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What is a Pharaoh?
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She is the sands and the sky.
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♪ See the sky ♪
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And everything in between.
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♪ Catch the dream ♪
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Egypt is her firstborn.
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♪ Standing tall until the end ♪
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And when the moment comes...
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♪ I'll survive ♪
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♪ I'm not falling down ♪
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...she must be ready to sacrifice everything
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to protect what she loves most.
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What have you done?
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I did what I had to do
to protect what is mine.
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My lord, Octavian,
he's willing to grant your request.
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On one condition.
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Kill Antony.
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All I want is your trust.
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After the Battle of Actium,
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{\an8}Mark Antony enters a period
of clinical depression.
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Their navy is gone.
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Their military is splintered.
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He does not speak to Cleopatra.
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And her confidence in him is eroded.
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And so, confidence
in their relationship is eroded.
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"Can I trust him?"
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"Does he trust me?"
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There's a lot of doubt there.
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Cleopatra knew
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{\an8}the full might of Rome
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{\an8}coming against Egypt
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spelled the end for an independent Egypt.
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There is no question that they are
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in immediate jeopardy.
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Cleopatra knows
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that in order to protect the continuance
of Egypt as a dynastic state,
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that she needs to protect her heirs.
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{\an8}So, she sends them away
to make sure that they are safe.
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If her children don't survive,
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particularly Caesarion,
who was her co-pharaoh...
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that's the end.
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As the earthly incarnation
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{\an8}of the goddess Isis,
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{\an8}Cleopatra is also the earthly embodiment
of divine motherhood.
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Just think about
how heart-wrenching it must have been
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to send her children away.
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And yet, she had no choice politically
or for their safety.
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Pharaoh, we have to go.
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I know, just give me a minute.
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You two...
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You two are one blood, hm?
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My blood.
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Divine blood.
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Don't you forget that.
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I won't forget.
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Pharaoh.
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The things that are most precious
to Cleopatra are her children.
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Because as long as they're safe,
as long as they're alive...
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she's alive.
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And there's hope for Egypt.
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Cleopatra is always a diplomat first
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and a military strategist second.
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It's clear now
that diplomacy isn't gonna work.
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Cleopatra doesn't want war.
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She doesn't feel
that Mark Antony is ready for war.
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Kill Antony.
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His life for yours.
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And your children's, of course.
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I think Cleopatra would
consider killing Mark Antony.
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He is no longer any use to her.
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{\an8}And has, quite frankly,
become a liability at this point.
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She might believe
that she still has a chance
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of coming to terms with Octavian.
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Perhaps, even by betraying Mark Antony.
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Because, after all, Mark Antony
was Octavian's primary enemy.
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There's really no reason that Cleopatra
cannot remain queen of Egypt
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if Mark Antony is out of the picture.
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Mark.
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Thyrsus sent a message from Octavian.
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He says he can guarantee safety
for the children and I...
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...if I kill you.
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So that's why you are here.
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No.
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I turned him down.
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- We are in this together.
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Yeah.
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Like we were together in Actium.
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I sent our children away
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because I choose us.
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I know that together,
no one can defeat us.
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Rome and Egypt.
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Where is he?
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Those of us who are romantics,
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00:07:01,323 --> 00:07:05,283
we want this to be
the greatest love story of all time.
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00:07:06,803 --> 00:07:09,243
But Cleopatra was not a romantic.
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00:07:10,043 --> 00:07:12,243
She was a pragmatist.
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Cleopatra is interested
in self-preservation, um,
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of herself and also her children,
but her country, too.
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And she believes, at this point,
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that Mark Antony
is still the key to that partnership.
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Tell Octavian we are done!
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Mark Antony seems to be
a bit of a loose cannon.
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He is now behaving irrationally,
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he's taking it out on the messenger.
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If Cleopatra is going to retain
her place on the throne,
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she has to have Rome as her partner.
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Tell that coward,
if he wants me dead, do it himself.
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Mark Antony isn't going
to enter into any negotiations.
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There's not gonna be
any other ending other than war.
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Octavian has declared war
on Cleopatra.
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She understands
that neither she nor Mark Antony
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were going to get away from this.
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In the spring of 30 BC,
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Octavian, as he enters Egypt,
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{\an8}sends a mammoth, uh, army.
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{\an8}It's, it's the biggest
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army invasion in Roman history
until this point.
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With the defections
from Cleopatra's forces to Octavian
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and Mark Antony's losses
at the Battle of Actium,
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Octavian's legions now heavily outnumber
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those of Cleopatra and Antony.
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Octavian wants to finish this
once and for all.
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Egypt is unusually wealthy
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in terms of their material wealth.
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Octavian needs this
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to pay his troops.
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Octavian wants to annex Egypt badly.
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Rome will treat them as their breadbasket
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and not care if they impoverish Egypt.
