The Awakening Aten

by Aidan K. Morrissey

  He could not accept any true god would tolerate such behaviour.

  Why were the gods unable to stop their servants from incessant greed? Were the gods themselves selfish and greedy?

  These were questions which Thutmose could not answer; he knew they were questions which he would have to face and find answers to before he became King.

  He wished his father a long and happy life.

  The death of the Apis meant that Haqwaset was obliged to travel to Ineb-Hedj, remaining there for as long as it took for the new Bull to be found. On the day the King’s flotilla arrived, a great wave of excitement was rushing through the town. A new Apis calf, with the sacred markings, had been found. The priests had verified there had been a thunderstorm in the region of the birth at the appropriate time. Five priests had independently corroborated the four symbols and signs, which confirmed the animal as being the god’s spirit.

  Twin five year old girls had been identified as the handmaidens, who would serve the god during his life, in accordance with the settled law and tradition. Each new bull required new handmaidens, who must be twins and virgins, and remain pure for the life of the bull. Once the funeral of the Apis had taken place, the incumbent hand maidens would be released from their duties. Once discharged, they were free to marry. They accumulated wealth during the period of their responsibilities and would be granted a generous dowry from the Temple when their duties were over.

  Thutmose did not envy the poor children who would lose their youth. They would, in all probability, be in their thirties when they obtained their freedom. Unless very fortunate, this would mean chances of marriage, other than to an old man, would be slight. It seemed a very high price to pay for the honour of being handmaiden to a bull.

  chapter thirty-one

  A gathering together of the Royal Family always meant lavish celebrations. The feast prepared that evening at the Palace was no exception. Haqwaset had his whole family around him. Tiye and Kirgipa were chatting happily. Kirgipa didn’t travel everywhere with Haqwaset, as that was the duty of Tiye as ‘Great Royal Wife’, so they had much to discuss.

  Kirgipa had recovered from the grief she endured following the death of her father, two years ago. This followed, only a matter of days later, by the assassination of her brother, Artashumara.

  Yuya had warned Haqwaset that the situation in Naharina, following the death of the old King, would threaten to destabilise the country and consequently the alliance with Kemet. The news reached Kirgipa a matter of weeks after her father and brother died. The message she received informed that agents, from a neighbouring country, with ambitions to take over much of the Naharina territory, tried to create unrest by murdering the two sons. Although successful in killing her elder brother, they were captured and summarily executed before they could make an attempt on the younger. Kirgipa’s brother, Tushratta, was now sitting on the Naharina throne.

  The story Yuya received, from his spies, gave a somewhat different picture. His information didn’t mention foreign assassins. On the contrary, it told a story much closer to home and didn’t leave the hands of the present Naharina ruler totally clean. Haqwaset didn’t care which story was true, if indeed either was. He cared about Kirgipa and the security of the region and at least with Tushratta in power there was stability. More importantly, Tushratta was a man with whom Haqwaset could deal. Gold was the route to Tushratta’s heart and mind, a commodity Haqwaset had in plentiful supply.

  ‘What news from home?’ Haqwaset called over to Kirgipa.

  The young Queen smiled enigmatically.

  ‘My brother’s wife, Juni, recently gave birth to a daughter,’ she said, nudging Tiye gently with her elbow and nodded towards their husband. Haqwaset showed no reaction, Tiye and Kirgipa started laughing.

  ‘What?’ he asked.

  Yuya leaned over to whisper in his ear.

  ‘I think they believe your wedding days are not yet over.’

  Haqwaset raised his wine cup and looked towards his conspiratorial wives.

  ‘A long and prosperous, healthy life to your new niece Kirgipa, may she find a rich husband who will take care of her and love her.’

  ‘I think Tushratta already has his own ideas about that,’ Kirgipa whispered to Tiye and they laughed again. Haqwaset tutted and returned to his conversation with Yuya.

