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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the authors imagination or are used
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Creative Director Simon Couchman. Editorial Director Daniel Graham. Art Editor Matt Denny.
Written by Gordon Volke. Illustrations by Neil Reed and Robert Nicholls.
Consultant Editor Dr Neal Spencer.
White Christmas
December 25th, 1915
Happy Christmas to my new journal and friend.
The choir
were in fine
singing voice at
this mornings
church service.
NOTE:
My ten-year-old brother,
Tom. I have much
more in common
with him than I do
with my sisters!
This is my house in
Little Waltham. It looked
very festive covered in a
thick layer of frost.
Talking of the past coming alive, I have a secret to reveal to you,
my new journal and friend. I will write more tomorrow. I am
fatigued from todays festive frivolities.
5
I miss Father
more than words
can describe.
A New Adventure
December 26th, 1915
Visiting the past is a highly dangerous business!
Dearest Father and the summer house - my favourite place in the whole world.
One day last summer, experimenting on my own in Fathers
absence, I found a strange machine, powered by a mysterious
green crystal, hidden in the shed adjoining the summer house. It
is a TIME MACHINE! Father built it and left it there for me to
discover when he went away. I have already used it to visit
different periods in the past and have recorded first hand what I
have seen. Tom comes with me on these exciting journeys. He
stumbled on the secret by accident, and the price of his silence is
to allow him to share my adventures. (I do not mind. He is a
bright and cheerful companion.)
6
The shed in
which the
time machine
is stored.
WAR NOTE: Poppies are abundant on the killing fields that surround the trenches.
Mortar shells expose the seeds, giving them the light that they need to germinate.
Other than my little brother, however, I do not want
anyone to know that we have the ability to go time-travelling.
If news of Fathers amazing invention ever leaked out, its
unique knowledge-gathering powers would be lost forever.
Poppies
ER !
B
M
E
REM ge crystal!
Char
Uncle George
Here is a portrait of Uncle George. It makes you smile just to look at him. If he
were a nursery rhyme character, he would be Old King Cole.
8
This is the crystal. Father saw it fall to Earth one night and
picked it up from the ground next morning. Fully charged,
it is immensely powerful. It can transport the time
machine through eons of time in a matter of seconds.
Midday
Early
evening
Success!
Happy New
Year!
Lydia and Kate were allowed to stay up and see in the New
Year, but I was banished to bed along with Tom. We were
deemed too young to stay up until midnight. If only they knew
what we get up to when we go time-travelling!
Uncle George came down to breakfast this morning looking
as if he had been run over by the omnibus that goes from the
village to town twice a week.
Are you all right, Uncle George? I asked, mischievously. I copied this
I drank far too much of your mothers finest port last
picture of
night, he groaned.
poet Rupert
Mama tried to change the subject by reading from the
Brooke from
morning paper. The article remembered the much-loved
the newspaper.
poet, Rupert Brooke, who died in April last year.
With tears f illing her eyes, she recited the
beginning of his poem The Soldier:
10
tsar cannot get together and sort out their differences instead of
expecting millions of ordinary people to die on their behalf.
Theyre all part of the same family, after all!
By late morning, Uncle George had recovered sufficiently to
take Tom kite-flying on Old Oak Hill. Then he made a date to
meet me at the summer house after lunch.
I have something to show you, he whispered, mysteriously.
It was a beautiful Egyptian artefact, a model boat made out of
wood and complete in every detail.
It was found in a tomb, explained Uncle George. People in
ancient Egypt believed they needed things from this life to help
them in the next. This boat would have enabled the dead to
journey across the river to the sacred city of Abydos.
Why are you showing me this, Uncle? I asked, curiously.
I just thought you might be interested, he answered, casually.
Ive been made Head of Ancient Egyptian Studies at the
university and so I gain access to these magnificent treasures from
time to time.
Uncle George is
very cunning. He
knows that a gentle
hint can be far
more persuasive
than instruction!
The ancient Egyptian model boat.
s there
a
w
y
h
W
and in
s
h
c
u
so m ook?
the b
Fathers Book
January 2nd, 1916
Midday In the aftermath of the Christmas and New Year festivities the
house was very still this morning. Lydia and Kate were still
recovering from their late night and Mama was visiting an
elderly friend, with Tom, in the village. I decided to take
advantage of the peace and quiet to set about reading the old
leather-bound book that Uncle George gave to me last night.
I took the book to the summer house and upon opening it
was surprised to discover a considerable amount of sand in
between the faded pages. Stranger still, the detailed descriptions
that adorn every page are in Fathers distinctive handwriting!
Over the next couple of hours, I pored over the contents
of Fathers book. Although I have only scratched the surface, the
level of detail is outstanding! (The book contains far more
information on ancient Egypt than the history books I use at
school.) Most interestingly, I have learned that Egyptian
civilisation lasted for 3,000 years. Thats over a thousand years
longer than our own civilisation! I had no idea that there were
so many interesting people and places to see.
The book contains over 500 pages, all of which have been penned in Fathers own hand.
It must have taken him years to compile this many field notes and observations.
12
I really
hate
Latin!
