“The queen has asked me to make inquiries.”

Posted December 17, 2020 by Dana

In December 2019 I traveled to Egypt to do research for the Eye of Isis novels, which are set in Alexandria in the time of Cleopatra.

Remember the paintings from Neferteri’s tomb? These are paintings from the tomb of Sennedjem in Deir-el-Medina. Sennedjem is the artist who painted Nefertari’s tomb. Our guide said the artists saved the best efforts for their own tombs, and of course Pharaoh would never have seen them so he wouldn’t be mad and lop off their heads.

A musician playing a harp. Look at the details, the pleats of his linen kilt, the braids that fringe his hair (or his wig), the perfection of every little hieroglyphic.

Pharaoh between the Eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus.

William Morris could have designed this print made of Hathors.

I was particularly fond of this painting of the Anubises doing the haka.

“The queen has asked me to make inquiries as to the theft the Thalassa suffered last week.”

“We have all already spoken to the Eye.”

“Yes,” she said, “you have, and now you will speak to me.” — Death of an Eye, 2018