Reflections of Cleopatra VII through time : cultural perceptions of gender and power : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

The story of Cleopatra VII' s life has been a source for countless authors, playwrights, filmmakers, and historians since before her death in 30 BCE. Her purported decadence, wealth, power, and beauty have captivated our minds, and her myth has only grown with the years. I propose that a study of her many representations, both in ancient sources and more modern ones, will reveal information not only about the queen, but about the cultures and individual perspectives of those who have portrayed her in various media. By examining Roman sources, Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, films, works of art, and more recent writings on Cleopatra VII, we can gain a better understanding of how gender and power are perceived in different times and cultures.