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Octavian's army marches
towards Pelusium.
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{\an8}Octavian could have sailed
straight for Alexandria
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but he does not.
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He regroups and moves his forces by land.
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This is important
because, along the way,
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Octavian is securing
alliance after alliance.
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He is keen
to get the local population
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against Mark Antony
and in turn, against Cleopatra.
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Octavian has released
this vicious propaganda against Cleopatra,
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so even though Mark Antony was the one
who was unfaithful to his sister,
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Cleopatra is framed
as this great seductress.
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As a temptress, as a drunk, as a witch.
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It's misogynistic and it's xenophobic.
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So, she's a threat.
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The Roman senators see this woman
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influence two of its great heroes
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and they've had enough.
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It's about time,
as far as they're concerned,
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for Octavian to put an end
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to Cleopatra's meddling in Roman affairs.
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That's the perfect strategy
to gain the allegiance
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of any of Mark Antony's remaining allies.
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Octavian is ensuring
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that when it comes time
for the final battle
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with Mark Antony and Cleopatra,
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that he will have no enemies to his rear.
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As Octavian's army
marches towards Alexandria,
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Mark Antony is in a serious depression.
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Cleopatra attempts to improve his mood
by throwing a lavish banquet.
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00:11:21,283 --> 00:11:23,763
The reason that Cleopatra
throws the banquet
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is part of the religious ideology
of this area.
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Mark Antony, as the manifestation
of the god Dionysus,
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is the god of revelry
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and this banquet would have served
to support and reinvigorate
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that religious message of him
as a legitimate eastern monarch.
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It's directly challenging Rome.
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It's saying, "We are in power."
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It's a declaration
that she doesn't care what Rome thinks.
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It's a dangerous call for war.
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As Octavian's army
approaches Alexandria,
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Antony and Cleopatra's forces
at this point,
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are disorganized, they're demoralized.
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The Commander of Pelusium has surrendered.
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And defected to Octavian.
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Octavian is receiving defections
from the Egyptian side
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and from other allies
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that used to be with Egypt
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and they're now going over to Rome.
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That two-faced Pelusium commander
will never see his wife or daughter again.
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Not in this lifetime.
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It will take more than that
to stop Octavian now.
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I know.
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It will take the help of the gods.
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Lucky for you, you have one right here.
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Octavian is no match for us.
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Friends.
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Even in the best of times,
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there are traitors amongst us.
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We know that in our own land,
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some have betrayed Egypt,
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opening their gates to Octavian's forces.
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No one betrays Egypt
and gets away with it.
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Your enemies are our enemies.
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To Mark Antony.
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The Egyptian people
must have been extremely nervous
195
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about the Roman Army marching upon them.
196
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Because Rome up until this point,
197
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they've been seen as a support
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and now they've essentially
become an enemy.
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00:14:07,923 --> 00:14:12,363
It's too late for Cleopatra
to get on Octavian's side.
200
00:14:12,363 --> 00:14:16,203
She's in quite deep now with Mark Antony.
201
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Are you asleep?
202
00:14:25,843 --> 00:14:27,003
No.
203
00:14:30,043 --> 00:14:33,203
So, she really does have
everything to lose at this point.
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00:14:33,203 --> 00:14:35,723
It's not only her own life
and her position,
205
00:14:35,723 --> 00:14:37,283
but it's her country.
206
00:14:42,443 --> 00:14:45,243
How long?
- We have time.
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00:14:45,243 --> 00:14:48,163
- And eyes?
- Our scouts have eyes on them.
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00:14:48,163 --> 00:14:50,083
Tell the cavalry we leave now.
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00:14:50,083 --> 00:14:51,483
Thank you, Maelius.
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00:15:06,763 --> 00:15:09,243
The one advantage
that Cleopatra has
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00:15:09,243 --> 00:15:12,323
is that she's defending
her home territory.
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00:15:12,323 --> 00:15:15,763
And she knows
from prior experience with Julius Caesar,
213
00:15:15,763 --> 00:15:19,083
that the Egyptians are no lovers of Rome.
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00:15:19,083 --> 00:15:24,803
Egypt does not want to be
under Roman control or Roman occupation.
215
00:15:24,803 --> 00:15:28,403
Mark Antony
is an accomplished military mind.
216
00:15:28,403 --> 00:15:31,683
That is a very serious
home-field advantage for them.
217
00:15:33,203 --> 00:15:38,403
{\an8}He and Octavian's forces
meet right outside of Alexandria.
218
00:15:38,403 --> 00:15:40,483
- Come on!
219
00:15:41,083 --> 00:15:43,123
Mark Antony is a soldier.
220
00:15:43,123 --> 00:15:46,163
He knows what goes into winning a battle.
221
00:15:47,283 --> 00:15:50,603
He enjoys going into battle.
222
00:15:50,603 --> 00:15:55,323
He enjoys fighting alongside of his men.
