NETFISHING

With the death of CLEOPATRA VII, in 30 BC, Egypt became the property of OCTAVIAN who was now the undoubted ruler of the whole Roman world; but his victory didn’t mark the final end of the Ptolemaic dynasty for there were still Cleopatra’s children to consider.

Cleopatra’s son by JULIUS CAESAR, PTOLEMY XV Caesarion, had been put to death by Octavian, but this still left her three remaining children by MARK ANTONY; the twins CLEOPATRA SELENE and ALEXANDER HELLIOS and the younger child PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS. All three may have been taken to Rome to take part in Octavian’s ‘triumph’, we certainly know that the twins were paraded and weighed down by such ‘heavy golden chains’ that they were hardly able to walk, a fact which produced an unexpected wave of sympathy for the children among the citizens of Rome.

Cleopatra was herself represented in the ‘triumph’ by a statue showing her with an asp on her arm, but nothing at all is mentioned about the younger child Ptolemy Philadelphus. It’s possible he was weakened by the sea voyage to Rome and was unable to take part in the procession.

Nothing further is heard of him and he is presumed to have died, in infancy, around 29 BC. Refer:

Ptolemy Philadelphus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_Philadelphus_(son_of_Cleopatra)

http://www.tyndalehouse.com/egypt/ptolemies/philadelphus_fr.htm

The twins fared far better, however, and, rather surprisingly were given into the care of OCTAVIA, the widow of Mark Antony and sister of Octavian. She raised these ‘children of her husband’ as if they were her own, until Cleopatra Selene became of age to be married. Refer:

Cleopatra Selene: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra_Selene_II

http://www.historytoday.com/jane-draycott/cleopatras-daughter

http://www.tyndalehouse.com/egypt/ptolemies/selene_ii_fr.htm

Alexander Hellios: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra_Selene_II

http://www.historytoday.com/jane-draycott/cleopatras-daughter

http://www.tyndalehouse.com/egypt/ptolemies/selene_ii_fr.htm

Although known about for many years, a statue in Cairo Museum of ‘the twins’ with the sun (Hellios) and moon (Selene) symbols above the children’s heads has now been formally identified as being that of the children of Cleopatra VII. Refer:

http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/cleopatras-twin-babies-120420.htm

In 20 BC Cleopatra Selene was married to King JUBA II OF MAURETANIA (a Roman province in N. Africa) and it is believed that her brother, Ptolemy Philadelphus, may have travelled with her to Mauretania, but again nothing further is heard about him. She became Queen of Mauretania and, true to her Ptolemaic heritage, became a powerful influence on both her husband and the local region, even having coinage minted bearing her own image. Refer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juba_II

http://www.lunalucifera.com/Mauretania/

http://www.stephaniedray.com/2011/02/25/juba-ii-and-cleopatra-selene-was-it-a-love-match/

http://www.geni.com/people/Cleopatra-Selene-II/6000000006861146375

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mausoleum_of_Mauretania

http://www.stephaniedray.com/tag/drusilla-of-mauretania/

Cleopatra Selene had a son, known as PTOLEMY OF MAURETANIA, who ruled as king after his father’s death until 40 AD, when he made the mistake of attending an imperial banquet in a purple robe even more eye-catching than that of the Emperors (the purple dye being a product of Mauretania). It is not a good idea to outshine the Emperor – especially when the Emperor concerned is CALIGULA. Ptolemy was dead within days. Refer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_of_Mauretania

http://www.stephaniedray.com/2011/05/31/how-historical-accuracy-goes-wild/

http://i-cias.com/e.o/ptolemy_mauretania.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drusilla_of_Mauretania_(born_38)

http://suite101.com/article/cleopatras-family-tree-a223420

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Julius_Alexio