Cuneiform: A pictographic language inscribed on clay tablets. First used by the Sumerians, it was later adopted by the Hittites.
Deben: Rings of gold, silver, or copper that had fixed weights and were used as units of currency.
Des: An ancient Egyptian measure of volume that is roughly equivalent to 1 pint or 0.5 liters.
Deshret crown: A red crown symbolizing Lower Egypt. The tall, white crown that symbolized Upper Egypt was the hedjet.
Duat: The Underworld where the sun god Ra travels every night in order to do battle with the snake Apep. Ra’s victory and subsequent return to the skies each morning brings about the return of daylight.
Faience: A glazed blue or green ceramic used in small beads or amulets.
Feast of Wag: On the eighteenth day of Thoth, it was believed that a person’s ancestors returned in spirit form to their mortuary temples on earth. This day was used to honor one’s ancestors by bringing them food and incense.
Habiru: A little-known tribe living in the Fertile Crescent, whose existence was recorded by Egyptians, Hittites, and Sumerians.
Hammurabi’s Code: One of the earliest known examples of written laws, dating back to 1750 BC. They were written in cuneiform on a stele that depicted the Babylonian sun god Shamash. The stele was discovered in 1901 and can now be viewed in the Louvre Museum. Hammurabi, a Babylonian king, believed that the gods had chosen him to deliver these laws to his people.
Hathor: The goddess of joy, motherhood, and love. She was often depicted as a cow.
Horus: The falcon-headed god of the sun and sky.
Ibis: A wading bird with a long, curved bill.
Isis: The goddess of beauty and magic, she was also revered as a wife and mother.
Ka: A person’s spirit or soul, which was created at the time of one’s birth.
Khepresh crown: A blue ceremonial crown of war.
Khnum: A god who was often depicted as a ram-headed man sitting at a potter’s wheel. It was believed that Khnum would take his clay creations and place them in a mother’s womb, thereby creating life.
Kohl: A mascara and eye shadow made from mixing soot and oil.
Ma’at: The goddess of justice and truth, Ma’at was often depicted as a woman with wings (or a woman wearing a crown with one feather). During the Afterlife, a person’s heart would be weighed against one of her feathers to determine whether they were worthy of passing into the Blessed Land. The word Ma’at came to stand for the principles of justice, order, and propriety that every Egyptian was responsible for upholding.
Mawat: Mother.
Menat: A necklace associated with the goddess Hathor. The menat consisted of a beaded string to which a small pectoral was attached. This pectoral was worn on the chest, while a decorative counterweight dangled on the wearer’s back.
Min: The god of fertility and harvest thought to be responsible for the flooding of the Nile. Depicted as a man holding an erect phallus in one hand and a flail in the other, his black skin was supposed to reflect the dark sediment common during the Nile’s inundation.
Miw: Cat.
Montu: The hawk-headed god of war.
Mortuary temple: A temple that was often separate from the tomb of the deceased and built to commemorate a person’s life.
Mut: The goddess of motherhood and female partner of Amun. She was often depicted with the head of a cat.
Naos: An ancient Greek term used by Egyptologists when referring to a type of shrine containing the image of a god or goddess.
Ne’arin: A tribe whose existence was recorded by the Egyptians and who were given credit for helping Ramesses during the Battle of Kadesh.
Nemes crown: A royal crown made of a headcloth that was striped blue and gold. It is the crown depicted on Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus.
Opet Festival: The largest festival in Thebes. During this celebration, a statue of Amun was carried by boat from the Temple of Amun in Karnak to the Temple of Amun in Luxor.
Osiris: The husband of the goddess Isis and the judge of the dead. He was murdered by his brother, Set, who scattered pieces of his body across Egypt. When Isis gathered his body parts together, she resurrected him, and he became the symbol of eternal life. Osiris was often depicted as a bearded man dressed in mummy wrappings.
Papyrus: A type of reed plentiful on the Nile that could be dried and smoothed, then used for writing.
Per Medjat: Library.
Pschent crown: The red and white double crown symbolizing both Upper and Lower Egypt.
Ptah: The god of builders and artists.
Pylon: A stone gate or entryway often accompanied by statues on either side.
Ra: The god of the sun, often depicted as a hawk.
Renpet: An entire year, according to the Egyptian calendar, which comprised 365 days (twelve months of thirty days each, with an extra five days added to the end).
Sarcophagus: A stone tomb or coffin, often covered in gold.
Sekhmet: The lion-headed goddess of war and destruction.
Senet: Considered to be the world’s first board game, Senet later became a religious symbol and was often depicted in tombs.
Senit: Little girl.
Seshed: A circlet crown with a single uraeus.
Set: The god of storms, chaos, and evil who killed his brother Osiris. When he was not depicted with the head of an unknown animal, he was depicted as having red hair.
Shamash: The Babylonian and Assyrian sun god.
Shasu: Nomads who appeared in Egypt as early as 1400 BC.
