Roman Propaganda Continues to Distort Cleopatra’s Legacy

Egypt’s last pharaoh was the victim of one of history’s most successful smear campaigns, an expert has claimed as the British Museum opened an exhibition devoted to Cleopatra.

The ruler, who died by suicide in 30 BC after her forces were defeated by Rome, was portrayed in Roman propaganda as a manipulative seductress who used her feminine wiles to corrupt powerful Roman men. The characterization, perpetuated through the ages in art, literature and film, has obscured her true identity as a brilliant political leader, according to historians involved with the new exhibition.

“Cleopatra: The Story Behind the Myth” opened this week at the British Museum, featuring nearly 200 artifacts that aim to separate historical fact from the fiction created by her Roman enemies, particularly Octavian, who would later become Emperor Augustus.

Dr. Peter Stewart, curator of the exhibition, explained that Roman propaganda systematically undermined Cleopatra’s reputation by focusing on her alleged sexual relationships rather than her accomplishments as a ruler. “The Romans painted her as this exotic, luxury-loving, decadent woman who corrupted good Roman men,” Stewart said. “That’s the image that has persisted for over 2,000 years, but it was essentially character assassination by the victors.”

The exhibition highlights how Cleopatra was actually a multilingual intellectual who spoke as many as nine languages and was known for her diplomatic skills. As queen of Egypt for 21 years, she successfully navigated complex political relationships with Rome while maintaining Egypt’s independence during a tumultuous period in Mediterranean politics.

Among the artifacts on display is a papyrus document bearing what scholars believe may be Cleopatra’s handwriting, showing her administrative capabilities. The exhibition also includes statuary, coins depicting her image, and temple reliefs commissioned during her reign, presenting a more balanced view of the historical figure.

Professor Mary Beard, the renowned classicist who consulted on the exhibition, noted that Cleopatra’s actual appearance remains unknown despite her iconic status. “The famous image of Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra has nothing to do with how she actually looked,” Beard said. “Contemporary coins show her with a prominent nose and strong features, nothing like the Hollywood version.”

Cleopatra’s relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, which Roman propaganda portrayed as scandalous seductions, were likely strategic political alliances that benefited Egypt, according to Dr. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist who has been searching for Cleopatra’s tomb. “She was following a tradition of Ptolemaic queens who formed alliances through relationships with powerful men. These were diplomatic moves as much as personal ones,” Martinez explained.

The exhibition comes amid renewed interest in Cleopatra, with a controversial Netflix documentary released earlier this year and an upcoming film starring Gal Gadot in the title role. The casting of Gadot sparked debate about the queen’s ethnicity, an issue the exhibition addresses by noting that while Cleopatra was of Macedonian Greek descent through her father’s Ptolemaic dynasty, her mother’s identity remains uncertain, leaving open the possibility of mixed heritage.

Beyond correcting the historical record, the exhibition examines why Cleopatra’s image has remained so potent in Western culture. “She represents a powerful woman who threatened the Roman patriarchal order,” said Dr. Rachel Wood, a historian specializing in women in antiquity. “The Romans couldn’t accept defeat by a foreign queen, so they turned her into a femme fatale rather than acknowledging her political acumen.”

Visitor reaction has been strong, with many expressing surprise at how thoroughly Roman propaganda has shaped modern perceptions. “I came in thinking of the seductress from movies, but I’m leaving with an appreciation for her as a strategist and leader,” said Michael Henson, an attendee at the exhibition’s opening.

The British Museum will host the exhibition until September, after which it will travel to museums in Paris and Berlin. Museum officials hope it will prompt a reevaluation of not just Cleopatra but other historical women whose legacies have been distorted by their enemies.

“History is written by the winners,” Stewart concluded. “What we’re trying to do is look beyond the Roman narrative to see the real Cleopatra – a queen fighting to preserve her nation’s independence in a world increasingly dominated by Rome.”