223
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Antony and Cleopatra's forces have had
some time to rest and recuperate.
224
00:16:01,203 --> 00:16:04,563
Whereas, Octavian's forces
have been on the active march
225
00:16:04,563 --> 00:16:08,883
and so, uh, Antony's forces
are at least fresh.
226
00:16:11,723 --> 00:16:13,083
What's going on?
227
00:16:13,083 --> 00:16:15,203
Is there water and provisions
for the wounded?
228
00:16:15,203 --> 00:16:16,403
Yes, yes, it's done.
229
00:16:16,403 --> 00:16:18,763
- And the armory, has it been checked?
As we speak.
230
00:16:18,763 --> 00:16:20,683
Based on previous experience,
231
00:16:20,683 --> 00:16:23,083
Cleopatra knows the vulnerability
232
00:16:23,083 --> 00:16:25,603
of Alexandria's water sources.
233
00:16:25,603 --> 00:16:27,883
She knows
that they can be poisoned.
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00:16:27,883 --> 00:16:31,083
I want two guards stationed at every well
and every water supply.
235
00:16:32,763 --> 00:16:36,283
The other disadvantage
that Mark Antony and Cleopatra face
236
00:16:36,283 --> 00:16:39,483
is simply the lack of supplies and force.
237
00:16:39,483 --> 00:16:43,963
They do not have the troops,
and they no longer have the supply lines.
238
00:16:44,963 --> 00:16:48,963
Cleopatra is a lover,
not a fighter.
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00:16:48,963 --> 00:16:53,483
She understands
that war can go either way,
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00:16:53,483 --> 00:16:58,883
she feels that Mark Antony
doesn't really understand
241
00:16:58,883 --> 00:17:02,163
the lay of the land in Alexandria.
242
00:17:03,683 --> 00:17:05,483
Maybe he has bit off
243
00:17:05,483 --> 00:17:07,923
- more than he can chew here.
Come on!
244
00:17:08,403 --> 00:17:09,603
She's nervous.
245
00:17:36,563 --> 00:17:38,203
We have won the battle, but...
246
00:17:39,843 --> 00:17:40,923
But what?
247
00:17:43,763 --> 00:17:45,443
They have more troops, Cleopatra.
248
00:17:45,443 --> 00:17:46,603
I know.
249
00:17:49,563 --> 00:17:50,923
We are not done yet.
250
00:17:52,083 --> 00:17:53,363
Are we?
251
00:18:00,963 --> 00:18:02,523
No.
252
00:18:02,523 --> 00:18:04,563
We are not done yet.
253
00:18:05,523 --> 00:18:06,603
Good.
254
00:18:08,203 --> 00:18:09,603
He's really worried.
255
00:18:10,443 --> 00:18:12,843
Which makes Cleopatra worried.
256
00:18:13,923 --> 00:18:17,403
But she sends him off to the next battle.
257
00:18:34,363 --> 00:18:35,843
There's this huge siege.
258
00:18:41,883 --> 00:18:44,123
Mark Antony is getting desperate.
259
00:18:44,123 --> 00:18:48,043
He has his archers fire offers of gold
260
00:18:48,043 --> 00:18:50,803
to any of Octavian's forces who defect.
261
00:18:51,403 --> 00:18:53,163
He's having to break the siege.
262
00:18:53,843 --> 00:18:57,163
Mark Antony makes a bold
and risky move against Octavian.
263
00:18:57,163 --> 00:19:01,523
He launches a land
and naval attack simultaneously.
264
00:19:04,203 --> 00:19:08,163
Their forces do meet
right outside of Alexandria
265
00:19:08,163 --> 00:19:10,963
which is a deciding, significant battle.
266
00:19:21,363 --> 00:19:25,563
General, the Egyptian naval fleet
has defected to Octavian.
267
00:19:26,283 --> 00:19:27,443
No, that can't be true.
268
00:19:27,443 --> 00:19:29,323
I'm afraid it is, General.
269
00:19:29,323 --> 00:19:32,203
No. No, no, no, no. No.
270
00:19:34,483 --> 00:19:37,363
At this point,
nothing is stopping Octavian
271
00:19:37,363 --> 00:19:39,243
from landing in Alexandria.
272
00:19:47,643 --> 00:19:48,723
What was that?
273
00:19:49,523 --> 00:19:50,883
Go and check what is happening, please.
274
00:19:50,883 --> 00:19:51,803
- Okay.
- Quickly.
275
00:19:55,803 --> 00:20:01,003
Cleopatra was convinced
the gates around Alexandria
276
00:20:01,003 --> 00:20:02,723
could not be breached.
277
00:20:02,723 --> 00:20:04,363
They were well protected.
278
00:20:06,443 --> 00:20:10,483
When Octavian and his troops
make that breach,
279
00:20:11,083 --> 00:20:14,323
it is clear to Cleopatra,
280
00:20:14,323 --> 00:20:16,683
the Egyptian troops have defected.
