Old City (Tephu)
The Old City marks the original site of Tephu, which was founded further from Sphinx River's riverbank and surrounded by tall hieroglyph-carved sandstone walls to keep out unusually high seasonal flooding.1 Over thousands of years, the city expanded beyond this enclosed area and grew into the larger modern city, leaving the Old City as Tephu's centre of educational, political, and religious infrastructure.1
Geography
The city government centers around the Plaza of the Bright Horizon, informally known as the Great Plaza, a 500-foot-long marble plaza built on the ruins of an older palace and flanked by sixteen pillars that illustrate the city's history. It is open to the public during religious festivals.1 North of the plaza is the Great Library of Tephu, Academy of Scribes, and the Houses of Order and Wisdom. To its south is the Sanctuary of Nethys. It is also surrounded by traditionally styled houses, called riads, and official buildings, including Papyrus House.1
Although the Old City is not restricted to Tephu's elite and the walls of the district have crumbled in places enough to allow passage through, city guards patrol it to keep out peddlers and guides from the New City to its east to prevent crowding. Beggars, pilgrims, and those on official business are allowed to enter through the Gate of the Sun.1 The district is connected to western Wadjet's Walk by the Gate of the Moon, which connects to an arched bridge reputedly sacred to the god Thoth, and is a popular gathering point for students and scholars.1
References
Paizo published a major article about Tephu in Shifting Sands.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 . “Tephu, City of the Reed People” in Shifting Sands, 60–67. Paizo Inc., 2014
