Is there any evidence that Cleopatra and Caesarion considered fleeing to India to escape the Romans?












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In a book, Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal, I saw a claim made by the author which says that Cleopatra and her son Caesarion wanted to flee to India to evade Roman arrest. Sanjeev Sanyal goes on to say that Cleopatra famously poisoned herself and Caesarion was persuaded by traders to not go.



Is there any evidence, archaeological or liturgical, that Cleopatra and her son had planned to escape to India?










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    28















    In a book, Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal, I saw a claim made by the author which says that Cleopatra and her son Caesarion wanted to flee to India to evade Roman arrest. Sanjeev Sanyal goes on to say that Cleopatra famously poisoned herself and Caesarion was persuaded by traders to not go.



    Is there any evidence, archaeological or liturgical, that Cleopatra and her son had planned to escape to India?










    share|improve this question



























      28












      28








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      In a book, Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal, I saw a claim made by the author which says that Cleopatra and her son Caesarion wanted to flee to India to evade Roman arrest. Sanjeev Sanyal goes on to say that Cleopatra famously poisoned herself and Caesarion was persuaded by traders to not go.



      Is there any evidence, archaeological or liturgical, that Cleopatra and her son had planned to escape to India?










      share|improve this question
















      In a book, Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal, I saw a claim made by the author which says that Cleopatra and her son Caesarion wanted to flee to India to evade Roman arrest. Sanjeev Sanyal goes on to say that Cleopatra famously poisoned herself and Caesarion was persuaded by traders to not go.



      Is there any evidence, archaeological or liturgical, that Cleopatra and her son had planned to escape to India?







      ancient-rome ancient-egypt ancient-india






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      edited Mar 21 at 13:23









      LangLangC

      26.6k586135




      26.6k586135










      asked Mar 21 at 9:04









      Rohit HariRohit Hari

      32739




      32739






















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          43














          The source for Sanjeev Sanyal's account is most likely Plutarch. In his Life of Anthony, Plutarch wrote:




          Caesarion, who was said to be Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, was
          sent by his mother, with much treasure, into India, by way of
          Ethiopia. There Rhodon, another tutor like Theodorus, persuaded him to
          go back, on the ground that Caesar invited him to take the kingdom.




          Our sources are somewhat unclear but, putting together what evidence has survived, Michael Gray-Fow's 2014 article What to do with Caesarion in the Classical Society journal Greece & Rome, says that Cleopatra, when deciding in 30 BC where to flee,




          … opted for India and organized a fleet on the Red Sea, but it was
          destroyed by the Nabateans because their king Malchus (Maliku II)
          wanted to demonstrate his value to Octavian…
          As
          Octavian approached Alexandria, Cleopatra decided that Caesarion’s only salvation lay in getting as
          far away from Octavian as possible. For him alone she resurrected the
          idea of flight to India.




          Gray-Fow continues:




          Caesarion was sent off up the Nile with his tutor, Rhodon…Octavian
          entered Alexandria on 1 August 30 BC. Just over a week later,
          probably believing that Caesarion was safely on his way to India and
          that Octavian might be more lenient towards him if she were dead,
          Cleopatra also committed suicide.



          It is doubtful whether Caesarion ever reached Myos Hormos or Berenice [Red Sea ports].
          He certainly got no further if he did. Exactly what happened is
          unclear, perhaps deliberately so. Both Dio and Suetonius agree that
          Caesarion was overtaken in his flight, though Dio alone implies that
          he was murdered at that point. Plutarch and Suetonius both claim that
          Caesarion was brought back to Alexandria and killed there.




          Gray-Fow cites numerous sources. Among the primary ones are Plutarch (c. AD 46 – AD 120), Livy (64 or 59 BC – AD 12 or 17), Cassius Dio (c. AD 155 – c. AD 235) and Suetonius (c. AD 69 – AD 122).






