The most exciting news to come out of Egypt has got to be the appointment of our newest Scribe, Hapshetsut Nebet. Here's what some members had to say about her appointment.

At last, at last! *singing praises to the Gods* ~AzureEyes Ramesses
Hey, grand to have you aboard, Hapshetsut! ~Onions Hatshepsut
You have been an incredible help to me. The "O" celebrates your new position. ~Oset Ramesses
Could not have happened to anyone more deserving or knowledgeable. I am so VERY pleased. ~Neima Nebet
May your future be as bright and shining as the morning star. You deserve this for all the hard work you do. ~Senenmut Hatshepsut
Hapshetsut is quite helpful and a most pleasant conversationalist. Congratulations. ~Isityuyet Isetnofret
I raise my glass (well maybe a few glasses) in toast to your promotion. ~Toman Thutmose
You have been an invaluable help to me and deserve every accolade. ~Nilaja Amenhotep
You are so deserving of the honor for all you have done to help here in Egypt! ~Mari Leonidas
If anyone deserves to become a scribe, it's you! Incense cones off to you! ~Mesedsure Ahhotep

Can you tell we are Hapi? After the official announcement was made, our new Scribe was whisked off to a night of fun and frolic at Alexandria After Dark's infamous Bar "O", where she was accordingly wined, dined, sushied and slimed... which somehow rhymed. Word has it that everyone made it through the event alive, with only the occasional complaint of flying carpet burns and one singed head of hair. If you haven't already congratulated Hapshetsut, please leave a message at her per.

News of a secret marriage proposal at Seven Wonders has leaked from an unnamed source in Mandraki Harbor. After two years at the Colossus of Rhodes Ironworks, craftsmen are nearly one third of the way through to completion. But are they fazed by the drawn out days and nights spent toiling on this colossal wonder? According to Sempronia Sergius at the Rhodeside Rhodehouse... "I don't care if the statue takes 100 years. This is some way to make a living." Also in Seven Wonders, Edwinus Aelius, Shaquilat Sergius, and the caravaners of Adventures in Antiquity, have at long last reached the Pyramids of Giza.

Hot off the presses... In Ancient Expressions, Ssmwt Hapshetsut Nebet and K3ry Hatheputdatfut Hatshepsut (try to say that three times) have begun work on a new area called Speaking in Tongues. Are they actually planning to ask and answer questions in ancient Egyptian "Tongues"? And what do feet have to do with it? Stay tuned.

Speaking of feet... a fascination with body bits (begun months ago while a party of Egyptians reassembled Osiris) seems to have followed a Hap-hazard pattern all over Kemet. Sementawy Horemheb was nearly driven to drink over Isityuyet Isetnofret's Ear Stelae. After reading the latest Trivia question, it is this reporter's belief that Hatheputdatfut Hatshepsut has caught body bit fever.

The members of KMT continue to display the true spirit of Unified Egypt. After boarding a resplendent barge, and sailing to The Golden Horus city of Waset for the Opet festival, Ta-meri: Heredet ne Hap notables set a northerly course, mooring "The Pride of Min" at the Old Kingdom capitol city of Memphis. While standing on a palace balcony, Akhmin Nebet takes in a delightful panoramic view of the palace garden. Prince Ahmetbey Ptolemy awakens from a portentous dream, in which he is charged with a most ominous task. Hemet-netjer net Sekhmet Luna Nebet also rouses from a disturbing dream, as she prepares for the day of Sekhmet's Repulsion of Set. And just what is going on at Akhenhotep Horemheb's banquet? Meanwhile, back at Gebtu, there is panic on the docks, as an expected shipment of Athenian lavender turns out to be Midru Ptolemy and two mighty elephants from Philae. Midru Ptolemy continues down the pachyderm path in his Alexandria Library submission, "Egyptian War Elephants". What did the brave diver Zelie Hatshepsut retrieve from a sunken chest at the bottom of a frigid lake in a Forbidden Cave? And there is disorder in the court of Qnbt, as simultaneous murders occur in a packed courtroom. After revealing himself to judge and jury, the Great Pharaoh, Seti I, is brutally killed before the eyes of Egypt. Terror reigns supreme in one of the most edge-of-your-seat "live" scenes ever experienced by this reporter. Should you wish to witness the dastardly double deed, you might want to begin here.

At Women of the Two Lands' Kaffa Mythology Cafe, Mysti Ramesses, Zoser Sithathor, Autumn Marcius, Habeebee, and Clyde the Camel continue to serve the most potent kaffa this side of the Hap (reputably so powerful that the kaffa mugs require collar and leash), amidst conversations mythological and discussions centered on the lives of ancient Egyptian women, from Cleopatra to serial polygamy.

