The pair begin by finding out if Egypt's last queen - Cleopatra - was truly killed by a snake. To get to the bottom of it, Suzannah confronts live Egyptian cobras, observes venom extraction, and explores academic theories of political murder. And with Dr Shepherd's forensic analysis and detailed examination of Roman records, they reconsider the truth behind one of ancient history's most famous deaths
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores whether Alexander the Great died from poison, trauma or a deadly virus. She discovers surprising clues in a tiny Babylonian tablet and explores new virological theories with experts at the UK's Pandemic Institute. And through digital autopsy, Dr Richard Shepherd helps shed new light on the ancient world's most debated death