Mark Antony, Power Broker of Rome Quiz

Answer: Consul

Antony was occupying the consulship with Caesar. The office always had two "colleagues" who held the office jointly. Since Caesar was considered a tyrant by some, the legality of his decrees and his will were in question with his death.

Answer: Yes

Antony was with Caesar during his conquest of Gaul. He served with distinction and valor during this campaign.

Answer: A general amnesty was declared

Shortly after the death of Caesar, a general amnesty was declared by which everyone kept their government posts and Caesar's will was left intact and legal. This was only a stopgap measure, however. Antony had no intention of withdrawing from public life with such power in his hands. The conspirators were not executed. In fact, shortly after Caesar's funeral, they fled from Rome.

Answer: Lupercalia

The Romans had many festivals during the year. The Lupercalia occurred about a month before Caesar' death, February 13-15.

Answer: Brutus

According to our sources, Brutus delivered a speech to the stunned people of Rome at Caesar's funeral. He was followed by Antony who brilliantly began with understatement and gradually stirred the people into a frenzy. Rioting ensued and the conspirators fled. In fact, an innocent man was killed, the crowd thinking he was one of the conspirators.

Answer: Tarsus

Under the second Triumvirate, Antony made his headquarters in Tarsus and he summoned Cleopatra there to ask for funds and to test her loyalty. Not to be outdone in opulence, Cleopatra sailed into the harbor at Tarsus in a fabulous barge, overawing the populace. She invited Antony to a feast aboard her ship and they fell in love on the spot.

Answer: He was executed and his hands were nailed to the Senate door

Cicero perished under the second Triumvirate (Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus). The Triumvirate unleashed a series of proscriptions whereby certain citizens and political enemies were killed and their property appropriated. It is thought that this was Antony's terrible revenge in memory of the damning diatribes Cicero wrote against him in the Philippics.

Answer: Dionysus

Antony appropriately associated himself with Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry (Bacchus to the Romans). The people back in Rome were scandalized by his behavior.

Answer: Herod the Great

Antony installed Herod as the king of Judea, replacing Antigonus, an appointee of Parthia. Mithridates ruled in the East, but never in Judea. Herod Agrippa was one of Herod's sons, but her ruled later during the lifetime of Jesus of Nazareth.

Answer: He received a message that Cleopatra had taken her life

Antony and Cleopatra possibly discussed a joint suicide. Cleopatra sent Antony a message that she had already taken her life, possibly to make it easier to deal with their conqueror, Octavian. Octavian had earlier promised Cleopatra life and liberty if she would deliver Antony into his hands. Upon learning about Cleopatra's death, Antony was desolate and took his life.