Who was the member of the Second Triumvirate who became the biggest rival of Caesar’s heir and also the lover of a certain Egyptian queen (who, one might say, wound up making an asp of herself)? Hint: Though disgraced as a traitor to Rome and defeated at Actium, he was the maternal great-grandfather of the third emperor of Rome, the maternal grandfather of the fourth emperor, and the maternal great-great-grandfather of the fifth emperor.

Question

Who was the member of the Second Triumvirate who became the biggest rival of Caesar’s heir and also the lover of a certain Egyptian queen (who, one might say, wound up making an asp of herself)?  Hint: Though disgraced as a traitor to Rome and defeated at Actium, he was the maternal great-grandfather of the third emperor of Rome, the maternal grandfather of the fourth emperor, and the maternal great-great-grandfather of the fifth emperor.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks us to identify the member of the Second Triumvirate who became Caesar’s heir Octavian’s biggest rival and was the lover of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, who is famously associated with the asp.
Option 1: Sextus Pompey. While a notable figure in the late Roman Republic and a pirate turned political actor, he was never Caesar’s heir’s rival nor did he have a known relationship with Cleopatra. This makes the option incorrect.
Option 2: Decimus Brutus. A conspirator against Caesar and a Roman general, Decimus Brutus had no prominent role as a rival to Caesar’s heir nor any connection as Cleopatra’s lover. Therefore, this choice is inaccurate.
Option 3: Mark Antony. Antony was a central member of the Second Triumvirate alongside Octavian and Lepidus, and he became the fiercest rival to Octavian after Caesar’s death. He famously allied with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and their liaison is legendary, including the tale of Cleopatra’s asp. Additionally, Antony’s lineage is linked to the imperial families of later Roman emperors, fitting the genealogical hints in the prompt. This option correctly matches all parts of the clue.
Option 4: Marcus Lepidus. Though part of the Second Triumvirate, Lepidus was never Caesar’s heir’s main rival, nor did he have a romance with Cleopatra. His role was more peripheral and his relationship with the Egyptian queen is not part of the known history. Hence, this choice is incorrect.
Therefore, the correct association described in the question corresponds to Mark Antony, who fits both the political rivalry with Caesar’s heir and the romantic liaison with Cleopatra. The clue about maternal ancestry aligns with Antony’s place in the broader imperial lineage as described in Roman imperial genealogies.

HIST-1-27796 Quiz 3 The Roman World

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