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The World of Cleopatra | Podcast series

The World of Cleopatra | Podcast series

In this four-part HistoryExtra series, Professor Islam Issa explores the life and times of one of the ancient world's most famous figures – and why she still captivates us today

A close-up of an ancient Egyptian stone relief carving of a female figure in profile, wearing a striped headdress. The image has warm amber and brown tones against a dark background. Bold dark text reading "SUNDAY SERIES" appears at the top, with "THE WORLD OF CLEOPATRA" in bold white text on a dark banner directly below it (Photo via Getty)

Matt Elton

Published: May 24, 2026 at 9:53 AM

4 items

We often think of Cleopatra in two-dimensional terms – as a bewitching beauty who used her charm to maintain power. But, in this podcast series, Matt Elton is joined by Professor Islam Issa to paint a more rounded picture of the ancient queen.

Across four episodes, they chart the forces and figures who shaped her early life, how she navigated the shifting sands of political and familial conflict, and the talents and skills that allowed her to negotiate her complex world. Finally, they examine why Cleopatra remains so captivating today, thousands of years on – and how we should remember her in the 21st century.

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Episode 1Young Cleopatra: the making of a queen. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Islam Issa explores the formative years of one of ancient history's most famous figures – from the wider geopolitical world to her complex family dynamic
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Episode 2Cleopatra’s bloody rise to power. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Islam Issa charts Cleopatra's bloody rise to the top, and the personal qualities she drew up on to navigate her brutal world
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Episode 3Why Cleopatra was more than a bewitching beauty. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

We often think of Cleopatra as using her feminine wiles to stay on top – but, says Islam Issa, she was a more complex, and three-dimensional, character than that
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Episode 4Cleopatra’s death – and cultural afterlife. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

From her supposed death by snakebite to the location of her tomb, Cleopatra's final chapter is surrounded in mystery. Islam Issa reveals the truth behind the myth

See more The World of Cleopatra | Podcast series

Authors

Matt EltonPodcast editor

Matt Elton is the podcast editor at HistoryExtra