She hears her soldiers stomping on the ground, coming to her. Behind the golden walls of her palace, she hears the agitation coming from outside. Dwellers, guards, advisers, and generals hurry from one station to the other. She knows what is coming, for she had been preparing for it all of her life.

Determined to remain strong until the end of the battle, she frowns and stares ahead, like winners would. She envisions the battle, a fight that she has already won in her mind. Every move she makes, every action she takes is subtly calculated to intimidate her opponent. There will be no negotiation. No one will charm her under the pretext that she is a woman. She is Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.

She dresses in white to personify purity, she wears golden jewellery to symbolize her everlasting power, she holds her head high and proud to impose her presence to the world.

In the chaos of the battle, men will come in her direction asking for guidance. She will deploy her hand from the pleats of her toga and raise it up towards the sky. Imploring God Almighty she will pierce her stare into the men’s eyes, one by one, and speak in an assertive tone. “You will do as I command, and you will die for your Queen of Egypt.” The men will drop their knees on the floor, revering Cleopatra. She is their almighty goddess and they vow their life to her sovereignty, secretly loving her, and admiring her charisma.

As she advances towards the sea of men thrown at her feet, her heart palpitates from terror. In turn she vows to her almighty self to be tenacious and relentless until her last breath.

Listen while reading: Greek on Attack, 300 Original Motion soundtrack