One of history’s greatest mysteries is where Cleopatra is buried. And National Geographic’s new documentary Cleopatra’s Final Secret follows a team of archaeologists who think they may be closer than ever to solving it.
At the heart of the film is Dr. Kathleen Martínez, a lawyer-turned-archaeologist who’s been chasing Cleopatra’s tomb for 20 years. She believes the queen’s final resting place isn’t in Alexandria but at Taposiris Magna, a temple complex just outside the city. And the evidence her team uncovers here is hard to ignore: hundreds of coins bearing Cleopatra’s face, likely offerings to the goddess Isis, plus a massive tunnel system that leads under the sea. With the help of famed oceanographer Bob Ballard (he found the Titanic!) and team, they discover a now-submerged port dating back to Cleopatra’s time.
These discoveries make for fascinating television and give real weight to Martínez’s theory that Taposiris Magna has direct ties to Cleopatra. What makes the documentary so engaging, though, is the way it mixes science and storytelling. High-tech reconstructions and underwater footage are compelling and cinematic, while historians remind us how much of Cleopatra’s reputation was shaped by Roman propaganda. That blend of Cleopatra the person vs. Cleopatra the legend is what makes this documentary so fun to watch.
Still, the mystery isn’t solved yet. The evidence uncovered strengthens Martínez’s case but doesn’t prove it, and experts remain divided on whether Queen Cleopatra could truly be buried at Taposiris Magna rather than in Alexandria.
However, Cleopatra’s Final Secret is more about the thrill of the chase, combining mystery and suspense with the joy of exploration and discovery. And without giving too much away, the final discovery is a truly historical moment, and Martínez’s excitement over it is absolutely infectious.
But you’ll just have to watch to learn what they find.
Cleopatra’s Final Secret is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
