The Egyptian

A skilled physician trained in embalming who rises from obscure origins to court physician status. He is highly ambitious, torn between helping the poor and serving the royal court, and his passions lead him into dangerous entanglements. His travels abroad restore his reputation as a healer, but personal losses and political games drive him toward exile.

The pharaoh who champions Aten worship and seeks religious reform at the center of the Egyptian state. He is charismatic and idealistic, yet increasingly isolated as old guard opponents close in. His epileptic seizure early in the story catalyzes Sinuhe's rise and his own mercy toward others shapes the court.

A Babylonian courtesan who becomes Sinuhe's lover and later his life-long confidante. She influences his choices and becomes a catalyst for his personal downfall through their fragile relationship. Their bond ends tragically as events unfold around the Atenist conflict.

Sinuhe's loyal servant who travels with him across the known world. He helps sustain Sinuhe's memory and practical needs, and ultimately assists in protecting Thoth, playing a pivotal role in the journey back to the court.

A once-beautiful woman now impoverished and ailing, whom Sinuhe meets again in distress. Her illness underscores how beauty and status fade, reflecting the harsher realities of life after ecstasy and power. Her presence intensifies Sinuhe's sense of responsibility and loss.

A formidable military leader who rises to prominence and eventually becomes pharaoh. He embodies pragmatic force and political maneuvering, contrasting with Akhnaton's idealism. His alliance with Sinuhe on the battlefield shapes the course of Egypt's future.

The son of Sinuhe and Merit, a symbol of the next generation born from a union of medicine, love, and loss. He represents hope for the future and the continuity of knowledge.

A princess who plays a pivotal role in the revelation of Sinuhe's parentage and in the political maneuvering at court. She embodies the scheming and protective aspects of royal lineage in this era.