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            43














            The source for Sanjeev Sanyal's account is most likely Plutarch. In his Life of Anthony, Plutarch wrote:




            Caesarion, who was said to be Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, was
            sent by his mother, with much treasure, into India, by way of
            Ethiopia. There Rhodon, another tutor like Theodorus, persuaded him to
            go back, on the ground that Caesar invited him to take the kingdom.




            Our sources are somewhat unclear but, putting together what evidence has survived, Michael Gray-Fow's 2014 article What to do with Caesarion in the Classical Society journal Greece & Rome, says that Cleopatra, when deciding in 30 BC where to flee,




            … opted for India and organized a fleet on the Red Sea, but it was
            destroyed by the Nabateans because their king Malchus (Maliku II)
            wanted to demonstrate his value to Octavian…
            As
            Octavian approached Alexandria, Cleopatra decided that Caesarion’s only salvation lay in getting as
            far away from Octavian as possible. For him alone she resurrected the
            idea of flight to India.




            Gray-Fow continues:




            Caesarion was sent off up the Nile with his tutor, Rhodon…Octavian
            entered Alexandria on 1 August 30 BC. Just over a week later,
            probably believing that Caesarion was safely on his way to India and
            that Octavian might be more lenient towards him if she were dead,
            Cleopatra also committed suicide.



            It is doubtful whether Caesarion ever reached Myos Hormos or Berenice [Red Sea ports].
            He certainly got no further if he did. Exactly what happened is
            unclear, perhaps deliberately so. Both Dio and Suetonius agree that
            Caesarion was overtaken in his flight, though Dio alone implies that
            he was murdered at that point. Plutarch and Suetonius both claim that
            Caesarion was brought back to Alexandria and killed there.




            Gray-Fow cites numerous sources. Among the primary ones are Plutarch (c. AD 46 – AD 120), Livy (64 or 59 BC – AD 12 or 17), Cassius Dio (c. AD 155 – c. AD 235) and Suetonius (c. AD 69 – AD 122).






            share|improve this answer






























              43














              The source for Sanjeev Sanyal's account is most likely Plutarch. In his Life of Anthony, Plutarch wrote:




              Caesarion, who was said to be Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, was
              sent by his mother, with much treasure, into India, by way of
              Ethiopia. There Rhodon, another tutor like Theodorus, persuaded him to
              go back, on the ground that Caesar invited him to take the kingdom.




              Our sources are somewhat unclear but, putting together what evidence has survived, Michael Gray-Fow's 2014 article What to do with Caesarion in the Classical Society journal Greece & Rome, says that Cleopatra, when deciding in 30 BC where to flee,




              … opted for India and organized a fleet on the Red Sea, but it was
              destroyed by the Nabateans because their king Malchus (Maliku II)
              wanted to demonstrate his value to Octavian…
              As
              Octavian approached Alexandria, Cleopatra decided that Caesarion’s only salvation lay in getting as
              far away from Octavian as possible. For him alone she resurrected the
              idea of flight to India.




              Gray-Fow continues:




              Caesarion was sent off up the Nile with his tutor, Rhodon…Octavian
              entered Alexandria on 1 August 30 BC. Just over a week later,
              probably believing that Caesarion was safely on his way to India and
              that Octavian might be more lenient towards him if she were dead,
              Cleopatra also committed suicide.



              It is doubtful whether Caesarion ever reached Myos Hormos or Berenice [Red Sea ports].
              He certainly got no further if he did. Exactly what happened is
              unclear, perhaps deliberately so. Both Dio and Suetonius agree that
              Caesarion was overtaken in his flight, though Dio alone implies that
              he was murdered at that point. Plutarch and Suetonius both claim that
              Caesarion was brought back to Alexandria and killed there.




              Gray-Fow cites numerous sources. Among the primary ones are Plutarch (c. AD 46 – AD 120), Livy (64 or 59 BC – AD 12 or 17), Cassius Dio (c. AD 155 – c. AD 235) and Suetonius (c. AD 69 – AD 122).






              share|improve this answer




























                43












                43








                43







                The source for Sanjeev Sanyal's account is most likely Plutarch. In his Life of Anthony, Plutarch wrote:




                Caesarion, who was said to be Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, was
                sent by his mother, with much treasure, into India, by way of
                Ethiopia. There Rhodon, another tutor like Theodorus, persuaded him to
                go back, on the ground that Caesar invited him to take the kingdom.




