopatra - but it is not her narrative in that the story is not told from her perspective as in many other novels. Arsinsoe and Ptolemy are the ones to give voice to events as they are unfolding in Egypt from the time of the death of their father. Here, Cleopatra is seen from their point of view. And it is a very different Cleopatra - "traitor, whore, handmaiden of Rome". Is she a naive pawn of the Roman Empire, is it all posturing and sleight of hand, or is she truly, the sly and cunning minx.

This is an easy to follow narrative. Even though I had not read the first in this series "Cleopatra's Shadows", the story of what transpired before is easily picked up - Arsinoe is our faithful reporter. It probably also helped that I was already familiar with the "guts" of the story prior to picking this book up. 

I found the alternating narrative (between Arsinoe and Ptolemy) not confusing at all, but well structured. We are immediately drawn to both the characters of Arsinoe and Ptolemy, in particular, who you can't help but feel sympathetic towards - outwitted at every turn by his two cunning and politically adept sisters.

Not once did I consider putting the book aside - the storytelling itself constantly builds - think of a snowball hurtling downhill, all the while getting bigger as it builds momentum, barreling towards its inevitable conclusion - a cliff-hanger! Yes, we are left wondering ... what now??? 

Eagerly awaiting Book 3 in this series - then who knows, back to reading them all one after the other.

Review of the Drowning King here @ Goodreads

Cleopatra's Shadows: Before Caesar and the carpet, before Antony and Actium, before Octavian and the asp, there was Arsinoe. 

Visit website of Emily Holleman

Life Lessons from the Roman Empire

Ancient Greek manuscripts reveal life lessons from the Roman empire | Books | The Guardian

Ever been unsure about how to deal with a drunken family member returning from an orgy? A collection of newly translated textbooks aimed at Greek speakers learning Latin in the ancient world might hold the solution.

Professor Eleanor Dickey travelled around Europe to view the scraps of material that remain from ancient Latin school textbooks, or colloquia, which would have been used by young Greek speakers in the Roman empire learning Latin between the second and sixth centuries AD. The manuscripts, which Dickey has brought together and translated into English for the first time in her forthcoming book Learning Latin the Ancient Way: Latin Textbooks in the Ancient World, lay out everyday scenarios to help their readers get to grips with life in Latin. Subjects range from visiting the public baths to arriving at school late – and dealing with a sozzled close relative.

The oldest versions of the texts exist as fragments on papyri in Egypt, where the climate meant they survived. Due to the size of these fragments, Dickey had to refer to medieval manuscripts from across Europe. “They have been copied and copied over many centuries, with everyone introducing more mistakes, so they’re not that readable. As an editor, I had to find all the different manuscripts and try to work out what the mistakes were, so I could get to the original text.”

Dickey shows how the students had glossaries to help them get to grips with the new language, collecting together lists of words on useful subjects such as sacrifices (“exta” means entrails, “victimator” is a calf-slaughterer and “hariolus” is a soothsayer) and entertainment. “They’re definitely not the same sorts of words as we’d need,” said Dickey.

Read more here at The Guardian

Stehanie Dray - Daughters of the Nile

From critically acclaimed historical fantasy author, Stephanie Dray comes the long-awaited new tale based on the true story of Cleopatra's daughter.

After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty. With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind. Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?

Read the Reviews

"A stirring story of a proud, beautiful, intelligent woman whom a 21st century reader can empathize with. Dray's crisp, lush prose brings Selene and her world to life." ~RT Book Reviews

"The boldest, and most brilliant story arc Dray has penned..." ~Modge Podge Reviews

"If you love historical fiction and magical realism, these books are for you." ~A Bookish Affair

Read an Excerpt

Below me, six black Egyptian cobras dance on their tails, swaying. I watch their scaled hoods spread wide like the uraeus on the crown of Egypt. Even from this height, I'm paralyzed by the sight of the asps, their forked tongues flickering out between deadly fangs. I don't notice that I'm gripping the balustrade until my knuckles have gone white, all my effort concentrated upon not swooning and falling to my death. And I would swoon if I were not so filled with rage. Someone has arranged for this. Someone who knows what haunts me. Someone who wants to send me a message and make this occasion a moment of dread. My husband, the king must know it, for he calls down, "That's enough. We've seen enough of the snake charmer!" There is commotion below, some upset at having displeased us. Then Chryssa hisses, "Who could think it a good idea to honor the daughter of Cleopatra by coaxing asps from baskets of figs?" The story the world tells of my mother's suicide is that she cheated the emperor of his conquest by plunging her hand into a basket where a venomous serpent lay in wait. A legend only, some say, for the serpent was never found. But I was there. I brought her that basket. She was the one bitten but the poison lingers in my blood to this day. I can still remember the scent of figs in my nostrils, lush and sweet. The dark god Anubis was embroidered into the woven reeds of the basket, the weight of death heavy in my arms. I can still see my mother reach her hand into that basket, surrendering her life so that her children might go on without her. And I have gone on without her. I have survived too much to be terrorized by the emperor's agents or whoever else is responsible for this. If it is a message, a warning from my enemies, I have already allowed them too much of a victory by showing any reaction at all. So I adopt as serene a mask as possible. My daughter blinks her big blue eyes, seeing past my facade. "Are you frightened, Mother? They cannot bite us from there. The snakes are very far away." I get my legs under me, bitterness on my tongue. "Oh, but they're never far enough away."

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Available now in print and e-book!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Powells | IndieBound | Goodreads

Available now in print and e-book!