  Across the table, Thutmose was sitting with Teppy and Smenkhare. Nefertiti had taken up her usual position beside Teppy. They were talking with Smenkhare who was keenly interested in the latest news about the Apis. Teppy and Nefertiti were less interested in this but were happy to be in the company of Thutmose and Smenkhare, whom they hadn’t seen for several months.

  ‘The funeral is set for three days from now. The Golden Barque has already been dispatched to collect the calf and its mother, the new ‘Isis cow.’ It has been agreed they’ll arrive here two days after the funeral so the seven days of festivities will begin in five days’ time.

  ‘Excellent,’ exclaimed Smenkhare. ‘This is the greatest festival of a lifetime; we might all be dead before the next bull dies.’

  Kirgipa heard this last sentence.

  ‘Smenkhare, the bull won’t be permitted to live on this earth any longer than did the god Osiris. I hope I’m still alive in twenty-seven or twenty-eight years, let alone you.’

  ‘We can all hope mother, but we can’t be certain. I’m fairly sure I will still be alive in five days and this is the biggest festival ever. People from all over the world will be coming.’

  Nefertiti stretched across Teppy and touched Thutmose on the arm.

  ‘Are you well?’ she asked gently. ‘Is everything arranged for Miauette tomorrow?’

  Thutmose turned to her and smiled. ‘Thank you. It seemed she had been forgotten in all the fuss about the Apis.’

  ‘No-one has forgotten her,’ Teppy said. ‘Mother and father have talked about little else on the journey up. There is a big debate whether we should get you another.’

  ‘No, please no,’ responded his elder brother. ‘At least not yet. Maybe in a while, but not yet. I couldn’t give another pet my love and attention at the moment. There is so much going on.’

  Nefertiti picked up on a sadness in Thutmose she’d never seen before. She determined to find the reason for this tomorrow, after Tamyt’s burial. For now she thought it best to let the general flow of conversation continue, ensuring that Thutmose was kept involved as much as possible.

  Aperel and Tawy were also at the feast, in a group with Djoser, his three daughters and sister Merit. Djoser was happy in his new job. He enjoyed working for Yuya, who treated him more like a son than a servant and, although Yuya always found plenty of work for Djoser to do, he was never overworked and had plenty of time to spend in his quarters with his sister and the girls.

  Not that they would be staying with him for much longer. His eldest daughter, Baketamon, was to marry a young physician working with Yuya’s personal doctor. She had shown a great aptitude for medical matters and Yuya believed, one day, she herself would make a great healer. The two youngest girls were moving to the Palace. Kirgipa said she would love them to come and work with her. Also, the Palace would provide a wider pool of eligible men, than in Yuya’s country estate. Tawy looked to her sister.

  ‘Merit, when can we expect an announcement?’

  Merit blushed and shook her head.

  ‘Did I tell you,’ Tawy continued in a loud voice, trying to get everyone’s attention. ‘Aperel’s brother, Djutmosis, is to marry Amunitore.’

  A loud cheer erupted.

  ‘It does, however, depend on Maiherpri’s hounds letting them get near enough to each other to kiss,’ interjected Aperel.

  ‘Yes, isn’t it good news?’ said Tiye, genuinely pleased. ‘Merkare finally has her wish.’

  ‘Are you going south, to be there?’ Haqwaset asked his Vizier.

  ‘No,
Majesty, it’s their intention to come and visit us after. My parents have not yet met our youngest son, Huy, and they all wish to travel here in a month or two. We have not seen each other for two years,’ he added.

  ‘I look forward to seeing them too,’ said Haqwaset. ‘If I’m not in residence here when they intend to visit, then I shall send them a command to stop in Waset for a few days.’

  ‘Don’t you mean an invitation?’ asked Tiye.

  ‘No Tiye, I meant what I said. They could refuse an invitation; they wouldn’t dare disobey a command. Besides, I need to talk with Merymose about my sed festival next year.’

  Tiye raised her eyebrows.

  ‘I’ll be glad when that particular festival is over,’ she whispered to Kirgipa. ‘He thinks of nothing else, although one positive thing is, he doesn’t complain half as much about the pains in his back and teeth, so at least I should be grateful for that.’