Alexandria Giza
LOWER
EGYPT
Western Desert
Heliopolis
Cairo
Memphis
and Saqqara
The River Nile
Eastern Desert
UPPER
EGYPT
Abydos
Thebes
Valley of the Kings
Karnak
Luxor
Red Sea
N
Aswan
Philae
Abu Simbel
E
S
13
Am I following in
Fathers footsteps?
Kit items:
Art materials
Matches
Rope
Tent
Tin opener
Compass
Mallet
Water canteen
Tinderbox
Lamp
Fuel
Penknife
Cooking pot
Emergency flares
Shopping reminder:
It is the twins birthday soon and I must buy them both a decent present
I completely forgot last year!
3.05pm The time machine is fully equipped, the crystal is pulsating like a
tiny green star and Tom is strapped into his seat. So this is it!
Ancient Egypt, here we come!
14
Illustration Note: This is the stone sculpture of King Djoser that I observed being completed.
Note the long, false beard he wears on his chin. It is a sign of his kingship.
15
MYSTERY NOTE:
The landing dislodged a piece of paper tucked away in a nook of the time machine. It read: Remember you cannot
change the course of history! and was written in Fathers handwriting.
Ibis birds Today we witnessed the final stages of construction of the very first pyramid.
are abundant
in ancient We landed with a BUMP on the outskirts of a place called
Egypt. Saqqara in the year 2648 BC. After concealing the time machine
16
Approximate Pyramid
Dimensions:
Height: 60 metres
s
Area: 121 x 109 metre
Add appropriate
attire to golden rules
of time travel.
Oh, how foolish can you be! Tom and I travelled back to
ancient Egypt wearing our everyday clothes. As soon as we
stepped out of our time machine, we stood out like sore thumbs!
They do not like outsiders here, so we were soon arrested by the
Pharaohs soldiers and sent to work on the pyramid site!
Despite being prisoners, we are not being badly treated.
They want us to work hard, so it is not in their interest to starve
us or beat us. During rest periods, I have managed to sketch this
picture of the construction site.
The pyramid is being built for King Djoser. He is a rich and
powerful pharaoh and this is to be his tomb when he dies. The
person in charge of this massive project is a man called Imhotep.
According to Fathers book, hes a genius a royal official, a
doctor, a priest, a far-seeing philosopher and, above all, a
brilliant architect.
I am very
worried about
Tom. He is
only a boy and
these long
hours labouring
in the hot sun
are making
him ill.
17
Ancient Egyptian
Flora:
The donkey is
adding the finishing touches to a huge statue of Pharaoh Djoser.
an important
load carrier in It was no fun sweeping up the choking dust and rubble, but at
ancient Egypt. least it was cool. Tom brightened visibly out of the glaring heat.
Papyrus: The ancient Egyptians use this tall plant to make paper.
It grows on the banks of the River Nile.
18
Blue Lotus
Abundant in
well-drained
areas. The
shape and
form of these
beautiful
flowers
remind me
of Cooks
dumplings!
Interesting Note:
Fathers book
says that over
90% of Egypt
is desert.
Escape!
Day 23, Saqqara, 2648 BC
Hollyhock
Safflor
Delphinium
20
King Djoser
This is the second time I have drawn and painted this scene. King Djoser greatly admired the first
picture and demanded that I give it to him. He seems to be very impressed by my artistic skills.
21
The Beast
Day 33, Saqqara, 2648 BC
A terrifying ordeal took me completely by surprise!
Morning The ancient Egyptians are very fussy about being clean and
smelling sweet. Almost every day, a servant brings us freshly
laundered clothes and scented oils, which we have to rub all over
our bodies. I think this is lovely, but Tom is not so keen. He says
it is very girly.
Pharaoh Djoser has not been seen for the last few days. I
imagine he is busy attending to state business or could be away
inspecting his army.
My brother and I are really enjoying our new luxurious
lifestyle. It is like staying at a top class hotel on permanent
holiday. However, when we do decide to go home, we cannot
arrive back in England wearing Egyptian robes. Our modern
clothes are dirty, so I am going to wash them today
and then store them in the time machine, ready for our
eventual departure.
washed.
Toms socks remain un them
ear
He will just have to w I am
.
home dirty and smelly again!
not going near the river
22
They
stink!
The beast that attacked me was over 5 metres long. Fathers book states that Nile crocodiles are
famed for their ferocity and eat animals much bigger than themselves and human beings! The
crocodiles method of hunting is to lay submerged and motionless, just breathing through the nostrils
on the top of its snout, and then rear up to snatch its prey, which it drags back underwater and
drowns. This species is typically 3.5 metres in length, but can grow to be 6 metres!
A Nile crocodile.
23
King Djoser
2667-2648 BC
Notes: The correct name for turning a dead body into a mummy is embalming.
An average mummified body was wrapped in about 350 square metres of cloth.
Thats about 200 modern bedsheets!
Now I know why King Djoser has not been seen for a while.
He is dead! He died suddenly and unexpectedly a few days ago.
His body will be mummified a process that takes seventy days
and then he will be buried in the heart of the Step Pyramid
that Imhotep has built for him.
Tom and I have decided to stay and see the ceremony. It will
be a great state occasion something we shall remember for the
rest of our lives. Our family will not miss us. However long we
are away time-travelling, the time remains the same at home.
The clock in the summer house stops when we depart and does
not resume until we return.
