Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Hello Everyone,

For the week of May 11th � May 17th, we are reading Chapter Seven, p. 189 - 222
An Object of Gossip for the Whole World of the book Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff.

The ninth week's reading assignment is:

Week Nine - May 11th � May 17th
Chapter Seven, p. 189 - 222
VII: An Object of Gossip for the Whole World

We will open up a thread for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers. We will also open up supplemental threads as we did for other spotlighted books.

This book was kicked off on March 16th.

We look forward to your participation. Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library, local bookstore or on your Kindle.

This weekly thread will be opened up on May 11th.

There is no rush and we are thrilled to have you join us. It is never too late to get started and/or to post.

Vicki will be leading this discussion and back-up will be Jose.
Welcome,

~Bentley

TO ALWAYS SEE ALL WEEKS' THREADS SELECT VIEW ALL

by Stacy Schiff

REMEMBER NO SPOILERS ON THE WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREADS - ON EACH WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREAD - WE ONLY DISCUSS THE PAGES ASSIGNED OR THE PAGES WHICH WERE COVERED IN PREVIOUS WEEKS. IF YOU GO AHEAD OR WANT TO ENGAGE IN MORE EXPANSIVE DISCUSSION - POST THOSE COMMENTS IN ONE OF THE SPOILER THREADS. THESE CHAPTERS HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION SO WHEN IN DOUBT CHECK WITH THE CHAPTER OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY TO RECALL WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS ARE ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC. EXAMPLES OF SPOILER THREADS ARE THE GLOSSARY, THE BIBLIOGRAPHY, THE INTRODUCTION AND THE BOOK AS A WHOLE THREADS.

Notes:

It is always a tremendous help when you quote specifically from the book itself and reference the chapter and page numbers when responding. The text itself helps folks know what you are referencing and makes things clear.

Citations:

If an author or book is mentioned other than the book and author being discussed, citations must be included according to our guidelines. Also, when citing other sources, please provide credit where credit is due and/or the link. There is no need to re-cite the author and the book we are discussing however.

If you need help - here is a thread called the Mechanics of the Board which will show you how:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

Introduction Thread

/topic/show/...

Table of Contents and Syllabus

/topic/show/...

Glossary

Remember there is a glossary thread where ancillary information is placed by the moderator. This is also a thread where additional information can be placed by the group members regarding the subject matter being discussed. Since we are discussing the same time period and the same people will be discussed in this book as in the Liberation Trilogy - please utilize those three glossary parts. They will be very helpful to you and will provide a wealth of knowledge.

/topic/show/...

Bibliography

There is a Bibliography where books cited in the text are posted with proper citations and reviews. We also post the books that the author used in his research or in his notes. Please also feel free to add to the Bibliography thread any related books, etc with proper citations. No self promotion, please.

/topic/show/...

Book as a Whole and Final Thoughts - SPOILER THREAD

/topic/show/...--

by Stacy Schiff

Directions on how to participate in book discussions and how to follow the t's and c's - look at directives given for the discussion Landslide - What Do I Do Next?

I will modify these directives as we go along but for now utilize the information here.

/topic/show/...

All, we do not have to do citations regarding the book or the author being discussed during the book discussion on these discussion threads - nor do we have to cite any personage in the book being discussed while on the discussion threads related to this book.

However if we discuss folks outside the scope of the book or another book is cited which is not the book and author discussed then we do have to do that citation according to our citation rules. That makes it easier to not disrupt the discussion.

Everyone, for the week of May 11th � May 17th , we are reading Chapter Seven - An Object of Gossip for the Whole World, p. 189 - 222.

The ninth week’s reading assignment is:

Week Nine - May 11th � May 17th, 2015
Chapter Seven:An Object of Gossip for the Whole World, p. 189 - 222

Chapter Overview and Summary

Chapter Seven - An Object of Gossip for the Whole World

Finally ready to take on the Parthians, Antony came to Antioch, having reorganized Asia Minor, setting up various kingdoms loyal to himself (and Rome). Cleopatra went there to meet him and to introduce him to his 3 year old twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. Antony gave her several territories along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. When Antony left for Parthia, Cleopatra returned to Alexandria, once again pregnant.

