Monday, May 3, 2010

Hand of Isis





Author: Jo Graham

I picked this up at MPH, Gurney Plaza, Penang when I was there co-emceeing a corporate function in March. And I certainly do not regret it.

The story is about Charmian, one of Cleopatra's handmaidens. The name seemed familiar to me until I recalled the Shakespeare play 'Antony & Cleopatra', where Charmian is one of the characters in the play.

This novel is mostly historical fiction, with a bit of fantasy thrown in. It is told in first voice narrative by Charmian, who is also the Queen’s sister, borne of a Thracian woman from the Pharaoh’s harem. Together with another sister, Iras, the daughter of a Nubian serving woman named Asetnefer, they pledge themselves to Isis and represent different aspects of the goddess – Charmian is sensual as Isis Pelagia, Goddess of Love; Iras is the wise and aloof Lady of Amenti who presides with Serapis over the judgement of dead souls; whereas Cleopatra, in her role as Queen and caretaker of the Egyptian people, is Mother of the World, with Osiris as a husband and Horus as her son.

The novel begins in the Halls of Amenti, where Charmian’s dead soul faces Isis for the weighing of her heart against a feather. She then recollects the events that have brought her there, from her childhood right up to the suicidal snake bite to escape capture by the Romans. In between chapters, the novel returns to the scene in the Halls of Amenti, which I felt was effectively done.

The story is based on real historical events and figures. The main star of the novel, however, is Alexandria. Graham does a wonderful job describing the sights and sounds of the city during its heyday, as well as the life of its inhabitants. As Alexandria was home to a great library, and was the ‘apex of Panhellenism’, the three sisters are exposed to the different branches of knowledge under the tutelage of Apollodorus, so together they make a formidable trio in ruling Egypt.

Charmian’s major role, however, is Royal Event Manager. Befitting her representation of the erotic side of Isis, Charmian also has a very healthy sexual appetite, and despite having a child and several lovers, never marries. She does, however, dote upon her own daughter and Cleopatra’s various offspring, and stands by her royal sister throughout her life.

In an exchange with the judges in the Halls of Amenti, the angel Mikhael speaks in her defence:

“You see? One may search far and wide on this earth to find an incorruptible
servant, but You need look no further. Any monarch that ever lived should be
glad of one like her.”
I turned and faced Him. “It’s not that I don’t
appreciate You speaking on my behalf, but You are giving me credit that I do not
deserve! There was nothing anyone could give me that I wanted. How could I be
tempted?”
“And what was it you wanted, then?” Serapis asked.
“The only
thing I have always wanted,” I said. “To be with those I love and to have good
work to do. And as for the rest, justice and mercy and those in need, I didn’t
do anything special. I just tried to be fair. I just did my best.”
“That is
all that the gods can ever ask of anyone,” Isis said.

To be fair and to do one’s best. Isn’t that true?

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