The so-called Donations of Alexandria, a Ptolemaic royal ritual in 34 BCE, is an important but puzzling landmark in the development of the Roman Near East. At this theatrical, public ceremony, of which relatively detailed accounts survive in Plutarch’s biography of Antonius and Dio Cassius’ Roman History, [1] the triumvir Marcus Antonius solemnly promised to Kleopatra VII Philopator and her infant children rulership over the east “from the Hellespont to India”, a domain that was largely identical with the empires of both the Ptolemies and Seleukids at their greatest extent.
The celebrations lasted several days. The key ceremony took place in the gymnasion, the usual location for coronations in Alexandria. Like actors on a stage, Antonius and Kleopatra and her four children - three of whom were also Antonius’ children -
performed on an elevated dais before the royal household, the royal guard and members of the Alexandrian citizenry. Kleopatra and her eldest son Ptolemaios XV Caesar (‘Caesarion’), with whom she shared the Ptolemaic kingship, were proclaimed Queen of Kings and King of Kings of the enormous empire outlined above. Antonius’ children by Kleopatra - Alexandros Helios, Kleopatra Selene, Ptolemaios Philadelphos - received lesser, albeit still magnificent royal titles. Kleopatra was dressed as Isis, Antonius presumably as Dionysos; Alexandros Helios wore the attire of an Iranian king, and Ptolemaios Philopator the generic royal dress of a Hellenistic king. The only participant, who was not awarded royal honours, was Antonius, the Roman.
The celebrations lasted several days. The key ceremony took place in the gymnasion, the usual location for coronations in Alexandria. Like actors on a stage, Antonius and Kleopatra and her four children - three of whom were also Antonius’ children -
performed on an elevated dais before the royal household, the royal guard and members of the Alexandrian citizenry. Kleopatra and her eldest son Ptolemaios XV Caesar (‘Caesarion’), with whom she shared the Ptolemaic kingship, were proclaimed Queen of Kings and King of Kings of the enormous empire outlined above. Antonius’ children by Kleopatra - Alexandros Helios, Kleopatra Selene, Ptolemaios Philadelphos - received lesser, albeit still magnificent royal titles. Kleopatra was dressed as Isis, Antonius presumably as Dionysos; Alexandros Helios wore the attire of an Iranian king, and Ptolemaios Philopator the generic royal dress of a Hellenistic king. The only participant, who was not awarded royal honours, was Antonius, the Roman.
(c) 2005 Rolf Strootman, Utrecht University, History and Art history, Faculty Member
Source: Academia.edu
Source: Academia.edu
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