  *

  Shortly after dawn the next morning, the whole family gathered to offer their support to Thutmose. No-one ridiculed or made jokes about burying a cat with such honour. They all knew how Thutmose was as attached to Tamyt as he was even to his parents and brother.

  On the sarcophagus, texts and incantations, asking for the protection of the goddesses Isis and Nephthys, were engraved by the finest craftsmen available. The four sons of Horus placed on the corners for further protection. The sacred casket would be aligned in its tomb with Horus’s sons standing at the point of the compass they represented. A prayer to Nut, the mother of all and the goddess of the sky, would ensure his beloved Miauette would become an eternal star in the heavens.

  Her coffin was carried by Thutmose himself, together with Smenkhare, Teppy and Nefertiti. The four friends each took a corner of the small box shaped coffin. They carried it, solemn faced, to the tomb Thutmose had caused to be dug near to his quarters in the Temple. The box was placed inside and the tomb sealed. Outside a commemorative stela, showing her name, was placed beside the tomb.

  Thutmose was content he had done all he could for his friend. He didn’t smile that day and maybe not for some days after, but he appreciated the support of his extended family. It may not have been, in reality, an important event for them, but it was for him and they had given him all the love he needed, at the time he needed it and in the way he would have wanted.

  *

  The enormous administrative machinery which was the Temple of Ptah, swung into operation two days later. The death of the Apis was something which generally happened only once in a generation. The traditions and rules about what needed to be done were well documented.

  The ritual was followed in every detail and the gigantic, granite, open sarcophagus was taken and deposited within the catacomb built for this purpose. The mummified bull had been adorned with jewellery; the most impressive sight of all was the face mask of pure gold which covered its head and horns. This would go with him to eternity. All citizens and visitors would talk for the rest of their lives about the fact they had been present when the Apis was buried. Many were happy a new Apis had been found so soon, because they could stay longer and tell their grandchildren how they had also seen the arrival of the Apis Calf and the Isis Cow.

  In front of the procession the two sets of twins, the elder ones whose duties were coming to an end and the child ones, who would now begin their roles, walked hand in hand. Their eyes had been heavily kohled and deliberately smudged to give the impression they had been crying. Their hair and clothes were covered in sand and periodically, as they walked, a priest would move out from the crowd lining the way and pour more sand over their heads as a sign of mourning.

  The journey from the sacred compound to the catacomb took several hours. After each two hundred steps the sarcophagus stopped and prayers were offered. The King, with Thutmose dressed in his robes as a Sem priest, had been present at the start of the procession to give their blessings. The King had ceremoniously poured oil on the back of the bull, having received the oil container, ceremonially, from his son, as laid down by tradition. Their initial duties completed, they returned on foot to the Palace and would later make their way, by chariot, to the burial place where they would be waiting for the sacred animal to arrive.

  On the way to the Palace, Haqwaset turned to his son.

  ‘What’s troubling you, Thutmose, I know the loss of Tamyt has hurt you but you don’t seem yourself. I can’t believe it’s your grief alone which is causing you to be so distant and pensive.’

  ‘It’s many things father, and I think I need to speak with you and mother. I’m not like you. I can’t hide my true feelings all the time and I can’t stand by and see wrongdoing on a large scale go unpunished. I do not believe… no, I am convinced father, I could never be King.’

  It was simply said but it hit Haqwaset like a punch.

  ‘Many Crown Princes throughout history have experienced these feelings; it’s the weight of responsibility which hangs heavily around your neck. You’re strong, my son, stronger than even you know and you will make a great King.’

