# The Sherd of Amenartas explained — She

> Chapter companion for She by H. Rider Haggard.

## What happens

Leo Vincey and Horace Holly read a letter from Leo's deceased father, John Vincey, which reveals a family legend about an immortal white queen in Africa and a mysterious potsherd inscribed by their ancestress Amenartas. The sherd recounts how Amenartas and her husband Kallikrates fled Egypt, were taken to the caves of Kôr, and encountered the queen (Ayesha), who fell in love with Kallikrates, killed him when he refused her, and sent Amenartas away. The letter urges Leo to seek the secret of life and avenge his ancestor. Holly and Job are skeptical, but Leo is intrigued.

## Themes in this chapter

### Immortality and Mortality

John Vincey's letter speculates on a place where 'vital forces of the world visibly exist' and the possibility of preserving life indefinitely, while the sherd describes Ayesha's undying beauty.

### Love and Obsession

Ayesha's obsessive love for Kallikrates leads her to kill him when he refuses her, and Amenartas's love for Kallikrates drives her to flee Egypt and later seek vengeance.

### Knowledge and Forbidden Wisdom

The letter warns that tampering with 'vast and secret forces' may lead to ruin, and the sherd describes Ayesha's dark magic and the 'rolling Pillar of Life.'

## Character check-ins

### Horace Holly

Skeptical of the legend, calls it 'absolute balderdash' and thinks John Vincey was off his head.

### Leo Vincey

Fascinated by the mystery, reads the letter and the sherd inscription with growing excitement.

### Job

A matter-of-fact servant who reacts with horror to the story, groaning 'May the Lord forgive her for that.'

### John Vincey

Deceased father of Leo, whose letter explains the family legend and his own failed search for the immortal queen.

### Amenartas

The ancient Egyptian ancestress who inscribed the potsherd, recounting her flight from Egypt and the encounter with Ayesha.

### Kallikrates

Amenartas's husband, a priest of Isis, who was killed by Ayesha after refusing her love.

## Key lines

> Life exists; why therefore should not the means of preserving it indefinitely exist also?

If life exists, why couldn't there be a way to preserve it forever?

_John Vincey's rational argument for the possibility of immortality._

> He who would tamper with the vast and secret forces that animate the world may well fall a victim to them.

Anyone who meddles with the hidden powers of the world might become their victim.

_A warning about the dangers of seeking forbidden knowledge._

> I speak of those things, that though they be past belief, yet I have known, and I lie not.

I am telling you about things that seem unbelievable, but I have experienced them and I am not lying.

_Amenartas's assertion of the truth of her story despite its fantastical nature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters/iii-the-sherd-of-amenartas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/she_se/chapters