If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

Tutankhamun-Speak My Name

by Anthony Holmes

678 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #05-1236; ISBN 1-4120-6325-6; US$45.50, C$52.20, EUR37.50, £26.50

The young Pharaoh Tutankhamun relates why he was born, how he lived and died. From the Afterlife he tells of Moses and the Exodus. A fantastic journey through ancient Egypt.

Read more!

About the Book      About the Author      Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

The year is 1341BC. The religion of Egypt has been polytheistic since its history began. The Egyptian Empire stretches from modern day Sudan to Mesopotamia and is ruled by a co-regency of the Pharaohs Amunhotep III and his son Akhenaten.

Akhenaten has been co-regent for 8 years, initially ruling with his father from Waset, now called Luxor. Four years ago Akhenaten forsook Waset and set out to establish his own capital. We find him, his wife Nefertiti, their three daughters and his entire court in the new city Akhetaten, the Horizon of the Sun Disc.

The Temple of Amun-Ra in Waset is the centre of a gigantic industry. Its wealth exceeds that of the King but it is under threat because Pharaoh Akhenaten has proclaimed that all the old Gods, including Amun-Ra are obsolete! He proclaims the only deity is the Aten, the Disc of the Sun. Temples and statues of the old Gods will be torn down, the Priesthood will be disbanded and all its wealth will flow to the Pharaoh.

The Priests who serve the old Gods are enraged and in fear for their future. The common people are totally confused. The most feared state of existence is about to descend on Egypt, the state of Chaos!

What of the Gods themselves? Pharaoh Akhenaten has rejected the old Gods after eons of watching over the ancient land of Egypt. The very existence of the old Gods has been challenged. The state of Order, personified by Maat is under threat. The Goddess Maat, custodian of truth and order proposes a solution to the Gods. A boy child will be born to a secondary wife of the Pharaoh and placed into the world by the Gods to resolve the Chaos caused by Akhenaten. The child will become Pharaoh and his name will be Tutankhamun.

This is the story of the young Pharaoh from the time of his birth. It tells of his early years, his marriage, his coronation and his death. The story follows his spirit into the Afterlife where the eternal existence of his Ka can only be assured if his name is spoken by the living, hence the title “Tutankhamun – Speak my Name.”

The book is a blend of fact and fantasy. Facts are used where they are available and fantasy is used to weave a magic carpet around those facts, to bring life and colour to the events that may have taken place in the life of the young boy-king seen from his own perspective and told in his own words.

---

About the Author

Born in London in 1940, Anthony Holmes graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand B.Sc. (Eng) in 1964. After a career in the management of various international engineering companies, he retired in 2000. From that time he has concentrated on his hobby of Egyptology with particular interest in the New Kingdom period. He is a member of the Egyptian Exploration Society and The South Africa Egyptian Society and has visited Egypt on several occasions.

---

Excerpts

‘Prince, I have information!’

I looked to Ankhi and she nodded.

‘You may enter!’

Setmose pushed the curtain aside and stepped in.

‘Sir! A runner had just informed me that the Pharaoh’s barque has been sighted approaching the City’s dock. It is under the full stroke of its oarsmen and will be here within a short time. It is unknown who is on board at this time, although the runner seemed to think that General Aye was standing at the prow. Will you go to the dock or await the visitors here at the Palace?’

I made a quick decision.

‘Get our horses from the stable. I will ride to the dock with you. Despatch a guard of twenty to the dock immediately so that they may be there as soon after we arrive as possible. Arrange for one of your charioteers to take a chariot to the dock. If it is my uncle, we will be able to ride back together.’

Setmose wasted no time and left immediately to set about the instructions I had given him. I spoke to Ankhi.

‘I don’t know what is going on. Oarsmen of the Pharaoh’s barque do not adopt a full stroke rate downstream unless there is matter of considerable urgency. I will bring the visitor, whoever he may be straight back to the Palace.’

I slipped into the soft leather clothing that I used for horse riding and strode out of the chamber. My horse was waiting and I jumped onto her back. Setmose and I trotted out of the Palace gate and made our way towards the dock. A two-horse chariot driven by one of Setmose’s soldiers followed closely behind.

From the elevated vantage point I could see the Pharaoh’s barque with its sails furled and the oarsmen making full use of the strong current that was sweeping them northwards towards the dock. It appeared that we would arrive simultaneously. I could make out a single, bareheaded figure in the prow that appeared to be my uncle Aye.

