before returning to rome to attend to urgent political matters, caesar is alleged to have joined cleopatra for a cruise of the nile and sightseeing of monuments, although this may be a romantic tale reflecting later well-to-do roman proclivities and not a real historic event. the historian suetonius provided considerable details about the voyage, including use of a "thalamegos" pleasure barge. first constructed by ptolemy iv during his reign, it measured in length and in height and was complete with dining rooms, state rooms, holy shrines, and promenades along its two decks resembling a floating villa. cleopatra allegedly used the "thalamegos" again years later to sail to mark antony's provisional headquarters at tarsos. its design almost certainly had an influence on the later roman nemi ships. caesar could have been interested in a nile cruise owing to his fascination with geography. he was well-read in the works of eratosthenes and pytheas, and perhaps wanted to discover the source of the river, but his troops reportedly demanded they turn back after nearly reaching ethiopia.