And Eternal Gods, Eternal Lives, has finally begun to emerge from the Primordial Abyss, having solved the mystery of the missing Waebs, guided by the light of Cornellia, resident Roman goddess of good manners and polite behavior, and the omnipotent and omnipresent AmenJot. Group Goddess Hathor got to the bottom of another abysmal enigma, by discovering that members who resign and rejoin the group overcome the itchy glitch! And as the code Snefrus of Set departed from sight, one group Goddess has this to say of the occasion... "The Slaughters... are performed in Hensu. My belly and back are the belly and back of Sekhmet. My buttocks are the buttocks of the Eye of Horus." What is the organic content of the mysterious sphere that group God Khepera rolls all over the place? What ancient Egyptian words of wisdom did group God Tehuti utter to force his tainted tinted links to do the Tarantella? According to him, reading is fundamental. And what's Min got that other gods aint got, besides somehow ending up with Oset's box of cigars? Could his secret be hidden somewhere in the Council of Nine? Tune in again next ACTA!

Highlights of Egypt's Springfest ~ The Festival of Heru

In early April, the new Kemetan Festivity Hall section was created on the main Egypt board. There, under the guidance of Scribe Onions Hatshepsut, AncientWorlds Egypt celebrated the start of Spring with our Festival of Heru. What is the Festival of Heru, you ask?

"The Festival of Heru celebrates the defeat of Set by Horus, who cuts the former into pieces, in the aftermath of Set's dismemberment of Wesir (Osiris)." ~Onions Hatshepsut

Seven new topics were created for the festival, reflecting a good balance of historically accurate coverage (down to the day) and fun, interactive games for all.

The first contest, the Nile Barge Race, was held Saturday April 12. Boats of every size and shape lined up at Bubastis to navigate the river through dangerous cataracts, finally ending their treacherous journey at the fertile Nile Delta. Nile Barge Race Convener Mesedsure Ahhotep coordinated the event. Awards were provided by artiste extraordinaire Hapshetsut Nebet. Those who risked life and limb on the Hap that day were: Toman Thutmose, Onions Hapshetsut, ItaliAmun Ramesses, Mesedure Ahhotep, Hapshetsut Nebet, KismetNefertari Ramesses, Bentanath Ramesses, Kinsella Thutmose, Bunny Beag, Dfer Atrebas, and Darlius Romulus, with Toman Thutmose taking 1st Place.

The next event on the agenda was Ye Old Fishing Hole Contest, organized by Scribe Onions Hatshepsut. Those who spent the lazy, hazy and crazy morning of Sunday April 13, reeling in everything from ancient sandals to each other were: Marduk Hammurabi, Toman Thutmose, Yngvildr Scylding, Onions Hatshepsut, Hapshetsut Nebet, Miw Meritamen, and LinaPaulina Flaminius, with Danish Dynamite Yngvildr Scylding hauling in 1st Prize for her catch of the day.

On Monday, April 14, Hapshetsut Nebet set out to test our gray matter with her incomparable Aegyptian Trivia Contest. She had gleaned well over twenty questions from scholars of every corner of Ancient Worlds. In cyber-weather that was the equivalent of a hurricane/earthquake combo, people came from far and wide to test their knowledge. Even in the face of cyber-annihilation, Hap's trivia proved to be our most prolifically posted event. However, in the end, the weather won out. Alas, this was also the historically accurate anniversary of the Titanic striking the iceberg! Over a hundred and some-odd posts were lost, but those who weathered the storm remember the voyage, and truly enjoyed themselves. So... of all those who attended, who came out on top? Who had the most gray matter synapses? None other than the ethereal Heraklia Aelius !

During the festivities, an Offering Contest was held, at which members made ritual offerings to Heru. Judges were Bithiah Nebet and Neima Nebet. Lovely prizes designed by Bithiah were awarded to Selket Hedetet Isetnofret, Senenmut Hatshepsut and KismetNefertari Ramesses. Additional contributions were made by Cornellia Cornelius, Hapshetsut Nebet, Neima Nebet and Sitptah Mentuhotep,

Throughout weekend, an historically accurate play entitled The Ten Harpoons (Triumph of Horus) was held at the Temple of Edfu Playhouse. The production, written and directed by AzureEyes and Oset Ramesses, details actual historical events celebrated thousands of years ago, on that very site, as shown on a series of vignettes that decorate the temple walls.

" (It was) built upon the very battlefield where Horus fought his enemy, Set. Each year, we gather here to perform a ritual drama called 'The Ten Harpoons'. We reenact the ancient battle to commemorate our Lord's triumph over evil, thus ensuring the strength and stability of King and Kingdom for another year... It has taken more than two hundred years and six generations of Ptolemies to complete this temple. Some say that in the most ancient times, prehistoric people constructed a lone grass hut here to commemorate the legendary battle. But the oldest sections that remain today, as we see them, were begun in 237 BC by Ptolemy III Euergetes I. " ~ Oset Ramesses