Halfway to the dock we overtook the troop of twenty guards that Setmose had dispatched. As we got to the dock the oarsmen were making the final adjustments to bring the Aten-tjehen alongside the wooden dock. The figure standing in the prow was indeed my great-uncle Aye.

The Golden Barque drew closer and finally bumped against the wooden dock. Lines were tossed across the gap and were secured on the posts at either end of the wooden structure. The barque carried its own gangway that was slid across to the decking of the dock. The oarsman detailed to the task tested the security of the gangway and signalled to the captain that all was secure. Aye crossed the gangway.

Setmose’s foot soldiers arrived and formed up in two ranks. I slid down from the mare I was riding and Setmose dismounted from his horse.

‘Uncle, you are as always welcome again!’ We clasped forearms.

‘We will keep all conversation until we reach the Palace,’ was my uncle’s only response.

I nodded in agreement.

‘Uncle, this chariot is for you. Dismiss the charioteer if you wish to drive it yourself. I will ride back with Setmose alongside me.’

Aye decided to give the charioteer the privilege of driving the Commander of the Charioteers to the Northern Palace.

Setmose gave the order and the foot soldiers commenced their return march to the Palace at a considerably slower pace than they had used to get to the dock.

It did not take long for us to get to the Palace and to greet Ankhesenpaaten in my chambers. The servants were dismissed for reasons of privacy and Setmose stood on duty at the entrance to the apartments.

Aye spoke to us. In typical style he did not waste time with flowery language. He came straight to the point of his visit.

‘Your brother, Smenkhkara is dead!’

It took several heartbeats for my uncle’s words to register in my mind…then the immensity of his statement hit me! My brother Menka was no more! My older brother who had always taken time to play or talk to me no longer lived. He had been the young man I had tried to emulate as a charioteer and a hunter. We had shared a beloved mother and together we had watched the plague take her from us. Despite the difference in our ages we had been very close. And now he was dead! I clasped Ankhi close to me.

There were no tears. It was too soon for tears! The shock had numbed me. It was as if I had been hit a sharp blow. The pain would only come later and with the pain would come the grief.

Aye took a breath. He was under pressure of a different kind. Smenkhkara had not been directly related to Aye. They had spent a considerable time working together in Waset both before and after Smenkhkara had been appointed as my father’s co-regent. Aye explained further.

‘Your brother died two days ago. I rushed here to get the news to you before you heard it from another source. The oarsmen rowed all night. As far as I know it is the first time anyone has risked the spirits of the River at night!’

My uncle studied my face carefully.

‘You have to be strong and show no emotion outside of you room. Ankhesenpaaten, you must help him to contain his sadness when he is in company!’

I found my voice.

‘What happened?’

‘Smenkhkara was as closely guarded as any Pharaoh has ever been. There was no possible way for an assassin to get close to him. We took every precaution! And then he choked to death! He swallowed a bone from the roast duck he was eating. It lodged in his throat and he could not breathe! He was alone in his chamber and apparently made no sound. He was found when the servant brought him some fruit to eat. A simple, stupid way to die!’

My uncle appeared angry at the fact that my brother had choked himself, as if it had been a deliberate act on the part of Smenkhkara! I knew what he was thinking. With the entire resources of the Land of Kemet at his disposal to protect the Pharaoh, he had failed to keep him alive.

‘You know what this means? You will now become King of the Two Lands!’

At that moment, in the midst of assimilating the news of my brother’s death, nothing had been further from my thoughts. I had been made heir to the throne by my marriage to Ankhesenpaaten to cover a few short years until Smenkhkara produced a son. It was only precautionary! The whole procedure was put in place to protect Smenkhkara from assassination should someone else marry Ankhi and become heir to the throne. Now a small duck bone had caused the throne to become vacant and I was the only legitimate heir!

I was Akhenaten’s only son. I was the grandson of Nebmaatra Amunhotep, the Golden Pharaoh and his Great Royal Wife Tiye. I was married to Ankhesenpaaten, the daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, who had also been Akhenaten’s wife at the time of his supposed death. No one in the country could lay a more powerful claim to the throne of the Two Lands. The double crown of Kemet was clearly mine by right of both birth and marriage.

In reality I was a confused, frightened and saddened nine-year old orphan boy, untrained, unprepared and unready for the role of man, husband or king!

‘We must get my father back!’

I grasped at the flimsy thought, knowing before I spoke that it would be rejected.

‘That is neither possible nor practical. Any attempt to produce your father would destroy the family’s hold on the throne. You are our last and only hope. You have no time to grieve and no time to vacillate!’

