Roman Propaganda Continues to Distort Cleopatra’s Legacy

The legacy of Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of ancient Egypt’s Ptolemaic Kingdom, continues to be clouded by Roman propaganda more than two millennia after her death, according to leading historians and Egyptologists.

Experts point to a persistent historical narrative that reduces Cleopatra to little more than a seductress who used her charms to entangle powerful Roman men like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. This characterization, they argue, stems largely from accounts written by her Roman enemies—particularly Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), who waged a systematic campaign to discredit her.

“What we know about Cleopatra comes primarily through Roman sources that had every reason to vilify her,” explains Dr. Catherine Williams, professor of ancient Mediterranean history at Cambridge University. “The Romans cast her as a foreign temptress who threatened their republic, when in reality she was a sophisticated ruler protecting her kingdom’s interests during a turbulent political period.”

Archaeological evidence and contemporary scholarship paint a markedly different picture of the Egyptian queen. Fluent in at least nine languages and educated in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and diplomacy, Cleopatra was among the most accomplished rulers of her era. She successfully maintained Egypt’s independence for over two decades despite Roman expansion throughout the Mediterranean.

Recent archaeological findings at Alexandria have uncovered administrative records suggesting Cleopatra implemented agricultural reforms that helped stabilize Egypt’s economy during periods of drought. She also strengthened trade relationships with regions from Ethiopia to India, expanding Egypt’s commercial influence throughout the known world.

“The Romans needed to justify their conquest of Egypt, so they crafted a narrative about saving Rome from a dangerous foreign queen,” says Dr. Mahmoud El-Sawy of Cairo University’s Egyptology Department. “This propaganda proved remarkably enduring, shaping how Cleopatra has been portrayed throughout Western history and popular culture.”

The impact of this Roman characterization extends far beyond ancient history, influencing countless artistic depictions from Renaissance paintings to Hollywood films. Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal in the 1963 epic “Cleopatra” cemented the image of a glamorous seductress in modern popular consciousness, though even that film barely touched on her intellectual prowess or political acumen.

The persistence of the Roman narrative about Cleopatra also reflects broader patterns in how women in power have been portrayed throughout history. “Powerful women have historically been delegitimized by suggesting they achieved their position through sexuality rather than ability,” notes Dr. Sarah Jenkins, historian of gender in antiquity at Princeton University. “Cleopatra’s treatment by Roman historians established a template that has been applied to countless female leaders since.”

This historical reassessment comes amid growing interest in Cleopatra’s Egyptian context. The Ptolemaic dynasty, though of Greek origin, had by Cleopatra’s time ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years and adopted many Egyptian customs and religious practices. Archaeological evidence indicates Cleopatra embraced her role as an Egyptian pharaoh, presenting herself to her subjects as an incarnation of the goddess Isis.

Several major museums are planning exhibitions exploring Cleopatra’s reign beyond the Roman characterizations. The British Museum’s upcoming “Cleopatra: Beyond the Myth” exhibition will feature artifacts from her reign alongside analysis of how her image has been manipulated throughout history.

Meanwhile, a Netflix documentary series currently in production aims to place Cleopatra in her proper historical context as a multilingual diplomat who navigated complex geopolitical challenges while maintaining Egyptian independence far longer than might have been expected given Rome’s overwhelming military superiority.

“Understanding the extent to which Roman propaganda has shaped our perception of Cleopatra is crucial not just for historical accuracy, but for recognizing how political narratives can persist for millennia,” says Williams. “When we strip away those layers of propaganda, we find a ruler whose strategic brilliance and cultural sophistication deserve far more recognition than her romantic entanglements.”

As scholars continue to excavate both the physical remnants of Cleopatra’s reign and the layers of bias that have obscured it, a more complete picture of one of antiquity’s most fascinating leaders may finally emerge—one that recognizes her not merely as a participant in Roman history, but as a formidable historical figure in her own right.