Exploring Egypt: The joy of historical research

One of the best ways to research settings for my historical novels and bring ancient Egypt to life for readers is to visit the places I’m writing about.

This project would have been impossible to write without visiting Egypt (that’s the excuse I gave my partner for depleting our savings on a trip to the other side of the world). And much of what we saw and experienced has found a home in my manuscript - the timeless feel of the land, the burning breath of the desert, the shimmering heat, gliding across calm Nile waters flanked by date palms. And small details, like children playing along the riverbank, and the rippled patterns of sand in desert dunes.

Some experiences have been tailored for purpose - my characters do not traverse the desert in a speeding car with a driver yelling “Imshi” as he tries to outpace a sandstorm but instead struggle against the elements on foot. 

Travels in other countries lent themselves to being appropriated for writing about ancient Egypt - the storming sands that caught us unawares (and plagues the Hittite prince who answers Ankhe's plea) actually occurred in Jordan. And a scene where a young Ankhe thoughtlessly rushes to watch hippos charge into the water in a furious tumult was an incredible spectacle we witnessed while on safari in South Africa.

Imagination helps too. The magnificent Luxor temples with towering pylons we visited were not in ruins during Egypt's New Kingdom era. Likewise, the murals proclaiming the glories of kings and gods would have been vibrant in colours only hinted at by remnants of pigments that remain to us thousands of years later. I also kept in mind that many temples we saw had not been built during this period (my clever beta readers have been denied the hubris of pointing out a not-yet-existent temple with a triumphant shriek).

Another source of inspiration is museum exhibitions - especially the fabulous treasures discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb - giving insights into everyday life with exquisite examples of furniture and household goods, ornamental jewellery, clothing, toys, food and wine, chariots and weapons.

Last, but not least, I’m a big fan of desk-bound research - online searches and hunting through troves of books. I can get sidetracked collecting facts - following the trail of historical records, letters, photos, and maps - and analysing the information to devise plausible characters and actions to fit the known (and often unknown) history of New Kingdom Egypt.

Research is a joy of discovery that continues.