‘Please explain to Yuya how I wanted to come with you, but I must await the King’s summons.’
‘Don’t fret Kha, he will understand, he knows that your love for him is as mine is for Asenath, he won’t think badly of you. Now go. I’ll come when I can and maybe bring Yuya with me.’
They kissed and parted.
Merit stayed away a month and when she returned, having collected Djoser at Iunet, she did indeed bring Yuya with her. He was to be part of the advance party preparing for the King’s visit to inspect the tomb. Kha greeted their boat as it docked. Djoser ran to his father, who picked him up and hugged him. Kha and Yuya locked forearms, which was the best Kha could manage as he held Djoser in his other arm.
‘You look well my friend,’ Kha said.
‘I’m better for having had the company and counsel of Merit these past few weeks. She and Asenath were so close and I have been able to say things to her that I could only ever say to Asenath before. We were both lucky in our choice of wives Kha, and you are truly blessed.’
‘Thank you Yuya. Are you going to stay with us?’
‘I’m sorry Kha, that won’t be possible, the Prince is arriving tomorrow and the King three days later, I have to ensure everything at the Palace is ready.’
‘Are you now the Chief Steward of the King?’ asked Kha
‘No my friend, but you know who is. It takes so long to announce the arrival of Kenamun, ‘The one praised by his god, the one who the lord of the Two Lands loves because of his good character, confidant of Horus in his house, His eyes when the King is in his palace, the one to whom men say what is in their hearts, the ears of his god, the one who promotes rightness at the Royal Palace’ along with the rest of his near one thousand titles, that the visit would be over before he had even inspected the kitchens. Better that I and Prince Thutmose make sure everything is truly ready, then Kenamun can enter at his leisure.’
Both men laughed heartily and it warmed Merit to see that the old Yuya was finally returning. He had been so different when she first arrived at Khent-min and it took many long days and nights of listening, advising and some cajoling before he slowly began to respond.
‘He’s going to be alright,’ she thought.
*
Kha didn’t see Yuya again until the Royal party arrived in the Valley for the King to inspect his eternal resting place. Soldiers and musicians lined the route as the King and his closest advisers arrived on chariots, followed by the leading members of the Royal household including the King’s mother arriving in carriages, aboard litters, or on foot.
Amenhotep was not a King who shared the throne with his Queen. He had been greatly influenced as a child by the extreme hatred his mother, Merytre, had felt against Hatshepsut. His mother felt aggrieved that her husband, the great warrior Thutmose III, was forced to wait to take his rightful place on the throne until Hatshepsut, who was both his aunt and step mother, died. She despised the fact that before her marriage she was obliged to change her name to Merytre-Hatshepsut. The apparent adoration her husband had for Hatshepsut, festered inside her. Could he not see how he had been manipulated and blocked from taking his rightful place on the throne or, more importantly in her eyes, her rightful place on the throne beside him? Kha had heard stories told amongst the workmen that Merytre had orchestrated the death of her husband’s first wife, Satiah, together with her son, Thutmose’s eldest and heir to the throne, so that Merytre would become Queen and her son the next King.
Whatever the reason, to Amenhotep, the idea of a woman claiming to be King, was not the right order of things and would not be tolerated whilst he was ruler of the Two Lands. Kha knew that whilst he was working on great carvings, tombs and stelae exalting his King, others, working under cover of darkness and on direct instructions from Merytre, were defacing and removing parts of the funerary Temple of Hatshepsut, the great female King who had reigned in her own right for twenty one years after the death of her brother to whom she was married. Kha also knew that this work was being done with the acquiescence of King Amenhotep. This destructive work had begun towards the end of his father’s reign when ill health meant the warrior King was not aware of all things and Merytre was able to pursue her vendetta. Amenhotep could never understand why his father, not only tolerated what Hatshepsut had done, but clearly revered her.
‘She was anointed by her father who was my grandfather,’ Thutmose once told Amenhotep. ‘She was my father’s sister and his most beloved wife. My father loved her. I was the heir to the throne but my birth right could not be fulfilled until after my grandfather and his children’s reigns were complete. That only happened after my cherished aunt had gone to her eternal resting place.’
The destruction at the Temple was limited to those parts which the public might see; the holy inner sanctum dedicated to Amun was untouchable. The priests and their Temple guards would not allow for any desecration of the god.
So it was that Queen Tiaa, wife of Amenhotep II, was not bestowed with titles such as ‘Great Royal Wife’ or ‘Beloved of the King’, those titles during his lifetime would be reserved for his own mother. In all the works Kha had done he had never once been asked to even mention the Queen. The tomb he created for his King contained provision for his mother; but not his wife. She would guide her son in the afterlife as she had dominated him in this life. No woman would usurp the throne of Amenhotep-Akheperure, the one who smited the seven Asiatic Princes.
