Mark Gagnon

And third, Isis worship was spreading throughout the Roman world.

So by identifying herself with Isis, not only is she positioning herself as a religious figure within Egypt, but also a religious figure throughout the entire Roman Empire.

But she's also careful to present herself differently to different audiences.

So to Egyptians, she was this living incarnation of ISIS.

But to the Greeks, she's a queen.

And to the Romans, she is a political ally.

So with this one move, she kind of satisfies everyone all at once.

But her religious dimension really becomes crucial because Cleopatra genuinely seems to believe in her own divine status.

So ancient sources describe these elaborate religious ceremonies where she literally appears as Isis, like dressed up in like this whole grand ritual with, you know, sacred regalia and these mystic rituals.

And this takes us into the next chapter, this divine bloodline.

So by 47 B.C., Cleopatra gives birth to a son named Caesarian, which literally means just little Caesar, not like the pizza, like just like literally like Caesar, but little like Caesar.

You know, like Chicharito.

That's a classic.

What's like a little nickname for like a little Latino kid?

Gordito.

Gordito, the son of Gordo.

But this is the Roman version.

Now, one little side note.

A lot of people think C-section, like Caesarian, comes from Caesar.

Like there's a myth that's like, oh, Caesar was born C-section, so that's where Caesarian comes from.