                Our sources are somewhat unclear but, putting together what evidence has survived, Michael Gray-Fow's 2014 article What to do with Caesarion in the Classical Society journal Greece & Rome, says that Cleopatra, when deciding in 30 BC where to flee,




                … opted for India and organized a fleet on the Red Sea, but it was
                destroyed by the Nabateans because their king Malchus (Maliku II)
                wanted to demonstrate his value to Octavian…
                As
                Octavian approached Alexandria, Cleopatra decided that Caesarion’s only salvation lay in getting as
                far away from Octavian as possible. For him alone she resurrected the
                idea of flight to India.




                Gray-Fow continues:




                Caesarion was sent off up the Nile with his tutor, Rhodon…Octavian
                entered Alexandria on 1 August 30 BC. Just over a week later,
                probably believing that Caesarion was safely on his way to India and
                that Octavian might be more lenient towards him if she were dead,
                Cleopatra also committed suicide.



                It is doubtful whether Caesarion ever reached Myos Hormos or Berenice [Red Sea ports].
                He certainly got no further if he did. Exactly what happened is
                unclear, perhaps deliberately so. Both Dio and Suetonius agree that
                Caesarion was overtaken in his flight, though Dio alone implies that
                he was murdered at that point. Plutarch and Suetonius both claim that
                Caesarion was brought back to Alexandria and killed there.




                Gray-Fow cites numerous sources. Among the primary ones are Plutarch (c. AD 46 – AD 120), Livy (64 or 59 BC – AD 12 or 17), Cassius Dio (c. AD 155 – c. AD 235) and Suetonius (c. AD 69 – AD 122).






                share|improve this answer















                The source for Sanjeev Sanyal's account is most likely Plutarch. In his Life of Anthony, Plutarch wrote:




                Caesarion, who was said to be Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, was
                sent by his mother, with much treasure, into India, by way of
                Ethiopia. There Rhodon, another tutor like Theodorus, persuaded him to
                go back, on the ground that Caesar invited him to take the kingdom.




                Our sources are somewhat unclear but, putting together what evidence has survived, Michael Gray-Fow's 2014 article What to do with Caesarion in the Classical Society journal Greece & Rome, says that Cleopatra, when deciding in 30 BC where to flee,




                … opted for India and organized a fleet on the Red Sea, but it was
                destroyed by the Nabateans because their king Malchus (Maliku II)
                wanted to demonstrate his value to Octavian…
                As
                Octavian approached Alexandria, Cleopatra decided that Caesarion’s only salvation lay in getting as
                far away from Octavian as possible. For him alone she resurrected the
                idea of flight to India.




                Gray-Fow continues:




                Caesarion was sent off up the Nile with his tutor, Rhodon…Octavian
                entered Alexandria on 1 August 30 BC. Just over a week later,
                probably believing that Caesarion was safely on his way to India and
                that Octavian might be more lenient towards him if she were dead,
                Cleopatra also committed suicide.



                It is doubtful whether Caesarion ever reached Myos Hormos or Berenice [Red Sea ports].
                He certainly got no further if he did. Exactly what happened is
                unclear, perhaps deliberately so. Both Dio and Suetonius agree that
                Caesarion was overtaken in his flight, though Dio alone implies that
                he was murdered at that point. Plutarch and Suetonius both claim that
                Caesarion was brought back to Alexandria and killed there.




                Gray-Fow cites numerous sources. Among the primary ones are Plutarch (c. AD 46 – AD 120), Livy (64 or 59 BC – AD 12 or 17), Cassius Dio (c. AD 155 – c. AD 235) and Suetonius (c. AD 69 – AD 122).







                share|improve this answer














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                edited yesterday

























                answered Mar 21 at 11:53









                Lars BosteenLars Bosteen

                42.7k9198265




                42.7k9198265






























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