This work attempts to trace back the models for the various Berenice stories in French literature. Two different trends seem to emerge. The first one is related to the unhappy relationship between Titus and Berenice, the Judaic queen of the first century A.D. The other goes back to the events of the Ptolemaic period when a series of queens also bear the name of Berenice. Present day literature tends thus to show a return to the facts that originally gave birth to the myth.

Aphrodite is one of the oldest deities of the Graeco-Roman pantheon, and her cult has a rich and varied history in its development throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. The goddess has been associated with numerous female deities from other cultures, including Astarte, Inanna, and Ishtar from the Near East; Hathor and Isis from Egypt; and Venus from Rome. The origins and development of the cult of Aphrodite have long been favoured topics in Classical scholarship, with notable works including Friedrich’s "The Meaning of Aphrodite" (1978) and Budin’s "The Origin of Aphrodite" (2003). The nature of syncretism between deities continues to be a popular topic of debate, and collections such as "Transformation of a Goddess: Ishtar-Astarte-Aphrodite" (2014) are produced from conferences and symposiums. Likewise, interest in the history of the Ptolemaic dynasty remains high; in particular, the field of numismatics eagerly anticipates the final release of Lorber’s "Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire" (2018 - ), which will replace the seminal work of Svoronos (1904) as the primary catalogue. Although it is common for works concerning the Ptolemaic dynasty to reference Aphrodite, detailed discussion of her cult often arises only in the context of Arsinoë II, with whom she was syncretized. This thesis aims to bring Aphrodite to the forefront, and produce a cohesive narrative which highlights the role of her cult in the development of the Ptolemaic dynasty. It surveys the presence of the goddess in Egypt to determine her nature and significance, before examining the manner in which her cult was manipulated to the benefit of the Ptolemaic dynasts, predominantly through syncretism to the queens Arsinoë II and Berenice II. The discussion of syncretism is extended to include Isis, whose increasing popularity is connected to the eventual decline of the cult of Aphrodite in Egypt. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA) / Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, his empire was divided between his generals. Ptolemy I obtained control of Egypt, and established a dynasty that endured for over two centuries before falling to Rome. This thesis examines the foundation of the dynasty, and the manner in which Ptolemy I and his early successors secured their power. It focuses on Greek and Egyptian religion, and argues that the cult of Aphrodite was integral to the legitimization and consolidation of the dynasty. Discussion extends beyond Aphrodite to those with whom she was associated, including the Egyptian goddess Isis, and the Ptolemaic queens Arsinoë and Berenice. The aim of the thesis is to highlight the complexities of religious practice, and demonstrate the significance of Aphrodite and the sociopolitical impact of her cult in Egypt and throughout the Hellenistic world.

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This paper will argue that there are similarities between “The Raven”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “Ligeia” and “Berenice” in their treatment of the common motifs of isolation and melancholy, and, furthermore, that their protagonists are similar due to their relation to these two motifs. The paper will also argue that the usage of the motif of isolation is a strategic way for the author to emphasise the Gothic horror. In order to support my argument, I will, firstly, provide an outline of how melancholy, isolation and the Gothic were understood in the nineteenth century. Secondly, I will demonstrate ways in which the works are similar. By comparing the characters’ personalities and behaviour to each other, I will illustrate how melancholy and isolation are represented in similar ways in the works of this study. Thirdly, I will show how the motif of isolation reinforces the Gothic.

<p>This paper will argue that there are similarities between “The Raven”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “Ligeia” and “Berenice” in their treatment of the common motifs of isolation and melancholy, and, furthermore, that their protagonists are similar due to their relation to these two motifs. The paper will also argue that the usage of the motif of isolation is a strategic way for the author to emphasise the Gothic horror. In order to support my argument, I will, firstly, provide an outline of how melancholy, isolation and the Gothic were understood in the nineteenth century. Secondly, I will demonstrate ways in which the works are similar. By comparing the characters’ personalities and behaviour to each other, I will illustrate how melancholy and isolation are represented in similar ways in the works of this study. Thirdly, I will show how the motif of isolation reinforces the Gothic.</p>

The purpose of this essay is to show the narrator’s use of the male and the queer gaze in three short stories by Edgar Allan Poe: “Berenice: A Tale” (1835), “The Man that was Used Up: A Tale of the Late Bugaboo and Kickapoo Campaign” (1839) and ”The Man of the Crowd” (1845). Through close reading of the stories, I show how the different gazes work, how they are used in the stories and what they lead to. I relate how the visual perspectives function to how narrative development in the stories depend on the gaze, suggesting that whereas the male gaze in the stories by Poe aids in creating violence and misogyny; the queer gaze on the other hand helps in creating alternative worlds, governed by curiosity, empathy and possibility. / Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att lyfta fram berättarens användning av the male och the queer gaze i tre noveller av Edgar Allan Poe: ”Berenice” (1835), ”Den förbrukade mannen” (1839) och ”Mannen i mängden” (1845). Med hjälp av närläsning belyser jag hur berättelsens utveckling och narrativ påverkas av perspektiven och dessa skilda sätt att se. Jag föreslår att medan the male gaze hos Poe bidrar till att skapa mörka och destruktiva teman, där våld och misogyni är framträdande element, the queer gaze finns konstant närvarande, skapande alternativa sätt att existera i en värld präglad av nyfikenhet, empati och möjlighet.