The Voyage of the Sun God

"The old King stood on his rooftop, outside the tapestries of his pavilion. His eyes followed the roosting ibis until they disappeared into the silhouettes of their palm trees. Below and between, the lights of Piramesses were appearing as door-keepers trimmed their wicks and porters lit hearth fires, bringing a glow to the window grilles of high-walled rooms. Outside the gates of this city of fireflies an armed Egyptian escort was encamped with an Asiatic prize in its midst. Tomorrow, that prize would be delivered up to him."

Ramesses III hopes that a diplomatic marriage with the young Hittite Princess brought to him by General Ahmose will resolve the dilemma of his succession by giving him an indisputable heir. However, his dangerous eldest son Prince Ramesses is determined to succeed his father while, in the harem, the Royal Ornaments are making plans of their own. Ahmose's wife Maya, trapped with him in a loveless marriage, is trying to resist her attraction to Prince Rahotep when the sudden death of the Apis bull sends the court on a voyage along the Nile which will ultimately end in tragedy.