Menekhet

=Overview=

Menekhet is located to the south of Terre d'Ange, across the sea, and east of Carthage. It is an ancient land, and its people have an ancient history, though over the years, the culture of ancient Menekhet has melded so seamlessly with that of its Hellene conquerer, Al-Iksandr, that it is no longer possible to tell where one ends and the other begins. The people are a mix between native Menekhetans, the dark Nubians and Jebeans of the south, and the Hellene upper class. Akkadian merchants, Umaiyyati horse traders and Bhodistani silk merchants are also known to set up shop in Menekhet due to its centralized port, and so it has become a melting pot of culture.

History
Details forthcoming.

Iksandria
Menekhet's bustling and elegant capital city, Iksandria, is a pearl of beauty adorning the northern coast, with its famous and well-defended lighthouse, whose light burns like a bright star, visible far out at sea at night. Its streets are clean, laid out in a grid, and the city boasts well-tended parks and magnificent palaces.

The Palace of the Pharaohs is said to be a marvel of beauty in white marble at the edge of the sea, surrounded by lush orange trees and date palms, and home to lush gardens. The Great Harbour at Iksandria is a major port, where goods pass from the Far East into Caerdicca Unitas, Aragonia and Terre d'Ange.

Iksandria is also home to the great Library which was founded by Al-Iksandr, as the people of Menekhet named their liberator, and all who wish to examine its ancient texts and to learn are welcome, so long as respect is shown for the works within. Iksandria also hosts an amphitheater, where games are hosted for the public's delight, as well as public baths.

Majibara Caravanserai
This is a major trade city in Menekhet, along the shores of the Nahar, and it is the last major city before heading into Jebe-Barkal. Jebeans, Menekhetans and the Umaiyyati do a brisk business here, for this is where goods cross the Ahram Sea. All travel arrangements via caravan are registered here with the Master of Caravans.

Menekhetan Culture
It is difficult to say whether or not the blood of the ancient Pharaohs still runs within the veins of those who rule Menekhet now, but the people of Menekhet believe it to be so, for the Hellene conquerers, who freed Menekhet from Persian rule, were quick to take Pharaoh's daughters to wife, and adopt Menekhetan traditions. Rulership is a right granted by the gods, and only the divinely-blessed may rule in Menekhet, and so the people continue to revere their Pharaoh. This, in part, is what brings such long-standing stability to Menekhet, in addition to the cunning of its rulers. There is, however, an unofficial caste system in Iksandria, where native Menekhetans are often viewed as being of less worth than the descendants of Hellas. This does create a small seed of dissent among the numbers of native Menekhetans, who resent this point of view.

Slavery
Slavery is still practiced within Menekhet, though the Menekhetans generally tend to be rather discreet in such dealings. There is a strict official policy against dealing in D'Angeline slaves in particular since the days Ptolemy Dikaios, though what happens beneath the surface may be a different story. The slave trade is highly regulated and thoroughly documented, and of late, it is certainly seeing somewhat of a decline. Menekhetan slave traders do, however, do a subtle business with Carthage, Ephesium and the Umaiyyati. Pharaoh's household is largely tended by slaves; stoic fan-bearers, graceful cupbearers, dancers, musicians and general laborers. New architecture is built on the backs of slaves, and public games in Iksandria's amphitheater sometimes feature gladiators in the fashion of Old Tiberium.

Women in Menekhet
Menekhet differs from its desert neighbors, in that it is one of the few of such that allow women to attain positions of power, should a woman prove to be capable. Menekhet has a long tradition of revering its famous Queens, most famous of all being Cleopatra Philopater, who cleverly tricked the Tiberian generals attemping to seize Menekhet into quarreling amongst themselves.

Over time Menekhet has adopted many of the customs of his neighbors, and it is rare to see a woman in public, especially women of high standing. It is rare, as well, for a woman to gain a position of power, but it has been known to happen even as recently as the current Pharaoh's rule. Menekhet has ever been a theocracy more than a patriarchy, and the divine essence within the royal blood is the key to determining who shall inherit. When it comes down to a matter of choice, Menekhetans will prefer a woman with royal blood over a man without it. There is even a story about a woman who held the high office of Vizier as early as the sixth Dynasty.

