Cleopatra's Murderous Sibling Rivalry | Absolute History

For 2,000 years almost all evidence of Cleopatra had disappeared - until now. Neil Oliver investigates the story of a ruthless queen who would kill her own siblings for power.
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[@kisha1682]

I think the first lesson Cleopatra learned in politics is from her father. He had his own daughter strangled by his guards because she staged a coup to place herself on the throne. Cleopatra learned from this lesson that to survive, you would have to be ruthless and possibly murder your own family, friend, etc to stay ahead of the game.

[@margaretmartinez-olvera5248]

Doggy dog world,at its finest

[@louiseevans3510]

@@margaretmartinez-olvera5248 "Dog eat dog"

[@valerawindsor9532]

Wow!

[@Shertheluv]

Turkish brothers of the Ottoman Empire would kill each other for the throne. So it makes sense that Cleopatra would have to be able to make that sort of move.

[@wendiclouthier8434]

@@margaretmartinez-olvera5248 you mean it's "a dog eat dog"

[@Hearth123]

This is why it's important to discuss historical figures within their own time because when we try to put them in our time with our own morals, there is no discerning any sort of moral hierarchy. We don't owe historical figures forgiveness, but we do owe them context if we want it to be given to us by future generations. Cleopatra's behavior would be appalling today, but in her own time, it was quite common.

[@tonibauer2405]

So true.

[@mdstanton1813]

Absolutely. Today we are very quick to categorize people as either good or bad however there are very few ancient rulers who didnt uphold or introduce cruel laws, who were not involved in murder, slavery, war etc. Were all bad? I don't think so. They were products of their time and place

[@theErin]

murder is murder no matter the Era u numpty

[@Hearth123]

Yes, but in order to determine a moral hierarchy which is important to developing an accurate historical narrative, we must discuss what was common practice at the time. It is intellectually dishonest to do otherwise. If we discuss the practice of slavery for instance, virtually every society has had it so it is important we discuss that context. For example, it would be wrong to set apart Rome, Egypt or Babylon for condemnation of slavery when virtually every society at the time practiced it and these societies had comparatively humane guidelines for slavery when measured against other cultures at the time.

[@tonibauer2405]

@@Hearth123 we can condemn slavery, the maltreatment of women, the abandonment of infants to die in the hills, the enjoyment of watching combatants murder each other as sport and entertainment, and other common practices of the time. We just need to understand that many if not most cultures of that time and later did not have our point of view. That the practices were immoral and cruel are clear to most of us today, but were accepted as “normal” then across most of the world, and as repugnant as most of us find them. I have ancestors who fought on the side of the confederacy. I don’t know if they owned slaves, though I hope not. I know that rebellion and slave ownership were immoral, even though I understand my ancestors very well may not have. Would I judge them as harshly as I would someone trafficking humans in this day and age? It is hard for me to overlook the fact that they knew people were being stolen from their homes (yes, with the complicity of corrupt people from the areas from which they were stolen), were being treated worse than livestock would be on those sea crossings and dying miserable deaths, with survivors being sold at auction to do be done with as their slave masters saw fit. There is such a thing as denial and willful ignorance, which can be in itself immoral and inexcusable. I saw plenty of that growing up in the Jim Crow era of my white, southern childhood, with “nice” white people willing to ignore or deny the injustice and misery black people endured. Is that a different concept from a parent who should know a child is being sexually or physically abused for years by a family member but denies it or says they just didn’t know? In either case, it just isn’t good enough, it just isn’t excusable.

[@undertoe3730]

I've read several times that she really wasn't that much to look at visually, but that it was her extraordinary mind and ability to speak on so many levels is what made her great and beautiful. Anyone who can speak as many languages as she did and educated as she was put her at the head of the pack for sure!!

[@barbaracook4764]

Exactly! There is/are coins that were minted with the face of cleopatra and NO she was not a looker.

[@nv7287]

I think the fact she came with a kingdom might have been rather attractive....

[@GlennaVan]

Agreed. Anyone can be "packaged" to look good. Seriously. She certainly had anything she wanted available to her. My husband told me when we were dating: "It's not what you reveal but what you cleverly conceal that makes you attractive." I suspect that was true there as well. Any woman who could put oils on her skin and stay out of the sun and dress in beautiful clothing is going to look better than one who cannot even if they look exactly the same.

[@lisaellis2593]

Exactly! and lets not forget men are scared of women who are smarter than them.

[@jackiestringfellow805]

That's what I've read, also. And she was Greek!

[@MissCaraMint]

It's like they want us to believe that Cleopatra was especially bloodthirsty when they clearly show that the internal politics of the Ptolemies would have necessitated for the rest to die for one to come out on top. I mean seriously Cleopatra and her brother were supposed to be co-rulers, but her brother exiled her first chance he got. He would have killed her had he been able to get away with it. Cleopatra simply won.

