100 BC story
Cleopatra Berenike plots to be rid of Alexander who has turned to drink. Egypt's province of Cyrenaica is willed to Rome on the death of Apion, and Alexander does nothing, against the wishes of his generals. The army defies the King, who attempts to raise a new army of Syrian mercenaries to be paid with gold from the Tomb of Alexander the Great. When the city is outraged at the desecration of the tomb, Alexander flees but is pursued and killed. Chickpea reclaims the throne and Cleopatra Berenike's ambition is realized when he makes her joint monarch. Chickpea brings his mistress Irene and three children from Greece to be with him. He later decides to concentrate on fulfilling his role as chief priest of Egypt, leaving Berenike to run the kingdom. On his death, Irene returns to Greece, leaving the children in the safe care of Berenike. However, Chickpea's death leaves a dangerous power vacuum - and Rome is now taking a more than friendly interest. Rome installs Berenike's nephew Alexander II as the new King, much to her dismay; she refuses to consummate their marriage. Alexander accidentally kills her while attempting to rape her, and the mob kills him in turn. Chickpea's son Fluter, grandson of Cleopatra III, is made the new King.
16 total · 1 choice · 5 major · 10 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| courtly intrigues | choice | The plot turns on people jockeying for power in the royal court of Ptolemaic Egypt in the years surrounding 100 BC. Cleopatra Berenike wanted to get rid of her husband, Ptolemy X "Alexander I", and so persuaded him to raid Alexander the Great's tomb. Behind his back she arranged for this heinous crime to be made known to the "mob" of Alexandria, who promptly rioted and chased Alexander out of the city. Ptolemy IX "Chickpea" then reclaimed the throne and made Cleopatra Berenike his co-regent. |
| civil war | major | There was open fighting over the throne. Ptolemy IX "Chickpea" returned and forced his brother Ptolemy X "Alexander I" to flee. |
| husband and wife | major | Ptolemy X "Alexander I" took a backseat to his co-regent Cleopatra Berenike. |
| incest in society | major | The viewer is confronted with the prevailing norm in the Ptolemaic court of marrying within the family to preserve the royal line. |
| life in the ancient Greco-Roman world | major | The story is set in the royal court of Ptolemaic Egypt in the years surrounding 100 BC. |
| war of succession | major | Apion died and left Cyrenaica to Rome, sparking a crisis in the Alexandrian court. The end result was Ptolemy IX "Chickpea" and Ptolemy X "Alexander I" both considered themselves in line for the throne. |
| alcohol abuse | minor | Ptolemy X "Alexander I" made a point of drinking himself senseless every day. |
| coping with a bad hangover | minor | Ptolemy X "Alexander I" woke up in a very bad condition after a night of drinking and dancing. |
| cowardice | minor | Ptolemy X "Alexander I" repeatedly admitted to being a coward. |
| diplomacy | minor | Lucullus made a diplomatic visit to the Ptolemaic court seeking Ptolemy IX "Chickpea"'s support in Rome's planned offensive against Greece. A Roman sergeant arrived with an ultimatum that Berenike's nephew Ptolemy XI "Alexander II" be made king. |