This article is about the island known as Kerma. You may be looking for the Egyptian city of the same name. |
- "So...where were we?"
"Haven't the faintest...oh. Yes. We were on the Lost Island of Kerma, making our way toward the giant gemstone of power. Figuratively speaking, of course." - ―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr and Jack Sparrow
Kerma was an island in the Atlantic Ocean, located off the coast of West Africa, between the Cape Verdes and the Canary Islands. The island was inhabited by the descendants of the Egyptians and ruled by pharaohs.
History[]
- "In return for the bearings to Kerma, and you must verify that they're correct, I'll cut you in for ten percent of the gold we find there."
- ―Cutler Beckett to Jack Sparrow
1300 years BC, the Egyptians from Kush have been ordered by their god Apedemak to take their most sacred item, the green gemstone, and to find the new homeland. They traveled across the Great Desert to the West, until they reached the Atlantic Ocean. They built ships and sailed into the unknown, until they found an uninhabited island. They settled on the island, which they named Kerma, in honor of the old capital of Kush, the city of Kerma. They built a city named Zerzura, and a society identical to the one which they left in Africa.
For the next three thousand years, the island remained undiscovered, protected by a magical fog created by Kerman priests with the power of the green stone, the Heart of Zerzura. No Kerman ever left the island, and the population remained isolated from the outside world.
Kerman society[]
- "Whoever could have predicted we’d be here, getting ready to eat dinner with royalty that have lived on this island, as their ancestors lived, since long before Our Lord was born?"
- ―Robert Greene to Jack Sparrow
The society of Kerma was the exact replica of the one which existed in ancient Egypt. People were grouped in a hierarchical system with the Pharaoh at the top and farmers, fishermen, and slaves at the bottom. The groups of people nearest the top of society were the richest and most powerful.
The Pharaoh had the most power. He was responsible for making laws and keeping order. The Queen would rule the island during the Pharaoh's absence. The Grand Vizier was the Pharaoh's chief advisor and was sometimes also the High Priest. He was responsible for overseeing administration and all official documents had to have his seal of approval.
Priests were responsible for keeping the Gods happy. They did not preach to people but spent their time performing rituals and ceremonies to the God of their temple. Soldiers were responsible for the defence of the country. Slaves were at the bottom and could be sold and possessed by anyone.