Study+Questions

Chapter 1
Ranofer would have been an apprentice of Zau's. He now has to live with his evil half-brother Gebu.
 * 1. How did the death of his father cause Ranofer's life to take a tragic turn?**

He was unhappy about his work, because he didn't get to learn anything new, and he couldn't move up in his job he had to have the same job all his life, because of his evil half-brother Gebu.
 * 2. Why was Ranofer unhappy about his work?**

Chapter 2
He is suspicious because he is very strange and awkward, and he was acting very strange lately.
 * 3. Why was Ranofer suspicious of Ibni?**

They made him feel weak and pathetic.
 * 4. Why did the wounds on his back embarrass Ranofer?**

He thought he did because he thought that Ibni was giving him gold in the wine, and he was taking it away to Gebu.
 * 5. Why did Ranofer worry that he had a part in the gold theft?**

Hequet had everything that Ranofer wanted because **__HE__** wanted to be an apprentice, and Heqet got to move up in his work.
 * 6. How did Heqet's presence arouse feelings of jealousy in Ranofer?**

He would have to reveal that he was part of the theft.
 * 7. Why wouldn't Ranofer tell Rekh about his suspicions?**

Chapter 2
He meet him in the bushes at the marshes.
 * How did Ranofer meet the Ancient?**

He tells him he knows not only wine is in the wineskin, but gold.
 * Describe the encounter between Ranofer and Gebu when Ranofer reveals he knows what is the wineskin?**

Ranofer is always hungry because Gebu barely gives him any food, and it is never enough.
 * Explain the meaning of the quotation. "Hungry. Always, you are hungry.**

Chapter 3
He got to make the golden leaves for the necklace.
 * 8. How was Ranofer learning to be a goldsmith even though he did not have an apprenticeship?**

He was allowed to make golden leaves for a necklace.
 * 9. How was Ranofer able to work with gold?**

He did because he didn't want to take the wineskins home, because he didn't want to be a thief.
 * 10. Why did Ranofer tell Ibni that Gebu no longer wanted his gifts?**

He threatened to apprentice Ranofer to himself, as a stonecutter.
 * 11. What threats did Gebu make to Ranofer if he didn't deliver the wineskins?**

Chapter 4
He did because he wanted to thank his father for the idea over the night.
 * 12. Why did Ranofer visit his father's tomb?**

He thought Rekh wouldn't believe him, and he didn't have to turn himself in.
 * 13. Why did Ranofer want Heqet to tell Rekh about the gold theft?**

Gebu was nice to Ranofer, and gave him a copper
 * 14. What uncharacteristic behavior did Gebu show toward Ranofer?**

Chapter 5
The tomb robbers were to be hung by their foot on the palace wall, and left to be picked apart by vultures. They believed that if the possessions were stolen, the ba would be poor. If the mummy was disturbed, the ba would not be able to recognize it and the ba would be homeless, and die.
 * 15. What evidence showed that tomb robbing was a serious crime in ancient Egypt? According to the Egyptians' religious beliefs, why was this such a serious crime?**

Ibni was fired from the goldshop, and was not there the next day.
 * 16. How do you know Rekh believed Heqet's information about Ibni?**

Ranofer became apprenticed to Gebu, at the stonecutting shop.
 * 17. Why did Ranofer's relief at Ibni's betrayal by Gebu turn to despair?**

Chapter 6
The work was very monotonous and boring.
 * 18. Why did Ranofer have trouble keeping his mind on his work in the stonecutting shop?**

He wanted to work at the gold shop, and the work at the stonecutting shop is boring, Pai is very mean to Ranofer and beats him with a stick if he misbehaves.
 * 19. Why didn't Ranofer want to apprentice as a stonecutter?**

Gebu was nice, and he gave Ranofer coppers. Gebu started to be nice but then after Ranofer started at the stonecutting shop and Gebu treated him like dirt.
 * 20. How had Gebu's behavior changed toward Ranofer since he first came to live with his half-brother?**

He thought that the rumbling was his daddy's ba, but know he thinks that it is Gebu, and if you go out at night the khefts are out their and Gebu wouldn't go out in the dark.
 * 21. Why was Ranofer puzzled by Gebu's wandering at night?**

Chapter 7
He did because the cuts and dust made his life feel very low.
 * 22. Why did Ranofer feel self-conscious when he met Heqet?**

So that one day Ranofer could go back and become a goldsmith, and Heqet would tell him everything he learned during the day so far, so when Ranofer got back to the Gold Shop he would know everything and could start where Heqet is.
 * 23. Why did Ranofer agree to meet Heqet each day at noon?**

He said that he could not enjoy his food if Ranofer was hungry.
 * 24. How did Heqet convince Ranofer to share his food?**

Chapter 8
You have to do something to learn it, and it made him hate stonecutting even more.
 * 25. Why did Ranofer tell Heqet to stop sharing what he learned as an apprentice goldsmith?**

He said that it is better than nothing, and that it fares well.
 * 26. Why did the Ancient encourage Ranofer to accept his fate as a stonecutter?**

