Venator (died 48 BCE) was a Gabiniani who conspired with Lucius Septimius, a fellow Gabiniani and a member of the Order of the Ancients, to assassinate Cleopatra in Herakleion, Egypt during the reign of Ptolemy XIII. His attempt was thwarted by the Medjay Bayek of Siwa, who killed Venator and all of his co-conspirators.
Biography[]
Plotting the assassination[]
In September 48 BCE, after learning the pharaoh Cleopatra would be staying in the city of Herakleion, Venator was approached by a fellow Gabiniani, Lucius Septimius, with a plan to assassinate the pharaoh. Collaborating with an informant of the Order, Livius, Venator rented a room in the local brothel where he made his preparations to ensure Cleopatra would not escape alive.[1]
Venator had one of his soldiers pose as a woman to infiltrate Cleopatra's villa as a lute player. Some of his men would pose as wine merchants, arriving at the docks and starting a fire to cause a panic. Venator also placed some of his archers in a watchtower near the villa to eliminate Cleopatra during the confusion.[1]
Death[]
However, Venator's plan was later discovered by Cleopatra's followers, who had captured Livius and tortured him for information. The Medjay Bayek of Siwa then thwarted the assassination plot by locating and eliminating all of the soldiers meant to carry it out.[1]
In a last-ditch effort to eliminate the pharaoh, Venator led the last of his men into the villa through the docks, clashing with Bayek, his wife Aya, and Cleopatra's guards. Despite his efforts, however, Venator was eventually cut down by the Medjay.[1]
Personality and characteristics[]
Venator dueling Bayek
Venator took pride in being a Gabiniani, who he claimed would rule Egypt with the help of the Order of the Ancients. Based on the story of the twins of the brothel, it is most likely that Venator was a sadistic individual who enjoyed harming others and charging into battle. Despite his warrior-like personality, Venator was an expert strategist, as Lucius Septimius trusted him with carrying out a very important assassination.[1]
Venator plotted his assassination of Cleopatra with careful precision, through the use of disguises, long-range archers and creating distractions for the pharaoh's guards. He even set up a backup plan should this one fail, as his men charged at Cleopatra from the docks. During his duel against Bayek, Venator was shown to be an arrogant but capable warrior, holding his own against the Medjay and claiming he would not fail like his men; despite his confidence in his abilities, however, he was ultimately slain by Bayek.[1]
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