Queen of Kings - Maria Dahvana Headley [165]
In A.D. 365, there was an undersea earthquake and major tsunami that caused many of the buildings in Alexandria, including Cleopatra’s Palace, to slide deep beneath the harbor. By the eighth century, further earthquakes (though Alexandria is not on any known fault line) had destroyed much of the ancient city. At the time of this writing, the buildings of Cleopatra’s Palace have been discovered, but archeologists (and other interested parties) have long been searching for Antony and Cleopatra’s tomb, thus far without success.
One of the few confirmed images of Cleopatra extant today is in Egypt at the Temple of Dendera, commissioned by Cleopatra, but completed by Octavian after her death. On its facade, a life-size image of the queen exists. In it, she travels with her son, Caesarion, to deliver an offering to Isis. Her son is accompanied by a small figure representing his ka.
Cleopatra, on the other hand, travels alone, unaccompanied by her soul.
Really.
—MDH, November 2010
Seattle, Washington
Acknowledgments
Every writer has a Greek chorus of advisors, drinking partners, brainstormers, barnraisers, and ghosts, and mine may well be even larger than most. After my last book, someone published a review of my acknowledgments, claiming (I kid you not) that I was “too thankful” to too many people. Bullshit. When it comes to making a living off imaginary worlds, there is no such thing as being too thankful. Libations and sacrifices to:
THE FORUM
Michael Rudell, a great reader/matchmaker, just as much as he is a great lawyer. I’m lucky enough to be represented by that rare thing, an agency full of people who would all be fantastic desert island companions: David Gernert, whose raucous laughter, endless appetite for pages, and raconteur-ing rock the publishing world. Stephanie Cabot, with her dry wit, warmth, and excellent classics geekiness. Rebecca Gardner, for bright ideas and Greek food, along with Will Roberts for foreign rights. My editor, Erika Imranyi, for buying and editing this great big, wild monster of a book, along with Brian Tart and everyone at Dutton for supporting its journey from scribbles into actuality. John Power and Steve Twersky, ongoing believers and accountants, which is saying something. Lisa Bankoff, who out of pure goodness said nice things about Queen of Kings all over town. Simon Taylor, who got spectacularly giddy over this book and then bought it for the UK marketplace. All the other foreign editors, who got this book and bought it.
THE CHORUS
Let it be said publicly: Without all the friends who contributed willing ears, belief, and alcohol, this novel would not have gotten written. I’d been working for several years on another book, which I backburnered when I got the first tiny, mad kernel of the idea for Queen of Kings. I owe thanks to all the people who not only listened to me shriek about the travails of that other project for years but who encouraged me to write this one, after all the hours they’d spent patiently comforting me through something else.
Don’t think you’re done comforting me, friends, Romans, countrymen. This is a trilogy.
I couldn’t be more fortunate if I had a magic lamp and a million wishes. Thanks to: Zay Amsbury, Mark Bemesderfer, Chris Bolin, Stesha Brandon, Ed Brubaker and Melanie Tomlin, Tom Bryant, Matt Cheney, Thea Cooper, Kate Czajkowski, Laura Dave, Caitlin DiMotta and Duffy Boudreau, Kelley Eskridge and Nicola Griffith, Lance Horne, Dayna S. Kalleres, Greg Kalleres, Hallie Deaktor Kapner, Doug Kearney, Jay Kirk, Park Krausen, Joe Knezevich, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Thomas Kohnstamm and Tábata