24
Day 4 In the middle of the night, I was seized and taken away from
Tom. I do not know what is going on and I feel very frightened.
Day 6 Spent all night shrieking and banging on the door. Nobody
answered. Nobody came.
Discovered and ate the (now melted) chocolate that I
packed in my provisions and finished the last of my water.
Slept fitfully for a few hours. Have woken up feeling slightly
stronger and determined not to give in! I shall keep myself
occupied for as long as I possibly can, recording in my journal
every detail of my imprisonment. Maybe, when the tomb is
excavated in the far distant future, people will learn about the
overwhelming vanity and cruelty of a man who thinks he is a god.
Oh, what I would give for a drink of Cooks home-made
lemonade. It is cloudy grey and bites the back of your throat!
25
IMPORTANT NOTE: The scene that I have illustrated is not from this period in Egyptian history (pyramids were never decorated with such
pictures). The scene is from the Book of the Dead and was copied onto papyrus rolls and placed in the tombs of wealthy people a thousand
years from now. As an artist, I would have liked to visit this highly decorative period in Egypts past.
26
Anubis
Judgement scales
Ammut the
Gobbler.
The judgement is made by weighing the dead persons heart against a feather on the scales.
If the heart is lighter, the person has not sinned and enters paradise. But if it is heavier,
it is tainted by sin and a terrible fate awaits !
Osiris
Thoth
Goodbye World
Funeral Week: Day ???
What shall I draw for my final picture?
People say that when you fall over a cliff or drown in a lake,
your whole life flashes in front of your eyes. Sitting here on my
own in total silence, my life has passed in front of my eyes at a
snails pace! For hours, I have thought about my family, my
friends, my work, my passions and the future I will no longer
have. I shall miss them all dreadfully.
My mouth and throat feel as dry as the desert surrounding the
Nile. And my stomach keeps gurgling like water running out of
the bath. Here is what I would like to eat and drink:
28
Help me!
ing
It is no fun playosses
noughts and cr .
on your own
Osiris
NOT
FAIR!
No!
No!
No !
No!
My last I have finished my final sketch and the torches that light my
entry final resting place are starting to fade. I do not have the strength
to do any more. My head is aching as if it is being hit by a
hundred hammers. I am going to lie down and sleep.
Goodbye, dearest Journal. You have remained my friend and
confidante right to the end.
Goodbye, sweet world.
Why
me?
H. Gray
29
Saved!
January 3rd, 1916
Saved at the eleventh hour!
30
This is Bruno.
Fiasco
January 6th, 1916
YUK! - The awful hat
that I tried on.
Morning
Evening
Present ideas:
Hat?
Scarf?
Chocolates?
Jewellery?
Gloves?
An omnibus
travels from
our village to
I plan to buy the twins a present today and get it wrapped up.
Otherwise, I will not hear the last of it from Mama. Fortunately, the nearby
town twice a
the omnibus goes from the village square to town this afternoon.
week. It is
driven by a
My trip to town turned out to be a total fiasco and through
cheerful man
no fault of my own. My Aunt Harriet and Cousin Millicent were called Alfred
there! They are the most objectionable human beings ever
and costs 1d
for the
created and I cannot abide to be in their company. This is what
return trip.
happened:
Make-up?
Theatre
tickets?
32
ult to
ic
f
if
d
o
s
it
d
Why do I efnints for my sisters?
buy pres
Book?
?????
Aunt Harriet
Cousin Millicent
Aunt Harriet and Millicent. Why do I dislike them so? Because they are
snobbish and self-centered. Their only concern is to feel superior to other people
at every opportunity. It is a trait I cannot abide!
33
My Nightmare
January 7th, 1916
I would rather share my room with a baboon!
IMPORTANT NOTE: In case Millicent gives the game away, Tom and I have decided to resume
our time-travelling as soon as possible. We are going to see the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Mid- Mama was not satisfied with burdening me with my cousin all
morning evening. She erected a camp bed in my bedroom and invited
34
Millicent to spend the night with me too. Mama means well. She
thinks I spend too much time on my own. But I would rather
share my room with a baboon than my cousin.
Feigning tiredness, I switched the light off early and went to
sleep. This was a big mistake. I had a vivid nightmare about my
terrifying experience in King Djosers tomb. More importantly, I
appear to have talked in my sleep.
When I awoke Millicent was upon me in a flash.
What machine were you talking about? she asked, sharply.
Ive no idea, I lied.
Anubis is an ancient Egyptian god. What made you dream
about him?
Uncle George was here at New Year, I answered, a bit
more truthfully. He aroused my interest in the subject.
Sounded like a very real dream to me, she commented.
Anyone would think you had been there in person!
Dont be so silly, Millicent, I said, turning over and going
back to sleep.
I thought the matter was closed. But, earlier this morning, I
found my nosy cousin had borrowed the key to the summer
house and was snooping around inside. A most unexpected turn
of events saved the day. A huge scorpion, which must have
travelled back with us from Egypt, crawled out from under the
shed door. Millicent took one look at it and fled, screaming.