[@MissCaraMint]

Plus if you look up Arsinoe IV of Egypt on Wikipedia you can se that it references the young woman fount in Ephasus, and that it's by no means definite that the body is that of Arsinoe. She would have been 12 at the age of the battle she supposedly masterminded which is just slightly far fetched.

[@daveyhouston]

@@MissCaraMint a 12 year old then would have been akin to a 25 year old today they aged faster died earlier 12 year olds were not kids no infantalization like now

[@lupeavalos9791]

MissCaraMint lol 😂 All are in hell . They have no power now .

[@emelinerussell2753]

@@daveyhouston um...no

[@emelinerussell2753]

@@daveyhouston Agreed they were not "children" at the age of 12 but they did not "age faster", nor did they necessarily "die earlier". Yes, many died young especially as the world began to meld and trade farther, carrying more diseases to further nations but that did not necessarily mean your expectant age was 35 or whatever. Some people lived until they were gray-haired and brittle boned. Others died of disease, battle, or childbirth. Many adolescents in the working class matured faster, that is true, but that is also true for 2020. Yes, young girls were expected to be married by the age of 16 simply because so many women died in childbirth there was less of a chance of miscarriage as a younger person. But that did not mean you "Age faster." Simply means that the modern world has modernized technology, medicine, and education. We only see a glimpse of the past, and we can only compare it to the present day, but aging and dying remain stagnant.

[@lisamgreenleaf]

When Cleopatra came to the throne that place was already 2000 years old.....MIND BLOWN That's what I love about history

[@sharonbudworth9382]

@Keaos0 i doubt that very much Antony and Cleopatra died in 30 years BC,Jesus was born 30 years after their deaths Yours, miss big head lol. 😂

[@kathleenmuchka2559]

@Keaos0 As Cleopatra and Marc Anthony were killed in 30BC it is impossible for them to be the parents of Jesus.

[@kathleenmuchka2559]

Egyptian rule begun in 3100BC the temple complex was 2000 years old.

[@mannyespinola]

Arsinoe had plans to have Cleopatra killed, too, as well as her other siblings. They all had, of course, because that was the name of the game (royal succession) in those days. Kill or be killed, and Cleopatra simply moved faster, and she made smarter moves. And she was luckier, too, I suppose.

[@reinhartaltavillaferrara3546]

Yes, but she lost her life anyway, eventually

[@brybry4795]

Helps that she was playing against children.

[@ingeposch8091]

Arsinoe already had spearheaded a rebellion against Cleopatra when Cleopatra has allied herself with Julius Ceasar... so, it can hardly be a surprise that Cleopatra wanted her sister dead. for Arsinoe had the backing of the priesthood and a large part of the population of Egypt who wanted the Romans out of their country. het father Ptolomeus the 12th had borrowed huge soms of money from the Romans to wage war and hold on to his throne. he had opened the door to Roman influence in Egypt and was the cause of all this misery...

[@Olivrian]

Julius Caesar, Hitler and King Henry VIII are the killers not Cleopatra. She’s just smarter than anyone who wants to claim the throne. “The Game of Thrones “. Luckily she doesn’t own the dragons 🐉

[@ingeposch8091]

@@Olivrian you're not the sharpest tool in the shed, now are you? Cleopatra had her sister killed, her youngest brother killed and if Ptolemeus the 13th had not drawned fleeing from Ceasar's troops, she would have bumped him off too... just like she had some of the nobility and priests that supported Ptolemeus the 13th and Arsinoe killed. in those days you had to kill (some of) your siblings to be sure of holding on to your throne and take their supporters down with them. politics is a brutal game, especially in those days...

[@Riot_Bird]

..... she was actually average looking, the tells of her being a beautiful seductress came from a bunch of men that couldn't handle the idea that a women could win other the hearts of men with just her words. She was intelligent and spoke nine* different languages, she killed her siblings because they would have killed her if she had not done it first. She did what she had to insure her throne, and honestly killing potential rivals siblings or not is all though out history. I mean seriously 😐 this is absolutely ridiculous * edited for the sake of giving accurate information

[@mtaylor7307]

And although her sister was considered classically beautiful it is possible the sisters may be half with different mothers. Cleo's pre-Caesar coins aren't as "attractive". His coin depiction gave Cleo a nose job.

[@Riot_Bird]

@Spring Ranch of course, I hate when people portray her as a dangerous seductress, she was intelligent and was beloved by her people because as a Leader she got the job done. She literally saved Egypt from the mess for father and brother made though strategic alliances and trade agreements.

[@Riot_Bird]

@Spring Ranch yeah you make a vary good point, a lot of the time if they are talking about a guys looks it is in a positive light. The only thing comparable that I can think of is Napoleon Bonaparte being made fun of for being short even though he wasn't actually as short as many people believe, he was 5'6" which was the average hight for a man during his time period.... Beethoven was 5'4" for example

[@Riot_Bird]

@Spring Ranch oh wow that is amazing 😂 Thank you so much that made my day 😂

[@patnelson2091]

Except it's still murder.