Stories amongst the workmen were rife. Through generations of the same family they had worked on all the great tombs. They heard the arguments and gossiping of their superiors and what they didn’t hear for themselves they made up by filling in the gaps. One man was proud that his grandfather had carved an image of Hatshepsut in a detailed compromising position with her chief steward, Senemut. Another claimed carvings around the funerary Temple of Hatshepsut and a statue commissioned for Senemut’s funeral showing him holding the King’s daughter, Neferure, were there because he was her true father.
Fact or fiction was not important; the stories were detailed and sincere. They helped pass the time during the long days chiselling in the tombs of the great and mighty.
Today would be the only time the King would enter the tomb outside of his coffin. As he approached the entrance he called to Kha, who ran towards him and prostrated himself.
‘Please rise Kha,’ he said. ‘I’m about to enter into your realm, it should be me bowing before you. This place will only be mine, if I like what you have done and when my ka makes its journey to the Hall of Maat. Until then, this place is your work and your domain.’
Kha was taken aback by both the content and tone of the King’s words. His mind was awash with pride and surprise, but also some trepidation.
‘He does know my name after all. What happens if he doesn’t like what I’ve done, I’ve seen first-hand what he can do to people who displease him.’ These thoughts ran through his mind as he walked beside the King to the entrance. The King turned and spoke to a group of people who had begun to follow them.
‘I wish to make this journey alone with my tomb builder,’ he said.
As they entered the tomb, the faint, familiar smell of the burning oil from the lamps deeper inside reached them. The area closest to the entrance was lit by reflected sunlight from shining silver discs carefully positioned to pass on light one to another, making this part almost as bright as the day outside.
‘Lead the way Kha, I’ll follow.’
Kha moved confidently and surefootedly down the first set of steps and along a corridor. The pair walked in silence down the second set of steps through another corridor to the well chamber. Here Kha stopped, allowing the King to catch up. He was not as used to manoeuvring along underground corridors and steps as was Kha.
From there they made a left turn, through a two pillared hall then, side by side down the wide stairs to the six pillared burial chamber.
&n
bsp; ‘The artwork is admirable Kha. I particularly like these images of my being offered the Ankh from Osiris, Anubis and Hathor, is this artwork yours?’
‘No my Lord King, it’s difficult enough overseeing the work of the artists without trying to do things myself. In fact what you see is the work of at least five artists each one specialising in different aspects.’
The King took his time inspecting the depiction of the Amduat.
‘This will greatly assist my passage through the underworld and give me something to read.’
The King continued to carefully examine the rooms.
‘Have you done as I requested and left a part of the decoration unfinished,’ he had asked.
‘Of course my Lord Majesty,’ Kha responded. ‘Above in the first pillared hall and in the well chamber.’
‘Good. I can’t believe that when my time has come to leave this earth and begin my eternal life in the after world, I’ll have done everything I would have liked to. Therefore I want a reminder, when I’m living here in perpetuity, there is always something left to achieve, always something needing to be done.’
After a time the King walked down the final steps at the very end of the tomb. Here, in a small pit, was a great sarcophagus, its lid resting against a wall. Entrances to store rooms led off the chamber.
‘So here is my final, eternal bed,’ he said almost to himself.
‘Because of its size and weight, the priests ordered that it should be placed here in situ, as it’s easier to transport it during the construction of the tomb rather than later, when…’ replied Kha.
‘When I’m to be placed in it, you were about to say, I think. The sarcophagus is as I ordered it Kha; don’t be afraid of talking about my death. Death is not an end, but a new beginning. You’ve been charged with preparing the halls of my future life and you should be proud of what you’ve done. In here we can talk freely of my passing, no-one can think you are trying to assassinate me, as they might if you were to mention it outside of these walls. I will be content in this room for my eternal afterlife, looking up at the golden stars on the blue sky you’ve depicted on the ceiling.’
Having spent this time alone in Kha’s company the King said, ‘Thank you Kha, everything I have asked of you has been done in a way even better than I had expected. Not just here but in the carvings in the Temple across the river, and on my stelae. You’ve exceeded even the highest of my expectations and for that I’m grateful, even eternally grateful as that is how long I will spend here surrounded by your work. Now let us allow the others in to see your fine workmanship.’
They retraced their steps without speaking, arriving at the place of rituals where the rest of the group were waiting, sheltering from the blistering sun. Servants had brought chairs for the King, and the King’s mother.
‘I am content,’ was all he said and the others went to look for themselves.
All, that is, except the King’s mother.
‘I’m too old to be going deep underground, time enough when I’m carried down there. Is my place readied?’
‘Yes, mother,’ replied the King and he told her all about the works he had seen inside.
Kha stood patiently waiting for the inspection to be finished so he could supervise the closing of the tomb, which wouldn’t be opened again until it was prepared to receive the body of its intended incumbent.
Once all had finished their tour, the King called over to one of his stewards who handed him a long, thin wooden box.
‘Come, Kha, I want you to have this as a token of my thanks and appreciation for what you have achieved here, and elsewhere on my behalf.’
Surprised, Kha approached the King and went to his knees in front of him. The King rose and handed the gift to Kha.