10.00 pm Tom frightened the life out of me tonight. I looked into his room
at bedtime to make sure he was ready to leave for Egypt at first
light next morning. The room was in complete darkness and I
thought Tom was asleep. Suddenly, he switched on the new
f lashlight Mama had given him for Christmas. He shone it
upwards from under his chin, illuminating the ghastly gurning
face he was pulling. He looked hideous! I screamed out loud and
Mama came running along the landing to see what was wrong.
We apologised for disturbing her and she told us both to get into
bed immediately.
Bring that f lashlight with you tomorrow, I whispered
to Tom, as Mama closed her bedroom door. It might come
in useful.
What do you think I wanted it for? Tom replied.
Toms Flashlight
35
My Experiences
in Giza
2475 BC
Field Notes & Observations: There is a network of canals linking the River Nile to the site of the
great pyramids. These man-made waterways would have been essential for transporting heavy
building materials closer to the construction sites.
36
Arrival in Giza
Day 1, Giza, 2475 BC
Tom and I
returned the
stowaway
Early We set the dial for 2475 BC on January 8th at 5.47 am and, a scorpion
to its
morning matter of seconds later, found ourselves near the site of the
natural
Great Pyramid at Giza. We had landed in a hollow surrounded environment.
The whole place looks like one of those colourful picture postcards.
Notes Pyramids were developed from low-rise mud brick tombs called
from mastabas. King Djoser created the first pyramid by placing six
Fathers mastabas of decreasing size one on top of another. (Tom and I
book visited the resulting Step Pyramid during our first expedition to
ancient Egypt.) The Great Pyramid is the greatest example of
pyramid architecture in the world. Such was the difficulty of
building the largest-ever pyramid that the feat was never
repeated on such a grand scale.
The Great
Pyramid contains
more than two
million limestone
blocks.
Khafres Pyramid.
Menkaures pyramid.
Khafres causeway.
38
Cap stone.
SPECIAL NOTE: Khafre built his pyramid (the one in the middle) on high ground
to make it look bigger than his fathers pyramid (The Great Pyramid).
The pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure are to the left. These two
pharaohs were Khufus sons (or possibly one was a grandson).
The three pyramids face the rising sun and were intended to be
stepladders to the stars. These pharaohs believed that when
they died they would travel upwards from their pyramids and
join Re, the sun god.
The area surrounding the Great Pyramid is dominated by gridded streets of stone mastaba tombs.
39
Tomb Robbers
Day 1, Late Afternoon, Giza, 2475 BC
Finger ring.
NOTE:
Fathers book
says the
finger ring is
an amulet.
These are
given to
people in this
life to wear
in the next,
bringing them
good luck.
40
Main burial
chamber.
No matter how hard I try, I am not able to accurately show the layout of the pyramid site using
ground level illustrations. In light of this, I have resorted to copying a detailed plan from Fathers book.
Khafres pyramid.
Menkaures pyramid.
Western cemetery.
W
S
The pyramid of
Pharaoh Khufu.
Causeways.
Great
Sphinx.
Pyramids of Khufus
three chief wives.
Causeway.
Eastern cemetery.
41
An Unplanned Expedition
to Deir-el-Medina
1440 BC
Tom has gone off to play with a boy, about his age, called Paheri. This has left me
plenty of time to draw and paint this bustling place.
42
Everyday Egyptians
Day 1, Deir-el-Medina, 1440 BC
On this trip I hope to observe and learn about normal Egyptian people.
43
The sidelock of
youth hairstyle
is a celebration
of the youth of
the wearer.
44
Deir-el-Medina.
Ameny
Ahmose
Paheri
Seniseneb
Egyptian family
portrait.
Neferu
Typical male
clothing.
Typical
female
gown.
Field Notes & Observations: The village is home to lots of skilled workmen, who are employed by
the pharaoh of the era, King Tuthmosis the Third. Men appear to be the head of the household, but
the women I have seen are not treated as second-class citizens as in many other countries
(including my own!). The village does not have its own water supply or means of growing food.
Everything is brought in for the residents on donkeys.
45
1.00 pm Ahmose went for a long walk with me today. We crossed the
valley to the tomb of King Tuthmosis the Third that he is helping
to build. This pharaoh has been very successful and has plenty
of money to spend on an elaborate burial chamber. He wants it
to be cut deep inside a mountain of rock, concealed from the
outside world for all eternity.
Bedtime I have just related todays events to Tom. He sat up in his bed
opposite me, looking very concerned.
Youd better watch yourself, Netty, he said. Ahmoses
getting sweet on you. You dont want to end up a young
Egyptian housewife, do you?
Typical Egyptian homes.
Dont be so silly, Tom, I scoffed.
Field Notes & Observations: The workmen are divided into two groups, those that work on the right of
the Pharaohs tomb and those that work on the left. The men work for ten days and then have two days
off. Ameny conveyed to me that they only work for about six months of the year. They are not paid
wages. Instead, they are given a house, food and clothing.
46
Day 7
Day 10
Morning
A family party is being planned for tonight. Tom was all set to
stay in the hope of getting some beer, but he changed his mind
when I told him he would be expected to wear eyeshadow and
make-up along with the other men. So we have decided to go
home. Rude though it seems, we will sneak away when everyone
is busy getting ready for the party.
Back home
Ahmose must have seen us leaving. He ran after us and reached
our time machine before we had a chance to depart. I could see
through the window that he was very upset and looked fearful of
our time machine, so I told Tom to abort take-off.
