Light of the World

Author: Christian Jacq
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: "Ramesses, the Great Victor, Guardian of Truth, the Sun King." Jean-Fran?ois Champollion (1790–1832), who deciphered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and thus unlocked the door to ancient Egyptian civilization, described his sincerely revered pharaoh—Ramesses—with these very words. The name of Ramesses indeed transcends centuries and conquers time: he was favored by the gods, the source of Western civilization, the embodiment of all-powerfulness during the era of Egyptian pharaohs, ruling for sixty-seven years from 1279 BC to 1212 BC as the "Son of Light," Ramesses created the golden age of Egypt and demonstrated his personal wisdom and sagacity. On the land of Egypt, travelers can see the traces of Ramesses everywhere: he left his mark on countless buildings built by royal master craftsmen or restored during his reign. The two temples at Abu Simbel, the hypostyle hall of the Karnak Temple, and the smiling colossal statue in the Luxor Temple are forever ruled by the sacred Ramesses and his queen, Nefertari. Ramesses is not just a hero in a novel; he is the hero of many novels. He is the hero of a true epic that tells us about his great achievements under the guidance of his father Seti, his diligent efforts until the end of his reign, and his life filled with numerous trials. This series consists of five volumes, not only commemorating Ramesses but also describing the features of a special group woven together by unforgettable characters: the pharaoh Seti, his queen Daia, the tall Nefertari, the beautiful Isis, the poet Homer, the serpent priest Setna-Khamwas, the Jew Moses, and many other characters resurrected in the book. The mummy of Ramesses is kept in the Cairo Museum, the body of this great elder is perfect, exuding an unforgettable charm. Many visitors who have seen the mummy feel as if he will wake up from his sleep at any moment. Everything that Ramesses lost due to his physical death is reborn through the magic of the novel. Thanks to historical anecdotes and Egyptology, we can share his sorrows and joys, experience his failures and successes, encounter the women he loved, feel the heart-wrenching betrayal he endured and the eternal friendship he cherished, resist the forces of evil, and embark on a spiritual journey to seek the light that is the source of all things and the destination of all origins. Great Ramesses, from the battle where he fought to the death with a wild bull to the shadow resting under the sycamore tree, that was the fate of this great pharaoh who lived and died with Egypt—the land beloved by the gods. On that land blessed with water and sunlight, the words of loyalty and forgiveness, the fairness of impartiality, and the city-destroying beauty all have specific meanings and are realized in daily life; on that land where heaven and earth are connected, life can be resurrected from death, the unknown present can be within reach, and immortal love can open the heart and fill people with joy. Egypt is Ramesses'.