So did WS make 'River God' up?
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:18 pm
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 ) 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:
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 ) 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: