by Jay Penner
I leave the rest of fact vs. fiction to your imagination and research.
TIME PERIOD
The book is loosely set in early New Kingdom period of Ancient Egypt. This is circa. 1550 BC. Astute readers will no doubt have realized that the Atalanni (Atlantis) are based on the Minoan civilization that thrived in Crete (Kaftu, a name derived from Caphtor or Kaptara, Keftiu per Egyptians), and the volcanic eruption is based on the Minoan eruption (or eruption of Thera). Just be aware that the timelines of practically everything in this period is very murky. We do not know with certainty the actual eruption dates, the rule of Sekhenenre and Ahmose, or the exact reign and sequence of the Hyksos rulers.
There have been many debates and academic papers about dating the Minoan eruption, and yet today we are no more certain than we were decades ago. The eruption quite certainly happened sometime between 1630 and 1550 BC. Likewise, the exact time periods of the late second intermediate period and the rise of the New Kingdom (starting with Ahmose) is in question as well.
The Hyk-Khase (or Heqa-Khowse) in the book refers to the more commonly known “Hyksos.” The original Egyptian term simply meant rulers from hill countries—that’s all. At some point later Greek writers ended up translating it as Shepherd Kings. At this point we have no conclusive evidence as to the origins of the Hyksos, though they were most likely of the semitic origin from Levant and around. In the end of the book we read the chapter of Ahmose overseeing the construction of a Stele. Look up the “Ahmose Stele” for an interesting artifact left behind from the Pharaoh’s time that talks of an unusual weather phenomenon. Some have posited that the Ahmose Stele speaks of the aftermath effects of the Minoan eruption, though many others say the descriptions are an allegory to the tumult in the Kingdom.
LOCATIONS
If you have not figured this out already, here is how you could map the locations in the book to their modern-day equivalents. Enjoy flying over on Google maps!
Kallistu—Santorini (Thera). The ancient Greek name was Kalliste, meaning “Most Beautiful.” Thera was also known as Strongyle (The Round One). We do not know what it was originally called prior to the Mycenaean/Greek influence. I have called it Kallistu with an assumption that the usage of Kalliste came from an older name that the Mycenaeans may have borrowed.
Kaftu—Crete. Known as Caphtor or Kaptara in ancient sources. The Egyptians appear to have called Crete as “Keftiu,” and it is entirely possible that it is borrowed from the original name.
Enniru—Akrotiri on Santorini
Thebes—modern Luxor (Egypt)
Siwa—Siwa (Egypt)
Sais—ruins of Sais (Egypt)
Washukanni—Unknown (possibly Tell Fecheriye, Syria)
Hutwaret—Avaris/ruins in Tell ‘el Daba (Egypt)
NAMES
We know little about authentic Minoan names. A few names preserved in Egyptian records possibly provide some authentic Minoan names or locations, though we do not know for sure. In the book, Aranare, Bansabira, and Itaja are named after similar potentially authentic Minoan names. It is also worth noting that “Minoan” was simply a term coined by archeologist Arthur Evans who excavated ruins in Crete. When he saw the labyrinthine constructions in the palace of Knossos, it reminded him of the Greek stories about Minos, and having no way to identify the original name of the people that lived there, he simply termed them “Minoans.” There is very little evidence to connect the original Minoans to the Greeks. What is broadly accepted is that at some point after the Theran eruption, the Mycenaeans (precursors to ancient Greeks) invaded or occupied a weakened Crete and essentially colonized it and over time, we lost the original civilization entirely as it was subsumed by the new people. We have also not deciphered the original script of the “Minoans” (we call the script Linear A).
Hannuruk/Nimmuruk have an eastern influence, hinting that the Atalanni could be an amalgamation of people from various places.
Apsara has an Indo-European/Sanskritic influence as she is a Mitanni princess. Mitanni were known to have had Indo-European/Aryans in their ruling class, and some words in their vocabulary are found in Sanskrit. For example, The Mitanni worshipped Indra and Varuna, who are still part of the list of gods in Hinduism!
