
The book's cover parodies the film's poster.Ī running gag throughout the album (and also later albums) is Cleopatra's beautiful nose, which is admired by everyone. However, the book itself is largely an extended parody of the then-recent film Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The title alludes to William Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra. Cleopatra wins her bet and covers Edifis with gold. Caesar's legions are required to fix the damage they caused (without any magic potion to help them) and the palace is successfully completed on time.

A furious Cleopatra then hurries to the construction site to give Caesar a thorough tongue lashing. In desperation, Asterix and Dogmatix deliver the news to Cleopatra. The Gauls fight off the Roman soldiers, but Caesar proceeds to shell the building with his catapults. Just before the palace is due to be completed, Caesar intervenes by sending legions to try and destroy the palace. Thanks to Getafix and his magic potion, the work goes forward on schedule, despite multiple attempts by Edifis' arch rival, Artifis, to sabotage the construction.

She promises Edifis that if he builds the palace on time he will be covered with gold if he fails, he will be a meal for the sacred crocodiles.Ī worried Edifis enlists the help of the Gauls, Asterix, Obelix, Getafix, and Dogmatix. Cleopatra summons Edifis, who claims to be the best architect in Egypt. Infuriated, Cleopatra makes a wager with Caesar promising to build a new palace in Alexandria within three months. The book begins with an argument between Cleopatra, and Julius Caesar, in which Caesar belittles the accomplishments of the Egyptians.
