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Secondary sourceBookc. 150 CE

The Civil Wars

Appian of Alexandria · c. 150 CE

Appian's Roman history narrating Cleopatra's dealings with Caesar and Antony, including their meeting at Tarsus and the execution of her sister Arsinoe IV.

Narrates Cleopatra's meeting with Antony at Tarsus and the execution of her sister Arsinoe IV.

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A printed page from a 1696 English edition of Appian's history, showing historical text.
Appian of Alexandria, The Civil Wars, 1696 English edition.

About this source

What it is

The Civil Wars is a Greek history of Rome's civil conflicts written around 150 CE by Appian of Alexandria, drawing on earlier, now-lost sources.

Why it matters

Appian's account describes Cleopatra's relationships with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, including her dramatic meeting with Antony at Tarsus and the killing of her sister Arsinoe IV. Because Appian used contemporary sources that no longer survive, his narrative preserves details otherwise lost to history.

Look closer

  • Appian wrote almost two centuries after these events — what problems might that create?
  • Why might the execution of a rival sibling be included in a history of civil war?
  • How does relying on lost earlier sources make a later historian's account both valuable and uncertain?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Cleopatra on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Close-up photo of a brownish papyrus sheet with dark ink lines of Greek handwriting in columns, torn edges, and a dark background showing through a split down the middle.Document

Primary source

Papyrus with Signature of Cleopatra VII

Ptolemaic scribe; possibly countersigned by Cleopatra VII · February 33 BCE

Hand-coloured aquatint titled Baths of Cleopatra, at Alexandria. A rocky coastal scene with a curved sandy inlet in the foreground, stone steps and a small arched doorway, a hill with ruined structures behind, and sailing boats on the sea. Figures in turbans and robes stand on the shore and sit in a rowboat.Painting

Secondary source

Baths of Cleopatra, at Alexandria

Luigi Mayer · 1802

Sepia-toned photograph of a white marble seated statue of Cleopatra by William Wetmore Story. She sits on a plinth engraved with the name CLEOPATRA, head resting on her raised hand, wearing a veil and draped robe, against a stone wall.Sculpture

Secondary source

Cleopatra

William Wetmore Story

Photograph of a white marble bust of a woman's head and upper neck, turned to the viewer's right. Wavy hair is combed over the forehead, a smooth bun sits at the back, and the hair shows a pinkish-brown discoloration. Light gray wall behind.Sculpture

Primary source

Portrait of Cleopatra (Berlin Bust)

c. 40-30 BCE

Marble sculpture of a woman's head and upper neck, shown in three-quarter view on a black stand against a brick wall. The hair is pulled back under a band with a knot at the top and a braided bun at the back. The face is calm with straight brows, a long nose, and closed lips. The bust is cut off at the base.Sculpture

Primary source

Head-Portrait of Cleopatra VII (Vatican Bust)

c. 40-30 BCE

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