Eene Egyptische Koningsdochter / Historische Roman van George Ebers

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28120

Title

Eene Egyptische Koningsdochter / Historische Roman van George Ebers

Language

nl

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this historical novel, Persian King Cambyses becomes obsessed with Nitetis, an Egyptian princess he believes is his captive. However, a web of deceit reveals she is the daughter of the deposed Egyptian king Hophra, not the current ruler Amasis. As political tensions rise and Cambyzes' tyranny threatens Egypt, Nitetis must navigate court intrigue, rival harem factions, and the looming Persian invasion to secure her people's future.

Summary up to 500 words

The narrative opens with Cambyses, the Persian king, consumed by a violent jealousy and desire for Nitetis, an Egyptian woman he has captured. Despite Persian law requiring a foreigner to adopt Zoroastrianism before becoming a queen, Cambyses dismisses these traditions, viewing himself as the embodiment of the law. He despises his numerous concubines, whom he finds trivial, and elevates Nitetis above them all, intending to make her his sole wife. Nitetis, though weary from her journey, dreams of her homeland and her lover Bartja, who is preparing for war. She is plagued by nightmares involving the Nile turning red with blood. Upon waking, Nitetis overhears a sinister plot by her rivals, Phaedime and the eunuch Boges, who intend to eliminate her. Despite the threat, Nitetis feels a surge of strength and determination to overcome her enemies. She is introduced to the court of the blind Queen Cassandane, the widow of Cyrus, and meets the Egyptian physician Nebenchari. The text details the stark contrast between the harsh upbringing of Persian nobility and the more educated Egyptian women. The plot thickens when the physician reveals a shocking truth: Nitetis is not the daughter of the current Egyptian king Amasis, but of the deposed Hophra. Amasis had orchestrated a deception, taking the widow of Hophra into his palace and presenting her daughter as his own while simultaneously having his own wife Ladice give birth to a twin daughter. This revelation shatters Cambyses' perception of his conquest and his relationship with Nitetis. The narrative shifts to recount the tragic fate of Gaumata, brother of the high priest, who was mutilated for treason, and the subsequent devotion of Mandane, his sister, who follows him into exile. Following the death of Nitetis (implied or occurring off-stage in this excerpt's timeline relative to the revelation), Cambyses is shown hunting, visibly changed by grief and the realization that his will is not absolute. He encounters the Athenian Phanes, a guest who wins his favor through wit and charm. Phanes confirms the deception regarding Nitetis's lineage and the broader lies woven by Amasis. The story also touches upon the legendary friendship between Darius and Zopyrus, detailing how Zopyrus mutilated himself to trick Babylonians into helping Darius recapture the city, earning him immense honor. The text concludes with a letter from Darius ordering the ashes of Rhodopis, a beloved Greek woman at Naucratis, to be interred in a pyramid, honoring her memory and that of her descendants, including Parmys, who is now elevated to queen. The work blends historical fiction with elements of Herodotus's histories, exploring themes of power, deception, loyalty, and the clash between Persian and Egyptian cultures.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Fiction