“History is written by the victors -- in Cleopatra's case, the Romans -- her press was somewhat less than complimentary”. For that reason, archeologist, Kathleen Martinez, has spent the last 3 years digging for Cleopatra’s tomb. She is searching for new sources and information to study in hopes of reforming the unfair reputation, given by historians, to the famous Queen of Egypt. Along with her excavating, she is co-writing a book about Cleopatra in an attempt to “repair the damage”. In class, we have learned about Cleopatra from the Roman point of view. We read about how she stole the hearts of multiple men and caused unrest in the empires. On the other hand, Martinez describes Cleopatra as phenomenal. She claims she spoke 9 languages, was a philosopher, a poet, goddess, politician and a warrior too. Today, our thoughts of Cleopatra are based upon Roman historians’ ideas, which have been refreshed throughout the years by Shakespeare and over 45 movies. Looking at the big picture, Martinez’s findings will probably not change history, but her work is important because it reminds us, as a society, to be open minded and remember that sources are not always balanced. There is not always a right answer in history, so it is important to try to see both sides. Ultimately, this idea cannot only be identified with Cleopatra, but can be associated with history in general.
Click here to read the article on cnn.com.
