From the trinkets of the tomb to the mummy of the queen herself, the discovery of Cleopatra’s mausoleum could rewrite our understanding of the ancient world.
New prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is the latest to take on the leading role in this unravelling Shakespearean drama.
Allstar Picture Library Ltd/Alamy
Shakespeare often portrayed crises of legitimacy and reflected on the politics of his day but the Tories might not fare so well in a modern production.
Zenobia addressing her troops.
Giambattista Tiepolo (National Gallery)