Those on the list of dramatis personae were: Oset Ramesses, AnpuAnubis Ramesses, AzureEyes Ramesses, KhnumKhufu Mentuhotep, Zeina Amenhotep, Khnum Mentuhotep, ReAzure Ramesses, Sahirnee Amenhotep, Elaan Thutmose, NoiRe Nebet, and JudyCollins Horemheb, with the entire audience playing along at certain parts, as was done in ancient times. As was mentioned previously, the cyber-weather was rough indeed, so the second act of the play was rained out. By the time our playhouse dried out, it was already time for the amazing maze, and on to other city Springfests. Because of this, Oset decided to wait until all festivals have ended, and at that point, resume the final act of Ten Harpoons. In the meantime, we would like to thank our captive audience members Neima Nebet, Avram Sithathor, Isityuyet Isetnofret, Heraklia Aelius, Maharet Amenemheb, PoneyMaloneyPtolemy Ramesses, Nilaja Amenhotep, Azuria Servilius, Mesedsure Ahhotep, Cornellia Cornelius, Onions Hatshepsut, Xaxxim ApilSin, PollyH Ramesses, Leah Enkidu, Ahhotep Thutmose, Josephia Flavius, KismetNefertari Ramesses, Bentanath Ramesses, Astrid Tyrsdottir, Louisa Agis, Sepatsirius Sobkneferu and everyone else for cheering us on.

Egypt's Festival of Heru drew to a close with an amazing race through Onions Hatshepsut's infamous maze, held at the Springfest Viewing Stands. The hilarious hijinks of the challengers are a must read. Just like Onions' Gold Launch maze, some folks went in... and never came back out. But in the end, after 46 minutes spent in total lunacy, the victor was Tobius Tullius!

Quotable quote: "Yes Tob, Cream the smelly ..."

Gossip anyone? Peacefully , Blissfully , Puffing my Cigar-O , Well Drat , Gee Oset

And if you so dare, the maze is still there. Caveat: Enter At Own Risk!

~AER

This Month ~ In Egypt

The Egypt Board is alive with activity. I would like to personally compliment Nilaja Amenhotep for helping so many returning Kemetins feel at home. She has worked tirelessly for the Em Hotep area and Welcoming Committee. On Onions Hapshetsut's Egyptian Trivia Thread, Yuya Amenhotep took the time to carefully catalog every trivia question, then place them in numerical order, to help prevent repeat questions and make for ease of reference. Mirjam Nebet sparked a streak of posts on Josephia Flavius' Egyptian Poetry and Texts, with her suggestion to begin interpreting the ancient words of wisdom, and discuss their relevance to modern day society. On the Egyptian History topic, questions about the ancient Opet festival resulted in this exquisite post written by Xolotl Huascar. SenenAnep Meritamen took center stage at the Ancient Egyptian Timeline, Third Intermediate Period, by composing background information on the lives of three Pharaohs, Sheshonq I, Osorkon I, and Sheshonq II. And for those whose tastes lead to historical R&R, a whodunit mystery is in full swing at Oset Ramesses' Alexandria After Dark. A dead body recently washed up from the Hap! In addition to this, several females have gathered together at The Baths, with Bar-O Hostess Mari Leonidas, to organize a special, "private" beauty regimen...

If all that isn't enough, Egypt's groups have sprung to life. As the long planned Alexandria Library prepares to open its doors, several new editors and librarians have been hired. Feline Thutmose was appointed Curatrix of the Museum. Mirjam Nebet is the librarian in charge of our deities section. Hapshetsut Nebet is our librarian for artistry, and the ACTA's own Maximius Flavius is in charge of our philosophy section. Since the Library is an interactive learning resource, which (like its original real world counterpart) will encompass a vast array of gathered research tools, we ask for those with special interest in our remaining sections to step forward. Be a librarian! It's good for the brain.

Besides offering the finest cup of Kaffa in Kemet, Onions Hatshepsut's Women of the Two Lands group has served up two new sections~ The Egyptian Woman and Her Family and The Egyptian Woman and Society, Career, Law. What was family life like for the ancient Egyptian woman? What were her societal roles? Come find out. See also, In Reach of the Crown ~ Powerful Women of Antiquity. Saphire Sithathor and Mirjam Nebet have begun an inspiring conversation about New Kingdom Queen, Ahmose Nefertari.

Egypt's KMT group reopened to a flurry of activity. With its new direction, a united community of 107 Egyptians has joined together en masse, and in peace, to focus on timeline/ruler specific RPG. Several new boards have been created. Our first board to open was Ayesha Meritamen's Horizon of the Aten, a factual historical role-play based on the reign of Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten). Don't miss Ayesha's Information about the Amarna Period, Books, and Character list. Senenmut Hatshepsut heads up KMT's second RPG, Ta-meri: Heredet ne Hap. His board is focusing on the Ptolemaic era reign of Cleopatra VII, as Queen of Egypt. Our third RPG board, led by Nebmaatre Thutmose, is called Ankh Tawy: Life in the Two Lands, and concentrates on the Late Period, when Artaxerxes III Ochus' Persian army prepared to invade the Nile Delta. Check out A Glimpse into the late period, Inspirational Historical Figures, Bibliography and States that coexisted during the 4th century BC. Our final RPG to be featured in this issue of ACTA, is The Golden Horus, run by Hapshetsut Nebet. Her Dynasty XIX, 1280 BCE board will highlight life in ancient Egypt under Pharaoh Ramesses II. Even if you are not the role-playing type, come take a look at KMT's blossoming boards. So much effort goes into them. Each RPG Board Leader, and their supporters, are to be commended for a job well done. AUS, Egypt! Life, Prosperity and Health to all of Ancient Worlds. ~AER