Peter Jones

Ancient & modern – 20 May 2005

A classicist draws on ancient wisdom to illuminate contemporary follies

issue 21 May 2005

A reader, Mark Savage, points out to me that there are comparisons between Saddam Hussein and Cleopatra — both wily, mysterious Easterners needing eradication because (according to the spin-doctors) they posed such terrible threats to a Western way of life. But that makes George Galloway, whose passion for Saddam was such a rare and precious thing, the equivalent of Marc Antony. Where might it all end? [Scramble lawyers at once — Ed.]

Whenever Roman envoys visited Egypt, they were given the grand tour up the Nile to Memphis. On one such occasion a Roman commented that Egypt had the potential to become a great power if only its leaders could get their act together. In fact both sides acknowledged the advantages of an alliance: Roman power and efficiency would meet Egyptian wealth (and grain supply).

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