‘From this day Kha, I, and all the people of Kemet will know you as “Overseer of the Royal Works and workers, Architect and beloved of Horus.” Yuya will decide upon your privileges and payments. Now, are you going to open it?’
As he opened the box, Kha could not hold back the tears, the contents made him cry unashamedly.
‘My Lord Majesty, the honour of doing your bidding is more than enough reward; this gift is very special and will be treasured by me for eternity. I’ll keep it safe in both this world and the next. I’ll use it on all and any Royal works you may wish me to undertake.’ Kha turned the golden object in his hands admiring its patterns.
The gold shone in the sunlight. He held in his hands a golden cubit, one of the most important tools for an architect. A measured length, by which all tombs, Temples and other buildings were measured. This was more ceremonial than useful; it was engraved to show it was a gift to him personally from the living god. It would remain forever his most treasured possession and would be taken by him to his eternal resting place.
chapter nine
As Overseer of the King’s Works, Kha was the effective ‘Governor’ of the area in which the workers lived. Although small in size, it was of significant importance to the rulers of Kemet. He was kept busy working on many projects of the King. Frequently absent, Merit was used to being left alone. She was now the person to whom all turned for advice.
Merit took on the role of distributing the wages of the workers, settling small disputes between husbands and wives or neighbours, which didn’t need to be resolved by formal proceedings before the workers’ court, over which Kha normally presided. The nature of the work undertaken by the men meant that for the majority of the time this was a community of women, children and elderly dependents.
Life in the village changed greatly under the direction of Kha and Merit working together. They lived in the largest house which was at the entrance and opposite the well, which provided the daily water for the residents. This well was not a source of water but a storage which was filled each day. Water carriers made a one hour round trip to the river and back in the coolest part of the day, before Ra was fully risen, to fill the well from which the women drew the daily needs for their families. The proximity of Kha and Merit’s house to the water source meant that every day all the women came close and Merit encouraged them to discuss their problems and needs with her.
‘You spend too much time looking after the needs of the other villagers,’ Kha had told her.
‘And you spend too much time concerning yourself with what I do,’ was her only response.
The village had first been established at the end of the wars against the heqa-khasut, when King Ahmose finally defeated the hated foreigners and united Kemet. Even now, more than one hundred and fifty years later, the god-King Ahmose and his wife Ahmose-Nefertari were idolised and shrines to them were commonplace in the homes.
At first it had just been a random collection of makeshift shelters but this had gradually grown and the basic layout was established under the reign of Thutmose I. A roadway was laid down, running north to south. Mud brick houses were constructed each of similar design, their entrances and doors opening out onto the roadway. One side of the houses faced the rising Ra at the end of his nightly struggles through the underworld, the other faced his descent at the end of the day, to begin his labours once again.
By the time Kha and Merit arrived, there were nearly seventy such houses. Kha had constructed his own house at the northern end. Here he had space to build a bigger house than those of the other workers and one tall enough that when he stood on the flat roof he could see the whole of the village and beyond. By turning and facing north he could see the way to the Great Valley where they were working on the tomb of the Kings. Merit was able to sit and look out for the returning men at the end of the working day and pass a message so the households were ready to welcome the men with beer, bread and whatever else there was to eat on that day.
‘We must get more vegetables for the workers, Kha, they need to vary their diet,’ Merit said one day as Kha was sitting on his roof enjoying a meal of coriander flavoured fish a
nd boiled leeks.
‘We, and they, are much better off than most of the people in Waset, Merit, or indeed throughout Kemet, particularly now Yuya has opened more of the King’s stores to us. He knows that to carry out the work we need strong and healthy men.’
‘And don’t forget contented wives and well fed children,’ replied Merit.
‘I’ll speak to the Keeper of the King’s Stores tomorrow and see what he has.’
‘Would it not be better if you asked Yuya if the King could spare some land in the fertile plain so that we could grow our own? I’m sure he could spare one or two kha especially for you.’
‘Are you really asking me to request two hundred thousand setats of land from Yuya?’
‘It’s not for us Kha, but the whole village, and it’s not Yuya’s land, that is too far away, it’s the King’s and he has so much more anyway. Also, we would pay the taxes due, like any other land owner.’
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘I’ll make sure you do,’ replied Merit.
Kha knew when he was beaten and the next time he spoke to Yuya he mentioned Merit’s idea.
‘It would seem to make some sense,’ said Yuya. ‘I’ll speak with the King, when a suitable opportunity arises.’
Some days later, Merit was sitting on the roof playing hounds and jackals with Djoser, waiting to catch sight of Kha and the workmen coming across the mountain. Yuya arrived on a chariot. Merit rushed down. Several women standing, talking by the well saw the tall handsome man’s arrival. They didn’t know him but knew, from his chariot and the way he was dressed, he was someone of very high importance. They watched as Merit ran towards him. She began to open her arms to embrace him but, catching sight of the women, she wondered if this might be presumptuous and stopped herself.
She needn’t have worried. Yuya sensing her uncertainty moved towards her, outstretched his arms and clasped her tightly to him.
The Awakening Aten Page 10
