WORLD HISTDRY PLAY

CLEOPATRAEGYPT'S LAST OUEEN

She was young, bold, and beautiful. But could she save her once-mighty empire?

Prologue narrator

Cleopatra VII, tjueen of Egypt

'Counselor to Cleopatro

Dellius, aide to Mark Antony

Mark Antony Uo-rulers

Octavian (attk-TAY-v»e-un) j of Rome

Caesarian [say-ZAIR-ee-un],

Cleopatra's son

Octavia, tJctavian's sister, later MarkAntony's wife

'Captain of Cleopatra's warships

Eiras [EY£-ras) ] Cleopatra's} ladies-in-

Charmion (SHAH-mee-un) ) jyo,t/n„

Epilogue narrator

Narrators A-E

* Indicates fictional or composite

character. Ail others were real people.

Words to Know

especially a political leader

HTfflRHB/^n/: a city and itssurrounding territory that areindependent of any kingdomor country

• üTTffil (v) [dee-FEKT]: to leaveone side of a conflict and jointhe other

PROLOGUEPrologue narrator: Ancient Egyptproduced a civilization that lastedthousands of years. Its last capital,the dazzling city of Alexandria, wasa center of learning and culture.But by the first century B.C., Egyptfound itself in the shadow of anew superpower: Rome. This city-state had conquered most of theMediterranean Sea area (see map,p. 18) and was evolving into a greatempire. Then, in 51 B.C., a newEgyptian ruler came to the throne.Only 18, and a woman in a man'sworld, Cleopatra was determined tomake her kingdom great again.

SCENE 1Narrator A: Born in 69 B.C.,Cleopatra is the daughter of Egypt'sKing Ptolemy [TOL-uh-mee] XII.Crowing up in Alexandria, shelearns from some of the greatestscholars of her time.

When Ptolemy dies in 51 B.C.,Cleopatra takes the throne with herbrother, Ptolemy XIII. The youngQueen knows that big challenges lieahead. One day at the palace . . .Cleopatra VII: Be honest. Counselor.Tell me the state of the kingdom.Counselor: My Queen, your fatherborrowed a lot of money from

Roman bankers. Then, when hewas forced from power by a rebel-lion, Rome crushed the rebels andput him back on the throne. ButI fear that Rome's protection hascome with a terrible price.Cleopatra: Surely Rome will tryto wrest control of our kingdom.I must avoid my father's mistakesand keep Egypt free.Narrator B: But in 48 B.C., herbrother tries to force her from thethrone. Cleopatra must seek helpfrom the most powerful Roman ofall, Julius Caesar. The ties betweenEgypt's and Rome's rulers becomestronger than ever, as Caesardefeats young Ptolemy's army.Their alliance also produces ason—Cleopatra's heir, Caesarion.

SCENE 2Narrator C: In 44 B.C., Caesar isassassinated, and a civil war breaksout in Rome. Two years later, hisyoung officers Octavian and MarkAntony lead a force that defeatsthe rebel army in the Greek city ofPhilippi. Antony sets up headquar-ters in Tarsus. One day . . .Dellius: Antony, come quick! Amagnificent barge steered by beau-tiful maidens is headed upriver!

continued on p. 18-*

1 6 JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC / SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

WIEI3 WATCHLife in Ancient Egyptancientegypt.co.uk

WORLD HISTORY PLAY

Look at its purple sails—and QueenCleopatra, lying under a canopy ofgold. She looks like a goddess!Mark Antony: She's finally here, issbe? I heard rumors that she sup-ported the rebels against us, so Isummoned her to explain herself.Narrator D: The Queen invitesAntony and his officers on boardfor a feast. A dozen tables overflowwith food, and wine is served ingolden chalices. Roses are strewnacross the floor. The Romans havenever seen such luxury.Antony: Here is the glory of Egypt!Cleopatra: Sir, I assure you that Iwas loyal during your war. I evensent ships to fight for you.Antony: My Queen, I never reallydoubted you. I just wanted to see ifyou were as impressive as Caesarsaid. You are even more so!Narrator E: That autumn, Antonyvisits Cleopatra in Alexandria,where he is treated like a king.Several months later, she givesbirth to twins—fathered byAntony. Forever after, their fatesare intertwined.

During Cleopatra's reign ( 51 B.C. -30 B.c.), Rome was becoming oneof the world's greatest empires. ^Roman armies controlled theMediterranean and, under thecommand of Julius Caesar, hadadvanced deep into Europe. FromAlexandria, Cleopatra challengedRome's power, but lost everythingat the naval battle of Actium.

the micihtiest emmj-e on

SCENE 3Narrator A: It is more than ayear before Antony again sees hisally. Octavian. In 40 B.C., whennext they meet at the port city ofBrundisium . . .Octavian: You've been absent toolong. We're trying to rule over themightiest empire on Earth, andyou're off with the Queen of Egypt!Antony: You can't understandunless you've met her. It isn't somuch her beauty. She's smarterthan any man I've known. She cap-tivated even our beloved Caesar.Octavian: Cleopatra's Egypt is adying dream. Rome is the future.Remember what we discussed.You will marry my sister Octavia,and you and I will rule the mag-nificence that is Rome. Agreed?Antony: Yes! We are brothers now.