281
00:20:16,683 --> 00:20:21,483
Which means the country
is in the hands of Octavian.
282
00:20:32,123 --> 00:20:37,963
For most of us,
if we were in Cleopatra's situation,
283
00:20:38,483 --> 00:20:40,723
um, the end is nigh.
284
00:20:42,363 --> 00:20:46,643
I think we would have
a nervous breakdown, panic attack.
285
00:20:50,683 --> 00:20:53,523
Our defenses are down,
we have to go.
286
00:20:53,523 --> 00:20:57,003
Cleopatra is probably feeling
287
00:20:57,883 --> 00:21:00,603
defiant at this point.
288
00:21:02,963 --> 00:21:05,523
If they are here, it means the general--
289
00:21:05,523 --> 00:21:07,403
Quiet, Iras.
290
00:21:09,723 --> 00:21:11,283
Pharaoh, we have to go now.
291
00:21:13,603 --> 00:21:17,763
Now even if Cleopatra manages
to hold on to her throne
292
00:21:17,763 --> 00:21:22,043
or successfully passes it on
to one of her children,
293
00:21:22,043 --> 00:21:26,443
Egypt is going to be a province
of the Roman Empire.
294
00:21:27,003 --> 00:21:28,603
- Pharaoh, we need to--
- I said be quiet!
295
00:21:36,323 --> 00:21:37,883
This needs to get to Antony.
296
00:21:41,123 --> 00:21:42,643
Pharaoh, we have to go now.
297
00:21:43,483 --> 00:21:46,283
Her life's work, her legacy,
298
00:21:46,883 --> 00:21:50,203
it's in danger, if not gone.
299
00:22:02,723 --> 00:22:03,723
Hurry.
300
00:22:05,163 --> 00:22:06,163
Hurry!
301
00:22:06,163 --> 00:22:08,083
Cleopatra gathers all her wealth
302
00:22:08,083 --> 00:22:09,723
in her mausoleum in her tomb.
303
00:22:09,723 --> 00:22:12,123
This is one of her last bargaining chips.
304
00:22:12,843 --> 00:22:17,283
Octavian needs this treasure
to pay his troops.
305
00:22:18,443 --> 00:22:21,803
Cleopatra's tomb
is only partially finished.
306
00:22:21,803 --> 00:22:23,403
She's barricaded inside.
307
00:22:23,403 --> 00:22:25,363
I won't let Octavian capture me.
308
00:22:25,923 --> 00:22:27,403
We're going to burn it all down.
309
00:22:28,243 --> 00:22:30,363
That bastard touches nothing.
310
00:22:33,403 --> 00:22:38,043
Cleopatra is threatening
to set her tomb on fire
311
00:22:38,043 --> 00:22:39,963
and to go up in flames
312
00:22:39,963 --> 00:22:42,243
with her entire treasure.
313
00:22:42,243 --> 00:22:43,723
Cleopatra!
314
00:22:45,003 --> 00:22:46,163
Did you hear that?
315
00:22:52,283 --> 00:22:55,083
Mark?
- They're coming. They're coming for us.
316
00:22:55,083 --> 00:22:56,923
Drop something now.
317
00:22:56,923 --> 00:22:58,323
Get a rope, quick!
318
00:23:00,283 --> 00:23:01,923
Hold on, my love!
319
00:23:09,203 --> 00:23:10,283
Pull!
320
00:23:16,923 --> 00:23:20,683
Mark Antony has to actually
be hauled up through a window.
321
00:23:26,723 --> 00:23:30,683
Mark Antony has attempted
to commit suicide
322
00:23:30,683 --> 00:23:34,163
after receiving a note from Cleopatra.
323
00:23:34,163 --> 00:23:36,923
We don't know
what was in that note.
324
00:23:36,923 --> 00:23:39,403
Shakespeare would have us believe
325
00:23:39,403 --> 00:23:43,083
Cleopatra fabricated her own suicide
326
00:23:43,083 --> 00:23:46,203
in the hopes that that would prompt
327
00:23:46,203 --> 00:23:48,723
Mark Antony to commit suicide.
328
00:23:49,643 --> 00:23:52,363
The bravest thing to do,
329
00:23:52,363 --> 00:23:54,603
according to a Roman person,
330
00:23:54,603 --> 00:23:56,643
is to commit suicide.
331
00:23:57,203 --> 00:24:01,883
And this is a way to maintain
your valor and your dignity
332
00:24:01,883 --> 00:24:04,403
- even in the face of death.
333
00:24:04,403 --> 00:24:06,043
Just stay.
334
00:24:06,043 --> 00:24:07,323
Just stay.
335
00:24:13,643 --> 00:24:14,963
{\an8}Cleopatra...
