Actium: September 2, 31 BC

Actium, September 2, 31 BC: the flight of Cleopatra and Antony.

Transcript

The Ambracian Gulf, near Actium. Antony and Cleopatra are anchored here with five hundred ships. Octavian is shutting them in.

Antony has more ships, but few rowers. Octavian has fewer, but nimbler ones, and Agrippa commands the fleet.

On September second the fleets sail. For hours neither side prevails.

And suddenly Cleopatra’s sixty ships hoist sail and squeeze through the middle of the battle to the south.

Antony leaves his men fighting and sails after her. He boards her ship and sits alone in the bow, head in his hands.