Joseph is a noble Idumean, a people settled southeast of the Dead Sea. He is the brother of Antipater, the governor of Judea, and the uncle of Herod the Great. He marries his niece Salomé, the sister of the future king Herod the Great. Salomé accuses Mariamne the Hasmonean, Herod's wife, of having improper relationships with her husband Joseph in 29 BC. Indeed, she reproaches Mariamne, who hails from the Hasmonean dynasty, for looking down on her because of her family's humble origins. Herod orders Joseph's execution.<hr>
Rhodes is a Greek island near Turkey and is a significant stopover between Greece and Egypt. It is notably famous for its Colossus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.<hr>
Herod Antipater is the firstborn son of Herod the Great and Doris, Herod’s first wife.<hr>
Pheroras is a prince of Judea, brother of Herod the Great.<hr>
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                Third Speech – Cleopatra to Marc Antony<hr>
                            Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt<hr>
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                                      Contextual Background<hr>
          After the defeat at the battle of Actium, provoked by Cleopatra's flight and followed by Antony's, he suspected her of treason and demonstrated his anger towards her. But this beautiful and astute Egyptian, wishing to erase this negative impression, gave this speech to justify her innocence. I base at least on historical conjectures for the words that I attribute to this queen, and here is what she might have said in this given circumstance, to this infuriated lover.<hr>
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                                  Cleopatra to Marc Antony<hr>
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          So it is true that Antony could have suspected me of betraying and conspiring against him. He might have believed that it was my intention to seize the crown from him, that victory might slip through his fingers, letting treason ring out. If this is the case, and if through my words, I am unable to convince him otherwise about my loyalty, then I wish no more to live, death is my only desire. No, Antony, if I am dead in your heart, I wish no longer to live in this world, and maybe my loss will show you that I did not seek your downfall. But tell me, by what means, through what generous acts, or what expectations could Octavius have corrupted my loyalty? It cannot have been a new passion that has captured my heart, as we are complete strangers to each other. Neither could it have been through gifts, for what<hr>
 
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