Tiye: Power Behind the Throne
Tiye: Power Behind the Throne — an illustrated stories story, set in Egypt. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
Rafael skipped ahead of Freya, his eyes scanning the enormous hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum. "Wow, look at this!" he exclaimed, pointing to a glass case. Inside, a small, intricately carved wooden statue of a woman sat regally. "Who is she?" he asked, tilting his head.
Page 2
Freya smiled. "That, Rafael, is a statue of Queen Tiye, one of the most influential women in ancient Egypt." As she spoke, the statue began to glow brighter. "They say she was the power behind the throne!" Suddenly, the museum around them dissolved, replaced by a vibrant, bustling scene.
Page 3
"Where are we?" Rafael gasped, looking around in amazement. Towering trees formed the base of houses connected by woven rainbow bridges. "This is...incredible!" Freya shielded her eyes. "Welcome, Rafael, to the world of Queen Tiye. Before Egypt was unified, before pharaohs ruled the lands, it was all like this.
Page 4
"Before the Pharaohs?" Rafael questioned as a young boy, Malik approached them, "What do you mean?" Malik nodded. "The Old Kingdom wasn't always here you know. But before the pyramids, Egypt was defined by the life of the river, and the protection of the land."
Page 5
"My people maintain the irrigation canals," Malik explained, pointing to a complex network of waterways visible below the treehouses. "Without the Nile's water, nothing grows. But recently, the canals have been drying up, and we don't know why." Rafael frowned. "That's terrible! Can't you just dig them deeper?"
Page 6
"We've tried," Malik said with a sigh. "The elders say the river goddess, Hapi, is angry. They want to offer her a great gift during the upcoming festival to appease her." Freya raised an eyebrow. "A festival? What kind of gift?" Malik hesitated. "A... a sacrifice."
Page 7
"A sacrifice?" Rafael exclaimed. "That's... barbaric!" Freya nodded. "Malik, do you remember what I told you about ancient water divining?" Malik's eyes widened. "You mean, using reeds to find underground water sources? But the elders say it's just superstition!"
Page 8
"Well, as Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Water is the driving force of all Nature.' Let's prove them wrong," Freya said, a determined glint in her eyes. "Rafael, help Malik gather some reeds. We need to find a new water source before they make a terrible mistake!" Together, they ventured down into the dry canal bed.
Page 9
After hours of searching, Malik suddenly stopped. "Here!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "The reeds are vibrating strongly!" He started digging frantically, and a moment later, clear, fresh water gurgled to the surface. Relief washed over Malik's face. "We did it!"
Page 10
Back in the Grand Egyptian Museum, Rafael stared at the statue of Queen Tiye, now understanding her true power. "She wasn't just a queen," he whispered to Freya. "She helped her people understand the importance of the river and the land." Freya smiled. "Indeed, Rafael. And those lessons are still important today."
About this story
- Location: Egypt
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)