Principal Characters
Historical persons are set in bold, followed by pronunciation pointers in parenthesis and the translation of the names in italics. The letter combination ‘th’ is pronounced like an aspirated ‘t’.
The royal dynasty
Senusret III. (Senusret) – husband of goddess Ouseret – A king who carries a heavy burden.
Khenmetneferhedjet II (Khenmet-nefer-hedjet) – joined with the White Crown – The Great Royal Wife called Sherit, the younger, carries no weight.
Nofrethenut (Nofret-henut) – beautiful mistress – The second royal wife carries the Horus in the egg.
Senetsenebtisi, Menet, Sat-Hathor, Henut – Senusret’s daughters carry on to provide entertainment.
Atef (short for Hori-hetep-em-Atef) – Horus is content with the Atef crown – A royal servant who carries himself without fault.
Hori and his family
Hori – name of god Horus – A physician who can’t heal his own heart.
Sobekemhat (Sobek-em-hat) – Sobek is at the top – Hori’s father and the vizier, pathologically concerned with his dignity.
Nofret – the beautiful – Teti and Puy: Hori’s mother and brothers – Sick with worry? Rather not.
Heqet – name of the frog goddess – Hori’s maid is seriously hurting.
Sheser – arrow – Hori’s servant and sometimes his stretcher bearer.
Mesu – child, short for Ra-Mesu, child of Re – Hori’s lovesick gardener.
Nakhtmin and his family
Nakhtmin (Nakht-min) – Min is strong – A physician fighting a futile battle.
Mutnofret (Mut-nofret) – (the goddess) Mut is beautiful – His battlesome wife who has much to lose.
Baketamun (Baket-Amun) – Servant of Amun – Nakhtmin’s cook who fights like a lioness.
Inti (short for Inen-Ka-i) – my Ka lingers – Nakhtmin’s servant yields to his wife without a fight.
Ameny and his family
Ameny (short for Amen-em-het) – Amun is at the top – The second prophet of Amun suddenly bears great responsibility.
Isis – name of goddess Isis – Ameny’s wife has a lot to bear.
Huni and Bata – Their twin sons like to bear down on visitors.
At the House of Life
Imhotepankh (Imhotep-ankh) – Imhotep shall live – Head of doctors who likes to keep things clear and simple.
Ouseret – the powerful – A female physician surrounded by mystery.
In the Amun temple
Iriamun (Iri-Amun) – belonging to Amun – The first prophet suffers from old age.
Duamutef (Dua-Mut-ef) – name of one of the four sons of Horus – Worshipping his mother – The third prophet quite likes men.
Djedefra (Djed-ef-Ra) – his perpetuity is Ra – The fourth prophet suffers a snake bite.
Kagemni (Ka-gemni) – I’ve found my ka – His successor doesn’t pity him.
Hemiunu (Hem-Iunu) – servant of the god Iunu (Ra) – Head of the priests who dislikes his assistants outflanking him.
Sehetep – the satisfying one – Hemiunu’s right hand who doesn’t always satisfy his superior and must undergo woebegone experiences.
Neb-Wenenef, called Wenen – master of his existences – a priest who has much to regret.
Setka (Set-Ka) – seat of the ka – a priest who isn’t easily suffered.
Neferka (Nefer-Ka) – beautiful ka – A priest who takes to his studies with a vengeance.
Bai – my ba – a priest easily insulted.
At the House of Death
Hut-Nefer – beautiful house – The head of the embalmers keeps dark secrets.
Kheper – formation, rebirth – An embalmer who’d like to guard Hori.
Hornakht (Hor-nakht) – Horus is strong – An embalmer on his guard.
Nebkaura (Neb-kau-Ra) – The lord of the kas is Ra – A lector priest one should guard against.
Merit-Ib – beloved heart – His wife guarding herself.
Additional persons
Thotnakht – the king’s first scribe.
Tep-Ta – one of the kings personal physicians.
Senankh – head of the Medjay, the king’s law enforcers.
Monthnakht – commander of the garrison protecting the embalming compound weryt.
Sennedjem – a palace guard.
Rahotep – his cousin and a weryt guard.
Geheset – a midwife.