I opened the door and Ahmose stood there, his face all
crumpled up and his eyes brimming with tears. He thrust a thin
linen bundle into my hand and ran off in a cloud of dust.
This time, the dial worked properly and we returned to the
summer house in a matter of minutes.
My wedding gift.
The Great
Sphinx guards the
three pyramids
(Khafre, Khufu and
Menkaures tombs)
behind it.
9.30 am
The face is
There! I have spent the last three hours working on a full colour 4 metres
wide.
painting of the Sphinx. Actually, there are lots of Sphinx statues
in ancient Egypt, but this is the largest and is known as The
Great Sphinx.
The Sphinx faces due east, so it lines up with the rising sun each
morning. This makes it a holy place.
Over time the sphinx was buried deep beneath
Egypts constantly shifting sand.
There are secret tunnels under the Sphinx.
48
Ritual
beard.
The sacred
cobra.
49
11.30 am Tom returned home with some bicycle oil he had bought in
the village.
Lets put some on the time dial, he suggested. It might help
the numbers to spin round more smoothly.
As we lubricated the moving parts, we noticed a small flap
that we had not seen before. We lifted it up to reveal a button.
Wonder what its for, Netty, murmured Tom.
Lets be scientific and find out, I replied, pressing it firmly.
The time dial clicked loudly and the right-hand number
wheel moved round once. A second press moved the next
wheel round and so on. There was also a plus and minus
lever above.
I know what this is for! I cried. Its a nudge button. We
can use it to move forwards or backwards in time by one, ten, a
hundred or a thousand years or any combination in between.
50
My new
green rucksack.
It will be
very useful on
my timetravelling
adventures.
Bedtime
The local
village store.
In contrast to
Mr Givens
At dinner, Mama asked me how I am getting on with my Latin
his wife is
revision. I think she suspects I have not yet done any. She also
very polite
gave me a hand mirror and told me to keep it. Mama is hinting
and knows
that, unlike my older sisters, I do not take enough care with my her place in
appearance. She is right. I am not the least bit bothered about the this world.
latest fashions or what I look like. I have far more important and
interesting things to occupy my mind these days.
Tom was in his element today, playing with Daniel and
building dens in the nearby woods. I am not so happy.
Oh, for another taste of the blazing Egyptian sun!
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone, in 1799, enabled scholars to decipher hieroglyphs.
c,k
u,v,w
HIEROGLYPH NOTES:Ive paired some decorative hieroglyphic signs with the modern letter sounds
they represent. Hieroglyphic writing is not like our alphabetic system as one sign often represents a
combination of two or more consonants. Many other hieroglyphs were not spoken at all and only served
to clarify meanings.
52
Here is what Lydias finger ring and Kates necklace looked like.
NOTE: The scarab beetle (better known as the dung beetle) is sacred in ancient Egypt. Why? Because the way the beetle
rolls a ball of dung across the ground looks like the way the sun moves across the sky during the day. The sun is the ultimate
god, so anything resembling it is holy.
53
An Accidental
Adventure in Thebes
1347 BC
The royal couple on their
ill-advised walkabout
through the streets.
54
EXCITING NEWS!
The king has invited us to stay in the royal household to thank us for saving the day!
This will make a pleasant change from camping in the inhospitable desert!
Tom insisted
on bringing his
Day 1, Arrival at Thebes, 1347 BC
rucksack filled
with various
The young man we have come to see has not yet been born!
bits and
pieces so that, Tom has joined the Boy Scout pack that has just been formed
to quote his in the village. Now he does not want to do anything that is not
new motto, connected with Scouting! It took me quite a while to persuade
he will
him even to come on this time-travelling journey.
be prepared.
The Scout
emblem.
Toms
whistle
55
Afternoon King Akhenaten is a splendid fellow! But there are many aspects
of his life of which I dont approve. He has more than one wife,
for example, and Queen Nefertiti just happens to be his favourite.
However, he is not a war-loving pharaoh. Quite the opposite.
He is a philosopher and art-lover with a gentle disposition. We
get on very well together, despite the fact that we cannot talk
directly. We communicate through the medium of my pictures.
Akhenaten really is an unusual pharaoh. As well as changing
Egypts art style, he has completely reformed the countrys
King Akhenaten
hates unnatural religion and is about to move the capital from Thebes to a new
sideways-on city some 480 kilometres upstream. These drastic reforms are not
Egyptian art. going down too well with his subjects. I suspect it will all be
changed back when he is gone.
The King loves the fact that my pictures look just like the
people or things they represent. Egyptian art is not like this.
For the past two thousand years, everybody and everything has
been shown sideways on. Akhenaten hates that. From now on,
the King has ordered that all images of himself and his court
should look natural. And he wants me to paint a special portrait
of Nefertiti.
Day 7
morning
Present-day fact: This very same bust was excavated five years ago, in 1911!
I distinctly remember that Uncle George was most excited by the disovery.
56
Queen Nefertiti
Early Tom and I have often needed to go home in a hurry to escape some
evening terrible danger or avoid a time-travelling disaster. On this occasion,
however, I feel that we must leave soon because we are becoming
too comfortable. So we have decided to use our newly-found nudge
button and will travel on to visit Tutankhamen tonight.
