The Black Prophecy
Early during the spring of 1577 B.C.E, on a morning with clear skies on the desert beach of Dahab, on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. A man sat with his legs crossed underneath him. He sighed with contentment as the sound of rushing waves crashed against the shore. A dark brown turban covered his head and face but left his eyes exposed to the light of day.
Hekauton, an Egyptian sorcerer of great renown, languished in deep meditation. In sync with the forceful waves, he hummed and chanted, “Great god, Amun-Ra, reveal yourself to me. The nation has become weak as the days of the Hyksos. Rise, O’ Kemet.”
The sixth chant brought a strong wind that blew against and dislodged his soul. His eyes closed. Blacked-out vision revealed an instant out-of-body experience. His eyes opened. Hekauton observed himself and his surroundings on a high desert mountain. Screams of terror reached his ears. Smoke and blood invaded his nostrils. He gasped and recoiled while chaos unfolded below him during a futuristic time of uncertainty and great turmoil.
“What is this? Where am I?” He rose to his feet. He heard a loud horn-blast and clashing war-shields. Looking down from the mountain peak, he found himself watching a great war in the high grounds. Across the top of the opposite mountains, he saw a large waterfall. He saw an older version of himself standing at the right hand of a tall, muscular, dark-skinned man, who wore the skin of a black lion as a cape with only his human mouth showing.
Hekauton hid behind the mountain peak, he hoped not to be seen.
At ground level far below, two armies were at a standoff, they taunted each other. On one side stood the mighty Egyptian Army; on the other stood the great Mitannian Army. The hooded man raised his hand, and the battle began. The Egyptians charged the Mitannians. Shields clanged. Daggers and swords cut and sliced through the atmosphere while the military men struck each other down.
The Egyptians dispatched their war chariots, which trampled over many Mitannians. The Mitannian warriors, fierce fighters, began to gain an advantage over the Egyptians.
Below the black-hooded man, two-hundred Nubian arrow snipers launched arrows toward the Mitannians and struck down many of them.
Still, the Mitannian military fought as a unit, which gave them momentum over the Egyptians.
The older Hekauton, a great sorcerer, turned to the man in the black-hooded cape. “My Lord, Black Pharaoh, the Mitannians have gained an advantage on the ground level. What should we do next?”
Black Pharaoh, in a calm voice replied, “We have allowed those rebels to escape on two occasions. This time, I will deal with them, myself. Guide me down!” He jumped from the top of the waterfall down into the water.
The eyes of the older Hekauton glowed like fire. He used his sorcerer powers to shield Black Pharaoh. When Black Pharaoh surfaced, his garments had turned into gold armor with a gold mask, and his drawn sword, unlike any other, shimmered. His eyes turned black as he extended his hand toward the enemy. His hand released a smokey dark mist, which resulted in the death of hundreds of the Mitannians’ frontline soldiers. Frightened, the enemy retreated. Fire consumed hundreds. Bodies dissolved into thin air.
Black Pharaoh, with one mighty hand, struck down everyone in his path with his sword. He regained the advantage for his army. The Mitannians were soon annihilated, for Black Pharaoh, and the Egyptian Army had cornered the Mitannian King and all his personal guards. The enemies were backed against a high cliff.
The king of the Mitannians had no choice but to surrender. “Great Black Pharaoh,” he begged, “Have mercy on me. Allow me to live and be a servant in your house?”
Black Pharaoh replied, “Time and time again, I have shown you mercy, and you have rebelled and risen up against the Supreme Forces of Kemet. On this day, you, and every nation, will know that I am a mighty god of Kemet: Black Pharaoh. All will submit, or perish, before me.”
The king of the Mitannians said, “I submit.”
The lion-faced hood disappeared. Black Pharaoh’s natural face appeared. “You are wise, but Kemet has no place for a coward.”
He then slit the defeated King’s windpipe with his sword and kicked him off the cliff into the steep pit below.
The Mitannian King’s personal guards knelt and bowed their heads in submission to Black Pharaoh. Thus, he spared them. Black Pharaoh raised his hands to the sky as his military forces behind him cheered their great victory. He beheld someone peeking down from the mountain. Black Pharaoh made eye contact with the transfigured Hekauton. Black Pharaoh’s eyes turned black and released a great blast.