  ‘Father, how can I rule over a Kingdom which practices religions or follows cults in which I do not, and can never, believe in? Thousands of people have come here today to worship a dead bull, believing that, by being here, they’ll receive some favour or other. Women hoping the new bull’s virility will solve their problems with conception. Men seeking, in vain, Temple prostitutes who do not exist, because they heard rumours that by sleeping with one it will improve their own potency. Do you know that for this festival, the High Priest wanted to play on this hearsay and hire musicians and dancing girls to sleep with pilgrims just so that he could increase the church’s coffers or, more likely, his own? Maybe at previous festivals this had been done and this is where the rumours started or at least were perpetuated. Who knows? I don’t care, I won’t tolerate it and the High Priest better heed my warnings.’

  Haqwaset realised how serious Thutmose was in his views.

  ‘Let’s not dwell on this today, Thutmose. We have a ceremony to complete and once it’s over we can sit down and discuss things calmly. I know in my heart you will make a great leader of men and a just, fair King.’

  Thutmose nodded unconvincingly and they walked the rest of the way in silence.

  *

  The burial ceremony completed, the Royal party returned to the Palace. There was to be yet another feast. Many dignitaries had come for the funeral and would be staying for the new bull festivities. Tonight it was the duty of Aperel, as the Vizier and Governor of Ineb-Hedj, to host the celebrations. Officially even the King was Aperel and Tawy’s guest. Haqwaset had moved the main administrative functions south to Waset and therefore the principal Palace was no longer here. In Ineb-Hedj the palace complex included the Governor’s Palace, so it made little practical difference who officially hosted these events as they always took place in the gardens which separated the two buildings.

  ‘So it’s only the seating arrangements which need changing slightly?’ Djoser commented when the etiquette was explained to him.

  ‘We’ll make a noble of you yet Djoser,’ Perneb remarked.

  Perneb, Nofret, Pihuri and Takhat had all come up from Iunet for the celebrations. The goddess Hathor was symbolised in the form of a cow and so it was only fitting there should be representation from Iunet at the funeral of the Apis. A Temple, dedicated to Hathor was located near to the Great Temple of Ptah. Djoser’s daughters were delighted they were here. Since first meeting their cousin, Takhat, they had fallen in love with her and wanted to spend as much time as possible in her company. For her part she took equal enjoyment from the company of the young girls, who were desperately trying to teach her to play one or all of their favourite instruments.

  Djoser was happy to see them all. It reminded him so much of when his wife had been alive. He also enjoyed the company of Perneb and Pihuri and they spent many hours together with Yuya. Periods such
as this were relaxing. Yuya had few official duties. The correspondence between him, Haqwaset and Tiye, or other Palace officials with which Djoser was principally engaged, was unnecessary when they were here together. Other delicate correspondence with Yuya’s relatives and contacts in the eastern countries, which remained in an uneasy alliance with Kemet, didn’t take up too much time. Sometimes for months there would be no news, then a flurry of activity meant Djoser burning a lamp late into the night.

  Through his work, Djoser became aware that, it was not only the gold flowing from the Two Lands, nor all of the arranged marriages with rulers’ daughters, which were the cause of peaceful co-existence. Of equal, or more, importance was the influence Yuya was able to exert in these countries through his sons, his brothers and their sons. Djoser worried about what would happen to Kemet, in a generation or so, after Yuya was no longer alive to act as a filter between potentially dangerous neighbours.

  Djoser enjoyed a strong and confidential relationship with the man who had been a good and close friend of his father’s. Djoser hoped Crown Prince Thutmose would be as diplomatic as Haqwaset now was and that the relationship with the neighbouring countries, often fragile at the best of times, could be maintained, even after Yuya passed to the afterlife.

  *

  In the King’s private quarters, Haqwaset sat together with Tiye and Thutmose. He wanted to discuss the feelings his son had expressed yesterday and try to allay the fears and worries which seemed to be such a heavy burden weighing down their eldest son.

  ‘Thutmose, you know we are both extremely proud of you,’ Haqwaset began. ‘You have shown in the last few years a maturity beyond what could be expected of one so young. Your uncle Anen, has kept us informed about your studies and has been singularly impressed by your ability to learn and retain information. We are convinced you will be a great king, how can we make you see and convince you of the same?’