New historical documentary on Netflix: Queen Cleopatra

A new historical documentary will be released on Netflix next month. The victim of the day is Cleopatra VII Philopator, Cleo for intimates. The series consists of dramatic reconstructions with expert commentary. The focus of the documentary is the period when Cleopatra was the reigning Pharaoh, from 51 to 30 BC.

First class documentary material

Cleopatra is one of the most famous figures of antiquity. Many are familiar with her escapades with Roman dignitaries and the romantic notion that she killed herself with a venomous snake. A great subject for a drama documentary! Unfortunately, women who played a significant role at an administrative level in pre-modern times are very scarce. But it is certain that Cleopatra was one. The trailer of the documentary is filled with beautiful panoramas, powerful speeches and Cleopatra even swings a sword.

Whether the documentary will help you with Triviant remains to be seen. Netflix doesn’t have an unsullied reputation when it comes to historical documentaries. Ancient Apocalypse, published last year, was top-shelf pseudo-science. I therefore do not expect a high degree of accuracy from the new series. If you really want to know what the current views are on Cleopatra, you really have to turn to often very dry university fare.

Historically accurate, yes or no?

So, let’s raise the question that hangs over this series like a dark cloud: was Cleopatra black or white? If you run the name of the series through Google it is not about anything else. Whatever other qualities the series has or lacks, it only seems to be about that one question.

As a former archaeologist and perennial amateur historian, I have something to say about this discussion. There is only 1 correct answer to that question and that is: It is an incorrect question. Race is a modern concept that stems from the Enlightenment idea that everything can be interpreted and defined in absolute terms. Race as the concept we know today did not exist in the first century BC and so is not applicable. Race is more than skin color and whether your hair curls or not.

Presentation vs reality

But don’t we have pictures taken by Egyptians where we can see what they looked like? Yes to the first part of the question, doubtful no to the second. Pre-modern art is often very stylistic, especially when it comes to images with an emphatically political function, an expression of a thought rather than a physical reality. The way Egyptians and non-Egyptians were portrayed in ancient times has everything to do with the message that had to be conveyed. Nubians were portrayed in specific ways, but the Nubian elite, who probably conformed more closely in appearance to what we today call ‘black’ people, simply allowed themselves to be depicted as Egyptians. So images of Egyptian pharaohs say more about how they wanted to be seen and less about what they actually looked like.

Do you really want to know what skin color Cleopatra had? Probably light tinted. Are we sure? No. The whole discussion about the race of historical characters says more about what is going on today than about historical reality. Perhaps important to note, for anyone who cares about the skin color of historical characters because they should be appropriated I have bad news. The chance that one of these people would have counted you in their own group based on your corresponding skin color is nil.

Trivia time

Piece of trivia to close with: Cleopatra is invariably called the last Pharaoh, also in this series. However, this is not true! Brother Ptolemy XIV and son Ptolemy XV held the title after her, the latter, however, in no significant capacity.

Queen Cleopatra is a new Netflix docuseries starring Adele James and produced by Jada Pinkett Smith. Season 1 has 4 episodes and can be streamed from May 10 via your browser or the app.

Are you curious which series are new on Netflix in May 2023?