Narrator B: Antony weds Octaviaand makes his base in Athens. InEgypt, Cleopatra is busy trying toprovide food for her subjects duringa severe drought. Then things startto go badly for Antony. In 36 B.C.,he tries to conquer Parthia (mod-ern-day Iran). But he is beaten andflees to Cleopatra in Alexandria.Antony: I lost half my army! And,I sent Octavia back to Rome. Ourmarriage is a lie. Now Octavianblames me for shaming her. He'sspreading lies about me all overRome. I can't go back there.Cleopatra: He wants to rule Romealone. But here we can be together.Narrator C: The Queen sends forCaesarion, now 13.Cleopatra: My dear son, we'regoing to have a big celebration!You will be presented to Alexandria

1 8 JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC / SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

ROYAL GRIEFAntony dies in Cleopatra's arms.

as Egypt's King of Kings.Caesarion: Why now. Mother?Are you going away?Cleopatra: No. You and I will beco-rulers. With Antony at our side,Egypt will be mighty again!

SCENE 4 ^ ^ ^ ^Narrator D: Antony is now per-manently with Cleopatra. Thisinfuriates Octavian. In Rome . . .Octavian: Octavia, do you knowhow much land Antony has givento Egypt? Cyprus, Cyrene [modern-day Libya], and Asia Minor. Heeven says that Caesarion is King ofEgypt, the heir of Caesar!Octavia: My husband is a goodman. Besides, you can't oppose himwithout risking another civil war.The true threat is Egypt's Queen.Octavian: I'll get Cleopatra, deador alive!Narrator E: Octavian declareswar on Cleopatra—and, in effect,on Antony. In 31 B.C., the largestnavies ever gathered meet in thesea near the Greek city of Actium.Cleopatra and Antony command

separate fleets against Octavian's.On Cleopatra's flagship . . .Captain: Many of our allies havedefected to Octavian. Even Antony'sloyal aide Dellius has left us.Cleopatra: Look! Antony's shipshave burst into flames, and hissailors are jumping into the sea!Captain: We must flee to safety.Cleopatra: Who's coming in thatlittle boat? Wait, it's Antony!Narrator A: Antony climbs aboardCleopatra's ship. Heading back toEgypt, he sits alone, bereft.Antony: I have led my men toslaughter. All is lost!

SCENE 5Narrator B: Back in Alexandria,Cleopatra tries to negotiate peacewith Octavian. When that fails,she prepares for the arrival of con-quering Roman troops.Cleopatra: My children must flee!Eiras: They are ready, my lady.Cleopatra: if I can't get away, Iwon't let the Romans take me alive.Have you prepared the poison?Eiras: I have. What about Antony?Cleopatra: He is no help to us now.He just sits, staring off into space.Charmion (bursting in): Antony

has stabbed himself!Cleopatra: Bring him to me!Narrator C: Antony dies inCleopatra's arms. When Octavianhears of Antony's suicide, herushes to Alexandria. He flnds thegrief-stricken Queen.Octavian: This is all your fault!Antony was a noble Roman beforeyou ruined him.

Cleopatra: I loved him! I wasn'tjust trying to save my kingdom.Now I beg you: Spare Caesarion,and let me go quietly into exile. Iwill never march as a prisoner inyour triumphal parade.Narrator D: After Octavian leaves,Cleopatra has no illusions.Cleopatra: He's saving us for thehumiliation of defeat. I cannot livelike that. Bring me the poison.Narrator E: Cleopatra takes thepoison. In a matter of hours,Qctavian's messengers flnd herdead beside Antony's body.

EPILOGUE • • •Epilogue narrator: Despite hisanger. Octavian buried Cleopatraand Antony together in Alexandria.Caesarion ruled as King for 18 daysbefore Octavian had him killed.Finally, in that year of 30 B.C., thecenturies-old kingdom of Egypt wasreduced to a province of Rome.

Three years later. Octavianchanged his name to CaesarAugustus. He became the firstEmperor of a Roman Empire thatdominated the world for more thanfour centuries. —Bryan Brown

Think About It

1. Why did Cleopatra become anally of powerful Romans?

2 . Oo you think that Antony wasa hero or a traitor? Explain.

JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC / SEPTEMBER 20, 2010 1 9

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