Shedeh: A favorite Egyptian drink made from either pomegranates or grapes.
Shen: A symbol of eternity in the form of a looped rope. The cartouche is an elongated version of a shen ring.
Sistrum: A small bronze (or brass) instrument made from a handle and a U-shaped frame on which small discs were placed. When shaken, the instrument made a loud, tinny noise.
Tawaret: The goddess of childbirth, who was often depicted as a hippopotamus.
Thoth: The god of scribes and the author of the famous Book of the Dead. He was credited with inventing both writing and speech and was often depicted as an ibis-headed god.
Uraeus: The cobra crown that symbolized kingship. The cobra was depicted with its hood flared and was thought to be able to spit fire into the eyes of the wearer’s enemies.
Ushabti: Small figurines placed in tombs as servants, which could be called upon in the Afterlife to do manual labor for the deceased.
Vizier: An adviser to the royal family.
CALENDAR
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
HAVING ALREADY PUBLISHED my first novel in which I thanked everyone from my seventh-grade teacher to my next-door neighbor, I am going to use these acknowledgments for the people who contributed specifically to the creation of The Heretic Queen. As always, I am deeply indebted to my mother, Carol Moran, who has supported me in every meaning of the word with her generosity and incredible spirit. My husband has been my champion from the very beginning, editing my work from first to last, and with his red hair I like to think of him as my very own Ramesses (minus the rashness and harem, of course). And without the hard work of New York’s finest editor Allison McCabe, who insisted that there be an iwiw somewhere in the book, The Heretic Queen as it is written would never exist. To Danny Baror, Dyana Messina, Donna Passannante, Heather Proulx, my copy editor Laurie McGee, and Cindy Berman, thank you for being part of The Heretic Queen’s journey to publication. And to my wonderful agent, Anna Ghosh, who made sure my third novel, Cleopatra’s Daughter, had a home with Crown, thank you very, very much.
READER’S GROUP GUIDE
1. Although the novel is called The Heretic Queen, Nefertari is not a heretic. Why did the author choose this title for the book? Has there ever been a time when you were accused of being something you’re not? Or a time when you were unfairly persecuted?
2. The young, wild, and carefree Nefertari is very different in the beginning of the novel than at the end. Why? How does she change, and wh
at brings these changes about? Does being an orphan force her to grow up faster?
3. When Nefertari weds her childhood sweetheart, Ramesses II, the people of Egypt fear that she will be made Chief Wife and bring her aunt’s heretical policies back to Egypt. Is there a just reason for their fear? If so, why? If not, why do they feel this way?
4. Why does Iset fear Nefertari? Is it jealousy alone or something more? How do Nefertari’s feelings toward Iset evolve throughout the novel?
5. In the novel, Ramesses is portrayed with red hair, similar to the Egyptian god Set. Were you surprised to learn that Egyptians were so ethnically diverse? Why or why not?
6. In what ways is Ramesses a master at public relations? Are the portrayals of him on the Wall of Proclamation accurate? If not, why would he deceive his people?
7. When Ramesses charges into battle at Kadesh without waiting for the rest of his troops, the act nearly costs him the kingdom of Egypt. In what other ways is Ramesses seen to be rash throughout the novel? When does his rashness cost him? Is he capable of change? Why or why not?
8. The character of Ahmoses is meant to allude to the figure of Moses in the Bible. Aside from their names, what are the other similarities between the two? Is Ahmoses a heretic? Why do the people of Egypt believe he is?
9. Women enjoyed great freedom in ancient Egypt, much more so than in any other contemporary kingdom. In what ways do women show surprising autonomy and power in this novel?
10. What happens to Iset? Do you think she achieves happiness? What about Nefertari?
Cleopatra’s Daughter
a novel
Michelle Moran
Broadway Paperbacks
New York
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Timeline
Maps
Characters
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Afterword
Historical Note
Glossary
Acknowledgments
A Reader’s Group Guide for Cleopatra’s Daughter
For Matthew,
amor meus, amicus meus
TIMELINE
323 BC After the death of Alexander the Great in Babylon, the empire he had so rapidly built begins to disintegrate. Ptolemy, one of Alexander’s Macedonian generals, seizes control of Egypt. Thus begins the Ptolemaic dynasty that will end with Kleopatra Selene.
47 BC Julius Caesar’s forces defeat Ptolemy XIII in the Battle of the Nile, and Kleopatra VII is installed on the throne of Egypt. Later that same year, she announces that she has borne Caesar a son, Caesarion (“little Caesar”). The relationship between Julius Caesar and Kleopatra will continue until his assassination.
46 BC Juba I, King of Numidia, allies himself with the republicans’ losing cause in their war against Caesar. After the calamitous Battle of Thapsus, his kingdom of Numidia is annexed as a Roman province, and a servant is instructed to take Juba’s life. His infant son, Juba II, is taken to Rome and paraded through the streets during Caesar’s Triumph. Juba II is raised by Caesar and his sister, forming close ties with Caesar’s young adopted heir, Octavian.
