Roman Propaganda Continues to Taint Cleopatra’s Legacy

Archaeologists and historians continue to fight against centuries of Roman propaganda that has distorted the legacy of one of history’s most influential female leaders. Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, remains shrouded in misconceptions perpetuated by her Roman adversaries more than 2,000 years after her death.

Recent scholarly work has increasingly challenged the Roman narrative that portrayed Cleopatra primarily as a seductress who used her feminine wiles to manipulate powerful men like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. This characterization, experts say, was deliberately crafted by Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) to justify his war against her and to cement his own political position in Rome.

“The Romans were masterful at propaganda,” explains Dr. Sarah Thompson, professor of ancient history at Oxford University. “Octavian needed to demonize Cleopatra to rally Roman support against her. He portrayed her as a foreign threat to Roman values, when in reality, she was a sophisticated political strategist defending her kingdom’s independence.”

Archaeological evidence and contemporary historical accounts paint a dramatically different picture of the Egyptian queen. Cleopatra was highly educated, speaking as many as nine languages, and demonstrated remarkable political acumen in navigating Egypt’s precarious position between expanding Roman power and maintaining independence.

The Ptolemaic dynasty, of which Cleopatra was the last ruler, had governed Egypt for nearly three centuries following Alexander the Great’s death. Though of Macedonian Greek descent, Cleopatra embraced Egyptian culture, religious practices, and was the first in her dynasty to learn the Egyptian language, helping to legitimize her rule among the native population.

“She was not simply reactionary to Roman power, but proactive in shaping her own political destiny,” notes Dr. Miguel Rodriguez, curator of Mediterranean antiquities at the British Museum. “Her alliances with Caesar and later Mark Antony were strategic diplomatic maneuvers designed to preserve Egyptian sovereignty in an era of Roman expansion.”

The Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, where Octavian defeated the combined forces of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, marked the beginning of the end for independent Egypt. Following their defeat and subsequent suicides, Octavian annexed Egypt as a Roman province and launched a comprehensive campaign to reshape Cleopatra’s image.

Roman writers like Virgil, Horace, and later Plutarch contributed to this narrative, emphasizing her alleged exotic seductiveness while downplaying her intellectual and political capabilities. This characterization has proven remarkably durable, persisting through Renaissance art, Victorian literature, and 20th-century Hollywood productions.

“Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal in the 1963 film certainly didn’t help matters,” says film historian Rebecca Klein. “While captivating, it reinforced the image of Cleopatra as primarily a romantic figure rather than a shrewd political leader defending her nation’s interests.”

Modern scholars are working to reclaim Cleopatra’s legacy through renewed archaeological efforts and critical reexamination of primary sources. Recent underwater excavations near Alexandria have uncovered remnants of the ancient royal quarter, offering new insights into the queen’s reign and the cosmopolitan nature of her capital city.

The enduring power of Roman propaganda demonstrates how historical narratives can be shaped by the victors and persist for millennia. Dr. Thompson points out that “Cleopatra’s case is particularly significant because it shows how gender biases interact with political agendas to distort our understanding of powerful women throughout history.”

Museums worldwide are updating their exhibits to present a more balanced view of the Egyptian queen. The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology recently launched a digital exhibition titled “Beyond the Myth: Rediscovering Cleopatra” that aims to separate historical fact from Roman fiction.

“What’s remarkable is how effective this ancient smear campaign has been,” observes Dr. Rodriguez. “Even people who know very little about ancient history often ‘know’ that Cleopatra was primarily defined by her relationships with powerful men, rather than by her own achievements.”

As scholarly work continues to challenge these entrenched narratives, a more complex picture of Cleopatra emerges—one of a multilingual intellectual, religious leader, and political strategist who fought to preserve her kingdom’s independence against the overwhelming might of Rome.