Blessed Lands Egypt - The year is now, but things are very different. Ancient Egypt never became ancient. Libyans, Nubians, and Assyrians never invaded. The Thirtieth Dynasty repelled the Persians in 343 BC. and Egypt entered a long period of expansion. Syria, Greece and all of Africa conquered. Rome fell before it truly began. Most of Europe and Parts of Asia were absorbed. Egypt became the dominant country from the 18th through the 20th century. The Blessed Lands embraced peace after a long bloody war with the Cursed Lands across the Atlantic Ocean. Life for most Egyptians was good. Priest Honute was one of them. With a beautiful intelligent wife, a wonderful job and the horrible war behind him, Honute could finally enjoy his life. That is until his wife asked for a divorce.

In 1838, Scottish painter David Roberts (1796-1864) embarked on a three-year journey that would shape Europe's perception of the Middle East. Nurtured on Bible stories and tales of the exotic Orient, Roberts had always dreamed of exploring the Holy Land, though travel there was an arduous, dangerous undertaking. While he set himself the goal of bringing home an accurate visual record, he returned with a portfolio of hand-tinted lithographs that lost nothing of romanticism. His use of light, color, and atmosphere lent an aura of exoticism to his realistic view.