Cleopatra’s Legacy Still Distorted by Roman Propaganda, Scholars Say

Two thousand years after her death, Cleopatra VII continues to suffer from an image problem created by her Roman enemies, according to historians who are working to rehabilitate the reputation of ancient Egypt’s last pharaoh.

Long depicted as a seductress who used her feminine wiles to manipulate powerful Roman men, Cleopatra was actually a shrewd political strategist and capable ruler whose achievements have been systematically undermined by Roman propaganda, experts say.

“The Romans successfully created a narrative that has endured for millennia,” says Dr. Eleanor Matthews, professor of ancient history at Oxford University. “They reduced a highly educated, multilingual queen to little more than a sexual temptress, when in reality she was fighting to preserve Egyptian sovereignty against an expanding Roman Empire.”

Cleopatra, who ruled Egypt from 51 BCE until her death in 30 BCE, spoke as many as nine languages and was educated in mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, and rhetoric. Contemporary accounts suggest she was more compelling for her intelligence and charisma than her physical appearance.

The distortion of her image began with Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), who waged a propaganda campaign against Cleopatra and Mark Antony prior to his victory at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE. This negative portrayal was later amplified by Roman historians like Cassius Dio and Plutarch, whose works heavily influenced Western perceptions of the Egyptian queen.

“Octavian needed to justify his war against Antony, so he painted Cleopatra as a foreign seductress who had enchanted a Roman hero,” explains Dr. James Henderson, curator of the upcoming exhibition “Cleopatra: Beyond the Myth” at the British Museum. “It was easier to sell a war against a dangerous foreign queen than to admit it was a Roman civil war.”

Recent archaeological findings and scholarly research have begun to challenge these entrenched narratives. Excavations at Alexandria and analysis of contemporary Egyptian sources reveal Cleopatra as a ruler who stabilized Egypt’s economy, maintained religious traditions, and skillfully navigated complex diplomatic relationships.

Dr. Fatima Al-Saeed, Egyptologist at Cairo University, emphasizes that Cleopatra should be understood within her Egyptian context, not just through a Roman lens. “She identified strongly with Egyptian religious traditions, portraying herself as the embodiment of the goddess Isis. She wasn’t just seeking power for its own sake but was working to preserve Egyptian culture and independence.”

Cleopatra’s economic policies demonstrate her administrative capabilities. During her reign, she reopened trade routes, managed grain production during drought years, and maintained Egypt’s position as the breadbasket of the Mediterranean despite political instability throughout the region.

Her political alliances with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony, while portrayed by Romans as scandalous affairs, were strategic diplomatic maneuvers. “These were political relationships first and foremost,” notes Dr. Henderson. “Cleopatra recognized that Egypt’s continued independence depended on having powerful allies within Rome.”

The queen’s suicide following Octavian’s conquest of Egypt has often been romanticized, particularly in films and literature. However, historians now emphasize that her death was a political act—choosing to die rather than be paraded through Rome as a captive in Octavian’s triumph.

Modern popular culture has begun to reflect this more nuanced understanding of Cleopatra. Several upcoming documentary projects and books aim to present a more historically accurate portrayal of the queen, focusing on her political acumen rather than her romantic entanglements.

“We’re finally moving beyond Shakespeare and Elizabeth Taylor to discover the real Cleopatra,” says Dr. Matthews. “She was a product of her Ptolemaic heritage but also deeply committed to Egypt. She fought fiercely to maintain Egyptian independence against overwhelming odds.”

The reassessment of Cleopatra’s legacy is part of a broader trend in classical studies to revisit historical narratives that have been shaped by the biases of ancient writers and subsequent centuries of interpretation.

“History is written by the victors,” Dr. Al-Saeed concludes. “And for two thousand years, we’ve been reading Cleopatra’s story through the eyes of the men who defeated her. It’s time we recognized her for what she was—not just a woman who captivated powerful men, but a formidable leader in her own right.”