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THE BELOVED OF HATHOR, AND
THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN HAWK.
BY FLORENCE FARR, AUTHOR OF “THE DANCING
FAUN,” &c., AND O. SHAKESPEAR, AUTHOR OF
“RUPERT ARMSTRONG,” “LOVE ON A MORTAL
LEASE,” &c. ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦
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❦ The action takes place in the first play on the roof of the Temple of
Hathor, and in the second in a cave of Mount Bakhua, the home of the
Metal-working Fire Magicians near Sinai. But the Authors wish the plays
to be represented, not scenically but decoratively, with a simple white
background or pale sienna hangings, so arranged that the figures of the
actors, moving across the stage, may reproduce the effect of the ancient
frescoes or illuminated papyri.
_THE ARGUMENT OF THE BELOVED OF HATHOR._
❦ The scene is in the Temple of Hathor, at the time of the expulsion of
the Hyksos, about 1500 B.C. Aahmes, the beloved of Hathor, has for many
years been watched over by her High Priestess, in order that through him
the great spiritual kingdom of Egypt might be restored. His final choice
is between this great destiny and the mere splendour of material
victory.
_CHARACTERS IN THE BELOVED OF HATHOR._
❦ _Ranoutet_, the chief priestess of Hathor, and of royal blood, aged
thirty-five. She wears a long black wig with a double fillet; a large
square of cloth of gold is wound closely round her figure under the
arms; she also wears a thin striped gauze overdress, an enamelled and
beaded collar, sandals, and armlets. She puts on a vulture-crown during
the war dance.
❦ _Nouferou_, the daughter of a man of noble rank and of a wandering
woman, who deserted him after the birth of her child. Nouferou inherits
the wild instincts of her mother. She is seventeen years old. Her dress
is white and gold. The wig is short and surmounted by a cone and lily.
❦ _Aahmes_, a warrior chief of the Red Race, afterwards becomes king. He
is in the prime of life. He wears an embroidered waistcloth over a thin
cotton shirt, a cloth helmet, and carries a spear.
❦ _Ouny_, a child attendant of the Temple of Hathor. Dressed in white.
❦ The Chanters and Musicians do not appear.
❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦
_THE ARGUMENT OF THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN HAWK._
❦ The scene is in a cave on Mount Bakhua, near Sinai, about 4000 B.C.
Gebuel, the Magician of Fire and Metals, makes a talisman to Heru in the
form of a Golden Hawk, in the hope of overwhelming the power of Zozer,
King of Egypt, builder of the Step-pyramid at Sakkara. Zozer finds this
out, and sends his daughter, who is skilled in the sombre mysteries of
Isis, to win for Egypt the Golden Hawk, giver of exultation of heart.
_CHARACTERS IN THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN HAWK._
❦ _Gebuel_, a magician who has earned a great reputation for power in
the brotherhood. He wears a richly decorated robe of red and gold,
sandals, and a conical headdress with hawks’ eyes on either side of it.
His age is forty-five.
❦ _The Priest of the Floods and Storms_ wears a robe and symbolic
headdress of blue and green.
❦ _The Priest of the Harvests and Famines_ is also dressed symbolically.
❦ _Nectoris_, daughter of Zozer, King of Egypt, is dressed as a member
of a religious order; her undergarment and wig are of the ancient
Egyptian pattern, but she is completely veiled in a thick gauze drapery.
She is twenty-six years old.
❦ _The Ka_ has the same kind of dress. She is the double or other self
of Nectoris. The Ka is frequently represented on ancient frescoes as a
smaller figure walking behind the king or queen. It represents the
subtle body, and supports and strengthens the more material body.
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