"Mysteries at the Museum" Cleopatra: Mysteries at the Museum Specials

1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:12,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 2 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,815 WILDMAN: On August 12, 30 B.C., 3 00:00:15,817 --> 00:00:18,283 the last reigning ruler of Egypt, 4 00:00:18,285 --> 00:00:20,086 Cleopatra VII, 5 00:00:20,088 --> 00:00:23,422 committed suicide by snake bite. 6 00:00:23,424 --> 00:00:26,025 To this day, her tomb has never been found. 7 00:00:26,027 --> 00:00:28,494 Wow. 8 00:00:30,365 --> 00:00:33,366 There is no more powerful, nor controversial woman 9 00:00:33,368 --> 00:00:36,902 in history than Cleopatra. 10 00:00:36,904 --> 00:00:41,374 The stunning and mercurial leader of the Egyptian empire. 11 00:00:41,376 --> 00:00:44,643 For 2,000 years, her reputation of striking beauty, 12 00:00:44,645 --> 00:00:47,379 murderous ambition, and libertine lust 13 00:00:47,381 --> 00:00:49,849 has defined the reputation, 14 00:00:49,851 --> 00:00:53,251 her reputation as the last Pharaoh of ancient Egypt. 15 00:00:53,253 --> 00:00:55,321 But is this the real story? 16 00:00:55,323 --> 00:00:59,458 How much do we actually know about the real Cleopatra? 17 00:00:59,460 --> 00:01:02,261 What new clues are being discovered today? 18 00:01:02,263 --> 00:01:03,796 Now we send this to the lab. 19 00:01:03,798 --> 00:01:05,397 You're rewriting history. 20 00:01:05,399 --> 00:01:06,998 With cutting edge technology... 21 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,268 There is a whole world beneath. 22 00:01:09,270 --> 00:01:10,736 It's incredible. 23 00:01:10,738 --> 00:01:14,206 ...just how close are we to discovering Cleopatra's tomb? 24 00:01:14,208 --> 00:01:16,809 So something is beneath here and you are refusing 25 00:01:16,811 --> 00:01:18,144 to give up until you find it. 26 00:01:18,146 --> 00:01:19,345 It's a matter of time. 27 00:01:19,347 --> 00:01:22,414 From the catacombs of ancient Alexandria... 28 00:01:22,416 --> 00:01:26,118 Down to find Cleopatra's tomb. 29 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,954 ...to ancient ruins on the ocean floor. 30 00:01:28,956 --> 00:01:30,890 Wow. 31 00:01:30,892 --> 00:01:33,225 Who was Cleopatra? 32 00:01:33,227 --> 00:01:35,828 Here is a woman ruling at a time 33 00:01:35,830 --> 00:01:37,697 when it was all about men. 34 00:01:37,699 --> 00:01:41,033 WILDMAN: And where is her final resting place? 35 00:01:41,035 --> 00:01:43,835 It's a quest to discover her tomb. 36 00:01:43,837 --> 00:01:47,907 And reveal the true legacy of Egypt's most enigmatic queen. 37 00:01:47,909 --> 00:01:51,243 It's incredible to think that Cleopatra's tomb could be 38 00:01:51,245 --> 00:01:54,447 somewhere right beneath my feet. 39 00:01:54,449 --> 00:01:57,383 Wow! 40 00:01:57,385 --> 00:01:59,318 I'm Don Wildman. 41 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,921 I've explored the world's greatest mysteries, 42 00:02:01,923 --> 00:02:04,790 examined rare artifacts and epic monuments. 43 00:02:04,792 --> 00:02:06,325 That is unbelievable. 44 00:02:06,327 --> 00:02:09,461 Now I'm digging deeper into some of the most perplexing 45 00:02:09,463 --> 00:02:12,131 and famous cases in history. 46 00:02:12,133 --> 00:02:14,533 My goal? To get closer to the truth. 47 00:02:14,535 --> 00:02:17,269 -Let's burn this place down. -Let's burn it down. 48 00:02:17,271 --> 00:02:20,005 On this special episode of 49 00:02:20,007 --> 00:02:24,009 "Mysteries at the Museum: Cleopatra." 50 00:02:40,694 --> 00:02:42,761 After more than 2,000 years, 51 00:02:42,763 --> 00:02:46,498 Cleopatra endures as one of the most fascinating 52 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:49,301 and iconic female leaders in history. 53 00:02:49,303 --> 00:02:52,571 A Pharaoh queen, she ruled over one of the greatest kingdoms 54 00:02:52,573 --> 00:02:55,507 of the ancient world -- Egypt. 55 00:02:55,509 --> 00:02:57,776 Fearlessly taking on the Roman empire, 56 00:02:57,778 --> 00:03:01,847 she seduced both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, 57 00:03:01,849 --> 00:03:05,383 two of the most powerful men in Western history. 58 00:03:05,385 --> 00:03:09,188 The name Cleopatra evokes a lasting image of a sexy 59 00:03:09,190 --> 00:03:10,589 and ambitious woman. 60 00:03:10,591 --> 00:03:12,925 A temptress who would stop at nothing to get 61 00:03:12,927 --> 00:03:14,326 what she wanted. 62 00:03:14,328 --> 00:03:16,194 From Shakespeare to Hollywood, 63 00:03:16,196 --> 00:03:19,732 Cleopatra is ingrained in our cultural consciousness 64 00:03:19,734 --> 00:03:25,337 as history's most famous femme fatale. 65 00:03:25,339 --> 00:03:28,074 But how accurate is all of this history? 66 00:03:28,076 --> 00:03:30,208 Many of the details of Cleopatra's life 67 00:03:30,210 --> 00:03:33,679 are either unknown or clouded by myth. 68 00:03:33,681 --> 00:03:36,615 So how do we begin to separate the notorious reputation 69 00:03:36,617 --> 00:03:40,286 from the woman who ruled as Egypt's last Pharaoh? 70 00:03:40,288 --> 00:03:43,222 Many believe the missing pieces could be revealed 71 00:03:43,224 --> 00:03:45,290 with the discovery of her tomb. 72 00:03:45,292 --> 00:03:49,295 After more than 2,000 years, it has yet to be found. 73 00:03:49,297 --> 00:03:52,631 So can we uncover her final resting place 74 00:03:52,633 --> 00:03:55,234 and fill in the missing pieces once and for all? 75 00:04:03,110 --> 00:04:06,645 To find out, I first need to separate fact from fiction 76 00:04:06,647 --> 00:04:09,915 and learn about the true details of her life. 77 00:04:09,917 --> 00:04:12,251 And to begin this journey, we need to travel back 78 00:04:12,253 --> 00:04:14,653 to 69 B.C., 79 00:04:14,655 --> 00:04:18,524 the year Cleopatra was born. 80 00:04:18,526 --> 00:04:20,592 Although she was born in Egypt 81 00:04:20,594 --> 00:04:22,527 and was Egypt's most famous queen, 82 00:04:22,529 --> 00:04:24,930 she was not, in fact, Egyptian. 83 00:04:24,932 --> 00:04:28,600 She was Greek. 84 00:04:28,602 --> 00:04:32,738 So how did Egypt end up with a Greek queen? 85 00:04:32,740 --> 00:04:34,873 After Alexander the Great, the Greek king, 86 00:04:34,875 --> 00:04:37,208 conquered Egypt in 320 B.C.E., 87 00:04:37,210 --> 00:04:40,078 he gifted the empire to his star general, 88 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,015 Ptolemy I, who took the roll of Pharaoh, 89 00:04:43,017 --> 00:04:45,484 an Egyptian royal ruler. 90 00:04:45,486 --> 00:04:49,822 For the next 250 years, the Egyptian empire had 91 00:04:49,824 --> 00:04:51,824 Greek Pharaohs in power. 92 00:04:51,826 --> 00:04:55,294 In the year 69 B.C., Cleopatra was born 93 00:04:55,296 --> 00:04:58,830 into this royal family, also known as the Ptolemy line. 94 00:05:00,768 --> 00:05:05,571 So what was life really like for the Greek queen of Egypt? 95 00:05:05,573 --> 00:05:09,241 I've come to her birthplace, the city of Alexandria. 96 00:05:09,243 --> 00:05:12,111 Named after Alexander the Great, 97 00:05:12,113 --> 00:05:13,913 it's a port city on the Mediterranean Sea 98 00:05:13,915 --> 00:05:15,847 in northern Egypt. 99 00:05:15,849 --> 00:05:18,517 2,000 years ago, when Cleopatra was born, 100 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:22,254 it was the largest port in the world and the capital 101 00:05:22,256 --> 00:05:23,989 of ancient Egypt. 102 00:05:23,991 --> 00:05:27,659 Still one of the most important civilizations of its time. 103 00:05:27,661 --> 00:05:30,662 In terms of population, knowledge, and culture, 104 00:05:30,664 --> 00:05:34,667 Alexandria even surpassed Rome in importance. 