Cleopatra's Palaces
A secret palace of Cleopatra is buried beneath the coastal areas of Alexandria. This palace is devoid of areas such as bedrooms, feasting halls and salons - the palace seems to be purely ceremonial. Scattered all round the palace are sacophagi where pieces of the Armour of Horus are kept.
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Summary
The gardens of the palace are the first area that Lara visits. However, since the palace is entirely enclosed and has no source of natural light, the plants and vines could not possibly grow here. Traps of spikes prevent her going any further than gardens and a balcony.
Once she has made a Mechanical Scarab, the spike traps can be disabled and Lara can pass safely. She must then find a second Pharos Pillar to progress through the palace.
In a high-ceilinged hall Lara will step onto a platform and a statue of her in gold will appear on a platform opposite. Lara seems to regard this as a threat and she can shoot at it, but this will only damage her own health. Vreaus sometimes fly into the hall and attack the statue, rather than Lara. Therefore Lara has the job both of leaving the hall from the ledges high above, and protecting the statue.
By use of an idol representing Hathor - a goddess affiliated with Isis - Lara can open the door to a throne room. Here, sitting on the throne will alert strange humanoid creatures that wait in the side rooms to the left and right - the Guards of Cleopatra. Here also are the final pieces of the Armour of Horus.
Lara leaves the palace through a stone passage beneath the throne room.
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Notes
According to Jean Yves, Cleopatra had the pieces of the Armour of Horus taken to her ceremonial palace that adjoined the Temple of Isis in order to keep them safe, but also so that they would be readily available for use if Seth was ever released from his tomb.
The palace serves a ceremonial purpose rather than as a home, and is in fact quite small. Cleopatra may have used it to officiate in religious services to Isis and other gods of the Hellenistic-Egyptian pantheon.
