I recently rewatched the mini-series “Cleopatra” made in 1999.  This dramatic rendition of Cleopatra’s life and career as ruler of Egypt was very interesting in how it portrayed the queen and her power.  I took a class about Cleopatra in the fall and it was an overwhelmingly common theme in both historical texts and modern renditions of Cleopatra’s life to oversexualize her as a woman in power and underplay her accomplishments. 

To start, the cover image of the first season shows Cleopatra laying on her side, surrounded by flowers, half-naked and only covering herself by her own hands.  This image is seen before you even begin to watch the mini-series, and already it gives the impression that Cleopatra is highly-sexual and provocative rather than a powerful and respected queen.  It was interesting to me that this was the cover photo given that in the show she actually knows nothing about sex and has to seek advice from a sex counselor to learn information. 

The actress who plays Cleopatra, Leonor Varela, is from South America, specifically Chile.  This is not historically accurate as Cleopatra was of African descent.  However, in comparison to other films about her, where she is played by white actresses, the choice to cast a person of color was definitely purposeful and an attempt to correct the past portrayals of her appearance and background.  Many historical authors have tried to paint the narrative that Cleopatra had “no egyptian blood” to discredit her as the ruler of Egypt, however, her actual ancestry shows that she was Egyptian and rightfully ruled there.

When the series starts and we are first introduced to Cleopatra, she is shown as an innocent child, dependent on others, and immature.  As the series goes on, we see her grow into the powerful leader we know her as.  She learns how to use her beauty and charm to her advantage politically.  We see her gain strength and confidence as a ruler, challenging the powerful men who underestimate her.

The relationship between Caesar and Cleopatra has always been a controversial topic.  Historians disagree on many things: Did they love each other?  Did Cleopatra manipulate Caesar, using him as a way to gain power and for the protection he was able to provide her with?  Many have portrayed Cleopatra in the context of her relationship with Caesar as a master manipulator, seducing him as a means to benefit her politically.  This series, however, depicted Cleopatra as having genuine feelings for Caesar.  There were moments where we could see that Cleopatra was using her sexuality as a tool for survival and as a way to gain influence, but it became clear in the series that she did genuinely love Caesar.  When she first seduces him, it seems as though she is doing it as a survival technique, securing her position in power and benefitting from his protection.  However, as the series progresses, it is clear that she loved him and that, if anything, his feelings for her were not genuine.  His wife is played by a much older actress, giving us the impression that he was just having meaningless affair with a younger woman.  In the series, after their affair began, he did not write to her or visit her for 9 months until he sent for her claiming her gifts were “spoils of war.”  It seems he felt he had an obligation to her and their child, but that he did not have a genuine love for her.  This was especially interesting to me as it counters many of the other interpretations I have seen of their relationship.

Over spring break, my mom and I watched a few episodes of the first season of  “Roman Empire,” an original Netflix series.  The first season begins at the end of the 2nd century BCE, when Rome has dominated the entire Mediterranean and much of the remaining world.  At this time, 1 in 5 people lived in the boundaries of Rome.  Rome at that time was characterized for having the best military forces and the most advanced and civilized empire and society.  The people of Rome at the time were under the rule of Marcus Aurelius, who was loved and admired by the people of Rome.  He was viewed by his people as possibly the best emperor Rome has ever seen due to the advancements and political moves he made during his rule.  

The story focuses in on Commodus, Marcus Aurelius’s son.  In the first episode, it is clear that Commodus is unmotivated and irresponsible despite the fact that his father has set him up to succeed him as emperor.  Commodus was painted as ungrateful, living off the lavishes that were created for him by his father.  His sister, Lucilla, was much more experienced and equipped than Commodus to be in a position of power.  His lack of drive and motivation clearly frustrates Lucilla, as she feels it is unfair that he is given all the power with no proof of his ability.  

Faustina and Marcus Aurelius agree to send Commodus into Germania where there is a Roman army camp where Marcus Aurelius will train him for the throne and hopefully change his attitude towards life.  Reluctantly, Commodus goes to Germania, but refuses to take advice and training from his father.  Despite this, Marcus Aurelius continues to push him until Commodus complies.  

While in Germania, Marcus Aurelius becomes ill and rumors of his death begin to spread.  When this news reaches his wife, Faustina, she panics, concerned for her family’s safety (specifically Commodus) as if something were to happen to Marcus Aurelius they would all be at risk of attack.  

In response to the news of her husband’s death, she travels to Egypt where she seduces Cassius and convinces him to marry her, take care of her family, and campaign to become the next emperor.  Soon enough, rumors of this make their way to Germania and to Marcus Aurelius himself.  Faustina knows she has to face him, so she travels out to Germania where she denies the rumors and then subsequently commits suicide while in the military camp.

I thought that the way that information spread and was shared in Rome was very interesting.  Because Rome had monopolized the entire world, information spread like the plague (which ultimately killed Marcus Aurelius later in the second episode), but it wasn’t immediate.  It took days for information to spread in the way that it does in mere seconds today.  I noticed that this allowed people to be more strategic and caused Faustina to run around from Rome to Egypt to Germania trying to paint the narrative herself.  I thought this aspect of the show was enlightening as I had never really thought about how the spread of information in such a large and influential empire would proceed, but I can see that it was complicated and there was room for a lot of political strategies in the way information was painted.

While home over break, I decided to bake an ancient roman torte.  I did some research on common desserts in ancient Rome and learned they were usually made with some combination of fruits, cheeses, and nuts.  I found a simple recipe made with fruit and cheese filling.  I don’t often cook with ricotta cheese and it is not one of my favorite foods.  However, the recipe intrigued me.  It calls for the ricotta to be sweetened and paired with strawberry jam.  That seemed like an interesting combination of simple ingredients that might be complementary.  In ancient Rome, they didn’t have the variety of ingredients we have today so it is not surprising that they were creative in combining that which they had at their disposal.

The cooking process was straightforward.  The dough called for six ingredients mixed in a large bowl and refrigerated for a short time.  After flattening it with a rolling pin, it was stretched across a pie plate to create the first layer of the torte.  Then strawberry jam is spread generously to create the second layer.  A combination of ricotta and sugar comprises the third layer with the rest of the dough spread across the top to form the rest of the crust.  

After assembling the torte, there is not much else to do.  It is placed in the oven for about 30 minutes.  It smelled wonderful!  My Mom, Dad, and our neighbors all tried the finished torte.   My Dad initially didn’t like the sound of the recipe but he ended up eating several slices!!!  The reviews were all positive! 

In the future, I would add a thicker layer of strawberry jam and a thinner layer of the ricotta filling.  That might be a personal preference, however.  The crust was my favorite part.  It was flaky and mildly sweet.  While making it, I was contemplating the accessibility of some of the necessary ingredients and tools in ancient times.  I did some research and found that sweet cheeses and fruits were readily available to many Romans, but ingredients like granulated sugar and butter were almost non-existent.  I suspect that they must have been using honey and oil which was much more widely obtainable at the time.  The dough and torte needed to be refrigerated before it was placed into the oven and that would have presented a challenge in ancient times, as well.

The recipe: https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/ancient-roman-cake-torta-antica-roma/