Spotlight Day: Cleopatra's Egypt

In this spotlight day we will be looking at what we can really know about Cleopatra, exploring the woman behind the myth.

The spotlight day will last 11am-4pm with a break for lunch. Tickets cost £25 and we recommend purchasing in advance.

The day will be broken down into three sessions, each exploring a different period of Cleopatra's life.

Egypt before Cleopatra
In this session we will explore how her family took the throne of Egypt as Alexander the Great’s Empire disintegrated. We will meet the first Ptolemaic kings and see how they built a shining metropolis on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. We will uncover the fascinating and gruesome stories of Cleopatra’s ancestors including stories of incest, war, betrayal, and murder greater than any Hollywood epic.

Cleopatra and Julius Ceasar
Starting with her mysterious birth to Ptolemy XII we will explore how Cleopatra’s tumultuous family life led to her first incestuous marriage and civil war within the royal family. We will look at her affair with Julius Caesar, the birth of a Romano-Egyptian heir and Cleopatra’s disastrous trip to Rome which ended in bloody tragedy.

Cleopatra and Anthony
Picking up from her trip to Rome and the end of her second incestuous marriage we will look at how Cleopatra allied with another Roman to maintain her rule and Egyptian independence. We will see how her relationship with Anthony scandalised Rome, forced Egypt to war, and ultimately ended Ptolemaic rule.

Feedback of Ancient Egypt Spotlight days from previous attendees:
"Just to thank you for an excellent study day on Saturday. It was my first one with the Museum and I had such a good experience that I have told friends and family all about it! I particularly enjoyed how you made the young boy king relatable to us as someone traumatised by the turbulent times in which he lived. I have booked for the December study day so I am now looking forward to that with great anticipation."