105 00:05:34,669 --> 00:05:36,935 Walking around this sprawling metropolis, 106 00:05:36,937 --> 00:05:38,404 it's immediately evident we're not in 107 00:05:38,406 --> 00:05:40,339 Cleopatra's Alexandria anymore. 108 00:05:40,341 --> 00:05:41,941 I mean, there's no sign of that. 109 00:05:41,943 --> 00:05:45,477 There's no sign of the dazzling palatial architecture 110 00:05:45,479 --> 00:05:48,013 that made this place the crowned jewel 111 00:05:48,015 --> 00:05:49,148 of the Mediterranean. 112 00:05:49,150 --> 00:05:50,549 It's gone. 113 00:05:50,551 --> 00:05:53,685 But with any ancient city, you have to find a portal 114 00:05:53,687 --> 00:05:56,087 into the past, a way to look back in time. 115 00:05:56,089 --> 00:05:58,623 And here in Alexandria, you start underground 116 00:05:58,625 --> 00:06:02,428 to see the hidden layers that fill in the backdrop 117 00:06:02,430 --> 00:06:04,496 of the story of Egypt's most famous queen. 118 00:06:12,573 --> 00:06:13,705 Hello, Colin, how are you doing? 119 00:06:13,707 --> 00:06:14,706 Hi, Don, welcome to Alexandria. 120 00:06:14,708 --> 00:06:18,110 -How's it going? -Thank you very much. 121 00:06:18,112 --> 00:06:20,645 WILDMAN: Colin Clement is an historian and guide 122 00:06:20,647 --> 00:06:22,314 who knows where to find the layers of 123 00:06:22,316 --> 00:06:24,049 Alexandria's ancient past 124 00:06:24,051 --> 00:06:26,918 that tell the true story of Cleopatra. 125 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,921 Layers that may help lead us closer to her tomb. 126 00:06:29,923 --> 00:06:32,457 There is no place that shows the city's blend 127 00:06:32,459 --> 00:06:36,061 of both Greek and Egyptian culture better than here, 128 00:06:36,063 --> 00:06:38,063 the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, 129 00:06:38,065 --> 00:06:39,864 considered one of the seven wonders 130 00:06:39,866 --> 00:06:41,266 of the Middle Ages. 131 00:06:45,072 --> 00:06:46,872 Wow, what is this place? 132 00:06:46,874 --> 00:06:52,611 Colin tells me the story of Cleopatra's Egypt can be found 133 00:06:52,613 --> 00:06:54,947 in these catacombs. 134 00:06:54,949 --> 00:06:58,416 Now this is the main tomb of this particular complex. 135 00:06:58,418 --> 00:07:00,752 Wow, it is spectacular. 136 00:07:00,754 --> 00:07:03,355 So I am seeing a lot of different elements, aren't I? 137 00:07:03,357 --> 00:07:05,357 Oh, absolutely. This is expressing Alexandria. 138 00:07:05,359 --> 00:07:08,027 Very much Alexandria about the time of Cleopatra. 139 00:07:08,029 --> 00:07:10,428 It's the sort of cultural milieu that she was born into, 140 00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:11,963 which was layered. -Okay. 141 00:07:11,965 --> 00:07:14,099 Because here, if we look, the entrance to this tomb, 142 00:07:14,101 --> 00:07:15,701 it's purely Egyptian in form. 143 00:07:15,703 --> 00:07:18,037 We have the cobra with the wings deployed. Mm-hmm. 144 00:07:18,039 --> 00:07:20,705 And then columns, the Papyriform columns, 145 00:07:20,707 --> 00:07:23,775 it's all speaks of Egypt. 146 00:07:23,777 --> 00:07:26,645 But if you take two steps in into the antechamber, 147 00:07:26,647 --> 00:07:29,047 you see suddenly we come back to Greece. Hmm. 148 00:07:29,049 --> 00:07:31,784 That medallion, that shield, is the head of Medusa. Wow. 149 00:07:31,786 --> 00:07:35,187 Who was the great, you know, protective emblem of tombs 150 00:07:35,189 --> 00:07:36,522 in the Greek world. 151 00:07:36,524 --> 00:07:38,857 -But then look at its head. -There's a crown. 152 00:07:38,859 --> 00:07:41,126 And that's the crown of upper and lower Egypt. Oh, fascinating. 153 00:07:41,128 --> 00:07:42,861 So we have Greek imagery, 154 00:07:42,863 --> 00:07:44,063 but with an Egyptian stamp on it. 155 00:07:44,065 --> 00:07:46,398 So we got these two things sitting next together, 156 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,200 being shared in this one tomb complex. 157 00:07:48,202 --> 00:07:50,201 So this is a perfect cross-section of 158 00:07:50,203 --> 00:07:51,870 what was happening at the time of Cleopatra. 159 00:07:51,872 --> 00:07:54,139 -Greek and Egyptian. -Absolutely. 160 00:07:54,141 --> 00:07:56,808 We know Cleopatra was the first of that dynasty 161 00:07:56,810 --> 00:08:00,412 to learn the local language, to speak Egyptian. Huh. 162 00:08:00,414 --> 00:08:02,147 WILDMAN: By speaking the native tongue, 163 00:08:02,149 --> 00:08:05,217 Cleopatra had the support of the Egyptian people 164 00:08:05,219 --> 00:08:08,820 and she furthered this loyalty by exploiting the belief 165 00:08:08,822 --> 00:08:12,624 that all Pharaohs have a direct connection to the Gods. 166 00:08:12,626 --> 00:08:15,160 Cleopatra aligned herself with the most popular 167 00:08:15,162 --> 00:08:17,763 Egyptian goddess, Isis. 168 00:08:21,435 --> 00:08:24,303 So once she assumes power, what's her motivation here? 169 00:08:24,305 --> 00:08:26,505 What does she want to become? 170 00:08:26,507 --> 00:08:29,307 She wants to try to reestablish a certain 171 00:08:29,309 --> 00:08:30,775 independence for Egypt. 172 00:08:30,777 --> 00:08:35,446 Try to fend off the outside threat which is ultimately Rome. 173 00:08:39,386 --> 00:08:41,587 WILDMAN: But outside threats like Rome weren't 174 00:08:41,589 --> 00:08:44,189 Cleopatra's only problem. 175 00:08:44,191 --> 00:08:47,859 It turns out Cleopatra wasn't even the lone ruler of Egypt. 176 00:08:47,861 --> 00:08:50,929 She shared the throne with her younger brother, 177 00:08:50,931 --> 00:08:54,667 to whom she was married. 178 00:08:54,669 --> 00:08:56,935 So Cleopatra, 18 years old, assumes power with her brother. 179 00:08:56,937 --> 00:09:00,406 She's a co-regent, yeah? 180 00:09:00,408 --> 00:09:01,607 Right, yes, indeed. 181 00:09:01,609 --> 00:09:03,942 Which is not completely abnormal. Yeah. 182 00:09:03,944 --> 00:09:06,478 There's a history within Egypt of brother/sister marriage 183 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,012 for the rulers. -Mm-hmm. 184 00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:09,081 But in this instance, there was -- 185 00:09:09,083 --> 00:09:10,215 there seemed to be some an imbalance, why? 186 00:09:10,217 --> 00:09:11,416 Because she's the older of the sibling. 187 00:09:11,418 --> 00:09:13,886 Okay, but she's been groomed for this. Clearly. 188 00:09:13,888 --> 00:09:16,421 I mean, she'd been groomed into, the, you know, 189 00:09:16,423 --> 00:09:19,157 the political machinations of the whole dynasty. 190 00:09:19,159 --> 00:09:23,361 She is 300 years a distillation of Ptolemaic rule, 191 00:09:23,363 --> 00:09:24,763 a great education. 192 00:09:24,765 --> 00:09:26,898 I mean, she's been brought up in a court. 193 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:31,303 So she has to navigate a classic sibling rivalry 194 00:09:31,305 --> 00:09:33,372 but also the factions within a court? Absolutely. 195 00:09:33,374 --> 00:09:35,640 Eventually, she gets pushed out. 196 00:09:35,642 --> 00:09:39,244 The backers, whoever they were behind her younger brother, 197 00:09:39,246 --> 00:09:41,246 expel her from the capital. 198 00:09:41,248 --> 00:09:44,916 So Cleopatra is forced out of power and into exile. 199 00:09:44,918 --> 00:09:46,518 Where does she go? 200 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:48,187 She goes to Sinai Peninsula, which is Egyptian territory. Mm-hmm. 201 00:09:48,189 --> 00:09:49,788 So exile, yes. 202 00:09:49,790 --> 00:09:50,989 Mm, she's not been kicked out of the country. 