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.