Women in Menekhet are able to hold any number of positions. Common women work alongside their husbands and families in the fields, and are capable of managing farms or businesses. Some women of wealthy merchant families assist in running the family business, particularly in perfumes or jewel-crafting. Women are also known to hold positions at court, such as scribes, or as revered acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians. It is possible for women to become a part of the priesthood, and to practice medicine.

In all, women in Menekhet are viewed with a certain amount of superstition and awe, for their ways are mysterious. Sometimes they can be capricious and frivolous for certain, but they are also the bringers of life, and therefore, looked upon with a certain amount of reverence. Foreign women are seen as an endless source of curiosity, and are often indulged out of courtesy.

Relations with other Nations

 * Terre d'Ange

At one time, Pharaoh Ptolemy Auknanet was known to offer financial assistance to Carthage, only to cease such aid after pressure from Queen Julianna of Terre d'Ange. Relations with Terre d'Ange have not been particularly warm since, though Pharaoh seeks to change this, and has been slowly paying off Menekhet's considerable financial debt of three thousand-thousand drachmas to the D'Angelines.


 * Carthage

It is unclear whether Menekhet maintains any further friendly relations with Carthage. The Menekhetan Dynasty certainly still has familial ties to Carthage, and at one time, Pharaoh Ptolemy Auknanet took a woman of Carthage for his Great Queen. Her name was Jendayi, but presumably, she turned out to be barren and he set her aside. This was, coincidentally, around the same time Queen Julianna was pressuring Pharaoh to cease his financial assistance in the war efforts of Carthage.


 * Jebe-Barkal

To the south of Menekhet lie the nations of Nubia and Jebe-Barkal, with whom the Menekhetans have cultivated strong relations. Jebean pirates rarely harass Menekhetan ships, focusing their efforts instead on those of Aragonia and Terre d'Ange. Pharaoh is quite firm in his do-nothing attitude regarding Jebean pirates, seeing Jebe-Barkal as a valuable and long-standing ally. Only in the most extreme cases where trade becomes highly disrupted, or in the case of illegal slave trading, will he deign to intercede.


 * Nubia

Nubia lies to the west of Jebe-Barkal, and is one of Menkhet's allies. Occasionally, they are known to combine their forces to resist threats from Carthage or elswhere. It's said that one of Princess Aziza's most trusted guards, Ishaq, is from Nubia, and that he is a highly-trained and respected warrior, though most mistake him for Jebean.


 * The Umaiyyat

To the east lies Menekhet's greatest burden currently, the desert-riders of the Umaiyyat, as they seek to spread their influence westward. Thus far, Menekhet has managed to placate the Umaiyyati with marriages and the exchange of grains and fruit for horses, but with no real organization amongst its nomadic desert people, the Umaiyyati continue to raid along the Menekhetan border. It is a growing problem, and Pharaoh ever has his eye on it.


 * Bhodistan

Menekhet has warm and familial relations with far-off Bhodistan. Pharaoh's youngest sister, Neritiri, is married to a Bhodistani prince, and they have four children.


 * Khebbel-im-Akkad

Pharaoh has sent one of his daughters to the harem of the Sultan of Khebbel-im-Akkad in an effort to maintain amiable relations the Akkadians. Whether this effort has borne any fruit is yet to be seen.


 * Hellas and Cythera

The relations between Hellas and Menekhet remain very strong, due to familial ties that stretch back for many generations. Likewise, the small island city-state of Cythera has been considered an ally since the marriage of Ptolemy Dikaios and Clytemne of Cythera.


 * Caerdicca Unitas

Most notably, after the passing of his first wife and sister, Nathifa Ptolemais, Menekhet's current Pharaoh has chosen a Caerdicci woman to be his Great Royal Wife. She is the youngest daughter of the Doge of Tiberium, Livia Drusilla. This has cemented a strong alliance between Old Tiberium and Menekhet. Pharaoh also continues to maintain the nation's traditional ties with La Serenissima through trade agreements.

Religion
Forthcoming.

The Current Dynasty

 * Family Tree Forthcoming.