When his soul reentered his body on the beach, Hekauton realized the experience was no ordinary dream, but a prophecy of the future Black Pharaoh. Without warning, the day turned pitch black. Stunned, as if possessed, he silenced his mind to tranquility and listened.
A deep eerie voice spoke. “You have been given the dream, sorcerer, regarding the prophecy of Black Pharaoh. The time for his arrival draws near, and you will become his eyes and ears.”
Hekauton gave obeisance to the high stationed voice and asked, “Amun-Ra, god of Kemet, it is you. I am honored. When shall these things take place?”
Amun-Ra replied, “The son of Thutmose the Second shall be a mighty conqueror.”
“But, the pharaoh has no sons,” Hekauton said. “Are you referring to the Prime Minister, his adopted son?”
“The Prime Minister is not born of the royal bloodline. He only lives because of the queen’s pity for him. The child of which I speak has not yet been born. His birth shall cause division and betrayal. Even death will strike the royal house so that it may be cleansed. Go to the palace and notify the pharaoh of all I have shown you in the vision. You must announce what was revealed to you before all the people of Kemet.”
“With due respect, my Lord,” Hekauton said, “the queen has already had two stillborn children. I fear speaking on the matter, knowing it is a sensitive one.”
“Do as I have commanded you!” Amun-Ra replied. “According to my will, all shall be revealed in time.”
Amun-Ra departed. Hekauton rose to his feet and looked across the water’s horizon. The pierced call of a nearby laughing dove startled him. With fear and obedience, he ran toward the great city of Thebes, the capital of Egypt.
****
Desert sands blew toward the city of Thebes. Sunbeams blazed the day forward. A multitude of exhausted Hebrew slaves pulled thick ropes to erect massive marble images of Pharaoh Thutmose the Second, and of his queen, Hatshepsut. The royal couple, half-brother and half-sister, shared the same father, Thutmose the First.
Thutmose the Second was born by his father’s secondary wife, Queen Mutnofret, while Hatshepsut was born of the great royal wife, Queen Ahmose. The slaves had been subject to bondage for a century.
It was Thutmose the First who had dealt harshly with the Hebrews. He noticed they had grown mighty in numbers. He feared a takeover would come upon Egypt, as it did with the Hyksos against previous pharaohs. He ordered the execution of all the Hebrew male children and enforced harsh labor upon them.
After his death, this prejudice and harsh labor afflicted on the Hebrews continued in the reign of Thutmose the Second. As they labored, the slaves were whipped and savagely mistreated by the Egyptian taskmasters.
****
A loud trumpet sounded six times—a calling for everyone to gather before the pharaoh’s palace for a special announcement.
The slaves, and their taskmasters, abandoned their work and ran toward the palace. When they arrived at the royal court, the Egyptians stood in front, while the lowly Hebrew slaves knelt in the back.
As all the people took their stations before the throne, Senenmut, the royal steward, announced the entrance of the royal family. First came the Pharaoh, Thutmose the Second, followed by his royal Queen, Hatshepsut. Next, came their daughter, Princess Neferure. She was followed by the Prime Minister, Hatshepsut’s adopted son. Last came Iset, the queen’s maidservant.
Senenmut called in a loud voice to the crowd, “The god of Kemet, Amun-Ra, has given Hekauton, the sorcerer, a prophecy of the new era approaching our mighty nation. Hekauton, deliver this message of prophecy to us!”
The people went silent as they waited for Hekauton to speak.
“This morning, as I sat in meditation, a vision came to me about the birth of the son of Thutmose the Second.”
The crowd murmured in anticipation as Hekauton continued in an elevated voice.
“This boy will be a conqueror of nations, said Hekauton. “He is predestined to defeat our enemies and bring us to supreme world dominance! Riches, gold, silver, livestock, and vegetation will be restored to Kemet.”
At that moment, Hatshepsut, who already was pregnant, looked at her husband with excitement and said, “My love, the plague of death that has struck my womb, giving birth to two stillborn children, is no more. Amun-Ra has lifted the curse, and our son will be born as the sole heir to the throne.”
The pharaoh and his queen were ecstatic! With newfound hope for the future, they joined hands as they sat high above the people on their thrones.
