The cards and storyline from Amonkhet and Hour of Devastation heavily reference Ancient Egypt and its mythology. The following is a list of specific analogs and references in concepts and cards within the set.
- The Luxa River mirrors the River Nile.[1]
- Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun is a play on King Tut, who died young and became famous as a mummy.[2][3]
- Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons is based on Cleopatra.[3][4]
- Hazoret mirrors Anubis, the jackal-headed god associated with mummification and the afterlife.
- Kefnet mirrors Thoth, the ibis-headed god associated with the arbitration of godly disputes.
- Bontu mirrors Sobek, the crocodile-headed god associated with pharaonic power, fertility, and military prowess.
- Oketra mirrors Bastet, the cat-headed god of protection.
- Rhonas mirrors Wadjet, the cobra-headed protector of the country, pharaohs, and other deities.
- Two of the corrupted gods, The Scorpion God and The Scarab God, mirror Serket and Khepri, the scorpion goddess of healing and protection and the scarab god of creation and the rising sun respectively.
- The set sees the return of the Curse card type — a mummy's curse is a classic trope in Egyptian mythology.
- Embalming and Mummies are quintessential Egyptian tropes/practices.
- The Serpopard (Prowling Serpopard) is a mythical animal known from Ancient Egyptian art.
- The Cartouche cycle refers to Egyptian hieroglyphs, where a cartouche is an oval with a horizontal line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name.
- Amulets and impression seals in the form of scarab beetles were popular in Ancient Egypt.
- The Curator of Mysteries references the Great Sphinx of Giza
- The set features many cats, which were considered sacred in ancient Egyptian society.
- The deserts reference the Sahara.
- Egyptian pyramids and Obelisks are featured amongst the monuments.
- Egyptian inspired hieroglyphs are seen in multiple arts, feature prominently on the Amonkhet Invocations and were considered for a named mechanic.
- Egyptian Sarcophagi were found by Nissa and Chandra.
- The Baleful Ammit depicts the Ammit, a female demon in ancient Egyptian religion with a body that was part lion, hippopotamus, and crocodile — the three largest "man-eating" animals known to ancient Egyptians.
- Lazotep is Amonkhet's Lapis Lazuli.
- Honed Khopesh depicts an Egyptian sickle-sword.
- Bolas is called the God-Pharaoh and there is a Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs. Pharaoh is the common title of the monarchs of ancient Egypt.
- Brick counters represent the constant monument-building that went on in ancient Egypt.
- The Plagues of Egypt are referenced by:
- The Luxa River turning into blood.
- The swarm of Locusts released by The Locust God devoured the Hekma and blocked the sunlight. (locusts/darkness)
- Attacks from beasts and the banished (Mixture of Wild Animals)
- Torment of Hailfire (Thunderstorm of Hail)
- The firstborns in many cultures including ancient Egypt were rather considered as the finest children, which in Amonkhet were the initiates who passed the trials. they were the first to die (death of the firstborn).
- Samut and Djeru leading the people out of Naktamun into the desert is an analog to The Exodus from Egypt.[5]
References[ | ]
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 24, 2017). "Amonkhet Talking, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ethan Fleischer (April 5, 2017). "Five Trials". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (May 8, 2017). "Amonkhet Talking, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 7, 2017). "It pretty obvious, but can you confirm officially if Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons is based on Cleopatra?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 20, 2017). "I think the Old Testament ask may have been referencing Samut and Djeru". Blogatog. Tumblr.