While working with the historiography and translations of some things for this story I was indebted to a variety of people and sources. Over all though the choice of which to go with was mine. Sometimes I simply chose what I thought sounded, best and not necessarily what was most correct. At other times I went with what I thought was closest to the films; and when they proved inconsistent, I simply chose what I liked best. So, I hope the following explanatory notes make some sense.
“There is no honor in certain victory, not for gods, men, or monsters.” Egyptian, New Kingdom, author unknown., translation through the Arabic attributed to TE Lawrence.
I think actually it might be better translated as “...gods, men, or creatures in between.” (Because the Egyptians had a whole slew of lesser demigods both good and evil and that’s really more what this term means.) But I am certainly not going to contest Lawrence’s translation. :)
Historical notes on the Medjai.
The Medjai (Here I went with the second film as to spelling, and that is only in subtitles when Nefertiri calls to them in Egyptian) However in the novelizations, in the CD liner notes and in various published interviews the word is spelled Med-Jai. So, I truly think either is fine. Personally, I like Med-Jai, better, possibly because it seems more Egyptian to me.
The Medjai/Med-Jai/Medjay were a Nubian people who were conquered by the Egyptians and became a mercenary force in the Egyptian army. Later they were made a separate unit which in turn became a sort of Pharaonic police force. I assume this is the group that eventually gave rise to the tribes we see in the movies. Or at least that’s my story.
Language notes: Or Who is speaking What exactly?
Since Ardeth speaks Arabic to the other Medjai, or when he isn’t with the O’Connells and Jonathan, I also assume that Arabic is the standard language of the Medjai as it is with all Egyptians, Bedouins, and other nomadic peoples living in North Africa. However, many tribes also retain a tribal language, and so I’ve assumed the Medjai do as well, I chose to call it Medja because the I on the end of Medjai in arabic simply indicates that the word refers to people. Misr is Egypt. Misri is and Egyptian. For those who really care to know Bedouin refers to an individual, and Bedoui is the people as a group.
Also, since when the army of Anubis is about to destroy the Medjai in the second film Ardeth says. “Allah i’hafaz.” Which literally translated is “Allah defend us.” I tend to think he’s Muslim. Whey you’re about to die the God you call out to is probably the one you believe in.
Whether or not Ardeth speaks Egyptian is never given in the movies. We know Evelyn does, Jonathan can read it, at least he could in the first film although he’s “rusty” in the second. And Alex obviously does. Rick very obviously does not. So, I chose to assume that given Ardeth’s responsibilities he’s learned the language. However, he never once tries to help Evelyn read the stelae when her and the curator are trying to figure out where the book of AmmunRa is hidden. The curator does. So, I also assume that while Ardeth can speak the language, he doesn’t read it. At least that’s my story.
Rick speaks English, and since French is a requirement in the Foreign Legion. You can get lashed for not speaking French after all. I assume his French is fluent, or at least was. And he grew up in a Cairo orphanage so I also assume he speaks Arabic. We’re never given the chance to find out since he never speaks anything but English to Ardeth. But you don’t grow up in Egypt without learning Arabic. So while his might be rusty, like his French. I still think he can speak it.
The idea that Imhotep speaks anything but Egyptian and Hebrew is my own invention. I just liked it. However, he does speak at least those two in the first film. And so does Evelyn, because when Imhotep walks out of the crowd toward her in Cairo Benni translates what he says as “...forever.” And Evelyn replies acidly. “For all eternity.” So obviously she knows what Imhotep has said. And Benni doesn’t speak Egyptian, only Hebrew. That was pointed out earlier at Hamanaptura.
Notes on Religion:
All right the first subject one is never supposed to bring up in polite conversation. :) But I’m rarely polite to people I like so, who believes what and why.
See the note above under languages where I talk about Ardeth saying Allah i’hafaz? Okay, you’re about to get killed and you’re asking God to save you, seems to me that the God you’re asking for protection from would be the one you believe in, right? So, I assume Ardeth’s Muslim.
For those interested in accuracy. Islam is the religion, Muslim is someone who believes in the Islamic faith. Things, such as writing, artwork, jewelry, or buildings can be Islamic. And one can be an Islamic scholar. People however are Muslims. Not Islamics.
The Murji’a, or most learned Muslims, allow that “those who face in the direction of Mecca at prayer are true believers and no act of theirs can remove them from the faith.” I’m following this for not casting all the Medjai into damnation for all the interaction with the gods of old Egypt.
Quick notes on Islam: Prayer is five times a day, dawn, mid-day, afternoon, dusk, night. Hense the five divisions of the story. Fajr, Duhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha. But during war or times of stress you are not required to pray, actually you are never required to pray. Prayer should be done because you want to not because it’s required otherwise it’s an insult to God.
Jonathan is I assume Christian. He’s the one who is constantly quoting the Biblical references to the Plagues of Egypt and such in the first film. And he does so exceedingly well so he might also be rather learned on the subject. So I decided to have made him a seminary student at one point. Although I have to admit the though of Jonathan as a Priest is hilarouious actually.
Rick I assume is nominally Christian although of which denomination I wouldn’t begin to hazard a guess. However, since I was stuck for some reason an American family would be in Egypt in the first decade of the twentieth century I came up with missionaries. Most Missionaries in that time period were Baptists or Methodists. So take your choice. :)
Evelyn was like Jonathan probably raised Anglican. They’re an aristocratic English family I can’t see them being anything but Anglican. Nefertiri is obvious a polytheist of the Egyptian Pantheon, so what Evelyn believes day in and out is anyone’s guess.
Alex...is free to choose whatever he pleases when he grows up. :)
Imhotep is a firm believer in the Egyptian Pantheon. He’s rather had to be really. In the beginning of the first film he’s described as High Priest of Pharaoh Seti the first. High Priest of what god I asked myself? Since he’s at Thebes I picked the god of gods of Thebes, AmmunRa. Who as king of all the gods was the most important god. Therefore his High Priest would be the most important High Priest in Egypt and therefore probably the Pharaoh’s chief priest as well. Or at least that’s my take on it.
Note on Time: Or how old are these people? The second topic to avoid in polite company. :)
The Prophet Mohamed, Peace be upon him, started writing the Koran in 610 C.E. Therefore by the Medjai’s reckoning Evie originally raised Imhotep in 1216. :) And this story takes place in 1229.
Given that TMR is supposed to take place 9 years after the first movie and that the first movie starts in 1923 then we add the three years later from the time the Tugareg attack Rick and the Legion at Hamanaptura to when Jonathan and Evie meet him in prison, and then add the nine that Evie and Rick have been married, I come up with TMR taking place in 1935. Which is what it says in the script but not what it says on the screen. 1933 is flashed across the temple where Evie and Rick find the bracelet. However, if that’s the case Alex was born one year before Rick and Evie met...and that would be an entirely different story! So, I think that’s a typo. At least that’s my story. :) So, if Alex is 8 in TMR, and I have No Certain Victory taking place in 1939 he’s 12. Rick and Evie have been married for 13 years and Germany really is out taking over the world. Or trying to anyway. Which means that if they’re all somewhere in their thirties in the second film they were in their twenties in the first. I can’t see pushing them too far below or above 25 as an average in the first film. Evie could be a bit younger, 20 or 21 perhaps. Rick and Ardeth about 22-25. And Jonathan being perhaps the oldest at 27-30. It’s a rough guess but it’s the best I could do with how everyone looks in both films. :)
All the useless historical information will be posted soon.
Appendicies