336
00:24:14,963 --> 00:24:16,483
Shh, shh...
337
00:24:21,163 --> 00:24:26,163
He wants to die with Cleopatra.
338
00:24:28,363 --> 00:24:32,003
And he dies in Cleopatra's arms.
339
00:24:42,403 --> 00:24:49,203
Octavian, our astute politician,
who is also ruthless...
340
00:24:51,083 --> 00:24:54,723
does not want Cleopatra dead
341
00:24:54,723 --> 00:24:56,963
at the hands of the Romans
342
00:24:56,963 --> 00:24:59,923
because she becomes a martyr.
343
00:25:01,123 --> 00:25:05,683
And all those Egyptians
who have defected to Octavian
344
00:25:06,723 --> 00:25:09,003
are gonna rise up in rebellion.
345
00:25:10,283 --> 00:25:11,603
This is a Pharoah.
346
00:25:11,603 --> 00:25:13,563
You do not kill...
347
00:25:15,363 --> 00:25:16,603
a Pharaoh.
348
00:25:17,283 --> 00:25:18,963
To get into her barricaded tomb,
349
00:25:18,963 --> 00:25:21,723
Octavian's men break through the roof.
350
00:25:27,643 --> 00:25:28,723
Light the torch.
351
00:25:34,883 --> 00:25:36,443
You, put that fire out, come on!
352
00:25:37,043 --> 00:25:39,323
Seize her!
353
00:25:47,083 --> 00:25:50,363
I am mistress of the two lands.
354
00:25:50,363 --> 00:25:52,323
Thea Neotera.
355
00:25:53,763 --> 00:25:55,003
I'm a god.
356
00:25:55,643 --> 00:25:57,883
Do not disrespect me.
357
00:26:00,123 --> 00:26:01,763
I would die for Egypt.
358
00:26:04,603 --> 00:26:06,083
What would you die for?
359
00:26:09,683 --> 00:26:10,603
No.
360
00:26:13,563 --> 00:26:15,323
No. No!
361
00:26:16,963 --> 00:26:18,163
Stop!
362
00:26:19,883 --> 00:26:21,083
No!
363
00:26:31,283 --> 00:26:33,723
The soldiers take her to the palace
364
00:26:33,723 --> 00:26:36,683
where she used to receive ambassadors.
365
00:26:39,563 --> 00:26:41,603
Octavian comes in.
366
00:26:43,883 --> 00:26:45,763
They've never met before.
367
00:26:47,163 --> 00:26:50,883
Looks like your African sorcery
failed you this time.
368
00:26:52,563 --> 00:26:53,643
Pharaoh?
369
00:26:54,963 --> 00:27:00,843
You know, your witchcraft
must be very strong
370
00:27:02,003 --> 00:27:05,123
to turn two great sons of Rome
against their own
371
00:27:05,123 --> 00:27:08,363
because the talk
of your beauty flatters you...
372
00:27:09,963 --> 00:27:11,203
immensely.
373
00:27:18,923 --> 00:27:20,363
What are you smiling about?
374
00:27:21,683 --> 00:27:22,723
Witch!
375
00:27:26,443 --> 00:27:29,163
You're a lot shorter
than I thought you'd be.
376
00:27:37,803 --> 00:27:38,723
You know...
377
00:27:40,083 --> 00:27:43,803
your children look just like you.
378
00:27:47,003 --> 00:27:48,723
Especially your eldest.
379
00:27:50,283 --> 00:27:52,443
They'll be a great comfort to you in Rome.
380
00:27:57,003 --> 00:27:58,643
At this point,
381
00:27:58,643 --> 00:28:02,683
Cleopatra believes
that her children are safe.
382
00:28:02,683 --> 00:28:07,963
She has sent them away
with trusted members of her household.
383
00:28:07,963 --> 00:28:13,443
And so, she believes
she has nothing to fear.
384
00:28:15,123 --> 00:28:17,723
You should have just taken my offer
when you had the chance.
385
00:28:19,363 --> 00:28:22,963
I'm going to enjoy
dragging you through the streets.
386
00:28:23,803 --> 00:28:24,963
And those...
387
00:28:26,203 --> 00:28:28,243
bastard half-breeds of yours.
388
00:28:30,563 --> 00:28:31,883
They're gonna watch.
389
00:28:33,803 --> 00:28:40,123
She realizes that Octavian
has captured her children.
390
00:28:40,123 --> 00:28:46,683
And it always amazes me
that she doesn't crumple at that point.
391
00:28:50,283 --> 00:28:51,523
Get her out of here now!
392
00:28:56,883 --> 00:29:02,883
One of the most important things
that any, uh, Roman military leader can do
393
00:29:02,883 --> 00:29:05,763
to gain the support and love
of the Roman people
394
00:29:05,763 --> 00:29:11,283
is to have a remarkable celebration
of his military victory called a triumph.
