City of the Dead
Facts and Fiction

Thank you for reading City of the Dead! I hope you enjoyed the story, and learned a bit about Ancient Egypt along the way.

The story of City of the Dead is fictional, although several of the characters actually lived. Pharaoh Khufu, of course, was the second Pharaoh of the Fourthy Dynasty of Egypt, ruling around 2500 BC. His rule took place about 1000 years before the Exodus. By the time Moses was born in Egypt, the pyramids were already ancient monuments!

Hemiunu, chief engineer and architect of the Great Pyramid, was also a real person. Family records vary, and we are unsure of his exact relation to Khufu, but he was most likely a cousin or nephew. I also based Merit, Khufu's wife, on one of his actual wives.

The locations, geography, customs, architecture, food, burial practices, etc. were all based on my extensive research and travels through Egypt. I attempted to stay close to accepted Egyptology, though I certainly encountered many alternative theories along the way!

The book, How the Great Pyramid was Built, by Craig Smith, was of great help to me as I imagined the timetables and workforce needed to build the pyramid and the entire complex surrounding it. We cannot know the exact methods and means used to build the pyramid, but Smith's logical theories open a window on the process.

And what about the People of the One? The time of this story takes place in between our biblical knowledge of Noah and of Abraham. During that break in the biblical narrative the entire culture of Egypt was developed. But when Abraham appears on the scene, he seems to have a well-developed understanding of the One True God, along with the ideas of covenant, sacrifice and tithing. We can only assume that from the time of Noah's intimate involvement with God until the time of Abraham, there continued to be a remnant of people who remained true to God, who passed the truth to subsequent generations. And given the lengthy lifespans of these ancient people, it is even likely that Seth, Noah's son, was still alive at the time this story takes place. Although the People of the One came from my imagination, there is every reason to believe that such a people existed, even in the midst of the polytheism of Ancient Egypt.

History of the Great Pyramid of Giza
from Wikipedia

The Great Pyramid of Giza, also called Khufu's Pyramid or the Pyramid of Khufu, and Pyramid of Cheops, is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now Cairo , Egypt, and is the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for Fourth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. Originally the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface, and what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base. There have been varying scientific and alternative theories regarding the Great Pyramid's construction techniques. Most accepted construction theories are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.

There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber are higher up within the pyramid structure. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the main part of a complex setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honor of Khufu (one close to the pyramid and one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu's wives, an even smaller "satellite" pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles.

*To read about Tracy's Travels in Egypt, and see photos of the locations of the book's setting, click here.