Imagine going on a mystical journey that transcends the boundaries of life and death. This is the essence of The Book of Gates, an ancient Egyptian text that serves as a cosmic map for souls navigating the afterlife. Today we will examine this journey and see how it has influenced the YA fantasy novel, Treasures of Egypt: the Spear & the Scythe.

In ancient Egypt, the concept of Maat stood at the very heart of society's beliefs and practices. Maat embodied the foundational principles of order, truth, and justice that ancient Egyptians held dear. They saw it as the cosmic force that ensured the universe operated harmoniously, from the predictable change of seasons to the reliable patterns of the stars. Today we discuss the goddess Maat who personified the cosmic concept of order and how she was depicted in the YA fantasy novel, Treasures of Egypt: the Spear & the Scythe.

Sobekneferu was the first woman in Egyptian history we know, without any doubt, ruled alone as the king. Her reign, though brief, marked the last hurrah of the Middle Kingdom before the start of what will be known as the second intermediate period and the beginning of Egypt’s division into two countries.

Sobekneferu, whose name is a tribute to the crocodile god Sobek and roughly translates as “the beauty of Sobek,” was the daughter of Amenemhat III, a ruler known for his architectural projects and the prosperity of his reign.

Today, we will meet a woman who witnessed Egypt both at its strongest and its weakest and learn about her depiction in the YA fantasy novel, Treasures of Egypt: the Spear & the Scythe.