395
00:29:11,283 --> 00:29:13,203
To complete his victory,
396
00:29:13,203 --> 00:29:16,403
Octavian needs
to bring Cleopatra back to Rome
397
00:29:16,403 --> 00:29:19,203
to parade her in his triumph.
398
00:30:07,483 --> 00:30:09,363
See that this gets to Octavian.
399
00:30:10,483 --> 00:30:12,843
Trust me,
he's gonna want to read it.
400
00:30:14,563 --> 00:30:17,523
Don't worry,
we'll all be here when you get back.
401
00:30:19,803 --> 00:30:21,723
Cleopatra writes a letter to Octavian
402
00:30:21,723 --> 00:30:26,563
requesting that she and Antony
be permitted to be buried together
403
00:30:26,563 --> 00:30:30,563
and to allow her son to inherit Egypt.
404
00:30:30,563 --> 00:30:34,123
What we're seeing
is this last moment of Cleopatra
405
00:30:34,123 --> 00:30:38,163
clinging to this overarching goal
throughout her entire life
406
00:30:38,163 --> 00:30:39,763
of trying to make sure
407
00:30:39,763 --> 00:30:42,323
that the Ptolemaic Dynasty
will not die out.
408
00:30:42,323 --> 00:30:45,963
That Egypt does not become
a province of the Roman Empire.
409
00:30:50,003 --> 00:30:51,443
We'll do it together.
410
00:30:51,443 --> 00:30:53,123
It's the right thing to do.
411
00:30:53,123 --> 00:30:54,603
Worthy of a God.
412
00:31:00,043 --> 00:31:01,843
She has a plan.
413
00:31:01,843 --> 00:31:05,163
Cleopatra always has a plan.
414
00:31:05,843 --> 00:31:11,963
She's researched poisons
that won't be painful,
415
00:31:11,963 --> 00:31:15,523
that won't distort her body.
416
00:31:15,523 --> 00:31:20,163
She decides how she's going to die.
417
00:31:22,643 --> 00:31:27,123
And she decides
with whom she is going to die.
418
00:31:27,123 --> 00:31:28,683
It's not Octavian,
419
00:31:28,683 --> 00:31:31,243
it's not the Roman Senate,
420
00:31:31,243 --> 00:31:33,363
it's Cleopatra.
421
00:31:33,363 --> 00:31:35,603
She is in control.
422
00:32:39,283 --> 00:32:41,203
When Octavian receives that letter,
423
00:32:41,203 --> 00:32:44,563
he knows Cleopatra
is not going to come back to Rome
424
00:32:44,563 --> 00:32:46,723
and she has committed suicide.
425
00:32:50,443 --> 00:32:55,643
Being taken in a Roman triumph
would have been tremendously humiliating.
426
00:32:55,643 --> 00:32:59,523
It's very unlikely that Cleopatra
would've been treated with velvet gloves.
427
00:33:03,363 --> 00:33:06,603
Defeated enemies
are usually killed right afterwards.
428
00:33:06,603 --> 00:33:09,323
So she knew that her death
was on the horizon anyway.
429
00:33:09,323 --> 00:33:12,083
There was no way
Octavian could have allowed her to live.
430
00:33:15,803 --> 00:33:18,163
Octavian knows it's over.
431
00:33:20,883 --> 00:33:26,763
We do not know the method
with which Cleopatra committed suicide.
432
00:33:26,763 --> 00:33:30,123
The one that every film producer loves
433
00:33:30,123 --> 00:33:37,203
is that she died as the result
of the bite of the Egyptian cobra or asp.
434
00:33:37,203 --> 00:33:40,043
The cobra is a symbol of royalty.
435
00:33:40,043 --> 00:33:44,763
So even if the asp
was not a part of her suicide,
436
00:33:44,763 --> 00:33:48,043
it was a perfect symbol to represent
437
00:33:48,043 --> 00:33:51,443
that she was leaving this world
as queen of Egypt.
438
00:33:59,523 --> 00:34:01,003
Cleopatra and Mark Antony,
439
00:34:01,003 --> 00:34:03,883
their burials have never been found.
440
00:34:07,003 --> 00:34:10,683
We don't know whether or not
she got her last request,
441
00:34:10,683 --> 00:34:12,043
that they get buried together.
442
00:34:14,163 --> 00:34:19,083
The quest of archaeologists
looking for Cleopatra's tomb...
443
00:34:19,722 --> 00:34:20,643
futile.
444
00:34:25,843 --> 00:34:30,242
Octavian is not going
to allow a tomb
445
00:34:30,242 --> 00:34:34,323
with the remains
of Cleopatra and Mark Antony.
446
00:34:34,883 --> 00:34:38,682
That would have become
a center point for rebellion.
447
00:34:42,843 --> 00:34:48,722
It was not the Roman tradition
to entomb bodies.
