The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome's African Frontier (Routledge Classical Monographs) by Duane W. Roller


The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome's African Frontier (Routledge Classical Monographs)
Title : The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome's African Frontier (Routledge Classical Monographs)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0415305969
ISBN-10 : 9780415305969
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 352
Publication : First published July 3, 2003

Raised and educated in Rome, Juba II (48BC - AD 23) was sent to uphold Roman interests in northwest Africa as ruler of the new client kingdom of Mauretania. With his wife Kleopatra Selene, daughter of Mark Anthony and Kleopatra VII, he established a rich, multi-cultural environment at their capital, renamed Caesarea, and mapped the known world.

The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome's African Frontier (Routledge Classical Monographs) Reviews

  • Stephanie

    Exhaustive... and a bit exhausting! Somewhat a testament to just how much literature was lost after the fall of the Roman empire. Still, this strikes me as probably THE English resource on these little-known monarchs. I feel like I'll be coming back to this one for other projects.

  • Nikki

    The number one question I have regarding this book is: Why the hell does it cost $130? Seriously?

    As for the book itself, I found it rather tedious to read. No I was not expecting a novel but Roller's style is exhausting. If I had a tendency to fall asleep while reading I would have been knocked out. Clearly there is not a great deal of information left of Juba II or Kleopatra Selene so a large portion of the book is left with Roller surmising events (such as deaths of Selene's brothers, tutors etc.). Roller also spent a great deal of time discussing events decades or centuries before Juba II, which I suppose is the "World of Juba II" but I felt the focus should have been greater on Juba II and Kleopatra Selene. As for Kleopatra Selene, very little is known of her life with Juba II and that is made clear as very little time is spent on Selene throughout the book. Overall, the book is decent for a tidbit here or there but overall it will not leave you knowing terribly much about those implied in the title. The most interesting portion for me was Juba II's writings regarding elephants, as he appeared to have been fascinated with the great beings.

    Also, why are Roller's photos featured in the book? Some of the photos were simply awful. The photo of the Canary Islands appeared to be simply varying degrees of gray with no islands or anything else in sight, very enlightening.

  • Anis Jerimy

    Very interesting !!although a bit hard to read.I liked the way Mr Roller connects famous events such as the trip of Vasco de gama and Columbus to the books of Juba II Lybika and on Arabia even the actual name of The canary Islands. I liked also the introduction about the Royal family of both Juba II and kleopatra and the concept of client king. The only side down of the book where the pictures, I think some more clear and appropriate pictures should be made instead and I wished I could find more information about kleopatra selene.

  • Tori Farmer

    Wonderful piece of scholarship.

  • Mieneke

    Very interesting and very information dense. Definitely not light reading!