203 00:09:50,991 --> 00:09:52,857 She's not been murdered. 204 00:09:52,859 --> 00:09:55,327 She's been pushed away from the center of power. Hmm. 205 00:09:55,329 --> 00:09:56,528 And her brother takes over. 206 00:09:56,530 --> 00:09:57,663 And what happens there? 207 00:09:57,665 --> 00:09:59,264 Well, we don't really know. 208 00:09:59,266 --> 00:10:01,199 She's in some three years or so she's away from Alexandria. 209 00:10:01,201 --> 00:10:04,269 She's away from the wheels of power. 210 00:10:04,271 --> 00:10:06,004 But it's not so much what happened there, 211 00:10:06,006 --> 00:10:07,805 it's what happens outside of Egypt. 212 00:10:07,807 --> 00:10:10,742 What's happening just across the water in the Roman world 213 00:10:10,744 --> 00:10:12,677 that's gonna give her the opportunity to come back. 214 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:14,212 Because Rome is rising. 215 00:10:14,214 --> 00:10:16,347 Oh, Rome has risen and it's just waiting to come in. 216 00:10:16,349 --> 00:10:19,751 -And take over Egypt. -Indeed. 217 00:10:19,753 --> 00:10:23,622 WILDMAN: Although Rome, who's power reached as far as Persia, 218 00:10:23,624 --> 00:10:25,357 had always been perceived as a threat 219 00:10:25,359 --> 00:10:28,760 to Egypt's independence, it would turn out to be the key 220 00:10:28,762 --> 00:10:31,162 to Cleopatra's escape from exile 221 00:10:31,164 --> 00:10:33,431 and to regaining her throne. 222 00:10:33,433 --> 00:10:36,368 At this point in Rome, there's civil war, right? 223 00:10:36,370 --> 00:10:37,836 There's civil war, indeed, yes. 224 00:10:37,838 --> 00:10:40,038 I mean, there's a major clash between the two great generals 225 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:44,309 of the period -- Julius Caesar and Pompey. Yeah. 226 00:10:44,311 --> 00:10:46,578 Pompey and Caesar were both triumphant 227 00:10:46,580 --> 00:10:51,717 military men fighting for control of the Roman Republic. 228 00:10:51,719 --> 00:10:53,051 So a civil war between Julius Caesar 229 00:10:53,053 --> 00:10:55,387 and Pompey results in what? -Mm-hmm. 230 00:10:55,389 --> 00:10:57,189 Well, there's a massive battle in what is now 231 00:10:57,191 --> 00:10:58,857 central Greece at Farsala. 232 00:10:58,859 --> 00:11:00,191 -Pompey is defeated -- -Yeah. 233 00:11:00,193 --> 00:11:01,393 ...and he flees down south 234 00:11:01,395 --> 00:11:04,596 across the Mediterranean to Alexandria. 235 00:11:04,598 --> 00:11:05,930 What happens to Pompey here? 236 00:11:05,932 --> 00:11:07,466 Well, the Egyptians see him coming. 237 00:11:07,468 --> 00:11:10,134 They know that he has been defeated by Caesar, 238 00:11:10,136 --> 00:11:12,404 so they presumed Caesar is in pursuit. Yeah. 239 00:11:12,406 --> 00:11:14,939 So almost before Pompey can get off the boat, 240 00:11:14,941 --> 00:11:16,007 they assassinate him. 241 00:11:16,009 --> 00:11:18,142 In tribute to Caesar? 242 00:11:18,144 --> 00:11:20,879 Yes, they can see that Pompey is perhaps yesterday's man. 243 00:11:20,881 --> 00:11:22,413 Caesar is today's man. 244 00:11:22,415 --> 00:11:25,016 And they wanna be on side with the rising power. 245 00:11:25,018 --> 00:11:28,086 WILDMAN: Days after Pompey's murder, 246 00:11:28,088 --> 00:11:30,488 dressed in the imperial red, 247 00:11:30,490 --> 00:11:33,225 Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria. 248 00:11:33,227 --> 00:11:35,093 The local Egyptian soldiers, 249 00:11:35,095 --> 00:11:37,562 as commanded by Cleopatra's brother, 250 00:11:37,564 --> 00:11:39,898 presented him with the head of Pompey, 251 00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:42,100 his defeated rival. 252 00:11:42,102 --> 00:11:45,036 Caesar was not happy to find that someone 253 00:11:45,038 --> 00:11:48,239 of Pompey's grandeur had been just slaughtered like that. Okay. 254 00:11:48,241 --> 00:11:51,443 Now, for Cleopatra, who's been out of favor 255 00:11:51,445 --> 00:11:54,646 and out of power, she sees that her sibling has made 256 00:11:54,648 --> 00:11:56,048 a false move. 257 00:11:56,050 --> 00:11:58,584 This is the beginning of Cleopatra's return from exile. 258 00:11:58,586 --> 00:12:03,188 -Her comeback, yes. -Yeah. 259 00:12:03,190 --> 00:12:06,190 WILDMAN: Julius Caesar decided to stay in Alexandria. 260 00:12:06,192 --> 00:12:10,929 His army eventually killing Cleopatra's brother. 261 00:12:10,931 --> 00:12:14,533 With her brother now dead, Cleopatra saw an opportunity 262 00:12:14,535 --> 00:12:17,135 to regain her throne. 263 00:12:17,137 --> 00:12:19,937 So, she devised a master plan. 264 00:12:19,939 --> 00:12:21,439 But would it work? 265 00:12:21,441 --> 00:12:22,740 This is the crypt. 266 00:12:22,742 --> 00:12:24,676 This is where they would hide all their treasure. 267 00:12:24,678 --> 00:12:26,812 WILDMAN: What's the truth behind the events 268 00:12:26,814 --> 00:12:28,479 that led to her suicide? 269 00:12:28,481 --> 00:12:30,349 That's Caesarion. That's her son. 270 00:12:30,351 --> 00:12:32,017 That's her secret weapon. 271 00:12:32,019 --> 00:12:36,421 WILDMAN: Can we find the real answers hidden in her tomb? 272 00:12:36,423 --> 00:12:37,856 Wow! 273 00:12:49,236 --> 00:12:53,105 WILDMAN: I'm on a quest to discover Cleopatra's tomb 274 00:12:53,107 --> 00:12:54,573 and reveal, once and for all, 275 00:12:54,575 --> 00:12:58,176 the true legacy of Egypt's last pharaoh. 276 00:12:58,178 --> 00:12:59,711 But until we make that discovery, 277 00:12:59,713 --> 00:13:01,579 we're left to fill in the pieces of 278 00:13:01,581 --> 00:13:03,648 this complicated puzzle. 279 00:13:03,650 --> 00:13:07,051 What we know is that Cleopatra was forced into exile 280 00:13:07,053 --> 00:13:08,453 by her brother. 281 00:13:08,455 --> 00:13:10,255 She then waited patiently for her opportunity 282 00:13:10,257 --> 00:13:11,790 to regain the throne. 283 00:13:11,792 --> 00:13:14,926 And when Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria, 284 00:13:14,928 --> 00:13:19,865 she prepared to make her move and devised a master plan. 285 00:13:19,867 --> 00:13:23,201 It's the stuff of legend. 286 00:13:23,203 --> 00:13:25,003 Here's how the story goes. 287 00:13:25,005 --> 00:13:29,007 Now, under the cloak of darkness, Cleopatra approaches, 288 00:13:29,009 --> 00:13:31,143 right here in these waters, Alexandria Harbor, 289 00:13:31,145 --> 00:13:33,145 in the company of her most trusted advisor 290 00:13:33,147 --> 00:13:36,882 in a tiny little wooden boat in complete secrecy. 291 00:13:36,884 --> 00:13:39,351 She has that advisor 292 00:13:39,353 --> 00:13:41,686 wrap her in a carpet 293 00:13:41,688 --> 00:13:44,289 and hoisted onto his shoulder and he walks right 294 00:13:44,291 --> 00:13:46,091 to Caesar's quarters. 295 00:13:46,093 --> 00:13:49,828 He is then presenting this carpet as a gift to Caesar. 296 00:13:49,830 --> 00:13:52,430 And he unrolls the carpet in the quarters, 297 00:13:52,432 --> 00:13:56,167 and who should roll out with it but Cleopatra. 298 00:13:56,169 --> 00:13:58,570 Now at this point, Caesar is the most powerful man 299 00:13:58,572 --> 00:13:59,838 in the world looking down 300 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,308 at a 21-year-old stunning young queen. 301 00:14:03,310 --> 00:14:07,245 And the history of the world is changed forever. 302 00:14:07,247 --> 00:14:10,581 Cleopatra's plan had been executed to perfection. 303 00:14:10,583 --> 00:14:15,320 She was the queen of Egypt once again. 304 00:14:15,322 --> 00:14:17,455 She and Caesar embarked on a very public 305 00:14:17,457 --> 00:14:19,658 and flagrant relationship. 