What Can We Learn from Cleopatra and Hatshepsut Today?

Today, I will write about two rulers who left a lasting mark on the ancient history of Egypt. On one side stands one of the most famous rulers of the 18th Dynasty, Hatshepsut (c. 1473–1458 BC), known for the construction of her magnificent temple at Deir el-Bahari and for organizing a major trade expedition to the land of Punt (likely the coast of present-day Somalia).

On the other side is Cleopatra VII, the most famous Egyptian queen and the last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt. Remembered as a “femme fatale” and a master manipulator, Cleopatra has often been portrayed in historical sources and films as a great lover and a woman of extraordinary beauty - but is that really true?

Stay with me to find out what happens when historical sources, academia, and popular culture misrepresent someone’s legacy. What makes these two rulers exceptional historical figures is their ability to govern—something, I believe, many modern world leaders could still learn from.

Hatshepsut: A Ruler of Prosperity and Peace

Although separated by 1,400 years, Hatshepsut and Cleopatra share a surprising number of similarities. Ancient Egypt was dominated by male rulers, while women typically governed only as regents when the direct heir was underage. This is precisely how Hatshepsut came to power.

Initially, she ruled as regent for her young half-brother Thutmose III. However, she later proclaimed herself pharaoh. She ruled during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom (15th century BC), and her reign was marked by peace and prosperity.

Some academic studies emphasize that her rise to power was carefully calculated, with her proclamation as pharaoh serving to preserve dynastic continuity. However, one key question often raised is legitimacy: how could a woman become pharaoh in a patriarchal society?

The answer lies in religious legitimation and symbolic representation. Hatshepsut presented herself as the daughter of the god Amun, which justified her rule, as pharaohs were often associated with divinity. She also adopted male iconography, including traditional pharaonic attire and the false beard.

To clarify, Hatshepsut did not “pretend” to be a man. Rather, this was an adaptation to the symbolic language of power. Modern research supports this view, suggesting that she used a form of fluid identity, indicating that power in ancient Egypt was symbolic rather than strictly biological.

The Legacy of Hatshepsut

One of Hatshepsut’s most famous achievements is her temple at Deir el-Bahari, located on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor in Upper Egypt. The temple complex features reliefs depicting scenes from her life, reinforcing her legitimacy and presenting a visual ideology of power.

In addition to monumental architecture, Hatshepsut was known for her trade expeditions, particularly to Punt. These expeditions strengthened Egypt’s economy and secured luxury goods, further consolidating her rule. She also regularly performed religious rituals to reinforce her political authority.

Decades after her death, Thutmose III ordered her name erased and her statues and reliefs destroyed (damnatio memoriae). Earlier interpretations viewed this as personal revenge, but more recent research suggests it was an attempt to stabilize the dynasty and reinforce the legitimacy of his rule.

While early scholars portrayed Hatshepsut as a usurper, “a woman who took male power”, today she is recognized as a capable politician and strategic ruler.

Cleopatra: Queen of Egypt

Cleopatra VII (69–30 BC) was the last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt and a descendant of a Macedonian (Greek) dynasty established after Alexander the Great. In academic literature, she is often described as a “Hellenistic ruler in an Egyptian context.”

She embodied a dual identity, Greek and Egyptian. Notably, she was the first ruler of her dynasty to speak the Egyptian language, unlike her predecessors.

Cleopatra came to power at the age of eighteen, initially ruling alongside her brother and husband, Ptolemy XIII. At the time, Egypt faced constant pressure from Rome, and her reign was defined by balancing Roman influence and internal conflict.

To navigate this, Cleopatra adopted a carefully planned political strategy based on alliances with Rome.

Her relationships with Roman leaders could fill an entire article, so here we will briefly summarize. Her alliance with Julius Caesar was both political and personal, resulting in the birth of their son, Caesarion. Scholars interpret this relationship as a strategy for survival.

Her later alliance with Mark Antony was military and political, directed against Octavian. Its goal was to preserve Egypt’s independence, with Cleopatra acting as an active political agent.

Cleopatra’s Rule

In Roman sources, Cleopatra is often portrayed as a seductress and manipulator. This image partly served to justify Roman conquest. The myth of Cleopatra as a “femme fatale” is largely the result of political propaganda and male-dominated historiography.

Like Hatshepsut, Cleopatra used religion to legitimize her rule. She presented herself as the goddess Isis, reinforcing her authority among Egyptians. She also combined Greek, Egyptian, and Roman elements into a single political identity, making her, according to modern interpretations, a global political figure of antiquity rather than merely an Egyptian queen.

Her reign was marked not only by attempts to restore Egyptian power but also by control over trade and resources, especially grain, which was crucial to Rome. Despite political vulnerability, Egypt remained wealthy under her rule.

The Battle of Actium (31 BC) marked the decisive conflict between Cleopatra and Mark Antony on one side and Octavian on the other. Their defeat led to the collapse of the Ptolemaic state. The following year, Cleopatra committed suicide, traditionally believed to be by snakebite, an act many scholars interpret as both a political message and an assertion of control.

After her death, Egypt became a Roman province, marking the end of the Hellenistic world and the beginning of Roman dominance.

Like Hatshepsut, Cleopatra’s legacy was partially erased. Much of what we know about her comes from biased Roman sources, which has heavily influenced her modern image, especially in popular culture, where her beauty and romantic relationships overshadow her political role.

Why Do Their Stories Matter Today?

What connects Hatshepsut and Cleopatra is that both ruled in male-dominated societies. Their adaptability and political skill secured their power, as they had to actively construct authority rather than simply inherit it.

Through religious symbolism, both rulers demonstrated that power is not only about control, but also about perception. After their deaths, both were erased from history, allowing later interpretations to shape their legacy more than their actual achievements.

First, women still have to “prove” their authority, especially in politics, business, and STEM. They continue to face double standards and stereotypes. Like Hatshepsut and Cleopatra, many women must balance perception and competence.

Second, their stories show how narratives shape reality. The way stories are told and amplified by media directly influences how we perceive public figures, political leaders, and social movements. Cleopatra is the perfect example, reduced to a “femme fatale” narrative.

Third, Cleopatra’s diplomacy and alliances remind us that power often requires compromise, and that “morally pure” leadership rarely exists in real politics. Then, as now, politics is largely a game of interests.

Ultimately, Hatshepsut and Cleopatra teach us that history is not neutral. It is often written from the perspective of the victors, and it is up to us, through critical thinking, to distinguish truth from narrative.

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#history #ancienthistory #ancientegypt #hatshepsut #cleopatra #queenoftheegypt #ptolemaicegypt #juliuscaesar #markantony #octavian    

Sources:

Kulej, Maja. “The Overview of the Most Prominent Queens of Ancient Egypt” Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Department of History., 2017.

Lawal, Usman. "Female Sovereignty in Egypt: An Examination of Hatshepsut and Cleopatra." Master’s diss., University of Pavia, 2024.  

Roehrig, Catharine H., Renée Dreyfus, and Cathleen A. Keller, eds. Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005.

Worrall, Simon. "The Truth Behind Egypt’s Female Pharaohs and Their Power." National Geographic, December 14, 2018. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/queens-egypt-pharaohs-nefertiti-cleopatra-book-talk  

Hatšepsut. Hrvatska enciklopedija, mrežno izdanje. Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža, 2013. – 2026. https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/hatsepsut

Kleopatra VII. Hrvatska enciklopedija, mrežno izdanje. Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža, 2013. – 2026. https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/kleopatra-vii