Hetepi

Hetepi (c. 90s BCE – 48 BCE), also known as The Lizard, was an Egyptian Priest of Anubis who served under High Priest Pasherenptah at the Great Temple of Ptah in Memphis during the 1st century BCE.

Hetepi was secretly a member of the Order of the Ancients, and through his schemes, he plunged Egypt's capital into a place of apparant paranormal despair, with its citizens believing the phenomena were caused by a terrible curse. In reality, it was no more than illusions Hetepi devised and carried out by means of bribery, torture, and intimidation.

Biography

Activities in Memphis

Hetepi was born sometime around 90s BCE. At some point in his life, Hetepi became a priest of Anubis in Memphis as well as a member of the Order of the Ancients. He orchestrated a series of grim "accidents" and ill omens to occur around Memphis, causing an aura of foulness and sorrow to befall the city, with its people quickly becoming convinced that these were the work of a god's disfavor.

In 48 BCE, Hetepi attempted to sabotage High Priest Pasherenptah's reputation, though his motivation remained a secret, as he never divulged to anyone whether he was disillusioned with Pasherenptah's leadership, despised his support for Cleopatra, or simply wanted Pasherenptah's power for himself. To this end, he orchestrated a massive fraudulent operation to mimic 'curses', in order to manipulate the minds of the people in the city.

Hetepi contracted Tjuyu and Tjanefer to spread death and chaos near the Palace of Apries by dumping corpses in the river, luring crocodiles to attack the living much more frequently and aggressively than normal.

Next, he forced the head priest at the mummification temple Wabet of Memphis to mix sand into natron, which was used to dry out the bodies of the deceased before mummification. The mummies were later brought to a tomb beside the palace, where they would decompose due to the spoiled natron, producing a foul smell that spread throughout the city. To ensure the priest would obey, Hetepi cut off his nose and threatened to do the same to his daughter.

Sometime later, Hetepi ordered his followers to kidnap Panchrates, the brother of priestesses Taous and Tawe who served in the Temple of Ptah, forcing them to poison the Apis bull with peach seeds. To ensure the priestesses followed his orders, he severed Panchrates' finger and sent it to them as a warning.

As a final stroke, Hetepi poisoned the cakes delivered to the Memphis Temple with rotten mummy flesh to induce sickness, especially in Pasherenptah's wife, who suffered three miscarriages due to this. All of these events made the people and even Pasherenptah himself doubt his abilities as the high priest, believing that the "Lizard" had cast a powerful curse upon the city and its inhabitants.

Discovery and death

Hetepi's final moments with Bayek in the Memory Corridor

Hetepi's efforts were later thwarted by the arrival and the investigations of the Medjay Bayek of Siwa, who discovered the truths about each of the 'curses'. After rescuing Panchrates, the Medjay Bayek discovered The Lizard's true identity. Despite hiding out among his fellow priests in the Great Temple, all of whom wore the same jackal-headed ceremonial masks obscuring their faces, Hetepi's persistant cough and blue scarf marked him. Bayek then killed him and saved Memphis from his 'curses'.

Personality and characteristics

Hetepi was a religious fanatic who considered the masses as "cattle of the gods", fit only to be driven by the herdsman's whip. He was also incredibly corrupt and cruel, being willing to pollute the entire city of Memphis with rotting corpses, to lure crocodiles to attack innocents and even to poison his colleague's wife, just to see his and the Order's plans succeed. Further, his zeal did not deter him from profane acts, like desecrating bodies or spoiling of the mummification process, deeds particularly sacrilegious for a Priest of Anubis responsible for all death rituals. ^{[citation needed]}

Hetepi was adept at concealing his true feelings and intentions, as Pasherenptah was shocked to learn of the Lizard's true identity, claiming that Hetepi was among his closest and most trusted advisors. Hetepi's estimation of Pasherenptah's reputation as "muck" even before the start of the curse evidently did not deter him from playing the part of a devoted ally and confidante ^{[citation needed]}

In addition to the jackal-headed mask he wore as a Priest of Anubis, Hetepi's other distinguishing characteristics were his blue scarf and wheezing cough. This cough, along with his unusually hoarse voice, are implied ^{[citation needed]} to be from constantly inhaling the various caustic substances used in mummification.

Behind the scenes

Hetepi is a character in Assassin's Creed: Origins, where he serves as one of the antagonists and a target hunted by Bayek. He is voiced by the American actor David Collins, though his face is never seen in-game, as he is always shown wearing the ceremonial jackal mask that all the Priests of Anubis sport.

Hetepi's name, transliterated as ḥtp.j, means "He who is satisfied/at peace".

Gallery

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  Concept art of Hetepi unmasked
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  Promotional image of Hetepi
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  Hetepi's Order symbol
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  Hetepi in the Memory Corridor

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Origins