The mode was released as a downloadable add-on on 20 February 2018 and is available for free to those who own the base game, or for purchase as a stand-alone version on PC. In it, players are to free roam the game's map of ancient Egypt and learn about the kingdom's history through a series of guided tours.[1]
Narrator:Reaching out on either side of the lush Nile are the harsh arid Western Desert and the mountainous Eastern Desert.They cover nearly 94% of Egypt. Each of these parent deserts have their own microclimate, and contain several smaller deserts with a distinct fauna and flora. Whale fossils were discovered within the depths of the Sahara. Known as the Valley of the Whales, this location is evidence of the seas which once covered the area.
Narrator:The White Desert in the northeast of the Sahara owes its name to its limestone soil contrasting with the yellow sand. The wind has eroded the rocks of the White Desert into stone mushrooms, the most famous of which is referred to as the Finger of God.
Narrator:The Great Sand Sea is a large unbroken desert that reaches out through western Egypt and eastern Libya. It is home to a unique geological formation known as Libyan silica glass. The pale yellowish-green material ranges from pebble-sized fragments to glass rocks the size of rough boulders.
The Qattara Depression
Narrator:The Qattara Depression is located in the northwest part of Egypt. Reaching 18,000 square kilometers, the basin is 133 meters below sea level and covered with salt. It is the second lowest point in Africa, after the Afar Depression.
Narrator:The climate is very arid, with average temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius. The famous Siwa Oasis is located on the protected southwestern region. Today, the Qattara Depression is utilized for oil exploration.
Siwa
The Faiyum
The City of Memphis
Rediscovering Egypt
Natron
Fauna of Ancient Egypt
Flora of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Jean-François Champollion
The Founding of Cyrene
The Agora & Thermal Baths
The Temple of Zeus in Cyrene
Important Monuments of Cyrene
The Acropolis of Cyrene
The Gladiator Arena
Major Exports of Cyrene
Pyramids
The Origin of the Pyramid
The Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser
Inside Djoser's Step Pyramid
Sneferu's First Pyramid
The Bent Pyramid of Dahshur
The Red Pyramid of Dahshur
Pyramids of the Middle Kingdom
An Overview of The Giza Necropolis
Narrator:The Giza plateau is located on the West Bank of the Nile, and was considered by ancient Egyptians as the domain of the dead. The pyramidal complexes found there were built over the span of three generations, during the reign of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure.
Narrator:The Giza area, now famous for its three pyramidsm is part of a wider grouping of funerary complexes. Rulers from this period generally elected to be buried in the area. The focal point of the entire region was the city of Memphis, chosen as the capital of Egypt at the beginning of the Old Kingdom.
Narrator:The placement of the Giza monuments and particularly that of the pyramids, followed a practical, yet strict alignment. First they focused on cardinal points, and then they accounted for the natural geology of the plateau.
The Riddles of the Sphinx
Khufu's Funerary Complex
The Secrets of the Great Pyramid
The Great Pyramid: Subterranean Chamber
The Great Pyramid of Giza: Upper Chambers
Jean-Pierre Houdin's Theories
Khafre's Funerary Complex
Menkaure's Funerary Complex
Alexandria
The Greek Pharaohs
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt
The Siege of Alexandria
Introduction to Alexandria
Alexandria: Planning of the City
Learn about the design and layout of the city of Alexandria.
Narrator:Alexander's plan to build his great city began with a verse from Homer's Odyssey. "There is, in front of Egypt, in the sea with many swells, an island called Pharos." Guided by these clues, Alexander the Great founded his future city at the western end of the Nile Delta.
Narrator:Though Alexander considered this location ideal for his great city, it presented considerable challenges. Too difficult to access during storms, the surrounding swamps threatened disease, and the limestone soil prevented the growth of healthy crops. However, due to the influence of his mentor Aristotle, Alexander the Great recognized that the true value was its strategic emplacement. Alexander knew that in controlling Pelusium to the east, Memphis to the south and his crowning glory, Alexandria to the west, he would create a triangular stronghold allowing him to control the entire Delta while giving him access to the Mediterranean.
Narrator:The great walls of Alexandria had a humble beginning. Lacking chalk to outline the future city's foundations, architects were forced to use flour instead. Clouds of migrating birds swept down and ate the flour, erasing the plans. This prompted Alexander to seek guidance from the oracles, who reassured him that his future city was destined to feed a large population.
Narrator:Excavations led by Mahmoud bey El-Falaki in the 19th century revealed that the wall enclosure measured approximately 5.2 kilometers in length, and 2.2 kilometers in width. It was roughly 9 meters in height.
Narrator:These formidable ancient walls would resist a number of attacks, including fending off the king of Syria in 169 BCE. It wasn't until 295 CE that they eventually fell to Roman EmperorDiocletian, and this only after eight months of relentless assault.
Narrator:Alexandria's principle architect, Deinokrates, chose a Hippodamian grid plan. The grid maximized functionality, with wide straight roads and canals running beneath them. Alexander recognized the military value of the city's design. The wide parallel streets gave him optimal surveilance of the city while allowing the unobstructed flow of troops.
Narrator:A central corridor ran from the Mediterranean's north port down to Lake Mareotis to the south. This thoroughfare acted as an unobstructed link for commercial trade and travel between the two ports. Many of the streets were bordered with grand buildings and parks, including the Canopic Street with its impressive gate bordering the eastern end.
Narrator:Alexandria was most likely built upon an already existing Egyptian village. Upon its completion, the Egyptians reviled the city, refusing to call it by its founder's name. Instead, they called it Ra-qed, "the building." as a mark of disdain, which was later Hellenized into Rhakotis. Despite this, the name Alexandria would remain.
Alexandria: A Commercial Hub
Alexandria, City of Celebration
Education in Alexandria
Narrator:The education of young Alexandrians did not differ from the one generally dispensed elsewhere in Ancient Greece. At the age of seven, the child was taken in charge by a tutor, who then became responsible for instilling an elementary education, as well as good moral principles.
Narrator:Teaching was generally done outside, in the open air. In the gymnasium, students were taught not only sports, but also topics such as rhetoric, philosophy, music and poetry - all things deemed essential to ones' education at the time.
Narrator:Here, both boys and girls are shown attending a class given by one of the rhetoricians of the era. The team made the choice to show both genders attending class within the context of the game world. Even though it is historically innacurate, the team felt it was not necessary to prioritize historical sexism over inclusive gameplay.