306 00:14:19,660 --> 00:14:23,061 Together, they took a four-month trip on the Nile 307 00:14:23,063 --> 00:14:26,464 where Cleopatra introduced Caesar to the great pyramids. 308 00:14:26,466 --> 00:14:29,133 The couple were adored wherever they went. 309 00:14:29,135 --> 00:14:32,137 But if their fiery romance could bind them politically 310 00:14:32,139 --> 00:14:35,073 as well, then Cleopatra could accomplish more 311 00:14:35,075 --> 00:14:37,675 than just returning Egypt to its former glory. 312 00:14:37,677 --> 00:14:41,479 She would be the most powerful woman in the world. 313 00:14:41,481 --> 00:14:44,549 And that's exactly what happened when she became pregnant 314 00:14:44,551 --> 00:14:46,952 with Caesar's child. 315 00:14:46,954 --> 00:14:50,422 In 46 B.C., Cleopatra gave birth to a boy 316 00:14:50,424 --> 00:14:54,759 and called him Caesarion, also known as Little Caesar. 317 00:14:58,766 --> 00:15:01,900 With her ties to Caesar cemented by blood, 318 00:15:01,902 --> 00:15:04,970 Cleopatra and her new family split their time 319 00:15:04,972 --> 00:15:07,305 between Alexandria and Rome. 320 00:15:07,307 --> 00:15:10,442 The legendary seductress had rendered the Roman Empire 321 00:15:10,444 --> 00:15:12,443 a powerless threat to Egypt. 322 00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:17,048 But this newfound security wouldn't last. 323 00:15:17,050 --> 00:15:19,517 Caesar had grown into a dictator. 324 00:15:19,519 --> 00:15:22,053 Fearing the emperor's unchecked power, 325 00:15:22,055 --> 00:15:26,992 the Roman senate staged a coupe, and on March 15, 44 B.C., 326 00:15:26,994 --> 00:15:30,862 Caesar was assassinated in Rome by his own government. 327 00:15:30,864 --> 00:15:34,266 So who would lead Caesar's empire and what would that mean 328 00:15:34,268 --> 00:15:38,003 for the fate of Cleopatra and her son Caesarion? 329 00:15:38,005 --> 00:15:40,004 Being a Pharaoh meant that Cleopatra had 330 00:15:40,006 --> 00:15:42,340 a direct connection to the gods. 331 00:15:42,342 --> 00:15:44,142 She was a living goddess. 332 00:15:44,144 --> 00:15:45,944 She considered herself to be the incarnation 333 00:15:45,946 --> 00:15:49,147 of the most popular Egyptian goddess, Isis. 334 00:15:49,149 --> 00:15:52,416 Performing religious rituals, building new temples, 335 00:15:52,418 --> 00:15:55,753 embellishing old ones, she took special care 336 00:15:55,755 --> 00:15:59,090 to maintain the loyalty and good will of the people. 337 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,496 I've traveled to the Temple of Hathor in Dendera, 338 00:16:04,498 --> 00:16:07,499 one of the best preserved temple complexes in Egypt. 339 00:16:07,501 --> 00:16:09,167 Wow. 340 00:16:09,169 --> 00:16:11,903 Oh, my goodness, look at this. 341 00:16:11,905 --> 00:16:16,174 And one of Cleopatra's most exquisite accomplishments. 342 00:16:16,176 --> 00:16:17,776 Man. 343 00:16:17,778 --> 00:16:20,645 The present Temple of Hathor was largely built 344 00:16:20,647 --> 00:16:24,982 by Cleopatra and her father, and the wealth it held could be 345 00:16:24,984 --> 00:16:27,385 the key to Cleopatra's survival, 346 00:16:27,387 --> 00:16:29,920 even after Caesar's assassination. 347 00:16:29,922 --> 00:16:33,525 -Dr. Ikram, how are you? -Hey, Don. Nice to see you. 348 00:16:33,527 --> 00:16:37,462 Glad you made it. I know. Amazing, isn't it? Breathtaking interior. 349 00:16:37,464 --> 00:16:40,332 WILDMAN: Famed Egyptologist Dr. Selima Ikram, 350 00:16:40,334 --> 00:16:41,599 is a professor at 351 00:16:41,601 --> 00:16:44,602 the American University in Cairo. 352 00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:46,938 This was built by? 353 00:16:46,940 --> 00:16:49,674 It was Cleopatra's father who started it. Okay. 354 00:16:49,676 --> 00:16:52,944 But then he died and so Cleopatra finished it off 355 00:16:52,946 --> 00:16:56,414 and she's also responsible for all the splendid decoration. 356 00:16:56,416 --> 00:17:00,018 By building the temple, decorating it, she was showing 357 00:17:00,020 --> 00:17:02,219 the people that she cared. 358 00:17:02,221 --> 00:17:04,422 WILDMAN: Without Caesar's protection, 359 00:17:04,424 --> 00:17:07,425 how will Cleopatra protect her empire? 360 00:17:11,565 --> 00:17:13,364 -Caesar is dead. -Yeah. 361 00:17:13,366 --> 00:17:16,234 This has huge implications, obviously, for Egypt, right? 362 00:17:16,236 --> 00:17:19,237 Yeah, it's a complete disaster because without him, 363 00:17:19,239 --> 00:17:21,706 she is open to being preyed upon by Rome. 364 00:17:21,708 --> 00:17:23,107 Right, exactly. 365 00:17:23,109 --> 00:17:24,976 When Caesar dies, there's a huge power vacuum, 366 00:17:24,978 --> 00:17:27,712 and it's going to be filled by two people. 367 00:17:27,714 --> 00:17:30,181 One, Octavian. 368 00:17:30,183 --> 00:17:33,118 And the other, Mark Antony. 369 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:35,453 But they're really different people who are supposed 370 00:17:35,455 --> 00:17:38,256 to be ruling Rome together, and neither one of them 371 00:17:38,258 --> 00:17:39,857 really wants to share. 372 00:17:39,859 --> 00:17:41,793 And where does Cleopatra fit into this? 373 00:17:41,795 --> 00:17:44,329 Ah, she has to come up with another strategy. 374 00:17:44,331 --> 00:17:46,398 Just pull this up. 375 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:47,631 Oh, okay. 376 00:17:47,633 --> 00:17:50,401 And...there we go. 377 00:17:50,403 --> 00:17:52,470 -Like so, huh? -Mm-hmm. 378 00:17:52,472 --> 00:17:53,671 That's great. 379 00:17:53,673 --> 00:17:55,606 -Down you go. -Okay. 380 00:17:58,945 --> 00:18:00,478 Oh, this is great. 381 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:01,946 This is the crypt. 382 00:18:01,948 --> 00:18:04,950 It's one of the great secrets of Dendera. Oh, I see. 383 00:18:04,952 --> 00:18:07,752 This is where they would hide all their treasure. Oh, okay. 384 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,894 With Caesar dead, Cleopatra makes elaborate preparations 385 00:18:16,896 --> 00:18:20,631 and she sails off to Tarsus, which is in Asia Minor Turkey, 386 00:18:20,633 --> 00:18:24,902 and set her sights on Mark Antony. 387 00:18:24,904 --> 00:18:27,605 And of course, at this point, he's been doing battle 388 00:18:27,607 --> 00:18:29,106 and not doing too well. -Mm-hmm. 389 00:18:29,108 --> 00:18:32,042 So he needs money. Gold, wealth. 390 00:18:32,044 --> 00:18:33,645 And Cleopatra has all of that. 391 00:18:33,647 --> 00:18:36,781 And she sails up the river in this barge 392 00:18:36,783 --> 00:18:38,249 that she's prepared. 393 00:18:38,251 --> 00:18:41,986 Huge boat, gilded oars, people dressed very elaborately, 394 00:18:41,988 --> 00:18:44,855 little boys dressed as cupid, and she comes 395 00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:47,258 in Diaphanous clothing, clad as a goddess. 396 00:18:47,260 --> 00:18:50,061 She's Isis. 397 00:18:50,063 --> 00:18:52,863 And here, for example, you see this broad collar, 398 00:18:52,865 --> 00:18:56,367 which was originally gold and incredibly heavy. Okay. 399 00:18:56,369 --> 00:18:57,869 -She would've been wearing it. -Yeah. 400 00:18:57,871 --> 00:18:59,738 So this is something that Mark Antony would've seen 401 00:18:59,740 --> 00:19:01,806 as very real value. 402 00:19:01,808 --> 00:19:04,075 And so, this is how it all starts. 403 00:19:04,077 --> 00:19:05,343 -This is high-stakes stuff. -Absolutely. 404 00:19:05,345 --> 00:19:08,613 This is her whole life she's putting into this. 405 00:19:08,615 --> 00:19:09,881 Not just her life. 406 00:19:09,883 --> 00:19:11,816 Much more important, it's her empire. 