They say Cleopatra bathed in milk. I bathe in Palmolive — and cold panic the night before an essay’s due.
When I signed up to study Art and Cleopatra, I expected drama, romance, and power struggles… not an existential reflection in the toiletries aisle at Tesco. But there I was, clutching a bottle of Palmolive and wondering: Would the Queen of the Nile have approved?
I mean, it’s olive oil–infused, so it sounds suitably regal. “Palmolive,” I whisper, imagining Cleopatra’s marketing slogan:
“For when you want to conquer empires and still smell fabulous.”
As a mature student, I’m starting to see a lot of myself in Cleopatra — minus the throne, the servants, and, well… Mark Antony. She was juggling empires; I’m juggling deadlines, laundry, and the overwhelming urge to nap during my online lectures. She charmed Roman generals; I’m trying to charm my printer into working before a 9 a.m. submission.
Cleopatra ruled Egypt with intelligence and flair. I rule my kitchen table with caffeine and sheer willpower. She spoke nine languages; I can barely talk to Microsoft Word without it freezing. And yet, in the quiet chaos of late-night study sessions, I like to think we’d understand each other — two women just trying to hold it all together in a world run by men who think they know best.
So here’s to Cleopatra, the original multitasking queen — and to all of us mature students, ruling our own little kingdoms with notebooks instead of papyrus scrolls and Palmolive instead of milk baths.
History might not repeat itself, but it definitely rhymes… and sometimes, it smells like olive oil, ambition, and just a hint of exhaustion.