[@Meowmeter]

By many accounts she was intelligent, wellspoken, calculating, confident and proud, that in itself is alluring and attractive. But on the whole she was a survivor, it was a kill or be killed situation, she made it out alive.

[@mandala9492]

I find it amazing and stupifying that our culture still villifys women who defend themselves and or loved ones let alone their beloved countries. Men who rule are rarely called killers

[@warrenboyce2987]

I totally agree with you! They are scandalising the Great Queen who fed her people during famines.

[@corgisrule21]

Rightly or wrongly, we expect that from male rulers therefore it doesn’t need stating that they are murderers. Anyone who murders their “loved ones” instead of defending them (when they apparently didn’t give two craps about her beloved throne) is a killer and it just happened to be a woman so they called a spade a spade.

[@zurielkamara7214]

They are and she killed her siblings to get to power. But they would have done the same thing because everyone back then was a psycho

[@emmamortiboy1520]

Yes, you're right! We should never vilify psychotic people who murder most of their own family plus thousands of innocent subjects 😂 WTF has her sex got to do with it???? 😂

[@tanyaaa2590]

Cleopatra didn't defend herself, she wanted power, that is called villianous behavious buddy

[@Zander84ify]

So, erm, no. Coleoptera wasn’t one of the biggest killers in history. She had her family killed off same as many of history’s Kings and queens. Think this video could of been named better.

[@amberklaire9419]

Also wasn't her sister betraying her for her political enemies? That's reason enough for a ruler to take anyone out. Henry viii did it because he couldn't have a boy Elizabeth the first did it to her own sister. Any ruling family in history had skeletons in their closet of people close to them. Cleopatra was a female in charge in a man's world. She did what she had to, and was still forced to commit suicide in the end.

[@BeeLZBeeb]

Could have

[@BeeLZBeeb]

Also, I agree, probably titled to get more views

[@oglefrugalbugel9646]

Not only that it says in the video that Cleopatra betrayed her family but, isn't throwing her out of the kingdom just for disagreeing and wanting alliance and peace w/ Rome betraying her? Her family stabbed her in the back. Why wouldn't she then turn her backs on them in return?

[@Zander84ify]

Frugle bungle: that isn’t the problem. What is the video named? What was the video about? How many people did the video say cleopatra killed?

[@gginsc]

Rather hypocritical! A lot of ancient rulers killed their siblings. It was many times necessary for survival. Cleopatra is no different from all the other rulers of her time.

[@cruisepaige]

You keep using that word…

[@hebrewmama]

Watching history docs it seems that cleopatra actually wasn’t as beautiful as time has remembered her. Nefertiti on the other hand is said to have been exceptionally beautiful

[@terintiaflavius3349]

It's hard to accurately judge their appearance. There is an internal thing that happens when we view people of power. They hold sway so we see them as higher then average. Would we view any of these women as beautiful if they were poor? It's really a deep interesting discussion of power and it's aura. As far as the Ptolemy line they were all inbreed from a Macedonian/Greek line so I find it very hard to believe that they didn't show physical signs of such breeding practices.

[@susanapfister-cuesta4010]

Queen Nefertiti = Moses = Jesus= Dr. of Japan = Mahatma Ghandi= Suzanna Maria Emmanuel ( the same soul being )

[@kit-nun5476]

☹️

[@ravenfinley3051]

@@terintiaflavius3349 I have never thought of it that way. When you really think of it even in fairy tails royalty is viewed as being extremely beautiful while commoners seen as ugly. And with Royalty inbreeding I agree they had to have shown signs

[@Ama-Elaini]

Many ancient and medieval monarchs put someone to death their relatives included, so if this is true, Cleopatra would be no exception.

[@caro2233]

the same happened in the Roman Empire...

[@tamaraprentice9280]

Weren’t her sibs trying to kill her first, or listening to those who wanted Cleopatra out of the way. The sibs were easier to manipulate/control. Cleopatra was not.

[@Blackfox_Kitsune]

portrait of a killer? you mean a good player of the game of houses / game of thrones. it's literally the age old court game of kill or be killed by politically outmanoeuvring your rivals even if they are family! it was done long before and in many cases still is done long after kelopatra.

[@ToTotheduck]

Well, it was either her life or her siblings. I don't see why it isn't explained in depth that she had very little choice.

[@thrownaway6020]

So Caesar got side-quest'd by a dethroned queen that appeared from his bed? Then her brother walked in on her and basically snatched his own wig. Excuse me, Cleo. Teach me your ways.

[@MOlsen-sg3yi]

Lmao 😂😂

[@christinamcinulty2752]

😆

[@terintiaflavius3349]

Hahaha. Please make a history channel breaking down history in your magical ways. You will end up with a Netflix show🙏🙏

[@BRICKADANHARDY]

@@terintiaflavius3349 😂💯🕶️

[@Quizoid]

Didn’t we already know she was a killer? I mean, she was a leader who waged wars...

