Erypt
| Erypt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Region: | Western Oerik |
| Government | |
| Ruler: | Priest Kings |
| Government: | Dynastic Theocracy |
| Demographics | |
| Races: | Predominantly Human |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Ra, and likely Egyptian pantheon. |
"Erypt is an arid land ruled by a dynasty of priest kings."[1]
Description
Erypt is thought to be one of the oldest human civilizations on Oerth.
Erypt lies far to the west of the Flanaess in Western Oerik. It directly abuts the Gulf of Ra, and is a peninsula extending between the Ocean of Storms and the Celestial Sea. Though it is situated close to Central Oerik, and its northern shores are on the same body of water, it is culturally included in Western Oerik because of its origins.
Pantheon
Due to the presence of the Gulf of Ra directly adjacent to Erypt, it is presumed that there is at least one deity, Ra, who is worshipped here who originally appeared in Deities and Demigods. It is thought the Egyptian god(s) are "not native to Oerth, having been worshipped first by beings on another prime material plane. At some point years ago, these gods discovered Oerth and revealed themselves as supernatural beings to the primitive indigenous people"(to paraphrase a quote regarding Olman deities, but that also may apply to this similar situation).[2]
Erypt in other Sources
Gary Gygax referred an the island off the northeast coast as the "Island of Mephreton" ([sic] "Methraton") in a thread on ENWorld, and said that it was explicitly located in (his version) of Oerth.[3] Erypt was part of the Black Moon Chronicles material canonized on the map from Dragon Magazine Annual #1 (shown above), though it is unclear which of the two islands Gygax was referring to.
Erypt of Greyhawk published sources does differ from the Black Moon Chronicles in one fairly minor way - there are "priest kings" (the implication being pharaohs), but in the Black Moon Chronicles the archmagi Methraton despises deities, and does not worship them, or permit worship in his lands.
Critical Reception
The name of the nation is oft denigrated by many fans as being a bit too on the nose for a fantasy setting, and is sometimes belittled as being a lazy naming convention. However, its source specifically says, "doubtless the locals have their own names for many of the areas". So, it's most probable that Erypt isn't actually the true name of the place, and "Heward" only put it there so it'd be clear what was there, and what the culture was similar to (much like "here there be dragons", or "orcs rule here").
References
Citations
- ↑ Williams, Skip. "Beyond the Flanaess." Dragon Magazine Annual. 1996, 72-73.
- ↑ Scarlet Brotherhood, Sean K. Reynolds, TSR, 1999; p42
- ↑ Q&A with Gary Gygax "Q:You have played with François Marcela Froideval, right ? Is it true that L'Empire de Lynn is located on Oerth ? A: Yes, and yes. His area of Oerth was located to the west, and it included the island of Mephreton.
Bibliography
Zavoda Index Entry
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index page has a list of sources, abbreviations, and a link to the full index.
Erypt [KNG] DRG#AN1 - 72,73