Ancient deaths examined through modern methods
Ancient Autopsy follows Professor Suzannah Lipscomb as she re-examines the deaths of Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tutankhamun. Forensic pathologist Dr. Richard Shepherd joins a project combining historical scholarship, original sources, digital autopsy techniques and practical experiments. Each of the four figures supplies a separate investigation into how familiar explanations developed and what evidence can support them.
The Cleopatra chapter examines the account of death by snake, including cobra venom extraction and alternative theories of political murder. Alexander’s episode considers poison, trauma and disease, bringing a Babylonian tablet and discussions with virology specialists into the inquiry. The programme presents competing explanations as subjects to investigate.
