The Tragedy of The Death of King Antiochus

By Reza Taheribashar

The Tragedy of the Death of the King Antiochus, is a historical and bloody play by Reza Taheri Bashar. This story tells the story of the betrayal of Antiochus, the Seleucid king of Iran, and Zenobia, the rebel queen of Palmyra, to Laodice, a bloodthirsty Iranian lady.

Laodice, who can't stand the betrayal of Antiochus.

She can't bear the death of her loved ones, and in anger, she lands a fatal blow on her enemies.

This play shows the betrayal, intrigue, grudge, successive targeted killings and the final downfall of a royal family.

 

Story:

Antiochus, the Seleucid king of Iran, and the beautiful Zenobia, the rebel queen of Palmyra, return to the capital after a bloody campaign. Zenobia is pregnant with the king of Iran.

Fearful of Zenobia's rise to power, the king's sons encourage Laodice, the king's wife, to stand up to the capricious king and hand Zenobia over to the Roman army.

Antiochus is weak and indecisive and cannot make a decisive decision.

The clever Zenobia makes conspiracies and forces her Palmyraean guards to trap the king's children.

Then, hateful grudges and terrible conspiracies appear, which lead the story to a terrible massacre.

This play is the seditious story of Zenobia and the complicity of the reluctant king and the choices of others that lead to the evil killing of the royal family.

 

Who do we recommend to read this book?

Those for whom original stories and good ideas and dialogues are important.

Those who feel the value and importance of choice and authority with their flesh, skin and bones.

Those who are interested in investigating the course of historical events and the deadly violence contained in it.

Those who are tired of the old tragedies and want a powerful and different story.

This historical story is a rare and truly different tragedy.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Reza Taheribashar
• Release date: Sep 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223083764

Reza Taheribashar

Reza Taheri Bashar (born in Tehran -1979) playwright, poet and critic of literature and philosophy   Books: Play and screenplay: The Tragedy of The Death of King Antiochus Play and screenplay: The Tragedy of The Death of Bardia Play and Screenplay: The Tragedy of The Death of King Ardashir Play and screenplay: The Tragedy of The Death of Asa Play and Screenplay: The Tragedy of The Death of King Farvard Play and Screenplay: The Tragedy of the Death of Irene Play and screenplay: The Tragedy of the Death of Sogdianus And :                             The first eighty love letters   Contact me: [e-mail]  

Book preview

The Tragedy

of

The Death

of

King Antiochus

by:

Reza Taheri Bashar

CHARACTERS

Antiochus: the Seleucid king of Iran

Laodice: the queen of Iran and from the Parthian noble's family

Zenobia: The captive queen of Palmyra

Karen: The prince and eldest son of Antiochus and Laodice

Soren: The prince and young son of Antiochus and Laodice

And Roman ambassadors, army generals, soldiers, mobsters, and servants…

Act I

The first scene

[In the room of the sick Queen Laodice, the physician mixes the medicines]

Doctor:

My lady, be more careful. For you, too much anger and effort is a deadly poison.

[Laodice drinks the medicine, a commotion is heard in the distance, the servant comes, and the queen grabs the side of the bed with difficulty and stands]

Laodice:

Have they come?

Servant:

The King and his powerful, victorious army are in the capital with Zenobia - the captive queen of Palmyra.

[Laodice squeezes her temples]

The furious representatives of the Roman Emperor have also arrived in the city.

Laodice:

[whisperer]

Is Zenobia as beautiful as people say?

Servant:

She is very beautiful but definitely not as attractive as Queen Laodice.

[slowly]

Your sons, Prince Karen and Prince Soren have come to visit you.

[The princes go and kiss the mother's hands]

Karen:

The queen mother

Laodice:

My dear sons, the proud Seleucid princes

[caresses them tenderly]

How did this war go?

Karen:

we almost won…almost

[Soren squeezes Karen's hands]

Soren fought bravely.

Laodice:

[caresses Soren]

Where is your father? Why have you left the King alone?

Soren:

My father is not alone.

Karen:

[Gets up angrily, lingers, pours a drink, and drinks]

He is here with the beautiful Zenobia ahead of the army and in the heart of the capital.

Laodice:

[Tries to stand up]

I have to go to meet him.

Karen:

But Zenobia is not a prisoner in detention, chains, or cage.

Laodice:

[tries hard]

I have to visit the King and his high-ranking captive.

Soren:

This woman is not a captive. Mother

Laodice:

I have been aware of the events.

[The King arrives, and the queen and her sons bow]

My dear wife, the noble King

Soren:

[whispering to Karen]

The blow was terrible.

Antiochus:

Laodice, my queen

[Laodice kindly removes the armor from the King's body]

Laodice:

You are tired but still magnificent and courageous. You have not been in the capital for a year.

[coughs]

Karen:

A difficult year.

Antiochus:

[He pulls his hand out of Laodice's hand, calmly and coldly looking at his sons standing further away]

It was strange today; when I returned to the palace after a year of difficult fighting with border-raiding tribes, it was as if stones were tied to my feet. I did not want to return to this palace.

Laodice:

Unfortunately for me

Antiochus:

[He pours a drink and drinks it]

It seems that the bad news has reached Laodice before me.

Laodice:

There is no bad news; the King will always do what is right.

Karen:

[angry]

The captured woman should be handed over to the Romans immediately.

Antiochus:

Zenobia has become a refugee in the great country of Iran.

Soren:

She is our prisoner. She and her soldiers attacked the Romans and our soldiers on the border of Iran and Rome and killed our warriors.

Laodice:

I have not heard your father's words yet.

Karen:

Mother, scouts of the Roman army have moved to the western borders of Iran; Rome wants the rebel queen of Palmyra.

Laodice:

We are not afraid of the Romans.

Antiochus:

Laodice is always fearless

Laodice:

[gets up hard]

Forgive your sons, your soldiers; they have not seen harder days than this, the days of my youth and you and our alliance in purposefully pushing aside all hard-hearted enemies.

[Firmly