For centuries, the death of Cleopatra has been wrapped in mystery, drama, and legend. Most people know the famous version of the story. The last queen of Egypt reportedly allowed a deadly snake to bite her inside her royal chamber after the fall of her kingdom to Rome. It is one of history’s most repeated images, appearing in films, paintings, books, and television dramas for generations. Yet modern experts now believe the truth may have been very different. Scientists and Egyptologists from the University of Manchester have questioned whether a snake could realistically have killed Cleopatra and her two servants in the way ancient stories describe. Their research has reopened one of history’s oldest debates. The legendary Cleopatra snake bite story might not be as convincing as people once believed.
