Knowledge is Power

Muhammad returned to the little room, lantern in hand. It wasn't a huge find, as far as these things go. Some storage room, maybe a small proto-museum or shrine to a forgotten deity? Well that might be worth something. He knelt in front of the pillar again. A piece of glass wasn't information - writing was information. If it was a shrine or tied to someone of note, then this whole effort would be priceless. If not, well... He moved the lantern closer to examine the writing while those colonizers were busy with their trinket.

Here rests the concubine trainer. Danger. Forbidden by gods.

Of course gods in this culture meant divine pharaoh and his favored too. Still, promising. Worrying.

Gifted by Lord... some symbols obscured or confused. It seemed like recorded history over the years. Decrees, comings, goings...

When worn, magic obedience? What nonsense. How do you wear a stone?

Muhammad muttered a slight curse. On the sides and rear of the pillar weren't hieroglyphs at all, but actual artistry. Each image focused on a stylized rendering of the stone. It seemed like it was to be "worn" anally. Some images showed various men and women servicing the rich and powerful while wearing it, yet others showed the servants bound as the elite brought the trainer towards them.

How utterly strange and perverse. Egyptians weren't like that, then or now. Was it some Greek outpost perhaps? Maybe that was why it was hidden here, forbidden?

"Oi, Muhammad, any luck deciphering any of this?" Winston must have gotten bored with the bauble. Muhammad moved the lantern away from the pillar, spooked from his shock at the wholly unexpected discovery.