Map of the Donations of Alexandria - 34 B.C.
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Map of the Donations of Alexandria - 34 B.C. In 34 B.C. Marc Antony successfully campaigned against the Armenians and celebrated a triumphal parade through Alexandria, while Cleopatra (proclaimed as the New Isis) presided over the parade. When Rome heard they took it to mean that it was a triumph for Rome. A few days later there was an even more elaborate ceremony, in the great Gymnasium of Alexandria Antony and Cleopatra (enthroned as king and queen) bestowed titles upon their royal children. Ptolemy XV Caesar (Caesarion) was made joint ruler of Egypt with his mother Cleopatra VII. He was proclaimed "king of kings" and she was proclaimed "queen of kings" (a higher honor). Alexander Helios was dressed like an Achaemenid monarch and was declared "great king" of what was the Seleucid empire in its glory along with Parthia. Cleopatra Selene (Alexander Helios's sister) was declared queen of Cyrenaica and Crete. Ptolemy Philadelphos (the youngest son of Antony and Cleopatra) whose name utters past glories was made king of Syria and Asia Minor at the age of two and he also was dressed in Macedonian royal robes. The only person standing in the way of Antony and Cleopatra's dreams of this "New Order" was Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar who would soon defeat them at the Battle of Actium. |