The Reception of Cleopatra in the Age of Mass Media

This study examines the reception of Cleopatra from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day as it has been reflected in popular culture in the United States of America. Daugherty provides a broad overview of the influence of the Egyptian queen by looking at her presence in film, novels, comics, cartoons, TV shows, music, advertising and toys. The aim of the book is to show the different ways in which the figure of Cleopatra was able to reach a large and non-elite audience.

Furthermore, Daugherty makes a study of the reception of Cleopatra during her own lifetime. He begins by looking at her portrayal in the vicious propaganda campaign waged by Octavian against his rival Marc Antony. The consequence was that Cleopatra was left with a tarnished reputation after the civil war. Daugherty’s examination of both the historical and contemporary reception of Cleopatra shows the enduring legacy of one of history’s most remarkable queens.

Gregory N. Daugherty is Professor Emeritus of Classics at Randolph-Macon College, USA. He has twice received the Thomas Branch Award for Excellence in Teaching and was the winner of the APA Teaching Excellence Award in 2003 and the CAV Lurlene Todd Teacher of the Year in 2005. He served as President of the Foreign Language Association of Virginia (1995-1996), CAMWS (2007-8) and the Classical Association of Virginia (2006-8).