[@purramedicintraining2878]

4:25 *buzzfeed unsolved music starts playing* Narrator: “can I go in?” Me: DONT DO IT.

[@JenXing]

I scrolled down for this exact comment ahaha

[@Dragoriax3]

Good. this comment exists, as it should

[@sonusanakal9331]

@@Dragoriax3 exactly 😂I was searching for this

[@terintiaflavius3349]

10-18 year olds back then ruled nations 10-18 year olds now make tiktok videos. We have definitely de-volved

[@alertafayermonki]

It’s because 10-18 year olds are not supposed to rule nations, but they needed to do that at the time, now we don’t, just let kids enjoy they’re youth

[@BJKage]

Yeah, people in general are not responceble at all. They´re just gaming, watching documents and horrors, wait I just walked around mirror. I mean even adults acts like brats, what do you expect from teens? But I think these kids are broought up to be able to do things like thtis even today. Average Joe and Jane doesn´t have to expect to be ruler one day, so they do not have to behave like this, they should, but they do not have to.

[@CresentMoonVideos]

I mean, I sure as shit don't wanna run a damn country. Rather be having fun then getting chewed out by citizens or someshit. Or possible assassinations for my throne. lmaoo

[@oglefrugalbugel9646]

She's not the only royalty who killed for the throne (this was common place in alot of dynasties, kingdoms, and ect. all over the world for centuries), and she was betrayed, thrown out of the palace, before betraying her family in return... To act as if she was some great villain is kinda silly dontcha think? She was a smart woman the way she played the cards she was dealt b/c if she didn't kill them off they may've killed her for not siding w/ the Pharaoh Timothy, or she may've died in the streets (she was thrown out of the kingdom w/ nowhere to go).

[@joannegaughan6132]

It's Pharoah Ptolemy, and you are right of course. Kill or be killed was the name of the game. So, she killed 3 siblings, all of which would have killed her 1st chance they got. Lots of other royalty, monarchs, emperors, etc killed off ALL male heirs; brothers, uncles, and cousins! She was no worse than any other ruler of the time.👍✌❤

[@LifeInPink999]

Knowing the history of her family any of her brother or sisters would have done the same if had the power and opportunity.

[@CadisEtramaDiRaizelHexion]

A lot of queens and kings fought for power amongst their own family, Cleopatra wasn’t the exemption 🤷‍♀️ nevertheless her story is absolutely intriguing and interesting... I wish we knew more facts...

[@KatieCarpenter2014]

I normally really like this channel, but I hate the misogynistic way Cleopatra is framed as some ruthless killer. The fact of the matter was that she was a woman trying to survive. She didn't do anything that many other men haven't also done in history - and we rarely vilify them for doing so.

[@gemini_interests]

Well said!

[@BRICKADANHARDY]

📿🙏🏽💜💯🕶️

[@equarg]

Apparently Cleopatra was not that beautiful. But it was her MIND that seduced and amazed men. She spoke multiple languages fluently and knew bits of a few others. Apparently she also had an amazing voice that drew people in.

[@layla-8369]

Nah, she wasn't worse than the others in her dynasty or overall most rulers at the time

[@arellysritchieauthor]

@Layla- wrong, china's own female ruler wu ze tian who was a life in the same era as Cleopatra was way cruel then Cleopatra, rumors said that she killed her own baby daughter to frame someone else.

[@NymSandi]

@@arellysritchieauthor That theory has never been proven. Chinese historians have given her a bad name over the years for a lot of reasons, the main one being that she was a girl. There is actually a lot of new evidence showing that Wu Zetian was actually an amazing ruler, furthering the equality of men and women, keeping famines at an all time low with massive grain storehouses. There's even evidence that she was respected in the international community as a deserved leader of her empire

[@conniecarroll7222]

I believe that because she's a woman and this is being done by a man at least it comes across this way. Men can sit on thrones put Lord knows how many people to death but have a woman on a throne and she's does the same thing...oh my god she's a MONSTER!!!

[@conniecarroll7222]

@@arellysritchieauthor I am just starting to look into her history so don't know about her daughter, but if she did it she might have had a good reason. She is a fascinating woman .

[@conniecarroll7222]

@@NymSandi Yes, I bought the DVD set that was made based on her life. KZbin also is running it but the English translation is missing half the time.

[@Alice-ov3rd]

Meh she was no more of a killer than most rulers of her time. In fact I can think of a much brutal ruler...Caligula. Now that guy was a complete psychopath.

[@ForeverLumoz]

So true. That time was brutal and Caligula was an absolute terror.

[@niawhite5336]

She was no worse than the Roman scum she was sucking up to. Ancient Rome = ISIS of today.

[@KNOWSOMEHOT]

If you watched the biography of caligula and many other rulers of his time, you would see they all start being a great ruler..untill they get paranoid by murder attempts by family etc. Its a common thing, nothing psycho like.

[@aerialtaprootanalysis6117]

Caligula started off as a good ruler, the. He got sick, and he became very crazy and evil after that.

