Cleopatra’s Depiction in Movies and Primary Sources

It is pertinent to note that public culture tends to substitute the image of historical figures in favor of the characteristic of trends for the specific era. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of a work of art in establishing a particular reputation. Through films, paintings, and literary descriptions, artists may have embellished or, conversely, brutalized historical figures’ images. This is also true for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, the information in primary sources about whom cannot be completely reliable.

The culture of Rome actively promoted Cleopatra either as a frontwoman for the Greek royal families or as a cruel manipulator who managed to seduce two of the greatest men of the time: Caesar and then Antony. In either case, Cleopatra’s image in Roman culture was rarely favorable and mainly pejorative. In the modern era, by contrast, the image of a strong woman at the head of an entire civilization of the ancient world is a relevant reflection of the agenda, and thus most works of art aim to reinforce this prototype.

For a critical understanding of history, it is necessary to distinguish precisely between objective truth and the changes that were made by artists. In fact, Cleopatra was the last of the Egyptian empresses, but many people do not know that besides her, seven other Egyptian rulers carried this name. In addition, the woman was not a native Egyptian but was descended from the family of the Ptolemies, one of the generals in Alexander the Great’s army. Such facts are not usually raised in works of fiction, which may distort the actual image of Cleopatra as the great Egyptian queen.

The culture of Rome actively promoted Cleopatra either as a frontwoman for the Greek royal families or as a cruel manipulator who managed to seduce two of the greatest men of the time: Caesar and then Antony. In either case, Cleopatra’s image in Roman culture was rarely favorable and mainly pejorative. In the modern era, by contrast, the image of a strong woman at the head of an entire civilization of the ancient world is a relevant reflection of the agenda, and thus most works of art aim to reinforce this prototype.

For a critical understanding of history, it is necessary to distinguish precisely between objective truth and the changes that were made by artists. In fact, Cleopatra was the last of the Egyptian empresses, but many people do not know that besides her, seven other Egyptian rulers carried this name. In addition, the woman was not a native Egyptian but was descended from the family of the Ptolemies, one of the generals in Alexander the Great’s army. Such facts are not usually raised in works of fiction, which may distort the actual image of Cleopatra as the great Egyptian queen.