Roman Propaganda Continues to Distort Cleopatra’s Legacy

Cleopatra VII Philopator, ancient Egypt’s last active ruler, continues to be misunderstood by modern society, with historians arguing that Roman propaganda has shaped our perception of the queen for more than two millennia.

Scholars at the British Museum’s upcoming exhibition, “Cleopatra: Curator of Her Own Legend,” hope to challenge these long-standing misconceptions. Opening in May 2024, the exhibition aims to present a more balanced view of the queen who ruled from 51-30 BCE, moving beyond the sexually manipulative seductress portrayed in Roman accounts.

“The Romans were excellent propagandists,” explains Dr. Alexandra Reynolds, lead curator of the exhibition. “They effectively rewrote Cleopatra’s story after her death to suit their political needs. What many people don’t realize is that their version has dominated our understanding for centuries.”

The distortion began almost immediately after Cleopatra’s death. Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), who defeated Cleopatra and Mark Antony in the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, needed to justify his war against them. His solution was to portray Cleopatra as a foreign temptress who had bewitched Antony and threatened Roman values.

Roman writers like Plutarch, Cassius Dio, and Horace amplified this narrative, depicting Cleopatra as morally corrupt, sexually promiscuous, and dangerously ambitious. These accounts, written by the victors, became the primary sources for later historians and artists.

“What’s particularly interesting is how persistent these Roman characterizations have been,” says Dr. Emilia Farraj, historian at University College London. “From Shakespeare to Hollywood, Cleopatra has been defined primarily by her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, rather than her considerable political and intellectual accomplishments.”

Archaeological evidence and contemporary Egyptian sources paint a different picture. Cleopatra was educated in mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, and spoke multiple languages including Egyptian—unusual for Ptolemaic rulers who typically spoke only Greek. She revitalized Egypt’s economy, maintained political independence during Roman expansion, and was revered as a manifestation of the goddess Isis by her subjects.

Coins minted during her reign show a woman with distinctive features: a hooked nose, prominent chin, and severe expression—quite different from the exotic beauty portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor in the famous 1963 film. While not conventionally beautiful by ancient standards, contemporaries noted her intellectual brilliance and charismatic personality.

“Cleopatra was a skilled ruler navigating incredibly difficult political circumstances,” notes Dr. Reynolds. “She maintained Egypt’s independence for decades against the expanding Roman Republic, formed strategic alliances, and protected her country’s interests. That’s far more interesting than the reductive ‘temptress’ narrative.”

The exhibition will feature artifacts from Cleopatra’s reign, including coins bearing her image, papyri documenting her administrative reforms, and temple inscriptions showing her religious roles. It will also trace how Roman propaganda evolved into modern stereotypes through paintings, films, and literature.

This reassessment comes amid broader efforts to revisit historical figures whose legacies have been shaped by their enemies or by cultural biases. Similar scholarly work has challenged traditional portrayals of figures like Boudica, Richard III, and various medieval queens.

“What makes Cleopatra’s case so fascinating is how thoroughly Roman propaganda colonized our imagination,” explains Dr. Farraj. “Even people who know very little about ancient history ‘know’ that Cleopatra was a beautiful seductress who died by snakebite. That’s the power of effective propaganda—it becomes accepted as historical fact.”

The exhibition will also explore how Cleopatra actively shaped her own image through royal iconography, religious associations, and political theater. Far from being a passive figure defined by her relationships with Roman men, she strategically cultivated different personas for different audiences—appearing as Isis to Egyptians and as a Hellenistic queen to Greeks.

“In many ways, Cleopatra was the first great female political brand manager,” Dr. Reynolds suggests. “She understood the power of image and narrative two millennia before social media. Our exhibition title reflects that—she was truly the curator of her own legend.”

The British Museum’s exhibition represents a significant step in reclaiming Cleopatra’s complex legacy from Roman propaganda that has endured for over 2,000 years—a remarkable testament to the lasting power of political narrative in shaping historical memory.