Cleopatra: Chapters 4–6

by Susan Blackaby
This biography explores the ascension and reign of Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Introduction–Chapter 3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–12, Chapters 13–15
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
    With Caesar in command and Alexandria under siege, she assumed that Cleopatra and Ptolemy’s power was hers for the taking.
    "Assume" also means "seize and take control without authority"--this is what Arsinoe did when she declared herself queen, after assuming that the rightful rulers did not have the strength to oppose her.
  2. annex
    take territory as if by conquest
    In order to annex Egypt, Caesar needed to install a representative to govern it.
  3. resume
    return to a previous location or condition
    According to the rules of the dynasty, Cleopatra now married her youngest brother, Ptolemy XIV, and resumed her seat on the throne as Egypt’s pharaoh.
    Compare with "assume" in this list. Both verbs come from the Latin "sumere" which means "to take"--this connection can be seen more clearly in the power struggle between Arsinoe and Cleopatra for the throne.
  4. legion
    a large military unit
    Caesar appointed a guard made up of three legions (15,000-18,000 men) to stay in Alexandria.
  5. accommodation
    living quarters provided for public convenience
    From their luxurious accommodations, they could take in fabulous sights as they passed the ancient ruins and famous monuments of Egyptian culture, including the Pyramids and the Sphinx.
    The given definition would be a better fit for the example sentence, if the last four words were deleted: the living quarters was a royal barge that was not open for public use, but it did conveniently allow Cleopatra and Caesar to take a cruise on the Nile to show the Egyptian public their wealth and power.
  6. grandeur
    the quality of being magnificent or splendid
    She used this trip to stage her comeback and to give her people a chance to experience her grandeur firsthand.
  7. underscore
    give extra weight to
    To underscore her authority it is likely that Cleopatra arranged a stop at Memphis—the former capital where the pharaohs of ages past resided.
  8. spoil
    valuables taken by violence
    According to custom, Caesar exhibited his war spoils in a procession of prisoners and treasure that paraded through the streets of Rome.
  9. extravagant
    recklessly wasteful
    They disapproved of Cleopatra’s extravagant tastes.
    In Latin, "extra" means "outside" and "vagari" means "to wander"--this sense of physically and financially wandering outside of normal limits can be more clearly seen in these preceding sentences: Life in Rome was simple and modest compared to life in Alexandria. Most Romans did not surround themselves with the costly trappings and plush furnishings the Alexandrians enjoyed.
  10. forum
    a public meeting or assembly for open discussion
    As a rule, they did not otherwise participate in the public forum.
  11. tense
    in or of a state of physical or nervous strain
    Her presence in Rome was having the desired effect on Caesar even if it was making his fellow senators tense.
  12. confidante
    a woman or girl to whom secrets can be entrusted
    As Caesar’s confidante, she planned to travel with him as far as possible.
    A confidant is "someone to whom private matters are told"--the "e" is added in the example sentence to emphasize that Cleopatra was a woman and to differentiate her from the male advisers a Roman general and ruler would normally have confided in.
  13. vulnerable
    susceptible to attack
    Upon returning to Egypt, Cleopatra found herself and her son in a vulnerable position.
  14. regent
    someone who rules during the absence of the monarch
    A document lists him as co-regent on July 26, 44 BCE, showing that he did survive the trip from Rome.
  15. faction
    a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue
    With Rome in turmoil and different factions trying to fill the power void, two groups emerged.
  16. Caesarian
    of or relating to or in the manner of Julius Caesar
    The Caesarians remained loyal to Caesar.
    The given definition is for an adjective, but the word is used as a proper noun in the example sentence. From the belief that Julius Caesar was born this way, the word (also spelled "caesarean") now refers to the delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus.
  17. triumvirate
    a group of three people responsible for civil authority
    On November 11, 43 BCE, these three joined forces and formed the Second Triumvirate to rule Rome.
  18. republican
    an advocate of a system with power in a body of citizens
    The Republicans—headed by Caesar’s assassins, Brutus and Cassius—made up the opposing side.
  19. allegiance
    the loyalty that citizens owe to their country
    Before Mark Antony could solicit help from Egypt, he needed to ascertain Cleopatra’s allegiance.
  20. strife
    bitter conflict; heated or violent dissension
    Her role in Rome’s recent civil strife remained unclear.
Created on Wed Jul 30 21:57:04 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Apr 09 16:25:10 EDT 2019)

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