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So did WS make 'River God' up?

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:18 pm
by Nefer
As the resistant fan(atic) who loves this book to bits, I thought I'd bring this up, as it is a burning question many fans would love to know the answer to!

I'd like it to be true, because I'm a romantic person, and let's face it, this book is full of un-requited love :wub:

However, the setting of the Middle Kingdom allows WS to make up a lot of his facts, as not a lot is known about the Pharaohs and administration of the period. Not to mention, I've done a web search on the name of the Egyptologist who apparently asked WS to write RG, with no luck. Not conclusive evidence, I know, as the world does not exist on the net, as we may like to believe! [schock]

This is a website that I came across in my futile search for Duraid Al-Simma, who, it seems, is a figment of WS's mind.

In addition to this inconclusive evidence, I was watching a PBS (Public Broadcasting Service, for our non-North American friends :mrgreen: ) special which was on Egypt's Golden Empire. The show dealt with many Pharaohs, including Akhenaton, one of my favs, and Rameses II, who I didn't know much about (but I did see his head in a museum once).

It turns out he was a warrior Pharoah with red hair (hello, TANUS!). His wife's tomb is also of note here - the person who spoke about Nefertari's (R II's principal Queen) tomb, said the paintings were unlike anything she'd ever seen. To paraphrase her, she said it was as though the artist was declaring his love for the Queen through the art.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? WS describes Taita doing a similar thing with Lostris' tomb - and Taita was very in love with her (which IMO is a little sick, seeing as how he's almost like a father-figure to her).

Now, as much as I hate to admit it, it seems that WS has led us on a very brilliant joy ride. RG may just be the most brilliant piece of fiction that we've ever read.

Feel free to disagree with me! :geek:

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:24 am
by Bee
It could be true.

But one thing you have to remember is that most of the tombs were decorated that way. The Egyptians were obsessed with the After Life and poured so much wealth and you name it into their tombs be it from the pyramids to the Valley of the Kings. The common people worshipped their kings (they were the reincarnate god Re).

Also, the color of the hair can be taken as fact or fiction. Another thing the Ancient Egyptians liked to do was have the reliefs, carvings and/or paintings done in what they would like to happen in the Afterlife and so forth. It all depends on when it was drawn and so forth. But it could be that Ramses II had red hair who knows.

Personally, if WS was focusing his story on the Middle Kingdom it's kinda funny he would take a king from the New Kingdom as a role model for Tanus. Anyway, that's my little spiel.

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 5:31 pm
by Nefer
The thing about the red hair is prove-able - they have Rameses II's mummy in Egypt, and his hair is still intact - seriously gross to look at.

And now that I think about it, the red could be from henna....

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:50 pm
by i_heart_nefie
i think that the similarities between ancient egypt and river god are fascinating, but ultimately i don't really mind how ws wrote river god...i'd love it no matter what!

PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:20 am
by Bee
Yeah but wouldn't it make you wonder about true Egyptian history and wouldn't you want to know more about that time?

PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:23 pm
by Nefer
Definately yes! :mrgreen: Although my research in that dep't hasn't been going so well... But the uni can expect me this summer! [b18]

PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:16 pm
by i_heart_nefie
i would love to know more about ancient egypt..i think my favourite era is the middle kingdom

PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:41 am
by Nefer
Totally the wrong place to post this, but I'm going with the theme of being off-topic we seem to have going on!

There's a series of books by an author called Pauline Gedge, about the Middle Kingdom and the battle that was fought by the Egyptian nobles to regain Egypt. The 1st is called "Hippopotamous Marsh" (& I totally spelled hippo wrong!) - there are 3 in the series. The author does an awesome job of being historically accurate, IMO. And anyway, they present a viewpoint different than WS's. Not up to his standard but I found them to be really well written!

Enjoy your education!

PostPosted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:41 pm
by Bee
Just a funky little tidbit of information. I know a girl named Tanus. It took me a while to remember where the name came from, but picked it up right away! River God! :D By the way, I think it's an awesome original name for a girl! What do you guys think? Kinda makes me wonder if one of her parents were RG fans... :lol:

PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:42 am
by Phils_jd
Wasnnt Tanus a guy in RG?

PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:40 am
by Nefer
Exactly :mrgreen:

Hence all the excitement!

PostPosted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:30 pm
by Bee
Guy, schmy.... The exciting thing is that she's has the name Tanus! :D

PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:03 am
by John R
I would put money on the parents being WS fans

PostPosted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:28 pm
by Bee
I think so too... must remember to ask :shock:

PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:33 pm
by i_heart_nefie
that is very strange, but i guess i can imagine a female tanus...does she have red-gold highlights!?! and green eyes?! lol

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 12:24 am
by Phils_jd
poor little girl will grom up to be an ice hockey player

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:58 am
by Bee
She's got brown hair... and I didn't take a look at her eyes. So I have no clue. Now I just need to meet someone named Lostris. What are my chances at that?

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:20 am
by i_heart_nefie
lol i dunno bee, hopefully you will and they can be best friends!

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:10 pm
by Phils_jd
and go sailing off into the sunset

PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:52 am
by Egyptian Eyes
Thats interesting.

I read a little known ancient Egypt novel, Till Shiloh Comes by Gilbert Morris, wherein there was a character also named Lostris. The thing is, this Lostris was a male. It was rather strange since I have gotten used to thinking that Lostris is a girl's name.
But Lostris does sound rather pretty - and feminine.