44 BC The assassination of Julius Caesar. In the aftermath, an uneasy alliance is formed: the Second Triumvirate, composed of his supporters Octavian, Marc Antony, and Lepidus. The three unite to defeat the forces of Caesar’s killers, led by Brutus and Cassius, who have amassed an army in Greece.
42 BC After victory over the forces of Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi, the three members of the Second Triumvirate go their separate ways. Marc Antony begins his tour of the eastern provinces by summoning the Queen of Egypt to meet him.
41 BC Meeting of Marc Antony and Kleopatra VII. Antony is so charmed that he returns to spend the winter with her in Alexandria, during which time their twins are conceived.
40 BC Birth of Kleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. The following eight years see escalating mistrust and eventual hostilities between Octavian and Marc Antony.
36 BC Triumvirate breaks up when Lepidus is removed from power by Octavian. Rome is now governed by Octavian and Marc Antony. Birth of Ptolemy, Queen Kleopatra and Marc Antony’s third and last child together.
31 BC Marc Antony and Kleopatra’s forces are defeated at the sea battle of Actium by the young Octavian and his indispensable military aide, Marcus Agrippa.
CHARACTERS
Agrippa. Octavian’s trusted general; father of Vipsania.
Alexander. Son of Queen Kleopatra and Marc Antony; Selene’s twin brother.
Antonia. Daughter of Octavia and her second husband, Marc Antony.
Antyllus. Son of Marc Antony and his third wife, Fulvia.
Claudia. Daughter of Octavia and her first husband, Gaius Claudius Marcellus.
Drusus. Second son of Livia and her first husband, Tiberius Claudius Nero.
Gallia. Daughter of Vercingetorix, king of the defeated Gauls.
Juba II. Prince of Numidia, son of the defeated King of Numidia, Juba I.
Julia. Daughter of Octavian and his first wife, Scribonia.
Kleopatra VII. Queen of Egypt, mother to Julius Caesar’s son Caesarion and to Marc Antony’s children Alexander, Selene, and Ptolemy.
Livia. Wife of Octavian; Empress of Rome.
Maecenas. Poet; friend of Octavian.
Marc Antony. Roman consul and general.
Marcella. Second daughter of Octavia and her first husband, Gaius Claudius Marcellus.
Marcellus. Son of Octavia and her first husband, Gaius Claudius Marcellus.
Octavia. Sister to Octavian; former wife to Marc Antony.
Octavian. Emperor of Rome; known as Augustus from January 16, 27 BC, onward.
Ovid. Poet.
Ptolemy. Younger son of Queen Kleopatra and Marc Antony.
Scribonia. First wife of Octavian; mother of Julia.
Selene. Daughter of Queen Kleopatra and Marc Antony.
Seneca the Elder. Orator and writer.
Tiberius. Son of Livia and her first husband, Tiberius Claudius Nero.
Tonia. Second daughter of Octavia and Marc Antony.
Verrius. A freedman and a schoolteacher of great renown.
Vipsania. Daughter of Agrippa and his first wife, Caecilia Attica.
Vitruvius. Engineer and architect; author of De architectura.
CHAPTER ONE
ALEXANDRIA
August 12, 30 BC
WHILE WE waited for the news to arrive, we played dice. I felt the small ivory cubes stick in my palms as I rolled a pair of ones. “Snake eyes,” I said, fanning myself with my hand. Even the stir of a sea breeze through the marble halls of our palace did little to relieve the searing heat that had settled across the city.
“It’s your turn,” Alexander said. When our mother didn’t respond, he repeated, “Mother, it’s your turn.”
But she wasn’t listening. Her face was turned in the direction of the sea, where the lighthouse of our ancestors had been built on the island of Pharos to the east. We were the greatest family in the world, and could trace our lineage all the way back to Alexander of Macedon. If our father’s battle against Octavian went well, the Ptolemies might rule for another three hundred years. But if his losses continued.…
“Selene,” my brother complained to me, as if I could get our mother to pay attention.
“Ptolemy, take the dice,” I said sharply.
Ptolemy, who was only six, gri
nned. “It’s my turn?”
“Yes,” I lied, and when he laughed, his voice echoed in the silent halls. I glanced at Alexander, and perhaps because we were twins, I knew what he was thinking. “I’m sure they haven’t abandoned us,” I whispered.
“What would you do if you were a servant and knew that Octavian’s army was coming?”
“We don’t know that it is!,” I snapped, but when the sound of sandals slapped through the halls, my mother finally looked in our direction.
“Selene, Alexander, Ptolemy, get back!”
We abandoned our game and huddled on the bed, but it was only her servants, Iras and Charmion.
“What? What is it?” my mother demanded.
“A group of soldiers!”
“Whose men?”
“Your husband’s,” Charmion cried. She had been with our family for twenty years, and I had never seen her weep. But as she shut the door, I saw that her cheeks were wet. “They are coming with news, Your Highness, and I’m afraid—”
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