cleopatra had caesarion enter into the ranks of the "ephebi". this, along with reliefs on a stele from koptos dated 21 september 31 bc, demonstrate that she was now grooming her son to become the partial ruler of egypt. in a show of solidarity antony also had marcus antonius antyllus, his son with fulvia, enter the "ephebi" at the same time. separate messages and envoys from antony and cleopatra were then sent to octavia, still stationed at rhodes, although octavian seems to have replied only to cleopatra. cleopatra requested that her children inherit egypt and that antony be allowed to live there in ecstasy. she offered octavian money in the future and immediately sent him gifts of a golden scepter, crown, and throne. octavian sent his diplomat thyrsos to cleopatra after she had threatened to immolate herself and vast amounts of her treasure within a tomb already under construction. thyrsos advised her to kill antony so that her life would be spared. when antony suspected foul intent, however, he had this diplomat flogged and sent back to octavian without a deal. from octavian's point of view, lepidus could be trusted under house arrest. antony, however, had to be eliminated, and caesarion, the rival heir to julius caesar, could not be trusted either.