Egyptian names follow regional styles. An interesting fact is that the word “Mose” simply means “Son of.” Today, you see similar applications, for example, in Arabic names (Ibn or Bin, means son of).
ERUPTION OF THERA
At some point possibly between 1630 BC and 1550 BC, the volcanic caldera of modern day Santorini erupted in one of the greatest cataclysms of the ancient world. Possibly a hundred times more powerful than the Pompeiian eruption, this mega-volcano destroyed whatever lived on the island, broke it to pieces, generated a massive tsunami that radiated outwards in all directions, and quite likely significantly damaged the sea faring civilizations in Crete. The pyroclastic surges buried the ancient city of Akrotiri (named Enniru in the book) where spectacular frescoes depicting the ancient people were found. The eruption appears to have happened in three phases.
ORIGIN OF ATLANTIS
There is only one place in any historical record that Atlantis is mentioned—and that is Plato’s Timaeus and Critias. Any other reference is essentially pulling from Plato’s work.
If there were any other books on the topic, perhaps by the Greek philosopher Solon himself (who apparently originated the story, based on his discussion with Egyptian priests at Sais, as per Plato), they have all been lost.
That Thera/Santorini could be the location of the original Atlantis has been a hypothesis for decades now, based on certain parallels between Plato’s story and the geological features of Thera. Again, as it is in the case of the many aspects of the ancient world, a lot of it is speculation.
My other novel, The Atlantis Papyrus goes into more detail on this topic.
So, the story continues.
REFERENCES
• Tiziano Fantuzzi – Tell el Dab’a and The Interlinked Chronologies of Minoan Crete and Egypt in the Bronze Age – 2013
• Nanno Marinatos - Minoan Religion – 1993
• P. Nomikou et. Al. – Post-eruptive flooding of Santorini caldera and implications for tsunami generation – Nov 2016
• Emily Vermule – The Promise of Thera – A bronze age Pompeii
• Jan Heinemeier & Walter L. Friedrich – Time’s up! Dating the Minoan eruption of Santorini – Nov 2007
• Mark Cartwright – Akrotiri Frescoes – March 2014
THE CURSE OF AMMON
THEBES, 524 B.C.
ABERIS
Behind the magnificent temple of Amun-Re, on the eastern bank of the Great River, in the city of Thebes, there was once a vast empty field, stretching miles in every direction before the eastern deserts began. It was forbidden to occupy this land that was reserved for the temple administration. But now it was dotted with thousands and thousands of tents, men, and animals, all part of a vast invasion force under Shahanshah Khambujia, King of Kings Cambyses, of Persia. On the southern edge of this hive of frenetic activity lay a ring of tents belonging to the senior men of the expedition, with the King of King’s tent in the middle. It was no grand tent, and one might even be surprised by its modest size, for Cambyses was no stranger to a hard life and military living. He had governed rough areas in Babylonia and quelled many a rebellion on behalf of his father, Cyrus. Cambyses had traveled far from Babylon to Thebes. He shunned the Palace of Thebes, instead preferring to stay with his men as they prepared to travel south to invade the Ethiopian lands.
This afternoon the King’s tent was busy. He sat in the sweltering heat, tolerating the fine dust that coated everything in sight. The servants swung the fans as hard as they could, but all they did was circulate the warm air and sprinkle sand on the sweaty men. But the heat in the tent was not what worried those that seated near the King of Kings—it was the news that a messenger had brought him.
Cambyses was livid. He sat on a simple highchair, wearing his
customary gem-studded tiara and blue flowing robes. He rocked back and forth, rubbing his thick, black beard. He massaged his temple and wiped the sweat off his eyelids. The messenger was still on the floor—prostrate and too afraid to look up. “Stand up,” he ordered.
The man scrambled to his feet and wiped his face to remove the dust.