On the way home, she became involved with the family of Herod, king of Judaea. He was having trouble with his wife and in-laws and wanted Cleopatra to intercede with Antony on his behalf.

Although Antony had been sending reports of his successes in Parthia, in reality his forces had been seriously depleted and needed provisions and money. Cleopatra came to his camp somewhere south of Beirut with clothing, food and gold. Antony himself was distraught and was drinking heavily. He had been betrayed by Artavasdes, the Armenian king, who was supposedly a friend. At the same time, Antony’s wife Octavia came with 2,000 armed men, in place of the 20,000 Octavian was supposed to have sent before now. He took the men and supplies she had sent, but made her go back to Rome, perhaps at the insistence of Cleopatra. She was apparently worried about Antony’s attachment to Octavia and did all she could to appear love-sick.

Needing a victory in the East, Antony invaded Armenia and took the king and his family hostage. Back in Alexandria, Cleopatra and Antony put on their version of a triumph, with the Armenian royal family marching in golden chains. Antony “gave� various territories to Cleopatra’s children, to the consternation of the Senate and people of Rome.

Folks, we are kicking off the ninth week of the Cleopatra discussion - we welcome you to this discussion which will last for a few months. There is no rush and we are happy to have all of you with us. I look forward to reading your posts in the months ahead.

I'm sorry I didn't put more in the summary about the Herod business, but it was kind of confusing and it didn't seem to be that much about Cleopatra and Antony.

It seems to me that the reporting of Cleopatra pretending to be wasting away for love of Antony in order to keep him away from Octavia was much exaggerated by Roman writers, who didn't much like Cleopatra but loved Octavia. Given Antony's way of life, I don't see him giving up luxurious living in Alexandria to return to Rome.

I think folks are catching up Vicki - this is an interesting read.

Schiff didn't give many details about Antony's debacle in Parthia. I'll try to put up a glossary entry about it.

Thanks for that - I agree Vicki - before you judge what you read as being the gospel truth - you should always check the sources and find about your author and their proclivities or biases. it does not seem that Cleopatra could get a fair shake from those liking Octavia.

Herod is considered evil and dictatorial in Jewish history. I must review with my husband about the murder of Aristubulos, but I think it is in the Talmud.

I'm also interested in finding the mention of Cleopatra in the Talmud and sharing a translation here. I'll keep you folks posted.

Very interesting, Kressel. I look forward to what you can find in the Talmud.

So such a full and interesting chapter � how these leaders did all their traveling etc. without Air Force One is amazing in my mind.

So we are seeing that Cleopatra continues to be a capable and clever manager in Egypt and takes the kids with her to see their father � smart lady.

I continued to learn a lot but find it so hard to put all of it in place. Herod although not so clear gave me an anchor or reference point anyway to tag onto.

Antony bestows much on Cleopatra and they sit in Alexandria, drink wine, make love and divide the world � sounds good to me. (And Octavian plots………�..) and Octavia does the best she can and I wait to see the outcome………�

I found it very interesting that the Dead Sea bitumen was such a desirable entity � maybe a foreshadow of the importance of hydrocarbons to the region.

Will try to catch up some more soon � away at Camp and not much computer around.

What did you find out Kressel - I would be very interested in hearing what you found out.

Vincent how are you doing on the book - did you get caught up. You made some very interesting points

Bentley wrote: "Vincent how are you doing on the book - did you get caught up. You made some very interesting points"

We I am caught up after a week at camp in Maine with trying to finish a book for a local reading group that meets tomorrow (on Roger Williams) and I will not be ready for that session but will after that divide between that book and Cleo to finish her up - hmmmm I guess the asp beat me so I can just finish the book -

(lol) - that is OK the threads are always open at the HBC - no pace is too slow or too fast. We welcome it all. I was up in Maine for a bit too. Have a family place there on a lake but was not there this time. Was on Chebeague Island off the coast of Portland this time - but love Kennebunkport, Oqunquit (also visited there too while up there recently) and of course Acadia.