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Secondary sourceBook29-19 BCE

Aeneid

Virgil · 29-19 BCE

Virgil's Roman epic poem, which portrays Cleopatra and her gods as the enemy of Rome in its account of the Battle of Actium.

A foundational piece of Roman propaganda that cast Cleopatra as the enemy of Rome after her defeat.

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Illuminated manuscript page from a Virgil codex: a framed painting shows two armored men with spears and a woman in a violet robe gesturing toward a white temple with columns and garlands. Below is a block of Latin capital script in several lines.
Virgil, Aeneid, illuminated manuscript illustration.

About this source

What it is

The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem written by the Roman poet Virgil between 29 and 19 BCE. It tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero said to be an ancestor of the Romans, and was designed to glorify Roman virtues and legitimize the ruling dynasty descended from Julius Caesar.

Why it matters

On a shield described in the poem, Virgil depicts the Battle of Actium, showing Cleopatra and her Egyptian gods as enemies of Rome. Written under the rule of Augustus, who had defeated Cleopatra and Mark Antony, this passage is a key example of how Roman propaganda shaped Cleopatra's image for later generations.

Look closer

  • Why might Augustus have wanted poets like Virgil to portray Cleopatra as a foreign threat?
  • How does showing her alongside 'animal-headed gods' try to make her seem different from Romans?
  • What does this poem leave out about Cleopatra's own perspective or actions?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Cleopatra, Virgil and Augustus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Close-up photo of a brownish papyrus sheet with dark ink lines of Greek handwriting in columns, torn edges, and a dark background showing through a split down the middle.Document

Primary source

Papyrus with Signature of Cleopatra VII

Ptolemaic scribe; possibly countersigned by Cleopatra VII · February 33 BCE

Hand-coloured aquatint titled Baths of Cleopatra, at Alexandria. A rocky coastal scene with a curved sandy inlet in the foreground, stone steps and a small arched doorway, a hill with ruined structures behind, and sailing boats on the sea. Figures in turbans and robes stand on the shore and sit in a rowboat.Painting

Secondary source

Baths of Cleopatra, at Alexandria

Luigi Mayer · 1802

Sepia-toned photograph of a white marble seated statue of Cleopatra by William Wetmore Story. She sits on a plinth engraved with the name CLEOPATRA, head resting on her raised hand, wearing a veil and draped robe, against a stone wall.Sculpture

Secondary source

Cleopatra

William Wetmore Story

Photograph of a white marble bust of a woman's head and upper neck, turned to the viewer's right. Wavy hair is combed over the forehead, a smooth bun sits at the back, and the hair shows a pinkish-brown discoloration. Light gray wall behind.Sculpture

Primary source

Portrait of Cleopatra (Berlin Bust)

c. 40-30 BCE

Marble sculpture of a woman's head and upper neck, shown in three-quarter view on a black stand against a brick wall. The hair is pulled back under a band with a knot at the top and a braided bun at the back. The face is calm with straight brows, a long nose, and closed lips. The bust is cut off at the base.Sculpture

Primary source

Head-Portrait of Cleopatra VII (Vatican Bust)

c. 40-30 BCE

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