“This mighty Pharaoh,” Hekauton continued, “will show his power before your eyes. He shall be called, Black Pharaoh!”
Thunderous applause rattled windows and doors. The pharaoh and his queen raised their hands to the sky. They returned to their chambers and planned for the birth of their long-awaited son.
“What should we name him?” the queen asked. “What about Ahmose the Second, like his grandmother and great-grandfather?” In love, she rubbed her belly. “I am elated over this prophecy! Finally, my love, I get to bear you a son. I nearly lost hope before the sorcerer proclaimed this news. According to the prophecy, this child will change our lives, and the kingdom, forever. We will have a mighty warrior to defend the nation. I prefer diplomacy but, if a warrior is what he’s meant to be, then so be it.”
Thutmose the Second stood by a window with his hands clasped behind his him. “Of course, he shall carry on his father’s legacy, along with my name,” He replied. “Black Pharaoh is a dominant title. I, too, my love, am overjoyed for this next journey in our life. I believe our son will bring us closer than we have ever been before.”
The king rushed to the queen’s side on the bed. He held her in his arms. Kisses passed between them as they passionately embraced each other. He looked into the queen’s eyes and said, “My love, I know you have great concerns about past events regarding the stillborn children. I know I did not support you properly but, with this blessing,” he paused and rested his hand on top of her hand on her belly. “things will get better between us, I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “You take care of my son by eating well, sleeping well, drinking well, and avoiding any kind of upsetting matters.”
Tears pooled in Hatshepsut’s eyes. She believed the sincerity in her husband’s voice and eyes. “I need you to stay here with me more often, my king,” she said. “I know you like to take your rides at night to clear your head, but I need you, now more than ever.”
“The weight of ruling the world is heavy my love, the pharaoh replied. “But I will do my best to comfort you through the months ahead.”
He held his queen tight. He inhaled her fragrance and placed his head on her stomach. In love with his unborn child, he caressed and kissed his wife’s belly with pride.
Queen Hatshepsut smiled, for the caresses soothed her.
Thutmose the Second sang his heart-song to his son.
“My son is the mighty one,
Black Pharaoh his reign.
Prince Thutmose the Third brings us fortune and fame. The strength of his mother shall be his acclaim.
The heir to his father, he must bear my name...”
A hard knock on the door interrupted the king’s song. “Who dares to disturb me without being summoned?!” hissed the pharaoh.
The guard of the royal chambers entered. “My Lord, the sorcerer demands to speak to the royal family in private,” he said, rigid with respect and humility.
Puzzled, Thutmose the Second looked at Hatshepsut. “Send him in!”
Hekauton walked into the royal chambers and bowed. “Great Pharaoh and Great Queen, there was more to the prophecy Amun-Ra gave me that I did not mention in front of the people regarding the child.”
“Well, proceed!” the king demanded. He stood to his feet by the bed next to Hatshepsut.
Afraid to be the bearer of bad news, the nervous, Hekauton’s bones shook as he said, “A curse came with the birth of this child in your royal house.”
“What possible curse could my son bring to us?” Hatshepsut asked.
Hekauton cleared his throat and replied, “A curse of division and betrayal.” He swallowed hard. “I warn you, my Pharaoh and Queen, watch for the signs of the betrayer, for that one’s betrayal will give him, or her, great power in Kemet.”
“Who would dare plot against …”
Before Hatshepsut could finish, Thutmose the Second spoke up. “Thank you, Hekauton for the words of Amun-Ra. We shall keep our eyes, and ears, open. Anyone plotting, or uttering a word of betrayal will have their eyes put out, and they will be burned alive before all Kemet. The king opened the chamber doors and ushered Hekauton out. “Nevertheless, let us celebrate my son. The next Pharaoh of Kemet will be born.”
The pharaoh was not concerned about the sorcerer’s warnings. He refused to let go of the happiness that came with knowing he will have a son.
“Royal guard!” shouted the king with clapped hands. The alert and ready guard entered the chambers within seconds. “Have the maidservants prepare a great festival, in celebration of my son to come!”
The queen, on the other hand, heeded Hekauton’s warning. She pondered his words with pensive thoughts and knitted brows. She had always displayed more wisdom than her husband.
