17th Century Views of the Ancient World
- The article explores the differences in the portrayals of Egyptian and Roman civilization as portrayed in the play "Antony and Cleopatra," by William Shakespeare. The author compares the treatment of the two cultures to early 17th century views concerning human perception and scientific truths. Particular focus is given to the depiction of Egyptians as interconnected with their world in contrast to the Roman need for domination and their separation from environmental influences. Beliefs concerning spontaneous generation is also discussed.
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Shakespeare’s Queens: the rule of the female within a Patriarchal society
Shakespeare's works are defined as timeless and therefore are seen as pictures or mirrors of humanity, he is skillful at pointing out faults and triumphs within civilization that can continuously be applied within history and society.
Shakespeare wrote his plays in such a way that it is possible to manipulate certain aspects of the play to conform to different time periods and perceptions. Within the confines of his work we find the debate of gender visited and questioned repeatedly. In the play Antony and Cleopatra we can find gender being examined directly through the role of Cleopatra and we can find impressive similarities between the Queen of Egypt and the queen of Shakespeare's lifetime, Elizabeth I... (Read the entire article here)
Biographies
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) is best known as the Roman general who was a lover of Cleopatra. The two committed suicide after their defeat by Octavian.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra, (Greek: “Famous in Her Father”) in full Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (“Cleopatra the Father-Loving Goddess”), (born 70/69 bce—died August 30 bce, Alexandria), Egyptian queen, famous in history and drama...
Caesar Augustus
Caesar Augustus was one of ancient Rome’s most successful leaders who led the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire. During his reign, Augustus restored peace and prosperity to the Roman state and changed nearly every aspect of Roman life.
Rome’s encounter with Egypt in Antony and Cleopatra
Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra has a political romance at its heart: its titular lovers cannot separate their positions of power from their passion for one another, and their personal relationship captures on a human scale the encounter between two great civilizations, Rome and Egypt.
In this excerpt from Shakespeare’s Roman Trilogy, Paul Cantor writes about the Romanization of Egypt and the Egyptization of Rome in Antony and Cleopatra.
Egypt
Pre-Roman Egypt
Ptolemy and Roman Egypt