Last
entry
for
today
A Grand Procession
Day 12, Thebes, 134 7 BC
The grandeur of the procession made me realise just how rich and powerful the Pharaoh is.
7.00 am The day of the big move has arrived. The Pharaoh, his various
wives and children, and everyone in his huge royal court are
leaving Thebes in a grand procession.
The city of Akhetaten, to which everyone is going, is a brand
new settlement on the banks of the River Nile. Among many
other splendid features, it has a grand royal palace and a massive
statue of Aten the god that the Pharaoh wants everyone to
worship to the exclusion of all the others. The pharaohs subjects
are not happy about this.
Late This entry in my journal is being made from the safety of our
afternoon time machine. How did we find it? It came about in the most
extraordinary way
Tom joined me at my roadside easel to say that a sandstorm
was fast approaching. I did not take much notice, thinking it
would just pass by harmlessly, but a huge swirling sand cloud
came veering round the city walls and hit the procession. Total
chaos ensued! Everyone (including the Pharaoh) was forced to
take cover from the choking darkness.
As the sand clouds started to clear, Tom yelped with delight.
Look, Netty. Its back! he shrieked.
The sandstorm had uncovered our time machine! Not
wasting another second, we ran to the machine and locked
ourselves inside. This time, I will work the time dial and move us
on twenty years to the latter part of Tutankhamens reign.
58
False beard
Hook
Flail
Map showing
relocation.
Akhetaten
Thebes
NOTE: Ancient Egyptian hand mirrors were made of bronze and did
not give a very clear reflection.
60
Mirror Magic
Day 1, the royal court at Thebes, 1327 BC
All done with mirrors!
Early With plenty of power still left in the crystal, it took less than
evening three seconds to travel this tiny morsel of time. The time
Banquet foods
that I saw:
Duck
Oryx
Goat
Gazelle
Cucumber
Melon
Dates.
Sycamore figs.
The mirror
that Mama
gave to me.
Bread made
from barley.
Tutankhamen
Day 11, the desert, 1327 BC
This is the life!
First light
Thankfully
the ostrich
I hate to appear smug, but my predictions about Akhenatens evaded the
reforms all seem to have come true. The country has reverted
hunters
today.
to its old religion; the capital has returned to Thebes and official
art is back to being sideways-on again. Tutankhamen is
responsible for these changes. As a result, he is a very popular
young pharaoh.
Tutankhamen is head of the Egyptian army. But all the
fighting is done for him by his soldiers. Recently, they defeated
Egypts old enemy, the Hittites, in the north of the country. All
the new wall paintings show him leading his troops into battle,
but he never actually left the royal palace.
Final entry
for the day
Sacred rattle
The discs in
the centre
rattle when
shaken.
Flute
Made of wood and very melodic.
62
Made an awful
metallic din!
A study of
ancient
Egyptian
instruments.
Bone clappers
This fun
instrument
is played like
castanets.
Tutankhamen in
pursuit of ostrich.
Notes on Tutankhamen:
Tutankhamen was born around 1342 BC in the new city of Akhetaten.
His mother was called Kiya. She was King Akhenatens second-favourite wife.
Enjoyed a happy childhood amid the splendour of the recently-built palaces and gardens.
Became pharaoh at the age of nine.
63
My picture of
Mr Howard Carter.
Murder!
Day 17, the royal palace at Thebes, 1327 BC
I fear that we are in mortal peril!
2.00 pm Tom has just arrived with some appalling news. He saw Ay push
the Pharaoh down a steep flight of stone steps!
1 1.15 pm
Day 18
6.00 am
Tom sobbed his way through the night. I kept him hidden
behind my bed and gave him frequent hugs. I fear we are
now in great danger and must leave as soon as possible.
8.15 am
64
65
Must think
of an escape
plan!
Measurements:
The mask is about
50 centimetres high and
weighs around 10 kilograms.
Afterlife Provisions
Some of the treasures buried with Tutankhamen.
The number and variety of valuable possessions that were buried with
Tutankhamen is breathtaking! I have drawn some of my favourites.
I hope to discuss the items with Uncle George when I return to the present.
This statue is a depiction of
Tutankhamen in a papyrus boat
in the role of Horus, son of the
Sun God. It is made of marble
and is covered in gold leaf.
A statue of the
living god, Netjer
Ank. The King
believed Netjer Ank
would help him in
his passage through
the underworld.
Ecclesiastical chair.
Statue of Anubis.
Canopic jars.
68
Golden throne.
Alabaster
boat.
A gold-leafed statue
of the Goddess
Menkheret carrying
the body of King
Tutankhamen
wrapped in a shroud.
A bust of the
Sun God
emerging from
a lotus flower.
Gold-leafed falcon.
King Tutankhamen's
royal sceptre.
69
River Journey
Days 41-45, the Nile, 1327 BC
Queen Ankhesenamens
future is even more
uncertain than ours!
Cargo boat.
70
Fishing boat
made from
papyrus
reeds.
The River Nile is the countrys great highway. Boats of all shapes and sizes ply up and down it every
day. The wind from the north blows you downstream; the current carries you upstream.
Note the farmer ploughing the
rich, dark soil on the riverbank.