407 00:19:14,955 --> 00:19:16,620 WILDMAN: What started out as a political move 408 00:19:16,622 --> 00:19:20,691 by Cleopatra quickly turned into a heated relationship 409 00:19:20,693 --> 00:19:25,497 and Mark Antony decided to go back to Egypt with her. 410 00:19:25,499 --> 00:19:27,032 -Passion did take over. -Okay. 411 00:19:27,034 --> 00:19:28,500 Foolishly. 412 00:19:28,502 --> 00:19:30,034 WILDMAN: For the second time, 413 00:19:30,036 --> 00:19:32,369 Cleopatra had successfully seduced 414 00:19:32,371 --> 00:19:35,240 the leader of Rome. 415 00:19:35,242 --> 00:19:37,441 They really are wonderfully well suited, 416 00:19:37,443 --> 00:19:38,843 having a great time. 417 00:19:38,845 --> 00:19:42,113 Except the longer Mark Antony stays with Cleopatra, 418 00:19:42,115 --> 00:19:44,315 the more complicated things become in Rome. 419 00:19:44,317 --> 00:19:45,783 In what way? 420 00:19:45,785 --> 00:19:48,052 Well, he's losing his popularity because he's hanging out 421 00:19:48,054 --> 00:19:49,487 with this Eastern woman. 422 00:19:49,489 --> 00:19:53,057 So he decides that he is going to strategically go back 423 00:19:53,059 --> 00:19:57,595 to Rome and marry his coregent Octavian's sister. Oh, okay. 424 00:19:57,597 --> 00:19:59,130 Octavia. 425 00:19:59,132 --> 00:20:01,533 A classic political maneuver among royalty. Absolutely. 426 00:20:01,535 --> 00:20:03,468 And so he goes back, does this. 427 00:20:03,470 --> 00:20:06,471 Octavia is this wonderful, perfect sort of person, 428 00:20:06,473 --> 00:20:08,273 and so the Romans feel very happy again. 429 00:20:08,275 --> 00:20:10,742 And of course, Cleopatra is not quite so happy. Right. 430 00:20:10,744 --> 00:20:14,345 But she does understand that this is a political ploy. 431 00:20:14,347 --> 00:20:18,082 WILDMAN: Despite his marriage to his rival Octavian's sister, 432 00:20:18,084 --> 00:20:21,485 Antony continued his love affair with Cleopatra 433 00:20:21,487 --> 00:20:23,087 and he married her, too. 434 00:20:23,089 --> 00:20:25,690 They had three children together. 435 00:20:25,692 --> 00:20:29,093 This put further strain on Antony's relations with Rome. 436 00:20:29,095 --> 00:20:32,897 And fearing Octavian might order Mark Antony killed 437 00:20:32,899 --> 00:20:34,165 for marrying her. 438 00:20:34,167 --> 00:20:35,700 That's incredible. 439 00:20:35,702 --> 00:20:37,769 Cleopatra devised a backup plan. 440 00:20:37,771 --> 00:20:40,704 So this entire picture is leading up to the star 441 00:20:40,706 --> 00:20:43,307 of the show, Cleopatra right there. Yeah. 442 00:20:43,309 --> 00:20:45,376 -And next to her? -That's Caesarion. 443 00:20:45,378 --> 00:20:48,045 That's her son. That's her secret weapon. 444 00:20:48,047 --> 00:20:51,850 WILDMAN: Caesarion, the first-born son of Cleopatra 445 00:20:51,852 --> 00:20:54,519 and Julius Caesar, a possible heir to the throne 446 00:20:54,521 --> 00:20:56,854 of both Egypt and Rome. 447 00:20:59,593 --> 00:21:01,993 For Cleopatra, she's making a huge public statement 448 00:21:01,995 --> 00:21:04,662 about this is my son. -Mm-hmm. 449 00:21:04,664 --> 00:21:08,333 And he is going to, in fact, take over the country. 450 00:21:08,335 --> 00:21:11,001 And this is marking him as the heir apparent, 451 00:21:11,003 --> 00:21:13,871 so it really is a public acclimation of them 452 00:21:13,873 --> 00:21:15,940 as a ruling couple. -Okay. 453 00:21:15,942 --> 00:21:17,875 This is also something that she can say, 454 00:21:17,877 --> 00:21:21,813 "I have a king to rule with me," so should things go 455 00:21:21,815 --> 00:21:26,150 pear-shaped with Mark Antony, she has someone. 456 00:21:26,152 --> 00:21:28,619 WILDMAN: And things did go pear-shaped. 457 00:21:28,621 --> 00:21:31,155 After several years of tension, Octavian declared war 458 00:21:31,157 --> 00:21:34,092 against Cleopatra and Mark Antony. 459 00:21:34,094 --> 00:21:36,961 And defeated Antony's forces in Alexandria. 460 00:21:36,963 --> 00:21:41,432 But Antony didn't die. 461 00:21:41,434 --> 00:21:45,236 Octavian, aware of his leverage, sends word to Cleopatra 462 00:21:45,238 --> 00:21:48,506 that if she kills Mark Antony, he may spare her life 463 00:21:48,508 --> 00:21:50,841 and be open to political negotiation 464 00:21:50,843 --> 00:21:54,178 of who will rule Egypt. 465 00:21:54,180 --> 00:21:56,648 Cleopatra realizes she's not powerful enough 466 00:21:56,650 --> 00:21:59,183 to expel Mark Antony from Egypt. 467 00:21:59,185 --> 00:22:01,853 And she has not the stomach to assassinate him. 468 00:22:01,855 --> 00:22:05,055 But is she willing to lose her empire for love? 469 00:22:05,057 --> 00:22:07,792 So she conceives of a chilling plot. 470 00:22:07,794 --> 00:22:10,862 She has a message sent to Mark Antony that says 471 00:22:10,864 --> 00:22:12,330 she has killed herself. 472 00:22:12,332 --> 00:22:13,798 Her hope? 473 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,200 That upon hearing the news of her death, 474 00:22:15,202 --> 00:22:17,535 Antony would take his own life. 475 00:22:17,537 --> 00:22:19,804 And that is exactly what happened. 476 00:22:19,806 --> 00:22:21,539 Upon hearing the news of his great love, 477 00:22:21,541 --> 00:22:23,408 Mark Antony falls on his sword. 478 00:22:23,410 --> 00:22:26,543 But this romantic act of suicide does not 479 00:22:26,545 --> 00:22:28,079 immediately kill him. 480 00:22:28,081 --> 00:22:31,615 So he has himself carried to the place 481 00:22:31,617 --> 00:22:33,951 where Cleopatra's body's supposed to be. 482 00:22:33,953 --> 00:22:36,421 There, upon finding her still alive, 483 00:22:36,423 --> 00:22:39,356 he tells her to make her peace with Octavian. 484 00:22:39,358 --> 00:22:44,362 And then, and only then, does Mark Antony die. 485 00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:50,168 When Octavian finally reached Cleopatra, 486 00:22:50,170 --> 00:22:51,969 she tried to seduce him. 487 00:22:51,971 --> 00:22:54,105 But he resister her charms. 488 00:22:54,107 --> 00:22:57,442 He also resisted her son Caesarion as a possible heir 489 00:22:57,444 --> 00:22:59,243 to the throne. 490 00:22:59,245 --> 00:23:01,445 She was out of options. 491 00:23:01,447 --> 00:23:05,916 As lore famously tells it, she has a poison snake smuggled 492 00:23:05,918 --> 00:23:08,252 to her in a basket of figs. 493 00:23:08,254 --> 00:23:11,856 And then, fearless as ever, she had that snake bite her 494 00:23:11,858 --> 00:23:14,525 repeatedly upon the chest until she succumbed 495 00:23:14,527 --> 00:23:17,929 to its deadly poison. 496 00:23:17,931 --> 00:23:21,532 And in a last act of love and devotion, she arranged 497 00:23:21,534 --> 00:23:25,202 to have her body buried next to Mark Antony. 498 00:23:25,204 --> 00:23:29,073 Cleopatra, the last of the Ptolemaic dynasty, 499 00:23:29,075 --> 00:23:32,944 the last queen of Egypt, the last Pharaoh, 500 00:23:32,946 --> 00:23:34,878 was dead at 39. 501 00:23:40,420 --> 00:23:43,488 Cleopatra's legacy is one of history's most powerful 502 00:23:43,490 --> 00:23:46,957 and independent female leaders is unquestionable. 503 00:23:46,959 --> 00:23:49,226 Yet the role she's most remembered for is 504 00:23:49,228 --> 00:23:50,762 that of a seductress. 505 00:23:50,764 --> 00:23:53,831 A woman who used her gender and sensuality 506 00:23:53,833 --> 00:23:57,167 to manipulate the most powerful men in the ancient world. 507 00:23:57,169 --> 00:23:59,703 But what is the Cleopatra we presume to know 508 00:23:59,705 --> 00:24:01,039 was much different? 