‘I cannot do this thing!’

‘You must!’

It was Ankhi who spoke, her voice quavering with emotion.

‘If you do not accept, Kemet will be destroyed in the turmoil of civil war. I learnt certain things from my mother. The people to the East of us were our rulers until Ahmose expelled them. They are like snakes, waiting to strike as soon as they see us blink. They anticipate the moment of their return. To the South of us there are nations who have previously invaded Upper Kemet with considerable success. We are the richest and strongest people in the world and our strength lies in the stable rule of order throughout our Two Lands, headed by a strong and respected Pharaoh. You must become that Pharaoh!’

I sat quietly for a moment and then I stood up.

‘I would like to have time by myself. Would you both please leave me for a short time, I will call you when I am ready to continue.’

Aye and Ankhesenpaaten left the chamber and I closed my eyes. I directed my thoughts to the custodian of Truth and Order who had been my guide and comforter since I was an infant.

‘Maat, why has this come about?’

She was there, the whispering voice of the Goddess who guarded the Mekhaat, the Balance of Justice.

‘Your destiny now unfolds before you! You were born to restore the balance that your father so grievously upset when he rejected all the old Gods.’

‘Why didn’t you use Menka to restore your balance?’

‘Smenkhkara did not have a special relationship with me. He did not know me!’

‘Why was his life taken from him?’

‘His death was required to reinstate divine order. The death of a Pharaoh creates a major disturbance in the halls of eternal peace. Your father pretended to die. People in the living world were told that the Pharaoh had died, whereas the divine world knew that no such death had taken place. There was imbalance between the two worlds. The Gods decided that a Pharaoh must die to restore order between the worlds!’

‘Why did he die in the way he did?’

‘The way was chosen because it caused the least turbulence. An extended illness would have been unfair to your brother. A violent death, either by murder or self-inflicted, would create further ramifications. The chosen way was best.’

‘You always have such a reasonable answer!’

My sharp response was born of frustration. There was silence. I knew Maat was still there. I addressed her again.

‘What am I to do?’

‘You are to become Pharaoh. You cannot avoid that destiny! In time you will receive the people’s acceptance, but not before you demonstrate your intention to restore religious order in the land. Learn all that you are able. Choose your advisers and your officials only from those that you trust. I repeat my warnings to you: Take heed of the hawk of Hebenu! Danger is disguised as duty! Harm hides in the halls of Hathor!’

Maat’s voice left me. I was ready.

I called Ankhesenpaaten and Aye to rejoin me. I addressed them.

‘Before I speak I would like Aye to tell me what he has planned. He has had two days to ponder the situation.’

My uncle put forward his ideas.

‘You, Ankhesenpaaten and Sheri will come back with me to Waset. We will meet with your grandmother. We will then make Smenkhkara’s death public and introduce you to the population as the new Pharaoh and his Royal Wife. After the funeral you will be crowned and return to Akhetaten for your immediate safety. Your grandmother and I will continue with matters of state as we have done for the past few years. We will continue repairing the relationship between the Priests of Amun-Ra and the throne. Once we have re-established that stability you will return to Waset from where you will reign.’

I thought about the plan he proposed. It was fundamentally sound. In reality Aye and Tiye would rule the land until I sat on the throne in Waset. I might have difficulty with that!

Maat had advised me to choose my advisers from those I trusted. I reviewed the list. It was regrettably short. First and unquestioned was Ankhi. I also trusted my ‘Key Tiye’ implicitly and that faith was more than the blind acceptance of a grandchild. I also felt I could rely on Aye, although I knew that he was forthright and lacked the diplomacy required in handling matters of state. I had often placed my life in the hands of Setmose and he had my complete confidence. I respected Hiknefer and Khai for their respective skills and their friendship. I considered them to be trustworthy. Beyond those few, trust would have to be demonstrated and earned. Being very young would make my task difficult. The positive aspect of my youth was that I had a lifetime ahead of me.

I stood up. I was a boy, still carrying the side-lock of youth. I held the hand of my childhood friend who was my wife. My cheeks were wet with tears that had now begun to flow uncontrollably. I was the last male of the great royal family of Thutmose. I had a duty and a destiny ahead of me. My voice was breaking with emotion and with the onset of manhood.

‘In the name of the Aten and all the Gods of Kemet that wield his power, I accede to your request to ascend the Throne of the Two Lands. I, Tutankhaten son of Akhenaten and Kiye and brother of Smenkhkara, by the grace of Maat will be King of Kemet.’

---

Catalogue Information

---