[@tonibauer2405]

Yep. He just enjoyed and got off on killing for fun. For Cleo and most others it was done for their own survival. And the royals today think they have it rough.

[@jonnievaj]

This is what Loki's been up to after the End Game.

[@lucaplayz4785]

The question is poised "Why Did Cleopatra Kill Her Siblings?" -LOL why do most royalty kill their siblings and possible heirs and competition for the throne i wonder? mmmm

[@cristyciron7510]

In my own opinion Cleopatra killed her siblings not Just they become her rival in powers she might think that her siblings was a treat to her life . It seems that killing family members was the only way to secured or gain powers Its either killed or be killed . I blame the parents in this matter I think parents failed to guide their childrens and teach them ko Love one another and maintain orderly in the family Not chaos

[@crunchies4me]

He didn't willingly spare her life, he was forced to by an angry mob!!!

[@NymSandi]

I love how the comments are absolutely ripping into the inaccuracies of this documentary. It's so funny to know that history geeks will fight you for one minor mistake

[@BritneyMorgan28]

Perhaps it is the sanctity of accurate accounting of history itself and not what the current generation perceives it as, that drives their passion.

[@GalactivaPhantom]

4:20 Her timing for creepiness is uncanny

[@altheacraig2904]

Neil Oliver, I love your "Scottish" accent! I am of Scottish ancestry from Rathven, Banffshire, Scotland, and Perthshire. Your history lessons are the best!

[@PhoebeSimony]

This was my favorite drunk history episode

[@baileightahlulah]

Idk why Im so drawn to these history videos

[@Luna.3.3.3]

🙄 ... maybe you're a history nerd like me lol

[@alyssac5130]

Maybe because they are fascinating

[@martizmartiz3868]

Be glad you are, darling. Even if they are dramatized and often not histórically accurate, they are still fascinating and make à better food for your brain than... Let's say ... Kardashians gossip,make up vids, celebs tasting gummy bears or some nonsense about some "famous"...

[@laurielyddy4890]

@@martizmartiz3868 I personally wish that when I was in school I had the same Fascination for history that I have now. I can genuinely say I hate the "supposed" reality TV. I say supposed because most people realize there's very little that's real about reality TV. The people I worry about that watch it avidly are our younger population.

[@LadyJ_88]

Because you're human? 🤷‍♀️ lol It wasn't until my 30's that I suddenly realized "Omg... these were REAL people 😯🤯" & have been hooked on shows like this ever since lol Cleopatra (& any woman who was able to amass power in a time when women were deemed inferior beings) is absolutely fascinating to me. Especially considering she was not regarded as beautiful.... I wish I had just an ounce of her courage.

[@sapphirewyren02]

Cesar's Mom: Cesar. go make your bed!" Cesar: Ok mom *see Cleopatra in the bed sheets* Cesar: WOW!

[@amaracrow0501]

This all sounds super chauvinistic. Ya'll are being really judgemental and i don't like your tone. "I will not be triumphanted over" -Cleopatra. The GOAT.

[@LadyJ_88]

New research actually points to Cleopatra being fair skinned & NOT beautiful.... but rather charming, smart & obviously cunning.

[@sapphohxrself]

The presenter looks like Nic Cage with a case of amnesia after a coke binge. I love that for him

[@rickymurray]

This maybe the best comment I've ever read on KZbin

[@Luna.3.3.3]

Nic Cage has 'nuthin' on Neil Oliver imo 😉

[@OneofInfinity.]

That was very specific 🤣

[@crowsister1]

I don't see it , but I like the way you think. 😊

[@jamiewynn6015]

shuTTTTTTTTTTTT UPPPPPPPPP LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HSJGSDHSSGSHAHAAHAHAH

[@Mr6wolfdog]

So, am I the only one having issues hearing the different people? .. because of the music or the actors screaming, etc.

[@lynnc5291]

Did they grow up loving eachother as family at all or was it all politics all the time? As much as I understand if she didn’t kill her siblings they would’ve killed her..but I wonder if it was a hard toll on her or if just the simple fact of her knowing they are ready to kill her first chance they get make it a little easier to kill off your siblings. Might sound silly but being raised together and going through the same hardships can be a bonding experience and I guess if they grew up knowing they’d have to kill eachother someday maybe that’s why..just trying to wrap my head around it.

[@kamilm5614]

I saw a documentary once where it was a rule that the siblings from the king many wives had to kill each other in order inherit the throne.

[@myrzamarilyslassus956]

You are thinking in today's terms. It was kill or be killed.

[@ich6636]

@@kamilm5614 ,I sow it also but it was about Otoman Empire if I remember well. I don't think was the same in Egypt from what I read till now.

[@ewwwteddy6580]

They all would killed eachother , but Cloepatra moved smarter

[@silvermeasuringspoons6462]

They didn’t got “grow up together” I assumed. they were raised by wet nurses, servants. Like there’s no family bonding/feeling involved in that.

