by Stephanie Dray | Jul 27, 2013 | Book Clubs, Cleopatra Selene, For Readers, Historical Fiction Genre, Song of the Nile
On the Story Is Helios alive or is he a manifestation of the part of Selene’s soul that helps her survive the worst moments of her life? After Selene was violated, Livia to offer her a cup of poison to wash away the dishonor. Did Selene have anything to be ashamed...
by Stephanie Dray | Mar 13, 2013 | Arsinoe II, For Readers, Heroines
Queen Arsinoë II was born into the Greek-Macedonian Ptolemaic Dynasty that ruled Egypt. Because I was invited to write The Princess of Egypt Must Die for an anthology, it gave me the opportunity to imagine a condensed origin story for the ruthless woman who would...
by Stephanie Dray | Jan 19, 2012 | Cleopatra Selene, FAQ for SONG OF THE NILE
I’ve spent the past few years writing about Cleopatra’s daughter–a fascinating young woman that most people don’t even know existed. Today I want to talk about the next generation, the children that the infamous Queen of the Nile may have bounced on her...
by Stephanie Dray | Jan 12, 2012 | Cleopatra Selene, My Works
There are a whole slew of fantastically good reasons why incest is illegal and taboo, including the lasting psychological damage it does, and the dysfunctional family dynamics it creates. That said, there’s a good chance that the Ptolemaic Dynasty would have been...
by Stephanie Dray | Nov 15, 2011 | Cleopatra Selene, Daughters of the Nile, Lily of the Nile, Research, Song of the Nile
The ancient kingdom of Mauretania, once ruled by Juba II and Cleopatra Selene, is lost to the sands of time. But there are the ruins. I’ve posted photos of the area near Selene’s capital city, Iol-Caesaria, modern-day Cherchell Algeria. Now, thanks to...
by Stephanie Dray | Nov 2, 2011 | Articles, Cleopatra Selene, Daughters of the Nile, For Readers, Heroines, Lily of the Nile, Miscellany, Research, Song of the Nile
For much of its history, Rome depended upon Egypt for grain. While the Romans considered themselves an agricultural nation, and paid great homage to farming in literature, poetry, and art, the simple truth was that they couldn’t feed themselves. By the time Cleopatra...
