Chapter 1: The Scorpion King

             Around 3100 BC, Ta Shemau, Ancient Egypt.

            Inside his private residence, King Hor-Aha was seated on his favorite majestic chair, his throne, in the middle of the night. His throne was made of the sturdiest wood in the kingdom of Ta Shemau, meaning “the land of reeds” or better known as Upper Egypt, that his father’s loyal servant could ever find. The wood was from a Sycamore tree, and the distinctive design of sphinx and other symbols especially the family sign or totem, a scorpion, were carved in the back and sides of the chair including its arms, which looked like the claws of the sphinx. Molten gold was embedded as well into the rest of the surfaces of the chair, making it look gleaming under the lit torches, which were mounted on the palace walls.

King Hor-Aha’s father passed on the White Crown to him a long time ago, when he was barely fifteen. The royal physician could not tell what kind of disease his father acquired after fighting against the Nubians at the time. He suffered from high fever in the afternoon until late at night and was coughing and spurting blood out of his mouth.

King Hor-Aha winced even though he realized it had been ages ago since his royal family and allies fought against them. It still hurt him to lose his father. One day, he swore on his father’s mummified remains, that he would defeat the ruler of Te-Mehu—the “land of papyrus” or better known as Lower Egypt.

Because of it, the successor could not sleep that night and so he summoned his high priest (the hem netjer) and his high priestess (the hemet netjer) while his two bodyguards stood erectly in the background with a spear in their hands. The high priestess was seated on a nearby chair, adjacent to the king while the high priest stood in a relaxed manner next to the high priestess.

They looked at the king briefly, who always wore golden bracelets and anklets. His clothes were made from the highest quality of cloth, a dark colored toga and matched it with a golden belt.

On the other hand, his priest and priestess wore nothing but scanty linen cloths, with ornaments made of gold and other metallic looking pieces of jewelries, around their private parts and a headdress on their heads. They both had bald heads and without eyebrows. Like the king, they too had golden earrings, bracelets and anklets that adorned their bodies.

They all watched a shemat, one of the best of the musical troupe (the khener) of singers, dancers and musicians in his kingdom, perform. She was from a noble family and she was not more than seventeen years of age. With her beautiful graceful body, she was dancing in front of His Majesty, tantalizing him out of his troubled thoughts that night.

A rigid looking male servant arrived. He bowed and kneeled down, facing His Majesty. His eyes were cast downward as he spoke, keeping the laws and tradition in mind. Low class people were not allowed to look at the king at eye level and were even prohibited to look at the priest or the priestess.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I have an important message to convey to you.” He spoke in Archaic Egyptian language.

“Speak,” the king answered and briefly threw a glance at the kneeling servant. His dark eyes were now fixed again on the dancing shemat.

“Queen Khenthap sent and wished me to send you her word about the birth of a son.”

The king’s expression changed, and he immediately rose from his throne. He walked fast out of his residence without a word. His guards followed him quickly like a shadow. His heart danced as he was excited to wait for the birth of a son for many months. And now, it came tonight. His quick steps echoed in the hallways, together with his guards’.

Right afterwards, the servant walked away too. His head bowed, he followed the king to the queen’s chambers.

The high priestess gestured to the young priestess to stop dancing until His Majesty was nowhere to be seen. They too left the king’s residence to go back to their respective temples. Their attendants, a couple of acolytes each, brought torches for their guide back as the night was so dark with only a few torches lit around the city of Tjenu (Thinis or This, the famous lost city), which belonged to the eighth district of Upper Egypt called Abt (Great Land). And so, a small procession of three litters was heading back to the sacred temples not so far away as they were carried by twelve servants.

****

           

The queen was lying in her bed when the king arrived. And the newborn child was beside the queen, sleeping quietly. The baby’s small body was covered by blue colored linen, making him look so adorable.

King Hor-Aha’s lips lifted into a smile. He was very pleased to see his son for the first time. He sat on the bed and the queen smiled at him as he touched the face of the baby tenderly with his forefinger.

            “What will you name him, my king?” asked the queen quietly.

“Djer.” His voice was filled with emotions of being a happy father.

“I am so pleased with the name.”

“Honestly, my queen, I could not sleep tonight thinking about the Nubians and the Cobra King. And here, Djer is born. I am happy that I was not in my chambers when your servant was sent to me.” He smiled when he said it and caressed the cheek of the queen that he so dearly loved.

