Today, we reveal a surprising historical fact about Cleopatra, the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Cleopatra lived closer in time to the modern era, specifically the invention of the iPhone in 2007, than to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was completed around 2,580 BC. This intriguing comparison underscores the vastness of historical timelines and challenges our perceptions of ancient history.
Read Full Transcript
Nathan Wrigley: So today the subject at hand is history, and a very strange and unexpected historical fact, and this might just rewrite your understanding of what ancient history means. Are you ready?
So we're talking about ancient Egypt, and in fact three things, Cleopatra, the pyramids and the iPhone.
Now, Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, and is often pictured as somebody from the midst of antiquity. We imagine her as a distant, almost mythical queen, but here is a very strange truth. Cleopatra lived closer in time to us, to the invention of the iPhone to be precise, than she did to the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
So let's break it down. Cleopatra's reign ended around the year 30 BC, and the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, I'm sure you've seen photos of it online. Imagine a bunch of triangles. Very big building made out of stone. It's very impressive. I can tell you. Well, that was built around 2,580 BC. That's a gap of over two and a half thousand years.
Now, let's consider the iPhone. That was first released in 2007. From Cleopatra's death to the iPhone's debut, we are looking at a span of roughly 2037 years. Can you see the difference? Cleopatra was closer in time to us, the modern iPhone era, if you like, than she was to the construction of the pyramids.
This simple fact serves as a powerful reminder of the vastness of time, and how our perceptions of history can get skewed sometimes.
Cleopatra, a figure often associated with ancient Egypt's distance past is surprisingly closer to our own experiences than we may initially think. It's a fascinating glimpse into the long and winding river of history.
