NECTANEBO II - ruled Egypt 359/358-342/341 BC: The last independent Egyptian pharaoh, Nectanebo spent much of his reign fighting off Persians, finally fleeing and mysteriously disappearing - probably to perish in Nubia. His tomb always lay empty, a fact that has been the inspiration behind many myths and stories. During that era many Egyptians believed that Nectanebo, who had expanded Egyptian territory into Syria and Cyprus, would return as the great liberator and free them from Persian occupation. As it turned out it was Alexander the Great who liberated the Egyptians from the Persians, leading to the legend that Alexander himself was not the son of Philip of Macedonia but of Nectanebo. Nectanebo himself was known as the Great Magician and was famous for the vast number of temples he had built during his reign in an attempt to rebuild Egyptian self-esteem and resurrect the spiritual and mystical glory of earlier Egyptian dynasties.
ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM: Discovered off the coast of Rhodes in 1901, the Antikythera Mechanism dates from the first century AD and is the most mechanically sophisticated artefact from classical antiquity ever discovered. Contained within a boxlike frame it is assumed to have been able to calculate the movement of the sun, moon and the five planets as well as to display the actual orbits of these celestial spheres. It contains at least thirty gear wheels and nothing remotely as sophisticated was made until medieval times. The extent of its functions are still being analysed to this day. As far as I know, no predecessors of the mechanism have yet been discovered.
Reading Group Questions: A Starting Point
After Isabella’s death, Oliver discovers a lot about his wife that he hadn’t known before. If she had lived, would Isabella have been able to continue to keep these secrets from him?
What do we learn about their relationship in general?
There are many suggestions in the novel that Isabella seems to be haunting Oliver. Is it really her, do you think, and if so, what is she trying to tell him?
Do you think Isabella would have approved of how Oliver uses the astrarium? How would you chart his attitude towards the artefact throughout the narrative? Is there a shift of some kind, and what could be at the root of it?
How do you think Oliver’s class and religious background has affected both his agnostic and material attitudes?
Why is Oliver known as the Divider? How does he feel about his own abilities?
How do you see him as a character?
There is a moment in the book when Oliver is seduced by the idea of rekindling his relationship with Rachel. What influences his ultimate decision?
What is the relation between the creation of the astrarium and the different power struggles between the characters?
How does the astrarium influence what lies ahead? Would you say the novel supports the view that you can alter your destiny?
How do you feel about the surprise twist at the very end? A tragic loss or the fitting ending of the ultimate love story?
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to my partner, Jeremy Asher, without whose support and editorial input this book would not have been possible. I’d also like to thank the following individuals for their invaluable contributions. For geological and oil information: Tom O’Connor, Ian Francis, Jonathan Green, Mike Lakin. With regard to Egyptology, archaeology and local culture: Rosalind Park, Gae Callender, Dr Jean Yves Empereur (French Centre for Alexandrian Studies), Dr Mohamed Awad (Alexandria Preservation Trust), Dr Grzegorz Majcherek, Angus Jackson OBE, Heba Tadrios, Farida El Reedy, Victor Politis, Nino Magy, Captain Mohsen El-Gohary, Dr Emad Khalil, Mr Joe ‘Giusy’ Barda, Mrs Racheline Barda, Dr Ashraf Sabri, David Thomas, Mr M. Rashidy (Cine Egypt), Dr Zahir Hawass (Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt), Nina Learner, Rachel Skinner, Paul Schütze. Thanks also go to the Press Office of the Harbour of Alexandria and to the Windsor Palace Hotel and its staff. Finally, thanks to my editors, Linda Funnell, Sarah Golding, Nicola O’Shea, Lydia Papandrea; and to my agents, Rick Raftos, Julian Alexander and Catherine Drayton. Thanks to Nikola Scott and the team at Sphere and Little, Brown UK. And special thanks to Rosalind Park whose insight and feedback got me through the more esoteric aspects of the narrative.