He wanted to see if Zau would apprentice him. He also wanted to see his work.
 * 27. Why did Ranofer want to visit Zau, the Master Goldsmith?**

Zau does not take apprentices, and he thought Ranofer liked stonecutting.
 * 28. Why didn't Zau immediately agree to take on Ranofer as an apprentice?**

Chapter 9
He would get beaten if Gebu knew. It would also mean he would have to quit the stone cutting shop.
 * 29. Why didn't Ranofer tell Gebu about his visit to Zau?**

He thought that Gebu was stealing again.
 * 30. Why was Ranofer suspicious of Gebu's more luxurious standard of living?**

He needed proof of Gebu's stealing.
 * 31. Why did Ranofer conclude that he needed to spy on Gebu?**

Chapter 10
They learned nothing but useless stuff. It was like that because Gebu did not do anything evil.
 * 32. What did the three "spies" learn after their first night on the job?**

Heqet threw dom nuts at it.
 * 33. How was Ranofer rescued from a snarling dog in a stranger's courtyard?**

Papyrus was in high demand, and he had to work more.
 * 34. Why did the Ancient do less spying during the time of the rising of the Nile?**

He thought that Gebu was stealing at night.
 * 35. Why did Ranofer conclude that all the daytime spying was worthless?**

There were khefts out at night.
 * 36. Why did it take an act of extraordinary courage for Ranofer to follow Gebu at night?**

He got attacked by what he thought was a kheft, but it was really a cat.
 * 37. Why didn't Ranofer gather information on the night he followed Gebu?**

He was in the mood to defy all threats.
 * 38. Why was Ranofer willing to defy Gebu by visiting the upper room?**

He broke the seal on the door.
 * 39. Why did Ranofer fear that Gebu would know he had discovered the goblet?**

Chapter 11
He thought there were khefts again.
 * 40. Why did Ranofer need to brave the dark streets once again in order to obtain a torch?**

He did because Gebu was so drunk he didn't notice the poorly mended seal.
 * 41. Why did Ranofer thank the gods for barley beer?**

He was because it would look like he stole it.
 * 42. Why was Ranofer worried about reporting Gebu for stealing the goblet?**

He couldn't turn Gebu in.
 * 43. Why was Ranofer so upset to find the goblet gone from Gebu's box?**

Setma was charging more money to transport the stolen treasures, but Gebu refused to pay more.
 * 44. Why did Gebu and Setma argue, as reported by the Ancient.**

Chapter 12
He did it because he wanted to know what was happening with Ranofer.
 * 45. Why did Heqet come looking for Ranofer?**

Gebu said that there were more river captains then Setma.
 * 46. How did Ranofer learn that Gebu had found another smuggler to help him?**

He did because he thought Heqet would try and do something like make spying plans.
 * 47. Why did Ranofer lie to Heqet and the Ancient?**

Chapter 13
He had to walk on a narrow ledge, where he could easily be seen.
 * 48. Why did it become extremely difficult and dangerous for Ranofer to follow Gebu?**

He didn't because there were bas floating around the valley.
 * 49. Why didn't Ranofer feel alone in the Valley?**

He thought it was a secret passage in to a tomb.
 * 50. What did Ranofer conclude about the small room on the scroll?**

He did because a vulture/kheft scared him and he fell in.
 * 51. Why did Ranofer plunge into the crevice?**

They did to try to find Ranofer.
 * 52. Why did Heqet and the Ancient for go the Festival?**

Chapter 14
They did because there were so many tombs and they didn't see him, and thought he wasn't in one.
 * 53. Why did Heqet and the Ancient decide to leave the Valley before they found Ranofer?**

He thought that it looked like a home that someone would come home to any minute.
 * 54. What surprised Ranofer about the interior of the tomb?**

Chapter 15
They risked their lives to stand guard at the tomb.
 * 55. How were Heqet and the Ancient able to help Ranofer when they reunited in the Valley?**

It didn't sound true, and he was only a young boy.
 * 56. Why did Ranofer worry that no one would listen to his story?**

It was his only way to prove that Gebu and Wenamon were tomb robbers.
 * 57. Why was Ranofer willing to risk danger to himself and his friends to enter the palace?**

He gave orders to the military captain.
 * 58. What evidence showed that Qa-nefer, a dwarf, was a powerful person in the palace?**

Chapter 16
She did because because it was un-likely, but still possible. Queen Tiy also wanted to show her wisdom.
 * 59. Why did the queen agree to test the truth of Ranofer's warning about the tomb robbers?**

She asked Ranofer what he wanted mostly, and she gave what he wanted, which was a donkey. He also got a set of gold working tools, rings for The Ancient and Heqet a shenti, and sandals with buckles. The Queen bathed him, fed him, and treated all of Ranofer's wounds. She also apprenticed him to Zau, and she said that the first necklace made by Zau's new pupil will belong to no one but herself.
 * 60. How did the queen reward Ranofer?**