Katy Perry debuts as Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra

American pop star Katy Perry transformed into Egypt’s legendary Cleopatra for her music video “Dark Horse,” released Thursday.

The video opens with an inscription which reads: “Memphis, Egypt, a crazy long time ago.”

In the new clip, Perry emerges dressed as her version of Cleopatra, wearing candy-colored makeup and a black, half-braided, wig.

The 29-year-old pop star then appears naked, covered head-to-toe in silver body paint while a gold snake slithers around her body.

Perry was accompanied by American rapper Juicy J during the recording. For his cameo appearance he pops out of a sarcophagus and attempts to win the affections of the leading lady.

The video comes complete with a bouncing chariot, a throwback to urban images of hydraulic cars more suited to the streets of Los Angeles than ancient Egypt.

Littered with Egyptian iconography, such as the “evil eye,” Perry’s video also features an array of cat-headed guards, seemingly inspired by hieroglyphics.

The day before the release of the video, Perry borrowed Cleopatra’s look for her performance at the BRIT Awards in London to preview her new song.

The pop star also performed the track at the Grammy Awards ceremony, alongside Juicy J in January.

To announce the release of the trailer of “Dark Horse,” Perry wrote on her personal twitter account last week: “MEET THE QUEEN OF MEMPHIS (Egypt, that is)”

“Dark Horse” which is the third single of Perry’s album “Prism” has been number 1 on the U.S. record chart for three weeks. .