509 00:24:01,041 --> 00:24:05,376 What if she was more complex and compelling queen, after all? 510 00:24:05,378 --> 00:24:10,181 Who was the real Cleopatra? 511 00:24:10,183 --> 00:24:13,050 To find out, I'm searching for her lost tomb. 512 00:24:13,052 --> 00:24:15,853 So we enter the tomb over here. 513 00:24:15,855 --> 00:24:18,122 Cleopatra's tomb might be somewhere right 514 00:24:18,124 --> 00:24:22,326 beneath my feet. 515 00:24:32,405 --> 00:24:34,405 WILDMAN: I'm on a quest to uncover 516 00:24:34,407 --> 00:24:37,008 the lost tomb of Cleopatra, 517 00:24:37,010 --> 00:24:39,143 Egypt's most enigmatic queen. 518 00:24:42,749 --> 00:24:45,950 As legend goes, after Cleopatra took her own life, 519 00:24:45,952 --> 00:24:49,219 she was buried in a tomb with Mark Antony. 520 00:24:49,221 --> 00:24:53,691 A tomb that has never been found. 521 00:24:53,693 --> 00:24:56,627 With her death, the Kingdom of Egypt was annexed 522 00:24:56,629 --> 00:24:58,095 by the Roman Empire, 523 00:24:58,097 --> 00:25:02,766 and the Ptolemaic Pharaoh dynasty came to an end. 524 00:25:02,768 --> 00:25:04,902 In the two millennia since her death, 525 00:25:04,904 --> 00:25:08,372 Cleopatra's life and legacy has been largely defined 526 00:25:08,374 --> 00:25:10,841 by what her Roman enemies wrote about her. 527 00:25:10,843 --> 00:25:12,176 That she was a dangerous seductress 528 00:25:12,178 --> 00:25:13,778 who used her sexuality 529 00:25:13,780 --> 00:25:17,181 and ambition to reach for power that was beyond 530 00:25:17,183 --> 00:25:20,651 what was proper for a woman. 531 00:25:20,653 --> 00:25:23,454 But we sometimes forget that this was a real woman 532 00:25:23,456 --> 00:25:25,322 who ruled one of the greatest civilizations 533 00:25:25,324 --> 00:25:26,924 of the ancient world 534 00:25:26,926 --> 00:25:29,460 and who died trying to save her kingdom 535 00:25:29,462 --> 00:25:31,328 from Roman conquest. 536 00:25:31,330 --> 00:25:33,797 So, beyond the myth, beyond the propaganda, 537 00:25:33,799 --> 00:25:37,135 who was the woman behind the formidable 538 00:25:37,137 --> 00:25:39,003 and fabled queen of Egypt? 539 00:25:39,005 --> 00:25:41,138 And how do we tease out the truth 540 00:25:41,140 --> 00:25:43,540 from her licentious reputation? 541 00:25:47,413 --> 00:25:49,413 My search for the truth has brought me 542 00:25:49,415 --> 00:25:52,617 to the Library of Alexandria. 543 00:25:52,619 --> 00:25:56,353 Wow. 544 00:25:56,355 --> 00:25:58,689 This library was a great seed of knowledge 545 00:25:58,691 --> 00:26:01,759 in the ancient world during the reign of Cleopatra. 546 00:26:01,761 --> 00:26:04,162 But it was completely destroyed by a fire. 547 00:26:04,164 --> 00:26:07,832 It was reborn in 2002 to reclaim the mantle 548 00:26:07,834 --> 00:26:10,368 of its ancient glory. 549 00:26:10,370 --> 00:26:13,104 This extraordinary architectural wonder is home 550 00:26:13,106 --> 00:26:16,974 to a vast complex where arts, history, philosophy, 551 00:26:16,976 --> 00:26:20,845 and science all come together. 552 00:26:20,847 --> 00:26:22,914 -Dr. Basir? -Hi, how are you? 553 00:26:22,916 --> 00:26:24,448 -Nice to meet you. -Nice meeting you. 554 00:26:24,450 --> 00:26:27,451 WILDMAN: Dr. Hussein Basir is the director of 555 00:26:27,453 --> 00:26:31,455 the Antiquity Museum at the Alexandria Library. 556 00:26:31,457 --> 00:26:34,925 Dr. Basir has offered to show me ancient text 557 00:26:34,927 --> 00:26:40,598 that may hold the secrets to the real Cleopatra. 558 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,734 So, Dr. Basir, my version of Cleopatra, 559 00:26:43,736 --> 00:26:48,205 a seductress, a harlot, a manipulator of men. 560 00:26:48,207 --> 00:26:50,508 That's what I was raised with. That's the Western version. 561 00:26:50,510 --> 00:26:53,077 It was kind of a negative Cleopatra. Yes. 562 00:26:53,079 --> 00:26:55,813 Mm. 563 00:26:58,017 --> 00:27:01,085 Dr. Basir tells me that this Western view is 564 00:27:01,087 --> 00:27:04,554 actually influenced by Octavian who had vowed 565 00:27:04,556 --> 00:27:08,225 to destroy Cleopatra's reputation. 566 00:27:08,227 --> 00:27:10,161 And with her finally out of the picture, 567 00:27:10,163 --> 00:27:12,296 that's exactly what happened. 568 00:27:12,298 --> 00:27:16,100 The story of Cleopatra is retold by the Romans. Yes. 569 00:27:16,102 --> 00:27:18,168 And we end up with that version. Yes. 570 00:27:18,170 --> 00:27:20,437 Until now. 571 00:27:20,439 --> 00:27:23,574 In recent years, scholars across the world have begun 572 00:27:23,576 --> 00:27:26,510 to question the accepted history of Cleopatra. 573 00:27:26,512 --> 00:27:29,914 Thanks largely to medieval Islamic Egyptian texts 574 00:27:29,916 --> 00:27:32,183 that tell of a much different story. 575 00:27:32,185 --> 00:27:34,919 So this is whole different version of Cleopatra. Yes. 576 00:27:34,921 --> 00:27:36,154 Tell me what it says. 577 00:27:45,865 --> 00:27:48,031 Interesting. 578 00:27:48,033 --> 00:27:49,666 Wow, okay. 579 00:27:49,668 --> 00:27:52,536 To the ancient Greeks, a sage was a philosopher. 580 00:27:52,538 --> 00:27:55,806 The bearer of great wisdom. 581 00:27:55,808 --> 00:27:57,475 -So a sage, a philosopher. -Yes. 582 00:27:57,477 --> 00:28:01,179 This woman is smart. She's worldly, sophisticated. Yes. 583 00:28:04,951 --> 00:28:06,450 Interesting. 584 00:28:09,755 --> 00:28:13,424 Wow! 585 00:28:13,426 --> 00:28:17,562 So, Cleopatra was linked to the medical profession. 586 00:28:17,564 --> 00:28:21,031 She was an established author and a savant. 587 00:28:21,033 --> 00:28:23,100 And in addition to being the first Greek pharaoh 588 00:28:23,102 --> 00:28:25,836 to actually speak Egyptian, she was fluent 589 00:28:25,838 --> 00:28:28,572 in nine other languages. 590 00:28:28,574 --> 00:28:31,575 But perhaps the most interesting thing about these texts is 591 00:28:31,577 --> 00:28:33,443 what's not included. 592 00:28:33,445 --> 00:28:35,979 There's no mention of Cleopatra's assorted 593 00:28:35,981 --> 00:28:39,316 love affairs and scandals. 594 00:28:39,318 --> 00:28:40,851 You see? That's different. 595 00:28:40,853 --> 00:28:42,453 Yeah, but we've been sold a story, haven't we? 596 00:28:42,455 --> 00:28:44,855 This is a misogynistic, chauvinistic view of history, 597 00:28:44,857 --> 00:28:48,059 isn't it? -Yes, yes, yes. 598 00:28:48,061 --> 00:28:49,459 What seems clear is that 599 00:28:49,461 --> 00:28:52,463 Cleopatra has been hugely misrepresented. 600 00:28:52,465 --> 00:28:54,865 But scholars are beginning to revise this image. 601 00:28:54,867 --> 00:28:56,600 We're beginning to think differently 602 00:28:56,602 --> 00:28:58,402 about this iconic queen. 603 00:29:03,009 --> 00:29:05,609 One of the most enduring myths that has dominated 604 00:29:05,611 --> 00:29:08,746 our idea of Cleopatra through the ages is the one 605 00:29:08,748 --> 00:29:11,481 that surrounds her beauty. 606 00:29:11,483 --> 00:29:14,085 In the West, from the early Greeks and Romans 607 00:29:14,087 --> 00:29:16,754 through Shakespeare and ultimately emblazoned 608 00:29:16,756 --> 00:29:19,624 into our cultural consciousness by Hollywood, 609 00:29:19,626 --> 00:29:22,293 Cleopatra is represented as the quintessential, 610 00:29:22,295 --> 00:29:24,562 sultry femme fatale. 611 00:29:24,564 --> 00:29:27,230 When I think of Cleopatra, I immediately think 612 00:29:27,232 --> 00:29:29,366 of Elizabeth Taylor's iconic performance 613 00:29:29,368 --> 00:29:30,768 opposite Richard Burton. 614 00:29:30,770 --> 00:29:33,237 A beautiful and bewitching seductress. 