# VII: Of the Awaking of Harmachis; Of the Ceremony of His Crowning as Pharaoh of the Upper and the Lower Land; and of the Offerings Made to Pharaoh explained — Cleopatra > Chapter companion for Cleopatra by H. Rider Haggard. ## What happens Harmachis awakens from his initiation into the Mysteries of Isis and prepares for his secret coronation as Pharaoh. With thirty-seven dignitaries gathered at Abouthis, he is crowned by his father Amenemhat, swearing oaths to govern Egypt according to ancient laws, preserve the worship of its gods, and liberate the land from Greek and Roman oppression. After the ceremony, he makes offerings in the seven sanctuaries and is recognized as the divine Pharaoh. ## Themes in this chapter ### Patriotism and Rebellion Harmachis is called to be the sword of Egypt's deliverance, swearing to cast out foreign idols and liberate the land. ### Religion and Mysticism The coronation is steeped in religious ritual, including offerings in the seven sanctuaries and the invocation of ancient gods. ### Fate and Destiny Harmachis is hailed as the prophesied deliverer, and Atoua's talk of love and fate underscores the intertwining of personal and national destiny. ## Character check-ins ### Harmachis Awakens from initiation, is crowned Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower Land, and swears oaths to liberate Egypt. ### Amenemhat High Priest and father of Harmachis; crowns him Pharaoh and leads the ceremonial offerings. ### Sepa Uncle of Harmachis, arrives disguised as a traveling doctor; participates in the secret gathering. ### Atoua The old wife who prepares Harmachis for anointing with water and oil, speaking prophetically of love and destiny. ### Cleopatra Referenced as the target of the plot; her death is to be the signal for the rebellion. ## Key lines > Long has Khemi groaned beneath the mailed heel of the Greek, and trembled at the shadow of the Roman’s spear; long has the ancient worship of its Gods been desecrated, and its people crushed with oppression. Egypt has suffered under Greek and Roman domination, with its religion profaned and its people oppressed. _Sepa's speech rallying Harmachis to the cause of liberation._ > Thou swearest that thou wilt in all things govern Egypt according to its ancient laws, that thou wilt preserve the worship of its Gods, that thou wilt do equal justice, that thou wilt not oppress, that thou wilt not betray, that thou wilt make no alliance with the Roman or the Greek, that thou wilt cast out the foreign Idols, that thou wilt devote thy life to the liberty of the land of Khem? You swear to rule Egypt by its ancient laws, protect its gods, administer justice, avoid alliances with Rome or Greece, expel foreign idols, and dedicate your life to Egypt's freedom. _The oath administered by Amenemhat during the coronation._ > Never talk lightly of love, my King, for it brought thee here! La! la! but it is always the way—‘The goose on the wing laughs at crocodiles,’ so goes their saying down at Alexandria; ‘but when the goose is asleep on the water, it is the crocodiles that laugh.’ Do not dismiss love, for it has led you to this moment. The proverb warns that those who are careless may be caught off guard. _Atoua's cryptic warning to Harmachis about the dangers of love._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cleopatra_se/chapters/vii-of-the-awaking-of-harmachis-of-the-ceremony-of-his-crowning-as-pharaoh-of-the-upper-and-the-lower-land-and-of-the-offerings-made-to-pharaoh - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cleopatra_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cleopatra_se/chapters