Customer Reviews

Cleopatra's Palace : In Search of a Legend

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I loved this book. This is truly great reading. This book was so fascinating, I stayed up all night just to finish it. We are taken beyond mere history, and into the depths of the Roman rulers lives.

The author does an excellent job of sweeping you into the vast Roman Empire that had reined supreme for many years. From Alexander the Great, to the his successors of Ptolemys', Cleopatras' and Berenices', we take a brief but intimate look into their lives. The morally corrupt family that they were, reining high for many generations over this strange and exotic land.

Interesting as it is, Cleopatra was not actually Egyptian. Although depicted in many ancient drawings as a pharaoh, she was actually of Roman-Greek descent. Her rein to the throne was given to her through succession and birth.

Facts do not always play a key role in this book, as information is not always on hand. The author tends to insert information from her own imagination when she sees fit to do so. I had no problem with this, as she makes it clear that those are her own suppositions. This book reads out like a good fiction novel.

Towards the end of the book, we travel with the teams who made some of this research possible. There are many beautiful pictures throughout. This makes a great coffee table book. I think this is a great addition to any library, and for anyone to sit down and enjoy!

I bought this book expecting to see a lot more information on the archaeology and actual history of Cleopatra's palace and Alexandria, but instead, found a sappy, pseudo-romantic fictionalized treatment of Cleopatra, Caesar, and Antonius. I wish the authors had included more examples of other palaces, some more maps and reconstructions based on other archaeology. If I had wanted a historical romance, I would have bought one. I feel this book was a waste of $$.

I loved the show on Discovery Channel and this book offers even more history on the life and legend of Cleopatra--as well as the amazing photos of finding her underwater ruins. This is great for the family and history buffs will love it.

I think this was a great book. I learned alot about Cleopatra and the pharoahs of her time. The roman pictures she appears in do not show her in as attractive a light as her Egyptian drawings do. But, I don't think anyone can say for sure what she really looked like. I am sure she must have been a beauty nonetheless. The text is quite easy to read, and the pictures are spectacular. Good Choice!

She is the most famous woman of antiquity and with the very mention of Ancient Egypt, one rapidly thinks of Cleopatra and her seductions of two powerful Roman leaders.

Though the book does include some magnificent photographs of Cleopatra's palace,the book itself is very well written. Many have been interested with the myths of Cleopatra such as her "magnificent" beauty. Her "magnificent" beauty was showcased in the film "Cleopatra" with Elizabeth Taylor. Foreman tells the story wonderfully and pictures are just an added bonus. The story itself seduces the reader with the controvery regarding Cleopatra and her romances with two of the greatest military leaders of antiquity. But Foreman goes deeper than Cleopatra's romances. She goes back to Alexander the Great and his conquest in Egypt. And while you are reading the book, your imagination does go wild with the descriptions of palaces and romances and conquests and wars. However, it is difficult to put the whole story together as there are still many gaps missing and much of what is known of Cleopatra is found in fictional literature such as Shakespeare's for example. Though his plays do portray a beautiful Cleopatra, historians do argue her beauty was far from actual beauty. Historians say whatever she lacked in looks she made up in a fascinating personality and a dangerous intelligence only she possessed, but a personality and mind that Julius Caesar was seduced by and mostly in part that he was considered to be highly intelligent also. On part of Mark Antony, though he had great power, did not have the mind that Caesar did. Nonetheless, Cleopatra loved Antony. Though many by now know the story of Cleopatra, it still is a fascinating story to learn about. And what one does not know of the Egyptian queen, people can't help but wonder of her sexuality and her whole life in general.

I found it very interesting to learn what she really looked like and her history. It was different than the movies depicted.

Power, politics, romance, history, art, archaeology and legend. Laura Forman's Cleopatra's Palace left no stone unturned. Working in conjunction with underwater explorer Frank Goddio and the Discovery Company's project to map the Royal Quarter of Ancient Alexandria, Foreman produced a insightful book on history's most famous and ambitious queen, Cleopatra.

Classical artwork inspired by Cleopatra's fantastic life enhances this well crafted biography. Foreman traces Cleopatra's roots to Alexander the Great and pays homage to the lasting impressions made on the likes of Herod and Octavian. Foreman portrays Cleopatra as uniquely coalescing Greek, Roman and Egyptian attributes in her rise as one of the most commanding and significant world leaders of all time.

Skillfully placed maps, artifacts and photographs help to submerge the reader into Cleopatra's world. Melded with information on the modern day underwater excavations of the a palace proposed to be Cleopatra's in the great Mediterranean port of Alexandria is awe inspiring. Some may have preconceived notions about Cleopatra and find it hard to like her, but this book will help readers to respect the queen who embodied the legacy of Alexander and who has come to symbolize the empire of Egypt.

Laura Foreman also wrote an exquisite book, Alexander the Conqueror. Read my review of her rendition of the magnificent Macedonia.

This is a book with pictures and writing so moving it left me breathless after the first chapter. A love for the subject really shows through on each page. Recommended to everyone!

I loved this book - fascinating history, great photos