Cleopatra Confesses (28 page)

Dionysus—Greek god of wine; inspirer of ecstasy; favorite of King Ptolemy XII

Serapis—protector of the city of Alexandria; originally Greek; known for healing powers

Osiris—god of the dead; judge of spirits; brother-husband of the goddess Isis

Isis—symbol of devoted wife and mother; goddess of fertility; wife of Osiris; mother of Horus and Hathor

Horus—son of Isis and Osiris; falcon-headed; patron of Egypt

Hathor—daughter of Isis and Osiris; goddess of love and pleasure

Seth—brother of Isis and Osiris; murderer of Osiris

Maat—daughter of Ra; goddess of truth

Neith—goddess of hunting and war; mother of crocodile god, Sobek

Anubis—jackal-headed god; accompanied dead on their journey to the afterlife

Mut—wife of Amun; mother-god

Thoth—god of writing and wisdom; inventor of numbers; often took form of a baboon

E
GYPTIAN
C
ALENDAR

The Egyptian calendar in Ptolemaic times was divided into three seasons of four 30-day months each, with five extra days designated as the Opening of the Year, coinciding with the rising of Sirius, the Dog-Star, around June 21. The seasons had Egyptian names, but I have used the English names, which are easier to follow. The year looked something like this:

S
EASON OF
I
NUNDATION
/F
LOODING

First month: June 15–July 15

Second month: July 15–August 15

Third month: August 15–September 15

Fourth month: September 15–October 15

S
EASON OF
E
MERGENCE
/P
LANTING
(
WINTER
)

First month: October 15–November 15

Second month: November 15–December 15

Third month: December 15–January 15

Fourth month: January 15–February 15

S
EASON OF
H
ARVEST
(
SUMMER
)

First month: February 15–March 15

Second month: March 15–April 15

Third month: April 15–May 15

Fourth month: May 15–June 15

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

CAROLYN MEYER is the acclaimed author of more than fifty books for young people. Her many award-winning novels include
Mary, Bloody Mary
, an ABA Pick of the Lists, an NCSSCBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and
Marie, Dancing
, a Book Sense Pick. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.