[@Luna.3.3.3]

So I'm a history nerd anyway, but throw in Neil Oliver with that killer accent and that's IT

[@battousaihimura8822]

And Yet, They still can't Find the Tomb of CLEOPATRA until now?!

[@strawberriesssssssssss]

Yeah she had to do what she had to do. She wasn’t given much of a choice.

[@Soulcatcher30]

Probably as much as most rulers were.

[@natalijalaonar8187]

@@lanaburnett1637 Hehe, we've never been the "gentler" sex. Thats something guys like to say to feel good about themselvs. :P

[@terrirushford1747]

@@lanaburnett1637 look up Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Female of the Species". Each stanza ends with "the female of the Species is more deadly than the male."

[@maribeldelatorre7843]

@@natalijalaonar8187 AA

[@GreebleClown]

Props to the actor portraying Cassius Dio!

[@dfashionb]

arsinoe was like 15-16 when she went up against ceasar. she lost but its the spirit behind it that counts

[@makhenaten]

Please - she was the rightful queen exiled by her scheming family and had to protect her return home and her country and people as best she could.

[@kathleenmuchka2559]

Nonsense she sold out both her family and caused the complete fall of the Egyptian Empire.

[@makhenaten]

@@kathleenmuchka2559 😂

[@makhenaten]

@@kathleenmuchka2559 Egypt was already under control of Rome, and forging a bond with Caesar was really important to try to attempt to merge and amalgamate the two powers for the sake of her country and rightful throne.

[@lydh4485]

Lyric Lewis telling a story of Arsinoe on Drunk History is the best 😄

[@cheyennelucio3625]

Achilles… just sounds like a succulent man 😂😂

[@pixiewings504]

New evidence has been found that suggests that Cleopatra was actually murdered instead of killing herself

[@FLmanispretty]

Source?

[@pixiewings504]

@@FLmanispretty there was a whole documentary about it

[@FLmanispretty]

@@pixiewings504 ...Mk I’m still going to need a little more lol

[@black.cat66665]

That intro is so dumb. Like if they have never seen a ruler dispose of an enemie or rival in their life lmao

[@valeryasteel4167]

yes but she was a w o m a n! therefore, cold-blooded seductress, what else do you call women in positions of power?

[@5kopiyok]

4:35 Take the worst lamp available to go for the undeground research...

[@daveyhouston]

He needs to remember that what we call an adolescent was to them an adult physically and mentally

[@Hal-Blue]

Cleo was not as continuously predicted. She was a red head with freckled skin and she was considered beautiful because of her wealth and she. Actually used fragrances and had a perfume factory to mimic seductive scents. I actually worked for a true exhibit with her bust etc. The closet looking was actually from a bad tv show. She was also pale not tan.

[@chiasanzes9770]

Makes me to wonder weren't Cleopatra and Arsinoe from different mothers?

[@crunchies4me]

If it was sex that got her what she wanted, then all i have to say is what the hell is wrong with men!!! What, They can't say no???

[@GrandmaCathy]

Caesar was a horn dog.

[@AngBQueenAdwoasCloset]

The "surprise" that Cleo and her sister / family had African heritage as well. *looks around in feigned shock*

[@emphibians]

exactly, like where did they think egypt is located??

[@robertgreen1282]

Always funny when a Sub-Saharan African tries to claim Egypt.

[@tiner1988]

Its a surprise because they are mostly inbred and records only have them marrying other Greeks if they did marry outside the family. There are some undocumented mistresses so the youngest may have gotten those genes.

[@kathleenmuchka2559]

She was Macedonian Greek. You are thinking of the Pharoahs of Kush.

[@welshwitch2126]

Egypt’s rulers were ethnically Greek.

[@LiteraryOverflow]

I just started watching this so I’m not sure if it’s mentioned but if I remember correctly at least one (if not more) of Cleopatra’s siblings also tried to have her killed. So clearly this wasn’t something unique to her.

[@altheacraig2904]

When I think of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony I think of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Berton who played them in the movie. Two of my favorites.

[@kellymarie6031]

Portrait of a killer? Portrait of an ancient ruler? Ehh.. tomato, tomahto

[@msladykiss1996]

Why is the scientist who is handling the mummy bones not wearing gloves?? That could mess with the results right??

[@elenavaccaro339]

Only if DNA is needed. Anthropologists handle bones bare handed all of the time, especially those from the historic period.

[@markgarin6355]

If your talking about Cleopatra VII, then call her by her name, that was an another period of serious inbreeding with Egyptian royalty (tolemic at this time).

[@v.strauss5874]

Yes interbreeding. That’s what gave her odd mishap features. They wanted the blood “pure”.

[@v.strauss5874]

Yes interbreeding “Royalty” wanted pure blood.

[@sapphirewyren02]

'is it safe to go in here?' 'yes, yes, yes,...i think so' so reassuring...

[@reneegede5384]

The legend must be a myth. Cleopatra looked nothing like that.