615 00:29:33,239 --> 00:29:35,773 But does any visual evidence exist today 616 00:29:35,775 --> 00:29:38,909 that tells us how Cleopatra actually looked? 617 00:29:38,911 --> 00:29:41,646 I'm here at the Grand Egyptian Museum. 618 00:29:41,648 --> 00:29:44,381 It's known as the largest archeology museum in the world, 619 00:29:44,383 --> 00:29:46,116 still under construction. 620 00:29:46,118 --> 00:29:48,385 And I've been given special access into the lab 621 00:29:48,387 --> 00:29:50,855 where the only artifacts that exist 622 00:29:50,857 --> 00:29:52,322 about Cleopatra are stored. 623 00:29:57,597 --> 00:30:00,397 Ancient coins discovered at a recent archeological dig 624 00:30:00,399 --> 00:30:03,734 are decorated with Cleopatra's profile. 625 00:30:03,736 --> 00:30:06,137 This new evidence calls into question 626 00:30:06,139 --> 00:30:08,939 our notions of the beautiful queen. 627 00:30:08,941 --> 00:30:10,808 Here, take a look at this. 628 00:30:10,810 --> 00:30:12,943 That's amazing. 629 00:30:12,945 --> 00:30:16,614 Now, the tiny images here on these coins belie 630 00:30:16,616 --> 00:30:19,015 their importance, the huge importance of these. 631 00:30:19,017 --> 00:30:22,486 These are one of the few existing visual depictions 632 00:30:22,488 --> 00:30:26,957 of Cleopatra, of her face, that still exist from that time. 633 00:30:26,959 --> 00:30:29,960 But you look closer at her and that is not 634 00:30:29,962 --> 00:30:31,828 the Cleopatra I know, you know, 635 00:30:31,830 --> 00:30:34,898 from popular, you know, mythology. 636 00:30:34,900 --> 00:30:36,967 This is a different looking woman. 637 00:30:36,969 --> 00:30:39,103 Not necessarily the ravishing portrait 638 00:30:39,105 --> 00:30:41,571 that I would've expected. 639 00:30:41,573 --> 00:30:44,375 If we've gotten this wrong, her physicality, 640 00:30:44,377 --> 00:30:47,178 what else about Cleopatra have we gotten wrong? 641 00:30:50,316 --> 00:30:52,516 But perhaps the biggest mystery of all is 642 00:30:52,518 --> 00:30:54,385 what happened to her body afterwards. 643 00:30:54,387 --> 00:30:57,454 Archeologists around the world continue to search 644 00:30:57,456 --> 00:31:00,257 and theorize about the location of her tomb. 645 00:31:00,259 --> 00:31:02,793 But the burning question still remains. 646 00:31:02,795 --> 00:31:05,862 Where was Cleopatra finally laid to rest? 647 00:31:19,829 --> 00:31:22,563 I'm in Egypt uncovering the truth 648 00:31:22,565 --> 00:31:26,767 behind its last ruling pharaoh -- Cleopatra. 649 00:31:26,769 --> 00:31:29,769 But with all the swirling mysteries behind her reign 650 00:31:29,771 --> 00:31:33,107 and eventual suicide, one stands above all, 651 00:31:33,109 --> 00:31:34,842 where is her tomb? 652 00:31:37,313 --> 00:31:39,580 Connecting Cleopatra's physical legacy 653 00:31:39,582 --> 00:31:42,516 to modern day Alexandria has proven to be one 654 00:31:42,518 --> 00:31:44,918 of the biggest challenges for archeologists 655 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:46,653 and historians alike. 656 00:31:46,655 --> 00:31:48,655 By the 14th century, 657 00:31:48,657 --> 00:31:50,791 any trace of Ptolemaic Alexandria 658 00:31:50,793 --> 00:31:52,458 was basically gone. 659 00:31:52,460 --> 00:31:54,861 What hadn't been lost to the ravages of war 660 00:31:54,863 --> 00:31:58,398 and time was destroyed by natural catastrophe. 661 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:01,402 A series of devastating earthquakes and the tsunamis 662 00:32:01,404 --> 00:32:04,204 to follow had basically destroyed Cleopatra's court 663 00:32:04,206 --> 00:32:07,941 and palace and it was submerged into the sea. 664 00:32:07,943 --> 00:32:11,478 And for more than 1,500 years, that's where it remained. 665 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:13,080 Lost to the sands of time. 666 00:32:13,082 --> 00:32:14,548 How you doing? 667 00:32:14,550 --> 00:32:17,217 But in the '90s, remarkable underwater archeological 668 00:32:17,219 --> 00:32:20,154 discoveries started being made right out here, 669 00:32:20,156 --> 00:32:24,825 in Alexandria's eastern harbor. 670 00:32:24,827 --> 00:32:27,161 Many archeologists and historians believe 671 00:32:27,163 --> 00:32:29,763 that when her palace collapsed into the harbor, 672 00:32:29,765 --> 00:32:33,700 Cleopatra's royal tomb went down with it. 673 00:32:33,702 --> 00:32:35,702 Down to find Cleopatra's tomb. 674 00:32:44,379 --> 00:32:47,581 It's just extraordinary to see and touch the remains... 675 00:32:47,583 --> 00:32:48,782 Wow. 676 00:32:48,784 --> 00:32:52,319 ...of Cleopatra's palace after thousands of years. 677 00:32:54,723 --> 00:32:57,791 It's also clear trying to find her royal tomb hidden 678 00:32:57,793 --> 00:33:02,929 somewhere on the ocean floor would be nearly impossible. 679 00:33:02,931 --> 00:33:07,400 If it was there at all. 680 00:33:07,402 --> 00:33:10,871 It turns out a controversy is brewing among archeologists 681 00:33:10,873 --> 00:33:14,140 about other possible locations for the final resting place 682 00:33:14,142 --> 00:33:16,476 of Egypt's last pharaoh, 683 00:33:16,478 --> 00:33:20,747 where the truth about her legacy could be discovered. 684 00:33:20,749 --> 00:33:23,417 I'm about 45 minutes outside of Alexandria 685 00:33:23,419 --> 00:33:26,753 at a site known as Taposiris Magna. 686 00:33:26,755 --> 00:33:29,622 This is one of the publicized digs in Egypt. 687 00:33:29,624 --> 00:33:31,091 Currently underway 688 00:33:31,093 --> 00:33:33,894 and possibly at a very exciting juncture. 689 00:33:33,896 --> 00:33:35,762 I'm meeting a maverick archeologist 690 00:33:35,764 --> 00:33:37,030 who's making headlines 691 00:33:37,032 --> 00:33:39,899 in her quest to find Cleopatra's tomb. 692 00:33:39,901 --> 00:33:43,036 Is it possible the tomb is about to be discovered? 693 00:33:47,509 --> 00:33:50,644 Dr. Martinez? How you doing? Yes, hello, Don. 694 00:33:50,646 --> 00:33:54,381 Hi, Kathleen, nice to meet you. 695 00:33:54,383 --> 00:33:58,185 With nearly 15 years of research and excavation behind her, 696 00:33:58,187 --> 00:34:01,387 Dr. Kathleen Martinez feels she's on the brink 697 00:34:01,389 --> 00:34:03,991 of discovering Cleopatra's tomb. 698 00:34:03,993 --> 00:34:05,192 And I'm here to find out why. 699 00:34:10,332 --> 00:34:13,333 Uh-huh. 700 00:34:13,335 --> 00:34:15,669 Uh-huh. 701 00:34:18,607 --> 00:34:22,209 Isis, the protective goddess that Cleopatra represented 702 00:34:22,211 --> 00:34:24,144 to Egyptian people. 703 00:34:24,146 --> 00:34:26,213 The same goddess she's depicted as 704 00:34:26,215 --> 00:34:29,016 on the temple wall Dendera. 705 00:34:29,018 --> 00:34:30,217 So it was important to find a place 706 00:34:30,219 --> 00:34:33,687 where Isis was represented, worshiped, 707 00:34:33,689 --> 00:34:36,056 because that might be also where Cleopatra is worshiped. 708 00:34:41,496 --> 00:34:42,895 That's incredible. 709 00:34:48,370 --> 00:34:51,504 Ah. 710 00:34:51,506 --> 00:34:52,906 200 coins. 711 00:34:52,908 --> 00:34:54,374 With Cleopatra. 712 00:34:54,376 --> 00:34:55,576 And these would be coins that would be right in here 713 00:34:55,578 --> 00:34:56,910 'cause this was the offering. 714 00:34:56,912 --> 00:34:58,378 It's the place you'd make your offerings. Yes. 715 00:34:58,380 --> 00:35:01,381 Okay. So I saw these coins in the Grand Museum that had -- Yes. 716 00:35:01,383 --> 00:35:03,449 ...these were the coins? -Yes, these are the coins. 717 00:35:03,451 --> 00:35:05,251 I get it. 718 00:35:05,253 --> 00:35:08,121 So these coins were part of the first clues discovered 719 00:35:08,123 --> 00:35:11,057 by Kathleen that pointed to this temple as 720 00:35:11,059 --> 00:35:14,527 a possible burial spot of Cleopatra. 