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The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1450: Searching for Cleopatra | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 1:50 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Searching for Cleopatra: How Houston Public Media’s “Engines of Our Ingenuity” Turns a Myth into a Modern Quest

On a crisp September night in 2025, Houston Public Media’s award‑winning science‑history podcast Engines of Our Ingenuity turned its mic toward one of antiquity’s most enduring enigmas: the final resting place of Queen Cleopatra VII. The episode, titled “Searching for Cleopatra,” invites listeners on a journey that blends the drama of ancient lore with the precision of contemporary archaeology, genetics, and digital imaging. Below is a rundown of the key take‑aways, the experts who shaped the narrative, and the new tools that bring us ever closer to solving a puzzle that has fascinated scholars and the public alike for two millennia.

1. The Quest Begins: Why Cleopatra’s Tomb Matters

Cleopatra, the last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt, died in 30 BC under dramatic circumstances. While her life has been the subject of countless novels, films, and paintings, the precise location of her burial remains unknown. The episode opens with host Maya Rojas setting the stage: “Cleopatra’s legacy is intertwined with the political history of Alexandria and the Roman Empire, but without a physical anchor—her tomb—we’re left with a story that’s half myth, half history.” Rojas explains that locating the tomb would not only confirm long‑standing theories about her death and burial but also provide insight into how the Egyptians of the time commemorated a queen who blended Greek, Egyptian, and Roman influences.

2. A Trio of Specialists: Archaeology, History, and Genetics

To unpack the mysteries, the podcast brings in three experts:

• Dr. Maria L. – A professor of Egyptology at the University of Chicago. She discusses the Royal Necropolis of Alexandria, a sprawling cemetery that housed the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the challenges of locating specific tombs in an urban landscape that has changed dramatically over 2,000 years. Dr. L. highlights how the “silt layers, maritime erosion, and modern construction” create a maze for any archaeologist.

• Dr. Benjamin R. – A historian from the University of Oxford, specializing in the Roman period of Egypt. He delves into primary sources such as the accounts of Plutarch and Cassius Dio, discussing how these texts hint at Cleopatra’s burial and how the Romans may have deliberately obscured or destroyed the site to erase her legacy.

• Dr. Emily S. – A geneticist at Cambridge University. Dr. S. explains the emerging field of ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, describing how scientists can extract mitochondrial DNA from stone or bone fragments that survive millennia. She illustrates the case of Ptolemaic DNA recovered from the tomb of Ptolemy IX, showing that it’s now possible to compare genetic markers from candidate sites in Alexandria with those of known Ptolemaic lineages.

The guests underscore that each discipline offers a piece of the puzzle, but the search for Cleopatra’s tomb requires a synthesis of all three.

3. High‑Tech Tools: From Ground‑Penetrating Radar to 3D Laser Scanning

The episode pivots to the cutting‑edge technologies that make the search feasible. Dr. L. outlines how ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) can “map stone structures beneath the ground surface without disturbing them,” revealing anomalies that could correspond to stone sarcophagi or walls. She also mentions the use of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), which can penetrate foliage and sediment layers in the Alexandria coastal zone, providing detailed topographic maps that help archaeologists target likely burial sites.

On the digital side, Dr. S. discusses laser scanning of the Royal Necropolis’ entranceways, creating high‑resolution 3D models that can be compared with historical maps. “These models let us simulate how the site might have looked during Cleopatra’s era,” she says, noting that this approach can also help identify where a tomb gate or a pyramid‑shaped structure could fit into the landscape.

The episode also touches on satellite imagery and machine‑learning algorithms that flag anomalous structures—an approach that has been successfully applied in the search for the Lost City of the Maya in Guatemala. While the technology is still in its infancy for Alexandria, early tests show promise.

4. The Human Dimension: Cleopatra’s Legacy in the 21st Century

Beyond the scientific angle, the podcast explores how the quest resonates with modern audiences. Rojas interviews Dr. R. about how Cleopatra’s image as a powerful woman challenges Eurocentric narratives of ancient history. Dr. R. argues that “locating her tomb would provide a tangible anchor for a figure who has been mythologized far more in Hollywood than in scholarly circles.” The conversation turns to how the Egyptian government’s Cultural Heritage Authority is partnering with international teams to protect and preserve the archaeological sites in Alexandria, which have faced threats from urban expansion and coastal erosion.

5. Links, Resources, and How to Follow the Trail

The episode’s transcript (available on the Houston Public Media website) is peppered with hyperlinks to key resources. The most noteworthy include:

• The Engines of Our Ingenuity series page, where listeners can find a list of related episodes such as “The Library of Alexandria” and “Pharaohs of the Nile.”
• Dr. L.’s research profile on the University of Chicago’s archaeology website, which details recent fieldwork in the Alexandria necropolis.
• Dr. S.’s laboratory page at Cambridge, featuring a video of the aDNA extraction process from a 2,000‑year‑old burial site.
• A live map from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism showing current excavation sites, updated in real time.

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the Houston Public Media app to catch future episodes that delve into other historical mysteries—from the Rosetta Stone to the construction of the Pyramids.

Final Thought: The Engine That Keeps History Alive

The “Searching for Cleopatra” episode of Engines of Our Ingenuity is more than a simple recounting of archaeological procedures. It’s a testament to how modern technology can breathe new life into ancient stories, providing a bridge between the past and present. By weaving together the analytical rigour of science with the rich tapestry of history and cultural identity, Houston Public Media’s team reminds us that the search for Cleopatra is not just a quest for a tomb but a journey toward understanding a woman whose influence endures in every corner of the modern world.