“In Egypt the Greek dynasty of the Ptolemies was the successor to the native Pharaohs, exploiting through a highly organized bureaucracy the great natural resources of the Nile Valley”.
The Civilization of Rome by Donald R. Dudley
One Steve Limit: Averted. Several members of the family throughout several generations share the same names (which is why many family members are identified by second names or nicknames). In particular, the kings are all called Ptolemy, and the queens are almost all called Cleopatra (the series is called The Cleopatras, after all).
Coin featuring Ptolemy I, General of Alexander the Great and founder of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, dating from the reign of Cleopatra III and her son, Ptolemy IX.
Meaningful Name: Averted in universe. Chick Pea was given his nickname precisely because it had no meaning (and was most likely bestowed on him by his father just to annoy him).
King On His Deathbed: Pot Belly, Chick Pea, and Fluter all get deathbed scenes, during which their children and prospective heirs mutter under their breaths that they wish the old man would hurry up and die.
Embarrassing Nickname: Pot Belly and Chickpea. Also, the guy with bad body odour who wanted to marry one of the Cleopatras (and who was probably suffering from trimethylaminuria) was called “Fish Peddler” thanks to his smell.
”In Egypt the Greek dynasty of the Ptolemies was the successor to the native Pharaohs, exploiting through a highly organized bureaucracy the great natural resources of the Nile Valley”.
The Civilization of Rome by Donald R. Dudley
Limestone trial-piece: the left side is damaged and the edges are rough. The block is worked on the top and right side. There is a substantial hole at the back of the plaque, possibly for hanging. There is evidence of errors and reworking, seen clearly on the male portrait, where the original lines of the face have been re-cut but are still visible. This piece shows two heads ,in sunk relief, facing each other; on the left is a young royal male, identified by the lock of Horus and uraeus, and around his neck is an aegis. The accompanying male wears a circle of cobras crown, an echloned tripartite wig and vulture headdress and body over the wig. Because the female has no uraeus it is possible that she was intended to represent a goddess, or a queen fulfilling this role. Both have exceptionally large ears; the female has a small chin, bulging cheeks and fleshy nose, and the ruler has large eyes, a straight, upturned mouth and hooked nose with large nostrils. It is possible that this plaque shows a queen with a young son, possibly Cleopatra I with her son Ptolemy VI or Cleopatra III with one of her sons, Ptolemy IX or X, with whom she ruled as regent.
