Pearls and Power

Original pearls have parents; they are the only gems that grew within living creatures. OK, it may be a stretch to believe the oyster or mussel nest is “parenting,” but there are all kinds of parenting. What about cuckoo birds who lay their eggs in another bird’s nest and fly off? Yes, no, or maybe, is the cuckoo a parent?

Deception is one of the common cuckoo bird’s traits. Posing as a threat, the opportunist female cuckoo mimics a predator (like a sparrowhawk) to enter another bird’s nest for her egg dump. This cuckoo treachery involves over 100 different unsuspecting birds that includes warblers, pipits, robins and dunnocks.

Little cuckoo birdies do not fall far from family-tree values. They are pushy with their foster siblings, forcing them to fall out of the nest window. Cuckoo chicks are known bullies. By getting rid of either a foster parent’s eggs or babes, there is a roomier nest and more bird power (including food supplies) for themselves.

We can find deception throughout human history, both in and out of the nest. Consider the fake news propaganda of Roman Octavian who wanted to defeat Cleopatra, the famous female pharaoh of Egypt, and Mark Antony, his Roman rival. The backstory is important; Mark Antony abandoned his wife, who happened to be Octavian’s sister, and was involved romantically with Cleopatra, having 3 children with her. Cleopatra already had a son with Julius Caesar, Caesarion or “Little Caesar” who looked like Caesar, but reportedly the famous father refused to acknowledge his only biological child.

Cleopatra lived in Rome for 2 years with Caesar and young Caesarion, but she returned to Egypt when Caesar was assassinated. Just when you think this complicated nesting could not be more confusing, Octavian was Caesar’s adopted son.

While Octavian and Antony fought previous battles together, Octavian believed that Antony was engaged in a power grab for Rome. Octavian launched the naval Battle of Actium against the combined fleets of Cleopatra and Antony. Octavian was victorious and later assumed control of Egypt. One story is that the couple committed suicide after Cleopatra sent Caesarion to India for safety. Another story declares the lovers were murdered. Anyway, Caesarion was lured home and murdered. The Roman Senate bestowed the title of Augustus (meaning “revered”) upon Octavian.  

Although there are scant surviving documents about Cleopatra, she was a break-the-glass-pyramid powerful gal, thought to speak as many as a half-dozen languages including Egyptian although she was not Egyptian, but a Macedonian Greek. In one surviving papyrus dated 35 BCE, Cleopatra was described as Philopatris, “she who loves her country.” During Cleopatra’s rule, she increased trade routes to Arabia which contributed to Egyptian wealth and is credited with reforming Egypt’s monetary system.

Back in Rome, Cleopatra’s hairstyles and pearl jewelry were revered and became fashion trends.

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

209. Have you encountered deceptions in your family tree?

210. What actions can you take to combat deception?