ABSTRACT

The last of the Ptolemaic monarchs who ruled Egypt for 300 years, Cleopatra is the most famous of the Ptolemaic queens. But what of her predecessors? The Last Queens of Egypt examines the roles played by the Ptolemaic royal women and explores their part in religion, politics and court intrigue. Explaining their propensity for incest, murder and power, Sally Ann Ashton shows the extent of the power they enjoyed, the price they paid, and how they shaped Cleopatra's reign.  

chapter 1|15 pages

Role models

The ideological and religious roles of Egyptian queens

chapter 2|31 pages

Egypt and the Ptolemies

Pharaohs and temples

chapter 3|20 pages

Cleopatra and her ancestors

The last queen

chapter 5|18 pages

Continuing the tradition: queens of Egypt

chapter 7|10 pages

The legacy of the Ptolemaic queens