In the ancient deserts and heat of North Africa, the only source of hope came from prayer. Prayer to whatever gods you happened to know, really, because the Kingdom of Israel was still enslaved under the Pharaoh, and the God of Abraham had not become the popular choice yet.

Though pharaohs usually took on the role of being vessel to Horus, other high-class Egyptians occasionally embodied lesser gods. One such man was Khaemwaset, son of the honored High Priest.

Khaemwaset was widely believed to be the incarnation of Heka, a lesser god known for his proficiency in magic and medicine. Khaemwaset was skilled in both, thanks to his upbringing as a priest’s eldest son, but his abilities went far beyond what was considered human—thus granting him godlike status.

Despite his high intelligence, Khaemwaset was a decadent young man. He loved parties, showing off his skills, and feigning piety despite a rumored lack of belief in the Egyptian Pantheon. He wasn’t the most mature, after all.

Khaemwaset lounged in his home, a sandstone manor with many halls and rooms. He was laying in a comfortable cushioned couch, being fanned by Nubian servants. The home had a variety of enslaved people, from Canaanites to Jews and even to local Egyptians.