The queen held his hand and kissed it lovingly.

“I wish to give you another son when the right time comes. I will try my best to give your mind some peace, my beloved king.”

“I would love that, my queen. And I’m looking forward to it.” He then kissed the queen’s lips tenderly.

****

The temples were merely a mile or so away from the private residences of the king and queen. Other houses and townhouses were quite far away from the two temples. Thus, the distance made the two buildings prominent, peaceful and secure as the private residences of the royal family.

The high buildings were three stories, made of stones and bricks, and the floors were made of red tiles. The outer and inner brick walls were painted yellow and blue, respectively. Meanwhile, the paints were made from a certain type of flower, which the commoners could not afford to buy.

The buildings were surrounded by high fences made up of mud bricks and stones—just like the royal family’s private residences. Each of the building had its own garden and pool, which were only of the priests and priestesses’ disposal. The paths to the garden and pool had also respective guards so that no one could use them without any permission. No ordinary persons can use the garden and pool or enter the temple as the entire place was considered sacred and private.

The priestesses sometimes performed their rituals there together with the highest ranking officials or other important people in the kingdom. It was their duty to serve them with utmost respect and submission according to their religion, especially the king. It was believed that serving the king was following the command of God, and they should make sure his wishes would be granted through them, the servants of God.

In the morning, the priests and priestesses would do their morning rituals separately. The two temples were just close to each other. Guards were also everywhere near the two separate buildings to protect the servants of God.

The rituals included singing a hymn, offering of food and drink. These should be displayed at their best and nothing unsightly was allowed, and the high priest or priestess had to make sure that everything was at its best by overseeing the procedures personally.

Incense was burnt on an incense burner during each ritual as it was considered to be the perfume of God. And flowers were also offered formed in garlands, which were prepared and ensured by gardeners and florists to be supplied always. The flowers added beauty to the ritual and made it presentable to God.

The hymns were simple that they were only a repetition of the God’s name and attributes while the music were like rattled sounds of percussion or menat. For special occasions, cymbals, harp, flute or drums were used.

While the high priestess chanted during that morning ritual with her eyes closed, she stopped amidst because of a certain blinding light that crossed her mind’s eye, and it traveled into a distant space and time.

Then she opened her eyes suddenly, unfocused.

“Tell the king I have a vision,” she said to one of her acolytes.

Her acolyte bowed and left the temple immediately. The priestess then finished the ritual that morning and hastily prepared to meet the king.

****

“What was your vision, Nefer? Will we win the next battle?” asked the king with a serious and hopeful face, looking at the beautiful high priestess.

“My king, I saw the elite seer. She will arrive soon,” she answered in a mellow voice.

“And what can this elite seer do for us?” His brows furrowed.

“She will help you defeat your enemies, my king. But I am afraid that it is the elite seer’s decision if she will come to join and help you. There are people who will restrain her from doing so.”

The king was not happy to hear about it. The first time she told him about the elite seer, he was skeptical. He asked her before what was the difference of this elite seer from Nefer and so she explained then.

“She is more powerful than I am, my king. She can move things, which I cannot do. She can tell the future when you speak about your fears, your feelings. The elite seer has protectors, priestesses, guardians, executioners and caretakers. And they, too, have their own powers to be able to aid and protect her. She is a powerful goddess in her own way, my king.”

The king was in awe upon hearing it but his face turned into a deeper frown. “Who are these people that will restrain her?”

“Clearly, they are your enemies, my king.”

“Then, I will send my best fighter and magician to rescue the elite seer from my enemies. But how can they identify her?”

“She will not come alone, my king.”

“Well then, I shall prepare now for battle against the Sea People in the meantime.” The king got up from his throne and left the high priestess, who was in her early thirties.

Before the morning sun rose high up in the sky, the Asian explorers accompanied by their soldiers that arrived in Ta Shemau were confronted by Thinites who were armed to the teeth to defend their city.

The soldiers were either armed with body protectors, maces, spears, bows and arrows, cudgels or daggers.

The king, who was also the general of his army, commanded them to attack the Sea People invaders.

“Charge! Protect our nation and children!” King Hor-Aha’s voice boomed at his command.

And then, a loud battle cry pierced the hot air as the bloody clash commenced…