“Tell it to me once more. You shall leave no detail,” the King of Kings said softly, but his barely contained rage was palpable. The court shivered even in the heat.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the messenger said, his voice barely a whisper. The courtiers were all silent, terrified of what the King of Kings might do next. He had already had a minister of the court whipped for suggesting that they send a negotiating party.
“Everything.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Where do I start?” He asked, nervously, fidgeting.
“From the beginning!” Cambyses screamed, spittle flying from his mouth. The messenger flinched. The King of Kings had executed more than one man with unwelcome news in recent months.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. Yes. I reached the—”
“What did you tell them? How many priests?”
“I conveyed your message to them, Your Majesty. There are three priests and a Sybil, but the head priest is Amunperre. He is the only one allowed to confer with the Oracle of Ammon.”
“What did you tell them?” Cambyses asked.
"That you, Shahanshah Khambujia, the King of Kings, mighty King, Ruler of the World, King of Akkad, Sumer, Babylon, and all four corners, beloved of all gods, brighter than the sun, light of the Achaemenids, now the ruler of all of Egypt, appointed by the priests of Memphis, blessed by Her Divine Majesty, Goddess Neith, must be proclaimed legitimate heir to the Egyptian throne after the defeat of Psamtik.
“That you have preserved their temples, worshipped their gods, and allowed Egyptian nobles to continue in their posts and collect tax. And that it is time for them to accept His Majesty as Pharaoh.”
Cambyses grunted. “And?”
The messenger fidgeted again and earned a strike from the guard behind him. “But they say it is too early to proclaim you Pharaoh. And that the Egyptian spirit is not yet extinguished.”
Cambyses tugged on his beard. “Do these bastards not know that I have taken their Pharaoh captive? That by the grace of Ahuramazda and Marduk, I have defeated them, and most of their noblemen’s sons are dead?”
The messenger said nothing, haplessly looking at others for help.
“What else did they say?” asked Cambyses.
“They say that the role of the Pharaoh extends beyond the realm of the living and that the Pharaoh must prove to be a great patron of the temples and the priests, beyond just praying for the gods of Egypt and making symbolic sacrifices.”
Cambyses slapped his hands together, causing the messenger to flinch. “What does that even mean?” he asked, rhetorically, staring at the terrified man.
“I do not know—”
“What else did they say?”
The messenger began to dance on his feet, his nervousness and fear palpable. Finally, general Artapharnes spoke. “There was something else, speak,” he ordered, his voice stern.
The messenger looked helplessly at the people around, and receiving no help, he started again. “They heaped curses on you, Your Majesty.”
Cambyses leaned forward. His eyes burning into the man. “What curses?”
“They say that the Oracle foretells that the curse of Ammon will bury your soldiers.”
“Bury us with what? Cow dung?” Cambyses shouted. His face had taken a ruddy complexion. “Who do these Ammonians think they are!”
“I do not know, I–” the messenger stammered.
“What else?”
“Not much else, Your Majesty. They heaped insults on me for daring to bring the request, and they would not allow me an audience with the Oracle. I told them— I demanded—”
“Wretches. They will change their tune when blood flows from their bellies,” Cambyses retorted. “What does Amunperre really want?”
“I do not know—”
“Useless,” Cambyses shouted. “Get out of my sight before I have your head!”
The messenger scurried away, relieved at the dismissal. Cambyses turned to his trusted general, Artapharnes. “Artapharna, what do you make of it?”
Artapharnes bowed to the King of Kings. “They are stubborn. The priests have too much power and hold great sway over their people.”
“But do I not have a claim over the land after defeating the Pharaoh?” asked Cambyses.
Artapharnes nodded. “That may be so, Your Majesty. But the priests are driven by the same desire for power and pleasure as everyone else. They fear that you will put an end to their influence and severe the heads of the corrupt.”
“What do you think, Abrahasa?” he said, turning to a nobleman by his side.