[@gullwingstorm857]

This African skull business extrapolated on a reconstructed skull based on measurements noted down in the 1920s is on very shaky ground. Furthermore, Arsinoe and Cleopatra may not have even had the same mother. Cleopatra’s ethnicity is Macedonian. She was definitely European.

[@lolazal1]

Lol. Egypt is an African strategically place between continents and regions, a country full of BROWN people then and NOW. Yet you so badly want to believe that NO African blood runs through the views of its rulers.

[@welshwitch2126]

@@lolazal1 you need to brush up on your history. Egypt’s rulers were ethnically Greek.

[@NymSandi]

@@lolazal1 You're serious? It's a well known fact that Cleopatra's family avoided marrying Egyptians at all costs, in hopes of keeping the bloodline "pure". Look up the family tree of the Ptolemy Dynasty from Ptolemy I to Cleopatra VII, that shit is more fucked than an Alabama family reunion

[@sapphirewyren02]

@@welshwitch2126 not every Egyptian ruler was Greek, that's just stupid. Just the Ptolemaic family, because the dude name Ptolemy who was running around with Alexander the Great

[@belleviolet8400]

This. Ptolemy were Greek, not African, as tons of other research about her and her families DNA has already proven.

[@TechTins_Projects]

I think saying "beyond doubt" is a little optimistic to say the least.

[@Mercurychyld1]

Seems the title, and accusation, are overly inflammatory. Not to defend her but she did nothing that most MEN didn’t do. It just seems so much more disturbing to some when it happens to be a female acting just like a man. Double standards, as always.

[@lisaellis2593]

Yep!

[@paigeconnelly4244]

4:29 Buzzfeed Unsolved music

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

Hardly a major killer. Che did what most hereditary tyrants did: Murdered all other claimants to the throne. Perhaps a dozen or a score. That was NOTHING compared to the BIG killers. The Ottoman rulers did that for centuries: As soon as the old king died, his oldest son murdered all of his brothers (and often sisters). Of course, quite a few saw this coming and decided to go on permanent vacations while their fathers still lived.

[@AntsinMehPants]

I’ve also seen most historical accounts believed she wasn’t super pretty, but she had a lot of charm. But this is what documentaries do, they have a lot of spice to make them super interesting so you can’t stop watching

[@ricky-sanchez]

@@AntsinMehPants Answer is simple. The romans invaded, had their way, and left. The easiest explanation is the best. Wouldn't be surprised if caesar didn't just send vassals to bluck her, and maintain order in her own head. Marc Antony being such....

[@whayes8084]

@@ricky-sanchez but she convinced Antony to fight a war for her then committed suicide.

[@equarg]

😳Oh yes. The Ottomans. Yea. The ultimate sibling rivalry. The man has a herem, multiple kids, and when he died a literal bloodbath ensued. Yea. Being born to royalty is way way over rated in my book…..still. I read that after one eldest brother had 80 of his younger brothers strangled, the public was appalled by the sight of so many bodies being taken out of the castle. The uproar was so great, that that tradition was changed, the males were exiled to a castle….basically captives, where they could never leave, but were taken care of. They had food, drink, and supposedly infertile women….but if a woman got pregnant she was executed. They were to be alternatives if the king died before having a heir.

[@tracytron7162]

It must be really unsettling to hold parts of a human skeleton like that....

[@ForeverLumoz]

Not really. Just like a dead body isn't scary.

[@tonibauer2405]

No. As a nurse who had to handle and work on the dissection of a human body, you just do it with respect. Dry bones would be easier than an embalmed body that is just lying around, IMO.

[@DarlaVaughan]

I used to teach Anatomy and Physiology to nursing students... I taught bones with the help of Fred the Head. He was a real skull. Holding him, learning and teaching with him was reverent. Not weird, but instead gives a sense of continuity and humanity. Reverence.

[@DarlaVaughan]

@@tonibauer2405 I taught A&P...respect is the best way to say it. I said reverence, but both indeed.

[@patnelson2091]

Not worse than holding a rib or chicken bone after eating ribs at a picnic!

[@vevol.i.f.e8187]

The documentary is very interesting. The Commentator however confuses Roman with Greek Philosophers, Architecture, lands, etc. Respect the root of our western civilization, Greece, by giving credit to where it is due!

[@brendaleverick3655]

I admire Cleo's ability to speak multiple languages. She may not have been a great beauty, but she had intelligence and learning.

[@astoturtle]

Why would you qualify it like that? Is being beautiful more important than ability and skill? This video has brought out a lot of gross bias that I would not have seen coming from a community so focused on learning and culture.

[@sirenamarieneblina2314]

The heat makes one do some crazy stuff.

[@TheMroldtimer]

in before game of thrones was a thing lol

[@marcelc2820]

Could use more ads for sure.

[@shanevitak4310]

Halfing the ads would be a good compromise

[@GalactivaPhantom]

adblock plugin is your good friend.

[@eevie]

lol no shit...4 within 30 minutes

[@Baby1234Blue]

I got only one, I have no idea what you guys are on about.

