CLEOPATRA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. THE VALLEY OF THE NILE

II. THE PTOLEMIES

III. ALEXANDRIA

IV. CLEOPATRA'S FATHER

V. ACCESSION TO THE THRONE

VI. CLEOPATRA AND CAESAR

VII. THE ALEXANDRINE WAR

VIII. CLEOPATRA A QUEEN

IX. THE BATTLE OF PHILIPPI

X. CLEOPATRA AND ANTONY

XI. THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM

XII. THE END OF CLEOPATRA


ILLUSTRATIONS


CLEOPATRA

MEETING OF CLEOPATRA AND ANTONY

CLEOPATRA TESTING THE POISON UPON THE SLAVES



[Illustration: Map--'Scene of CLEOPATRA'S HISTORY']




CHAPTER I.

THE VALLEY OF THE NILE.

The parentage and birth of Cleopatra.--Cleopatra's residence in
Egypt.--Physical aspect of Egypt.--The eagle's wings and
science.--Physical peculiarities of Egypt connected with the laws of
rain.--General laws of rain.--Causes which modify the quantity of
rain.--Striking contrasts.--Rainless regions.--Great rainless region of
Asia and Africa.--The Andes.--Map of the rainless region.--Valley of the
Nile.--The Red Sea.--The oases.--Siweh.--Mountains of the Moon.--The
River Nile.--Incessant rains.--Inundation of the Nile.--Course of the
river.--Subsidence of the waters.--Luxuriant vegetation.--Absence of
forests.--Great antiquity of Egypt.--Her monuments.--The Delta of the
Nile.--The Delta as seen from the sea.--Pelusiac mouth of the Nile.--The
Canopic mouth.--Ancient Egypt.--The Pyramids.--Conquests of the Persians
and Macedonians.--The Ptolemies.--Founding of Alexandria.--The Pharos.