448
00:34:48,722 --> 00:34:53,282
They didn't mummify bodies, they cremated.
449
00:34:54,483 --> 00:34:58,563
I think Cleopatra and Mark Antony
were cremated.
450
00:35:09,883 --> 00:35:12,883
This is the true turning point in history.
451
00:35:16,523 --> 00:35:18,883
Egypt totally loses its independence.
452
00:35:20,083 --> 00:35:23,243
It's over.
It becomes a province of Rome.
453
00:35:23,883 --> 00:35:28,843
Egypt's long history
as a great civilization ends.
454
00:35:30,203 --> 00:35:33,763
Egypt now becomes
the grain basket of Rome.
455
00:35:34,603 --> 00:35:37,363
Rome would not have been able
to go on militarily
456
00:35:37,363 --> 00:35:41,003
without being able to spend
vast amounts of Egyptian wealth.
457
00:35:41,003 --> 00:35:45,643
Rome tapped the bank of Egypt
and impoverished it.
458
00:35:45,643 --> 00:35:50,403
It really ends Egypt as the dynastic land
that we think of today.
459
00:35:50,403 --> 00:35:54,883
Cleopatra is the last pharaoh of Egypt.
460
00:35:57,723 --> 00:35:59,723
Shortly thereafter,
461
00:35:59,723 --> 00:36:04,323
Octavian has the Senate
declare him Emperor.
462
00:36:04,323 --> 00:36:06,123
The Emperor Augustus.
463
00:36:06,123 --> 00:36:08,963
He wanted to be ruler forever.
464
00:36:08,963 --> 00:36:12,763
That was his idea
of what a dictator should be.
465
00:36:14,323 --> 00:36:16,563
Ironically, like Cleopatra before,
466
00:36:16,563 --> 00:36:19,323
Octavian is elevated as a living god.
467
00:36:22,243 --> 00:36:24,043
Cleopatra's death
468
00:36:24,723 --> 00:36:29,563
was one of the... final phases
469
00:36:29,563 --> 00:36:32,563
of what we consider to be ancient Egypt.
470
00:36:36,963 --> 00:36:41,283
We still have
Cleopatra's other three children.
471
00:36:42,243 --> 00:36:45,563
The children
of Mark Antony and Cleopatra,
472
00:36:45,563 --> 00:36:49,563
they'll represent a threat to Octavian.
473
00:36:49,563 --> 00:36:53,723
♪ They will come for you and me... ♪
474
00:36:53,723 --> 00:36:57,803
Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene
475
00:36:57,803 --> 00:37:00,243
and little Ptolemy Philadelphus
476
00:37:00,243 --> 00:37:02,283
are taken back to Rome.
477
00:37:02,283 --> 00:37:07,403
♪ From my deepest scar ♪
478
00:37:07,403 --> 00:37:10,803
♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪
479
00:37:10,803 --> 00:37:15,603
However, there is no way
that he could permit Caesarion to live.
480
00:37:15,603 --> 00:37:18,723
Caesarion was raised
to be a Pharoah.
481
00:37:18,723 --> 00:37:20,203
He could rise up,
482
00:37:20,203 --> 00:37:23,843
he could say, "I am Caesar's son.
483
00:37:23,843 --> 00:37:26,083
I should be ruling Rome."
484
00:37:26,963 --> 00:37:30,283
He's just too big a threat to Octavian.
485
00:37:30,283 --> 00:37:31,803
So he is executed.
486
00:37:31,803 --> 00:37:33,363
He, he is killed.
487
00:37:35,003 --> 00:37:38,243
When Octavian takes
the children back to Rome,
488
00:37:38,243 --> 00:37:42,243
he parades them
behind an effigy of Cleopatra
489
00:37:42,243 --> 00:37:46,123
with a snake or an asp clasped to her arm.
490
00:37:47,363 --> 00:37:49,083
He humiliates them publicly
491
00:37:49,083 --> 00:37:52,403
by having them walk behind
this effigy of their mother
492
00:37:52,403 --> 00:37:54,923
and weighing them down with gold chains.
493
00:37:54,923 --> 00:37:57,163
The chains were supposedly so heavy
494
00:37:57,163 --> 00:37:59,163
that they were stumbling
and they could barely walk.
495
00:37:59,883 --> 00:38:02,843
People actually felt sympathy
for the children,
496
00:38:02,843 --> 00:38:04,083
but after that,
497
00:38:04,083 --> 00:38:06,763
he sent them, surprisingly,
498
00:38:06,763 --> 00:38:10,403
to live with his sister, Octavia,
499
00:38:10,403 --> 00:38:12,763
who was Mark Antony's wife
500
00:38:12,763 --> 00:38:15,803
when these children were conceived.
501
00:38:17,283 --> 00:38:21,363
So the long-suffering Octavia
brings up Mark Antony's children.