This is what is left every year
when the floodwaters
recede. Wheat and barley
are the main crops
wheat for making bread
and barley for making
beer. They also grow
peas, beans and many
other vegetables.
The river teems with fish and other wildlife.
Roast duck is an Egyptian luxury but you
have to catch one first!
71
Animals that
I observed
during our
river voyage:
hippopotamus,
geese,
Late
afternoon
72
toads.
Final Adventure
Day 47, Thebes, 1327 BC
Facing death on a daily basis is a tiring business!
Tom and I hid in a deserted farmhouse, waiting for nightfall. Animals that
Luckily, we were not all that far from Thebes. So, under cover I observed in
the desert
of darkness, we sneaked out and made our way back to our
outside
time machine at the palace. I imagined Ays soldiers would be
Thebes:
out in force, searching for us, but there was no sign of any.
lions,
As dawn broke, we parted the foliage to reveal our precious ship
and found Ay standing there, waiting for us.
jackals,
With an irate snarl, he grabbed both our wrists and dragged
hyenas,
us, yelling and protesting, to this disgusting place. It is where the
antelope,
bodies of the dead pharaohs are turned into mummies.
74
gazelle,
bull,
cobra,
termites.
Tom and I pressed our backs against the door and closed our
eyes, waiting for the fatal blows to fall. Instead, we felt the door
opening behind us, and we fell backwards on top of one another.
Looking up, we saw Ankhesenamen hastily locking the door again
with Ays soldiers pounding on it furiously from the other side.
Thank you for saving us, I whispered, indicating my
meaning with a grateful smile. The young queen then led us
back to the time machine and waved us goodbye.
Grinning with delight, Tom jumped inside and prepared for
immediate take-off.
Come on, Netty. Were ready! he called.
One second, Tom, I replied, turning to Ankhesenamen.
I had to know what was going to happen to her. She pointed into
the distance, indicating the arrival of her Hittite prince, and ran
her finger across her throat to say he had been murdered. Then
she held up her wedding finger and said one dreaded word, Ay.
My brother was right! The poor girl was being forced to marry
her uncle. Who knows what will become of her?
As I turned to leave she thrust two items into my hand. The
first was my hand mirror, which she was returning. The second
was an exquisite fan showing her beloved Tutankhamen before
this tragedy befell him.
I tried to refuse the latter, but she insisted I took it. And then
she was gone, melting into the night like a shadow.
Lets go home, Tom, I said, using my sternest voice to
disguise my tears.
Right you are, sis, he called, cheerfully.
The summer house clock started ticking again as we emerged
from our time machine. We had been away for a long time.
Personally, I feel exhausted. Facing death on a daily basis is
a tiring business!
It must be
nice to be a
ten-year-old
boy. Nothing
ever gets
clouded by
emotion!
75
I feel much
better after a
good nights sleep.
Introducing Algenon
Great Waltham, January 12th, 1916
Tom and I have a good luck mascot for the time machine.
Morning Did you know, my dear Journal, that teddy bears were only
invented about twenty years ago? I imagined, like dolls, they
had been around for centuries, but not so. They were thought up
at more or less the same time in America and in Germany. Why
do I mention this? Because I have been sent one as a present!
Dearest Grandmama (the one who used to worry so much
about catching colds) bought a German teddy just before the
war. She meant to send it to me, but sadly she died and it
remained in her cupboard until Grandpapa discovered it
recently. He has now sent the toy to me. I think Lydia and Kate
are a little jealous, but I do not care. I was always Grandmamas
favourite. I have decided to call my bear Algenon, or Algy for
short, and I shall keep him in the time machine. He can be my
mascot and bring Tom and me luck.
4.30 pm
an engraving of
Tutankhamen
hunting ostrich
on his chariot.
PERSONAL NOTE: I am still struggling with my Latin grammar. Agricola (a farmer) and nauta (a sailor) are first declension
nouns, but dominus (a master) is a second declension noun. What does this mean? I really do not understand!
77
This evening, after supper, Uncle George sat next to me on the sofa.
Have you read Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra?
he asked.
Not yet, Uncle, I replied.
You should try it soon, he said. I think youll find the
characters really come to life in front of you.
Suddenly, I realised he was telling me to visit the final phase of
ancient Egypts 3,000-year-long history.
But what about Alexander the Great? I exclaimed.
Dont be ridiculous, Henrietta, scoffed Millicent, who was
listening in on our conversation. Shakespeare didnt write a play
about Alexander the Great.
Stupid girl! Why doesnt she mind her own business? She has
no idea what were really talking about!
79
Our Exploration
of Alexandria
47 BC
Tom knew I was itching to paint
this magnificent monument, so
he went off to play on his own
for a while or rather, to play
with Algy. I am beginning to
think I should have given the
toy to my little brother!
80
It took a long time to get everything ready for our trip. For one
thing, I had to wash and dry our Egyptian costumes, which
Mama saw hanging on the washing line.
What do you need those for, Henrietta? she asked.
I am putting on a play, I replied, hastily.
I see, dear, she murmured and wandered away.
Dearest Mama! She believes everything anyone tells her.
With the green crystal fully charged again, our journey to
47 BC took eleven minutes and fifteen seconds. We landed on
the outskirts of Alexandria, the splendid city at the mouth of the
Nile, founded by the aforementioned Alexander the Great.