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STEPHANIE DRAY is a bestselling, multi-published, award-winning author of historical women’s fiction and fantasy set in the ancient world. Her critically acclaimed historical series about Cleopatra’s daughter has been translated into more than six different languages, was nominated for a RITA Award and won the Golden Leaf. Her focus on Ptolemaic Egypt and Augustan Age Rome has given her a unique perspective on the consequences of Egypt's ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has-to the consternation of her devoted husband-collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

Stephanie Dray and The Uncelebrated Life of Cleopatra Selene

Women of History is proud to welcome author Stephanie Dray who will give us a taste of her amazing new novel: The Uncelebrated Life of Cleopatra Selene.

Cleopatra’s daughter was born at the cusp of a religious awakening and came of age in a dangerous political world. When her parents lost their war with Rome and committed suicide, Selene, her twin Alexander Helios and their younger brother Ptolemy Philadelphus were all that remained of the Ptolemaic dynasty, so they were taken prisoner by the Romans.

Though she was only ten years old, Selene was marched as a chained prisoner through the streets of Rome. Prisoners were normally strangled or killed after a triumphal march, but Selene was an exception. The little orphaned princess and her brothers were spared by the emperor, then taken into the home of his sister to be indoctrinated with Roman values.

Such a policy of hostage-taking was fairly common in ancient times, so we might have expected Selene to fully embrace the Roman way in order to survive. Indeed, like her more famous mother, she forged important alliances with the Romans and charmed her way into power. It may even be argued that she did so more successfully; she certainly did so with less bloodshed. Though Selene came to Rome as a chained prisoner, she so impressed Augustus that he married her to Juba II of Mauretania, making her the most powerful client queen in the empire.

But Selene’s importance may have to do more with her religious influence than with her statecraft. Today, we take for granted the concept of personal spirituality or a relationship with god. In much of the ancient world, however, religion was a covenant between the state and the divine realm. Insofar as personal or household gods existed for the Romans, worship was more orthopraxy than orthodoxy. That is to say, the emphasis was more on correct ritual than on faith or intimate prayer. For the Romans especially, religion was more a matter for men than women.

All of this started to change with the rise of henotheistic mystery cults, and as a forerunner of Christianity, the Isiac religion was one of the few in the ancient world to concern itself with social justice. In challenging temporal authority, the spread of Isis worship nurtured a nascent concept of personal spirituality without  which our world might be very different today. And were it not for the influence of Cleopatra Selene—who fostered the Isiac faith in Mauretania while it was being suppressed in Rome—such a transition may never have taken hold.

Though she never returned to her mother’s Egypt, Selene would rule a mostly peaceful nation for at least twenty years, spreading the influence of Hellenism and Isis worship to Northwest Africa. She appears to have had complete autonomous powers of coinage, and often minted monies with depictions of her mother or her goddess.

The most remarkable thing we know about Selene, however, is the name of her son. At that time period, any child she had should have been named after its father’s line. But Selene clearly considered herself the true ruler of Mauretania and her own family line to be superior because she named her son Ptolemy and he would rule after her.

Indeed, some scholars have suggested that upon the ascension of Ptolemy to the throne, coins were issued to honor his mother, perhaps reminding the people of their popular queen and legitimizing his rule.

About Stephanie:

Stephanie Dray is the author of a forthcoming trilogy of historical fiction novels set in the Augustan Age, starting with Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra's Daughter. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.  

You can follow Stephanie's Blog Tour

Stephanie is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.

Queen Nefertiti

Nefertiti, "the Beautiful One Comes", wife and consort of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt at a time of great upheaval. Very litle is known of this enigmatic Queen, whose daughter Ankhesenamun married the young Tutankhamun.

Akhenaten created controversy in Egypt by worshipping one God alone - the Sun God - Aten, and moving his power base to a new city, Armana, created in honour of Aten.


Kazimierz Michalowski speculates that at some point during Akhanaten's reign at Armana, the royal couple experienced "problems" and Nefertiti moved into another palace, with Tutankhamun and four of her daughters. Following the death of Akhenaten (1362BC), Tutankhamun became Pharaoh, and the royal court was moved back to Thebes. Nefertiti all but vanishes from history.

Nefertiti Resurrected on Discovery Channel - this presentation takes you on the journey of Egyptologist, Dr Joann Fletcher on her quest to find the final resting place of Queen Nefertiti (See also her highly recommended book: "The Search for Nefertiti").
Queen Nefertiti by Jimmy Dunn

Nefertiti is the subject of many a book ... a selection follows:
The Search for Nefertiti by Joanna Fletcher
Nefertiti, the Mystery Queen by Burnham Holmes
Nefertiti by Philipp Vandenberg
Akhnaten: the Rebel Pharaoh by Robert Silverberg
Nefertiti by Evelyn Wells
Akhenaten and Nefertiti - Cyril Aldred
The Life and Times of Akhnaten, Pharaoh of Egypt by A. Weigall
King Sun: In Search of Akhenaten by Joy Collier
Nefertiti Lived Here by M. Chubb
Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten: Nefertiti: Tutankhamen by Rita E. Freed
Amarna, City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti by Julia Samson


Fictional accounts...
Nefertiti of Egypt by Mary Englar
Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead by Nick Drake
Nefertiti: Egypt's Sun Queen by Joyce A. Tyldesley
Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
Valley of the Kings by Cecelia Holland
The Golden Pharaoh by Karl Bruckner
The Lost Queen of Egypt by Lucile Morrison
Pillar of Fire by Judith Tarr
The Goddess Queen: A Novel Based on the Life of Nefertiti by Johanna Harwood
Sun Queen: A Novel About Nefertiti by Emma L. Patterson
Nefertiti by Alexandra Hamilton
Queen Nefertiti by Francis B. Rylance