Aberis always welcomed the moments when the Shahanshah sought his opinion. It elevated him in the court. He puffed up with pride. “They wish to protect their greed, and they see you as the wolf out to eat their meat, Your Majesty,” he said.
Cambyses shook his head, mollified by the thought that the resistance came from their fear. Aberis knew of the insidious rumors spread by the Egyptians about Cambyses.
That he was mad and was losing his mind each day.
That he spoke ill of their gods and conspired to destroy every temple.
That he wished to kill the sacred Apis bull with his own hands and eat its flesh.
That he would enslave every Egyptian man and relegate the women to brothels.
Lies. All lies!
Cambyses had done no such thing and had no desire to. He wished to bring Egypt to his dominion and was even willing to imbibe their ways. His father, Cyrus, had brought so many peoples under the Achaemenid empire and ruled them justly. Aberis recognized that Shahanshah Cambyses only sought to expand the empire to include Egypt. All they had to do was recognize his rule, pay him taxes and tributes, and accept certain administrative reforms.
The King of Kings rose from the wooden chair and walked outside the tent, followed by Artapharnes, Aberis, and other members of the court. All around them was the energy of a powerful force. The Persian army was preparing for its invasion of Ethiopia. It was hot, and the fine dust kicked up by the hundreds of thousands of feet and wheels had created a yellow haze. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, dirt, river water, palm trees, cow and pig manure, hay, rose and lilac perfumes, and running sewers. Cambyses relished the sights and smells—no Persian, not even his great father, had ever set foot in Egypt as a conqueror, and he had done it. He watched quietly for some time and then flicked his finger towards Aberis. The nobleman walked next to the King of Kings.
“Subduing the Ethiopian savages under the title of a Pharaoh would have been easier.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The Priests of Ammon think they can dictate terms to the Shahanshah of Persia,” Cambyses said and spat on the ground. “They think that the powers conferred upon them long ago by their Pharaohs give them the authority to defy me, the one blessed by Ahuramazda.”
“They are arrogant,” Aberis concurred. “And their hubris is intolerable.”
Cambyses walked on the rough-cut path as his guards cleared the way. He coughed as the dust irritated his lungs. “A lion does not negotiate with hyenas.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do they realize what foe they make of me? Do they not know what I did to them at Memphis?”
After the defeat of Egyptians at the battle of Pelusium and emerging victorious at the siege of Memphis, Cambyses had sent off two thousand young Egyptians, including defeated Pharaoh Psamtik’s sons, to death.
“They sit in their temple and think of themselves as invincible, Your Majesty,” said Aberis.
Cambyses was quiet for some time. He rubbed the scabbard of his long royal sword, tapping on the gold-inlaid luxurious leather to loosen the dus
t that stubbornly clung to it.
“How many men do we have here?” he said, turning to General Artapharnes this time.
“About two-hundred thousand, Your Majesty.”
“How many do you think the Ammonians have?”
“If I were to guess, Your Majesty, no more than a few thousand,” Artapharnes said.
“And yet, they stand against me.”
“They rely on the desert between them and us, Your Majesty. They think their land will protect them. They do not know the King of King’s resolve, and nor do they understand the depth of his servant’s desire to prove his worth to the glorious Shahanshah,” Aberis said, referring to himself. Cambyses knew that Aberis saw an opportunity. The noble had waited patiently for years.
Cambyses nodded. He knelt on the ground and gently rubbed his palm on the coarse rock and sand. He then stood and kicked the ground, raising a cloud. “Let us teach them that the sons of Ahuramazda do not fear a few grains of the earth!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cambyses turned to Aberis. “You are a faithful servant, Abrahasa.”
Aberis knelt in front of his Shahanshah. “And I will always be, Your Majesty.”
“Then I might have a mission for you,” Cambyses said as he slapped his palms together, creating a small cloud of fine yellow dust.
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CREDITS
• This book was created and produced using Dan Goldfynn’s awesome free Writer’s Toolkit
• Unplash.com for cover resources
• Mandala Vectors by Vecteezy