Skip to content
THE AGE OF ROMEHistory, brought closer
48 BC · Episode film · 2:27

Cleopatra VII: the queen who returned to Alexandria

Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt from 51 to 30 BC.

2:27 · Episode film

AI-generated historical dramatization.

The full story

Read the history.

Who was Cleopatra VII? Follow her struggle for Egypt’s throne, her meeting with Julius Caesar in 48 BC, and the evidence behind the famous carpet story.

Read the guide
Read the transcript

Alexandria, 48 BC. Cleopatra has been driven from power by the faction surrounding her brother, Ptolemy the Thirteenth. She returns to seek the support of Julius Caesar, whose arrival has brought Rome's civil war into Egypt's royal struggle. Their meeting gives Cleopatra a powerful ally and a chance to recover her throne. The rival court resists, and fighting engulfs the city. With Roman and allied reinforcements, Caesar eventually defeats her opponents. Cleopatra returns to power in 47 BC, ruling a kingdom whose independence now depends increasingly on its relationship with Rome.

Sources and context

The guide follows the people, events and surviving accounts behind this film. Explore the sources.

More films

Every episode