502
00:38:21,363 --> 00:38:24,363
The two boys fall off
the historical radar,
503
00:38:24,363 --> 00:38:28,083
but Cleopatra Selene
marries Juba of Mauretania.
504
00:38:28,083 --> 00:38:30,483
So, Cleopatra Selene, ironically,
505
00:38:30,483 --> 00:38:32,443
becomes another African queen.
506
00:38:32,443 --> 00:38:37,083
Cleopatra Selene rules over
a sumptuous court
507
00:38:37,083 --> 00:38:39,123
at the capital of Mauretania,
508
00:38:39,123 --> 00:38:41,323
much like Alexandria.
509
00:38:44,043 --> 00:38:47,203
Cleopatra Selene's court
is also filled
510
00:38:47,203 --> 00:38:50,723
with literature and philosophy and art.
511
00:38:53,643 --> 00:38:58,003
Selene, like her mother before her,
has constructed a tomb.
512
00:38:58,003 --> 00:39:02,243
It's one of the most impressive
of the ancient world.
513
00:39:02,243 --> 00:39:05,243
We know from some
of the remains in her tomb
514
00:39:05,243 --> 00:39:07,243
and from the sides of their palaces,
515
00:39:07,243 --> 00:39:10,843
that she actually took Egyptian statues
to her palaces
516
00:39:10,843 --> 00:39:14,163
to continue that connection
to her mother and her homeland.
517
00:39:14,163 --> 00:39:18,403
She has a son
who becomes her and her husband's heir.
518
00:39:18,403 --> 00:39:23,643
She named that son, Ptolemy,
after Cleopatra's father.
519
00:39:23,643 --> 00:39:25,763
That dynasty continues, though,
520
00:39:25,763 --> 00:39:27,923
because her granddaughter
521
00:39:27,923 --> 00:39:31,283
marries into the Roman Imperial family.
522
00:39:31,283 --> 00:39:33,323
And so Cleopatra lives on.
523
00:39:33,323 --> 00:39:36,843
Even in antiquity,
she lived on through her daughter
524
00:39:36,843 --> 00:39:39,643
and she lived on through her grandson.
525
00:39:45,803 --> 00:39:49,443
Cleopatra is significant
in that she is the last ruler
526
00:39:49,443 --> 00:39:53,003
of an independent, powerful Egypt.
527
00:39:55,363 --> 00:39:58,363
We think about
female empowerment.
528
00:39:58,363 --> 00:40:01,363
There is no Rome without Egypt.
529
00:40:02,483 --> 00:40:05,003
This is a woman exercising power.
530
00:40:05,643 --> 00:40:08,523
Cleopatra was trying
to save the country
531
00:40:08,523 --> 00:40:11,803
that she loved from destruction.
532
00:40:12,803 --> 00:40:14,483
I am Isis.
533
00:40:16,123 --> 00:40:18,163
Queen of Kings!
534
00:40:18,163 --> 00:40:19,883
I would die for Egypt.
535
00:40:20,443 --> 00:40:21,843
What would you die for?
536
00:40:23,083 --> 00:40:25,163
She has become an icon.
537
00:40:28,803 --> 00:40:32,283
I resisted Cleopatra
for a really long time.
538
00:40:32,283 --> 00:40:34,563
Uh, in my scholarly life.
539
00:40:34,563 --> 00:40:37,723
I said, "I am not gonna study you.
I'm not gonna study you."
540
00:40:38,883 --> 00:40:44,523
I would have this recurring dream
where there was this shadowy figure,
541
00:40:44,523 --> 00:40:49,323
certainly an ancient person,
clearly a woman,
542
00:40:49,323 --> 00:40:51,283
who would say to me,
543
00:40:52,403 --> 00:40:54,763
"You have to tell my story."
544
00:40:55,883 --> 00:40:57,723
"You have to do it."
545
00:40:59,203 --> 00:41:02,923
I want people to know
the story of Cleopatra
546
00:41:02,923 --> 00:41:05,683
because she was an African queen.
547
00:41:07,443 --> 00:41:09,643
And that's a fact that's been buried,
548
00:41:09,643 --> 00:41:13,803
it's been erased, it's been white-washed.
549
00:41:15,763 --> 00:41:22,763
Generation after generation
are absolutely mesmerized by Cleopatra.
550
00:41:23,643 --> 00:41:25,843
Her story resonates,
551
00:41:25,843 --> 00:41:28,483
I think, with every woman.
552
00:41:32,203 --> 00:41:35,003
Cleopatra was one
of the most influential rulers
553
00:41:35,003 --> 00:41:36,403
the world has ever known.
554
00:41:39,283 --> 00:41:45,723
Her legacy as the most famous
of all African Queens is assured.
555
00:41:47,563 --> 00:41:51,963
She will live on until...
556
00:41:52,923 --> 00:41:55,123
there's no one else to tell her story.