Roman Propaganda Still Distorts Cleopatra’s Historical Legacy

Roman propaganda has distorted our view of Cleopatra for centuries, according to leading historians who argue that the Egyptian queen’s actual accomplishments continue to be overshadowed by a smear campaign orchestrated more than 2,000 years ago.

Cleopatra VII, who ruled Egypt from 51-30 BCE, remains one of history’s most misunderstood figures. The narrative that has persisted—depicting her primarily as a seductress who used her feminine wiles to ensnare powerful Roman men—originated with Emperor Augustus’s propaganda machine after her death, experts say.

“The Romans effectively rewrote history to serve their imperial agenda,” explains Dr. Sarah Thompson, professor of ancient Mediterranean history at Oxford University. “Augustus needed to justify his war against Mark Antony and Cleopatra, so he portrayed her as a foreign temptress who corrupted a noble Roman. This characterization has proven remarkably durable, persisting even in modern representations.”

Recent archaeological findings and scholarly reassessments paint a dramatically different picture of the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Far from being merely a beautiful manipulator, Cleopatra was a shrewd political strategist, accomplished diplomat, and intellectual who spoke at least nine languages. She effectively managed Egypt during a period of tremendous regional instability.

Cleopatra’s economic policies helped maintain Egypt’s prosperity during her reign. She stabilized the currency, reformed tax collection, and managed grain distribution throughout the Mediterranean during periods of famine. These achievements rarely feature prominently in popular accounts of her life.

“We have substantial evidence that Cleopatra was revered by her Egyptian subjects,” notes Dr. Miguel Alvarez, curator of Egyptian antiquities at the British Museum. “Contemporary Egyptian sources describe her as a competent ruler who identified strongly with Egyptian cultural traditions, presenting herself as the living embodiment of the goddess Isis.”

Her political alliances with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony were strategic maneuvers to preserve Egyptian independence in the face of Roman expansion—not simply romantic entanglements. Cleopatra recognized that Egypt’s continued autonomy depended on maintaining favorable relations with Rome, the dominant Mediterranean power of the era.

The persistent focus on her relationships with Roman men reflects both ancient and modern sexism, according to Dr. Elena Petrova, author of “Reframing Cleopatra: Gender Politics in Ancient History.”

“History has routinely diminished female rulers by focusing on their appearance and sexual relationships rather than their governance,” Petrova argues. “Cleopatra suffered this fate more than most. The fact that we still discuss her primarily through her connections to Caesar and Antony, rather than her two decades of effective rule, demonstrates how thoroughly Roman propaganda has shaped our historical lens.”

Hollywood has played a significant role in perpetuating the Roman narrative. From Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal in the 1963 epic to numerous other film and television adaptations, entertainment media has largely reinforced the image of Cleopatra as exotic temptress rather than capable monarch.

The announced upcoming film starring Gal Gadot has already sparked debate among historians who hope for a more nuanced portrayal. Some are cautiously optimistic that modern scholarship might finally influence popular representations of the queen.

The erasure of Cleopatra’s achievements parallels a broader pattern in how history has treated female leadership, experts note. Throughout history, successful women rulers have often been subject to character assassination focusing on their personal lives rather than their political accomplishments.

Dr. Thompson adds, “When we examine the historical record critically, we find that Cleopatra maintained Egyptian independence longer than would have otherwise been possible. She navigated the treacherous politics of a Mediterranean world dominated by Roman civil wars while preserving Egyptian cultural and religious traditions.”

Historians emphasize that reconsidering Cleopatra’s legacy is not simply about correcting the historical record but about understanding how propaganda shapes our perception of the past and present.

“The Roman disinformation campaign against Cleopatra might be the most successful in history,” concludes Alvarez. “After more than two millennia, we’re still working to disentangle fact from politically motivated fiction.”