Having changed our clothes, and hidden the time machine, we
looked around and were awestruck by an enormous building
overlooking the harbour. It was the famous Lighthouse of
Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Our Egyptian
washing.
Ancient
Egyptian
coins.
Queen Cleopatra
Day 3, Alexandria, 47 BC
The last pharaoh of Egypt.
Earlier today Tom found two bronze coins featuring a side profile portrait of Cleopatra.
I think the portrait is somewhat unkind as it highlights her prominent nose.
82
Cleopatra
Notes from Fathers book on Cleopatra: Her Early Life:
Born in 69 BC, Cleopatra came to the throne of Egypt in 51 BC at the age of
18. She proved herself to be a capable (and often ruthless) ruler. When she asked
Rome for help in dealing with a revolt led by her brother, Cleopatra met Julius
Caesar. They started a relationship and in 47 BC she gave birth to a son
nicknamed Caesarion (which means Little Caesar).
83
Julius Caesar
Day 4, Alexandria, 47 BC
The Queen is an expert in the mixing of poisons.
Afternoon
Smudge
Tom and I
have been given
jobs at the
royal zoo. My
favourite
animal is a
zebra that I
have named
Smudge some of the
stripes on his
hind legs join
together and
look a bit like
an ink blot.
Caesar
Cleopatra
Illustration Note: Apparently, when Caesar first arrived in Egypt, he was given a Persian carpet as
a welcoming present. When it was displayed by two servants, Cleopatra was rolled up inside it and
landed at her visitors feet! Caesar was so taken by this playful trick, he soon became the young
queens devoted partner!
85
My picture
Suddenly, I brightened. Father knew that a situation like this of a famous
would arise one day. So he was telling us not to be upset when
bust of
something tragic happens. We cannot stop it. Time-travellers can Julius Caesar.
only observe.
I now accept that history must run its course and
so I wish to celebrate the life of a remarkable man.
87
My Account of an
Ancient Egyptian Conflict
31 BC
Quinquereme
cross-section.
Before Tom and I departed to observe the Battle of Actium, I was fortunate enough to be shown
around one of Antonys impressive quinquereme vessels. The knowledge that I gained on the tour has
enabled me to make this splendid entry in my journal.
88
Mongoose
This is the mongoose we found.
Mongooses are a bit like cats, only
much fiercer! They eat worms,
insects, chickens, rodents and snakes.
They are famous for killing large,
venomous snakes, like cobras.
Time travel note: Tom and I have re-entered the royal household by offering our services in the
kitchens. This lowly position enables me to observe events without courting unwanted attention.
89
Mark Antony
Day 6, Alexandria, 31 BC
Mark Antony is
a bad influence
on Tom!
90
Midday
Late
evening
11.15 pm My feelings about war have already been well documented in this
journal. But, having promised Tom, I have no choice but to allow
him to witness the great showdown between the forces of
Octavian and those of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Fathers book
notes that the battle took place at sea between two sets of
warships. So, helping to lift some cargo onto one of the Queens
supply vessels, we have sneaked on board and set off for the coast
of Greece where the battle fleets are gathering.
Mark Antony
91
8.40 am We have spent several tedious days waiting for this battle to
commence. Finally, this morning, Tom came running down the
deck and yelled to me in football parlance (a game that grows
more popular every year at home):
Its all kicking off now, Netty!
The towers housed
Quinquereme warship
Antony's fleet consisted primarily of massive
quinquereme boats.
Battering ram.
Important note:
Sails were taken down in
preparation for battle.
powerful catapaults.
Field Notes & Observations: The Battle of Actium pitted the forces of Octavian against those of Mark
Antony. Both sides tried to manoeuvre into position to ram the opposing side and thus sink their ships. The
ramming tactic swiftly became a stalemate as most of Antonys boats were too slow to catch the Liburnian
vessels, which, in turn, were too small to inflict damage on the larger quinqueremes.
92
12.00 pm Fortunately, we are far enough away from the warships not to be
able to witness the terrible fighting on the decks. All we can see
are two f leets of warships, some big and some small, locked in
combat on the sparkling Ionian Sea.
Boarding gangplank.
Battering
ram.
Liburnian warship
The battle turned in favour of Octavian when his smaller Liburnian vessels used
their speed advantage to get close to the quinqueremes and destroy the oars.
After a few hours, many ships in Antonys fleet were dead in the water.
Tar-covered flaming arrows were then fired at the stricken vessels
to set them on fire.
Supply Vessel
When Cleopatra saw Mark Antony was losing the battle, she fled
back to Egypt (taking us with her in a supply ship, I am pleased to
say!). Antony also abandoned the fight and followed her, leaving most
of the ships in his fleet to be captured or sunk.
In the aftermath of
the defeat at Actium,
Mark Antony killed himself rather
than suffer the humiliation
of defeat.
93
Last Journey
to Ancient Egypt
30 BC
After referring to Fathers book, I have learned that Octavian (now called Emperor
Augustus) had visited Egypt and planned to parade Cleopatra through Rome bound in
chains an insult that the proud queen could not tolerate, so she took her life.
94
It took us three
days to return
to Alexandria.
Final Entry
Very
distressing !
my
time-travelling secret!
96