721 00:35:14,529 --> 00:35:17,664 But since then, she's made another discovery 722 00:35:17,666 --> 00:35:19,933 that's even more convincing. 723 00:35:24,606 --> 00:35:27,473 Uh-huh. 724 00:35:27,475 --> 00:35:29,943 Really? 725 00:35:31,614 --> 00:35:33,680 Okay. 726 00:35:35,217 --> 00:35:36,950 Wow. 727 00:35:36,952 --> 00:35:38,284 -Amazing. -Isn't it incredible? 728 00:35:38,286 --> 00:35:39,419 It's huge! 729 00:35:42,424 --> 00:35:43,857 What did you find down here? 730 00:35:48,163 --> 00:35:50,630 Yeah. 731 00:35:50,632 --> 00:35:53,834 And the significance of a priest is what? 732 00:35:53,836 --> 00:35:55,835 Yeah. 733 00:35:55,837 --> 00:35:58,105 The presence of the priest buried here 734 00:35:58,107 --> 00:36:00,841 means that they were the guardians of a royal temple? Yes. 735 00:36:00,843 --> 00:36:03,509 Okay, so there was a Pharaoh beyond those priests? Yes. 736 00:36:03,511 --> 00:36:05,511 Or presumably there might be. 737 00:36:05,513 --> 00:36:06,846 Where does this shaft go? 738 00:36:06,848 --> 00:36:10,117 The shaft, it's turning to the same angle 739 00:36:10,119 --> 00:36:12,519 of the Isis chapel. 740 00:36:12,521 --> 00:36:16,322 And so that would be the person who embodies Isis. Yes. 741 00:36:16,324 --> 00:36:18,925 -Meaning Cleopatra. -Yes. 742 00:36:18,927 --> 00:36:20,260 -I salute you. 743 00:36:20,262 --> 00:36:22,529 I mean, this is an amazing accomplishment. 744 00:36:27,069 --> 00:36:30,070 Dr. Martinez has discovered a maze of shafts 745 00:36:30,072 --> 00:36:33,206 and tunnels throughout this temple complex 746 00:36:33,208 --> 00:36:35,475 that tempts the imagination. 747 00:36:42,684 --> 00:36:44,484 Wow. 748 00:36:48,624 --> 00:36:52,225 It's incredible to think that Cleopatra's tomb could be 749 00:36:52,227 --> 00:36:55,362 somewhere right beneath my feet. 750 00:36:55,364 --> 00:36:59,899 Finding her tomb and turning her legend real would be 751 00:36:59,901 --> 00:37:03,569 the greatest discovery in Egypt since Howard Carter opened 752 00:37:03,571 --> 00:37:06,306 Tutankhamun tomb in 1922. 753 00:37:06,308 --> 00:37:08,241 There's no telling how much we could learn 754 00:37:08,243 --> 00:37:11,711 about Cleopatra's life and how she ruled. 755 00:37:11,713 --> 00:37:14,314 So how close is Dr. Martinez 756 00:37:14,316 --> 00:37:16,716 to discovering Cleopatra's tomb? 757 00:37:16,718 --> 00:37:18,985 I'm going deep underground into the bedrock 758 00:37:18,987 --> 00:37:22,989 to find out what Kathleen and her team have uncovered 759 00:37:22,991 --> 00:37:25,125 and why they feel they're closer than ever before 760 00:37:25,127 --> 00:37:26,927 to a major breakthrough. 761 00:37:26,929 --> 00:37:28,228 It's a matter of time. 762 00:37:38,885 --> 00:37:42,086 WILDMAN: I'm in Egypt at the Temple of Taposiris 763 00:37:42,088 --> 00:37:44,289 where archeologist Kathleen Martinez 764 00:37:44,291 --> 00:37:48,092 may be on the brink of discovering Cleopatra's tomb. 765 00:37:48,094 --> 00:37:51,362 This vast temple complex is absolutely riddled 766 00:37:51,364 --> 00:37:53,631 with ancient burial chambers. 767 00:37:53,633 --> 00:37:58,435 Not only within the temple walls, but also outside. 768 00:37:58,437 --> 00:38:00,104 Wow, there you go. 769 00:38:00,106 --> 00:38:02,674 So there's tombs all over this place? Yes. 770 00:38:25,599 --> 00:38:27,599 Were these royals who were here? Yes. 771 00:38:27,601 --> 00:38:29,801 Ah, what tells you that? 772 00:38:35,809 --> 00:38:38,042 Mm-hmm. 773 00:38:40,346 --> 00:38:43,148 Mm-hmm. 774 00:38:52,158 --> 00:38:53,858 All right. 775 00:38:58,364 --> 00:39:00,164 WILDMAN: With the right technology, 776 00:39:00,166 --> 00:39:02,500 we could zero in on her target -- 777 00:39:02,502 --> 00:39:05,170 Cleopatra's tomb. 778 00:39:05,172 --> 00:39:08,106 She's already finding success within the temple walls. 779 00:39:08,108 --> 00:39:11,175 For Kathleen to be able to know whether she needs 780 00:39:11,177 --> 00:39:13,645 to dig somewhere, she's using this Russian technology. 781 00:39:13,647 --> 00:39:16,447 It's a kind of ground-penetrating radar, 782 00:39:16,449 --> 00:39:18,916 and it shoots an electromagnetic pulse into the ground 783 00:39:18,918 --> 00:39:21,386 and picks it up in the back and they read, 784 00:39:21,388 --> 00:39:24,389 basically model out through data, what is down there. 785 00:39:24,391 --> 00:39:26,190 Shafts, tunnels, tombs. 786 00:39:26,192 --> 00:39:28,159 They'll be able to read whether it's worth digging 787 00:39:28,161 --> 00:39:30,595 in this spot. 788 00:39:32,498 --> 00:39:33,865 What will the scans reveal? 789 00:39:33,867 --> 00:39:38,135 Could the tomb of Queen Cleopatra really be found? 790 00:39:51,017 --> 00:39:54,385 WILDMAN: I'm in Egypt searching for Queen Cleopatra's tomb. 791 00:39:58,224 --> 00:40:01,892 Here at Taposiris, Dr. Kathleen Martinez is using 792 00:40:01,894 --> 00:40:05,630 scanning technology to find Cleopatra. 793 00:40:05,632 --> 00:40:07,765 This is the big reveal. 794 00:40:07,767 --> 00:40:10,835 Yes. 795 00:40:10,837 --> 00:40:13,171 We were standing here looking down, yes? 796 00:40:13,173 --> 00:40:14,705 Yes, we were standing here. 797 00:40:14,707 --> 00:40:16,541 Wow, so what are you seeing here? 798 00:40:21,248 --> 00:40:25,382 Mm-hmm. 799 00:40:25,384 --> 00:40:26,583 Interesting. 800 00:40:26,585 --> 00:40:28,186 So tell me what you'll do with this data. 801 00:40:40,934 --> 00:40:44,936 Yeah. 802 00:40:44,938 --> 00:40:47,872 Right. 803 00:40:47,874 --> 00:40:49,407 Interesting. 804 00:40:54,948 --> 00:40:56,014 Mm-hmm. 805 00:41:00,553 --> 00:41:03,354 Genius. Can you take me underground here? 806 00:41:03,356 --> 00:41:04,555 Yes. 807 00:41:04,557 --> 00:41:07,926 So you have mapped through the entire site? 808 00:41:09,963 --> 00:41:11,762 Mm-hmm. 809 00:41:11,764 --> 00:41:16,233 Eventually the idea is to find the tomb of Cleopatra. 810 00:41:16,235 --> 00:41:18,236 Yes. 811 00:41:18,238 --> 00:41:20,104 Yeah, I mean, you're very confident. I am. 812 00:41:20,106 --> 00:41:22,173 I'm with you on this. 813 00:41:22,175 --> 00:41:23,574 And imagine the whole world will be able 814 00:41:23,576 --> 00:41:26,044 to take this journey. 815 00:41:26,046 --> 00:41:27,111 Incredible. 816 00:41:33,854 --> 00:41:37,588 For over 2,000 years, Cleopatra has endured as one 817 00:41:37,590 --> 00:41:38,856 of the most enigmatic 818 00:41:38,858 --> 00:41:40,992 and fascinating women of history. 819 00:41:40,994 --> 00:41:43,794 Though her beauty and tantalizing powers 820 00:41:43,796 --> 00:41:46,130 of seduction have dominated the narrative, 821 00:41:46,132 --> 00:41:48,665 we often forget that for 20 years, 822 00:41:48,667 --> 00:41:50,201 she ruled one of the great civilizations 823 00:41:50,203 --> 00:41:52,069 of the ancient world. 824 00:41:52,071 --> 00:41:53,871 She negotiated with foreign powers 825 00:41:53,873 --> 00:41:55,807 and presided over temples. 826 00:41:55,809 --> 00:41:58,809 She was a scientist, a philosopher, a poet, 827 00:41:58,811 --> 00:42:01,812 and a politician and a goddess. 828 00:42:01,814 --> 00:42:05,416 And for a brief, fleeting moment, she held the fate 829 00:42:05,418 --> 00:42:07,885 of the Western world in her hands. 830 00:42:07,887 --> 00:42:10,688 In the end, Cleopatra lost everything. 831 00:42:10,690 --> 00:42:12,557 But her epically dramatic life 832 00:42:12,559 --> 00:42:16,227 and theatrical death transformed her story into legend, 833 00:42:16,229 --> 00:42:20,231 a legend we still live with today. 833 00:42:21,305 --> 00:43:21,710