Death of Ptolemy XII Auletes
The dying moments of Ptolemy XII Auletes, the last effective ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty before its decline, surrounded by his children and courtiers. The room is thick with tension as the king str
Setting
The royal bedchamber in the Ptolemaic Palace of Alexandria, a grand room with high ceilings and marble floors, adorned with intricate mosaics depicting Egyptian gods and Hellenistic motifs. The room is spacious but feels oppressive with the weight of impending death.
Characters
Ptolemy XII Auletes
primary
A gaunt man in his late 50s, with sunken cheeks and a waxen complexion, lying weakly on an ornate bed. His once-dark hair is now streaked with gray and plastered to his forehead with sweat. His breathing is labored, and his fingers twitch occasionally as if grasping at unseen threads of life.
Cleopatra VII
primary
A striking young woman of 18, with a slender yet regal build, olive complexion, and piercing dark eyes that command attention. Her face bears the distinctive Ptolemaic features—a strong jawline and prominent nose—softened by feminine grace. Her black hair is arranged in the traditional Hellenistic style, with intricate braids and a diadem.
Ptolemy XIII
secondary
A boy of 10 or 11 years, with a slight frame typical of his age. His dark curly hair is cut short in the Greek style, and his olive-toned skin is flushed with nervous warmth. Large, dark eyes dart anxiously between his father and sister. His hands fidget unconsciously, betraying his youth and unease.
Royal Physician
secondary
A middle-aged man of Greek descent with a lean, wiry build, his olive skin marked by faint lines of worry. His dark eyes are sharp with clinical focus, framed by thick brows that furrow in concentration. His hands are steady but show signs of age with prominent veins.
High Priest of Isis
background
A tall, gaunt man in his late 50s with a shaved head, deep-set eyes, and sunken cheeks, his skin weathered from years of temple service. His hands are calloused from holding ceremonial objects, and his posture is slightly stooped from decades of bowing before altars.
Chamber Slave
background
A young woman in her mid-20s, slight of build with sun-darkened skin and calloused hands from years of labor. Her deep brown eyes are red-rimmed from silent weeping, and her black hair is loosely tied back with a simple linen band.
Dialog
Ptolemy XII Auletes
Cleopatra... our daughter... the ankh slips from us... but maat must not...
Cleopatra VII
Father's will shall be as stone before the Nile's flood. We shall uphold it.
Royal Physician
Your Majesty's humors show grave imbalance. The black bile... it would appear Pluto's threshold nears.
Ptolemy XII Auletes
The flute... plays its last... Remember our friend across the sea... their hunger...
Cleopatra VII
Let Rome gnash its teeth. Alexandria's walls still stand.
Royal Physician
The sacred ibis feather trembles... The weighing of the heart comes swiftly now.
Ptolemy XII Auletes
The crown... heavy... Let Isis judge...