[@DebiB53]

I have loved every one of Neil Oliver's history videos!

[@lilystonne4108]

She killed her siblings because they would have killed her if she had not killed them first.

[@Ipsiro]

the presenter's last comment was shocking: "this is the portrait of a killer!" So much hatred for Cleopatra's personality ?? so much misogyny ?? A documentary based on subjective hatred of glorious women ... Disgusting!

[@tiner1988]

I mean she did have people killed. It was either kill or be killed....so technically she is a murderer. Or at least a conspirator of murder.

[@achievementrum7568]

4:23 Start of very familiar music. Buzzfeed Unsolved use it too. lol

[@melaniejerrils3671]

So good !!! Why hav i never seen this channel yet. Well im subbin now

[@snowiiiiie]

The reconstructed face at the end looks like a sim

[@SupremeCommanderBaiser]

Maybe because it is?

[@CursedMusicbox333]

People just can't cope with the real Cleopatra being average looking but with incredible sex appeal she didn't have to look like a super model.

[@brewnhell9938]

Beautifully done video. Parts of history I’d never heard before.

[@sproutsrevil6508]

Oh Neil. I could listen to your voice for hours.

[@shuari5894]

Guy: *about to enter the tomb* is this safe? Woman: yes… i think so

[@leehowell5898]

can't watch this because the music is so loud I can't hear what he is saying.why is the music so loud. it should be in the background not blasting.

[@peniskopf653]

youre absolutely right. parts of it are absolutely horrible. i really enjoyed watching this but those parts made it really hard for a non native speaker to hear what is actually going on

[@TheJoshA]

WAHHHHHWAHHHH!!

[@bekkiwampler9016]

Try using closed caption option on ur device if ur able?

[@terryolsson4145]

Excellent documentary. Love history and you Mr Oliver deliver.

[@Sugarsmomma]

Such a one sided story. He twisted it to fit his scenario. If she was male she would have been considered genius.

[@ruvoodoo4862]

"He" is just the narrator so calm down.

[@akevomsahungyo9299]

she is a genius.........a psychotic one

[@KhaleesiGR]

the lighthouse of Pharos? So the lighthouse of lighthouse? lol

[@rashida7777]

Cleopatra, though a monarch had limited power. She didn't want her brother to sire their offspring. But she did complete a "religious" marriage with him. He was basically dumb as dirt. Her main focus was making Egypt the best it could be. She was also extremely intelligent and well educated. Unlike her siblings that only enjoyed court drama. When the Library of Alexandria was burned down...probably by the Romans/Europeans...she wept. The history of Egypt and the African continent went up in flames. Over 100,000 parchments and scrolls were destroyed. Julius Caesar offered to replenish as much as he could. He also had her brother executed. She tried to keep her country free and not enslaved like the rest of the known world.

[@ryannebarlow9213]

Actually after extensive research, they found that Cleopatra wasn't beautiful (at least, not to most beauty standards today). They say she had quite manly features, a large nose, chin, and more full in the face. It was her extreme influence, charm and wit that made her attractive..

[@fintan3563]

I am loving this Absolute History channel.

[@luluseatowngetdown6251]

Me too! A lot of American tv is trashy. I’ve been watching these for a week❤️

[@daveyhouston]

I love learning history except for the extremely cruel stuff

[@EskimoPagan]

@@daveyhouston lol there’s so much of that in the entirety of human history

[@shirleypena4133]

I've heard for many years that Cleopatra was quite short, but hardly slim. I heard that she stood about 4'10" and weighed around 140 lb. That's hardly a "slim" woman, lol. Since it's well known that it was always fashionable in Egyptian society (especially the ruling class) to be chubby, it too lends credence to the belief that it's highly likely that Cleopatra was anything but slender.

[@tiredtears4177]

They were referring to a slim bone structure/frame not her body weight. Very small boned people can be overweight.

[@ritagregorio2363]

Thank you for sharing this video. I know about Cleopatra but not about her sister or brothers . I love history. This was very interesting. So thanks again . And please keep them video coming . Off all kind of History of the World . ❤🇨🇦

[@crocecicio5783]

I really enjoyed watching this video. Being a queen must have been so special I wish it. Had more to tell. However Cleopatra must have been some thing special to get the attention of so many powerful. Men.

[@johnrhansonsr]

To even ask this question means you have no knowledge of jealousy and thirst for power.

[@VaBeachBeach2971]

I live that they used the actor that was also in the HBO series Rome. The big dude talking dressed as a Roman. I don’t know his name but in the HBO show he was the guy who announced the daily news to the Roman people on the streets.

[@natashaa3883]

same music as buzzfeed unsolved lol

[@abbiegilfilen3449]

The quality of this is unprecedented for KZbin

[@rocketbackhander6280]

Wait. Isn't the girl who's playing Cleopatra the same girl from the Turn Down For What video?

[@beastshawnee]

Scientists are not convinced that the model looks like the poor dead girl.