The Exploress

Cleopatra maneuvered her way through Egyptian, Greek, and Roman politics, defying the odds to keep the Ptolemaic dynasty – and Egypt’s independence – going. But what of all the Cleopatras who came before her? In delving into Cleo’s life, I found a host of interesting women in the family that shaped her. But only one amongst them truly set the tone for the dynasty, creating a mold that had royal Ptolemaic women ruling not from behind their husbands, but beside them. That woman is Arsinoë II. Let’s dive into the wild and crazy ride that was her life. This episode is sponsored by Hank Green, whose new book A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is out as of July 7, 2020.

Season 2, Episode 24. Cleopatra died more than 2,000 years ago. And yet stop any person on the street today and ask them who she was, and they’ll know – at least her name. That name has been attached to soaps and bath balms, to slot machines and casinos, to a popular brand of cigarettes. As an asteroid - 216 Kleopatra – the Egyptian queen has even made it to the stars. What is it about Cleopatra that has captured our imaginations for millennia? Why do we remember her the way that we do? Let's travel through the years from her death to the present, exploring the shapes her legacy has taken. Special guests Dr. Rhiannon Evans, The Partial Historians, Queens Podcast, Vulgar History Podcast, and Ancient History Fangirl.

Season 2, Episode 23. When we last left Cleopatra, she was creeping out the back door of a chaotic Rome in the wake of Julius Caesar’s death. As she sails the waves back to Alexandria, she broods over what might happen next. She’s just lost her Roman lover, ally, and protector, in a world where Rome is increasingly calling most of the shots. And then there is Caesarion, her son with Julius Caesar. In him, she has both a valuable advantage AND a potential danger. In some ways, she’s just as vulnerable as she was as a young exile. But Cleopatra is only now, a seasoned leader, and she isn’t one to sit back and let the gods take the wheel on her destiny. She’s managed to harness Rome’s powers in her favor and ensure her family’s continued legacy successfully before. And she can do it again—if she can just figure out how best to play the game. For a transcript, music credits, images and more, check out my show notes over at my website. To support the show, become a patron at my Patreon page, or buy some merch at my store, which includes artwork inspired by Cleopatra and a Ladycentric Ancient Egypt map.

Season 2, Episode 22. Last time, we saw Cleopatra grow up in the city of Alexandria, amid both luxury, excess, and the constant threat of death by family member. When her pharaoh father fled Egypt, she went with him, experiencing Rome for the very first time. General Pompey and some of their other Roman friends helped dear old dad win back his throne from his other daughter Berenice, and then, years later, he did something unfortunate: he left Egypt to Cleopatra AND her annoying brother Ptolemy XIII, and then he ALSO put them under Rome’s guardianship. She ruled well for a while, but her brother’s advisors conspired against her. Now Cleopatra’s a 21-year-old exile. How will she find her way back to greatness? Grab a fetching cloak, a burlap sack large enough to get rolled up in, and a strapping male companion. Let’s go traveling. For a transcript, list of research sources and music credits, check out the show notes. TTo support the show, become a patron at my Patreon page, or buy some merch at my store, which includes artwork inspired by Cleopatra and a Ladycentric Ancient Egypt map.

Cleopatra, the last great queen of Egypt, defies the sexist Roman narrative. Explore her intelligence, capability as a pharaoh, and the distorted image of her. Discover her origins, the Ptolemaic Dynasty, and the fascinating city of Alexandria. Uncover the legacy of the Mouseon library and Cleopatra's education. Support the podcast and find Cleopatra merchandise at the website.

Season 2, Episode 20. Throughout the ages, women have used poison - but their worlds also found ways to poison them. Doctors who didn’t know better, giving them medicine that hurt instead of cured; toxic cosmetics; workplace negligence. In this special bonus episode, we travel through time to explore the link between women and poison in all its different guises, from the lady poisoners of ancient Rome up to the radium poisonings that happened in the 20th century. To support the show and get more bonus episodes like this one, check out my Patreon. To view the show notes, including images and a list of my sources and places to go for further reading, go to my website. If you want to buy some merchandise and support the show that way, check out my Etsy shop.

Season 2, Episode 19. It’s 47 or 46 BCE, and we’ve stepped into a private chamber, where a woman is pulling down her saffron-colored veil. Today she’s getting married, but she’s no blushing virgin. In fact, this is her third marriage, and she’s as shrewd, seasoned, and ambitious as they come. When she marries a man, she becomes his ultimate champion. And lucky for him, her fiancé is about to find out what it means to be married to Rome’s #1 lady gangster. Fulvia is a mighty force of nature. She’s also one of the scariest and least appreciated badasses that ancient Rome is ever going to see. Grab some good walking sandals, your sharpest hairpins, and a flint, because we’re about to light this place all the way up. Let’s go traveling. For show notes (including a transcript, music credits, images and more), go here. Check out some Exploress merchandise or become a patron of the show. Guest starring The Partial Historians.

Season 2, Episode 18. In ancient Rome, a woman was defined in relation to her family. Any fame she won was supposed to be confined to the private, domestic sphere. She wove such fine wool; she kept such a fine house; she was so very chaste and never made her father look bad! They weren’t welcome in the public sphere of governance. They couldn't vote or hold office. Theirs was a distinctly patriarchal world, true fame and public achievement was supposed to be reserved for men. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and in a society that coveted public glory, ambitious women found their way into the history books too. In this episode, we dive headlong into the years around 44 BCE, when Julius Caesar was assassinated, and into the life of Servilia, who was SO much more than his mistress on the side. Find out what we think we know about this mysterious and tantalizing Roman matron.

Season 2, Episode 17. In ancient Rome, a woman was defined in relation to her family. Any fame she won was supposed to be confined to the private, domestic sphere. She wove such fine wool; she kept such a fine house; she was so very chaste and never made her father look bad! They weren’t welcome in the public sphere of governance. They couldn't vote or hold office. Theirs was a distinctly patriarchal world, true fame and public achievement was supposed to be reserved for men. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and in a society that coveted public glory, ambitious women found their way into the history books too. In this episode we dive into that shining beacon of female goodness: Cornelia Africana. What did she do and what did her world look like? Was she really as virtuous as our sources claim? For a transcript, a list of my research sources, and images, check out the show notes. To become a patron, explore my Patreon. Music comes courtesy of Michael Levy. Special guests Dr. Rad and Dr. G from The Partial Historians.

Season 2, Episode 16. Welcome to a day in the life of an ancient Roman matrona. In Part 3 of our exploration of a Roman woman's day, we go out into the streets, taking in the Coliseum, the Forum, and the famous Roman baths. We'll also go to a dinner party, then talk about sexuality in ancient Rome and what kinds of medical care we can expect to find.  For a transcript, a list of my sources, and lots of images, check out my website. To support the show and get extra content and goodies, go to my Patreon page or explore my shop. Music featured comes courtesy of Michael Levy. Thanks to our Rome expert guests Dr. Rhiannon Evans, main guest on the podcast Emperors of Rome, and Dr. Rad and Dr. G of The Partial Historians.