Was what we have seen of the Romulans in Season 1 partly based on Ancient Egypt?

[Unimatrix Q]

Can't help myself thinking it was.

For example,

1. Many egyptian Tombs had false doors like the Romulans, for spiritual reasons.

2. Seb Cheneb sounds like an ancient egyptian name.

3. Beside coming from Diane Duane's Rihannsu books, the issue of Romulans having multiple names also might be based on ancient egyptian culture. Pharaohs also had more than one name, which were used in different contexts and for different reasons.

Thoughts?

 

[fireproof78]

These connections feel very thin. Secret and two different names occurs in a couple of different cultures.

 

[Nerys Myk]

From the wiki

Tria nomina
The three types of names that have come to be regarded as quintessentially Roman were the praenomen, nomen, and cognomen. Together, these were referred to as the tria nomina. Although not all Romans possessed three names, the practice of using multiple names having different functions was a defining characteristic of Roman culture that distinguished citizens from foreigners.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

These connections feel very thin. Secret and two different names occurs in a couple of different cultures.

If it were only the secret names, but what about Seb Cheneb sounding like the name of an egyptian pharaoh or priest and the concept of false doors in romulan architecture?

 

[fireproof78]

If it were only the secret names, but what about Seb Cheneb sounding like the name of an egyptian pharaoh or priest and the concept of false doors in romulan architecture?

False doors I have seen in architecture for years, including one famous mansion of the child of a gun manufacturer. Seb Cheneb sounds as much Jewish as Egyptian.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

False doors I have seen in architecture for years, including one famous mansion of the child of a gun manufacturer. Seb Cheneb sounds as much Jewish as Egyptian.

Yes, but Winchester House was built this way, because of the eccentricity of the widow and not because of american culture featuring false doors. While both the egyptian concept as well as the romulan one are anchored in their respective cultures.

As for Seb Cheneb possible sounding jewish, i didn't knew this. But i guess that's also possible.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Sounds like Zatanna’s backwards magic.

 

[Sci]

If it were a reference to ancient Egypt, what is the relevance of the reference? The deeper meaning? What function does the reference serve?

Like, naming the Romulans in general after the founder of ancient Rome in "Balance of Terror" (and referring to the leader of the Romulans as the praetor) was obviously an attempt on the writer's part to imply that the Romulans are a militaristic, imperial culture like the Romans, and that like the Romans their empire is doomed. "Another glorious war for the praetor." What would the deeper meaning of any hypothetical references to ancient Egypt be in PIC?

 

[fireproof78]

Yes, but Winchester House was built this way, because of the eccentricity of the widow and not because of american culture featuring false doors. While both the egyptian concept as well as the romulan one are anchored in their respective cultures.

I mean, the Egyptians got it from Mesopotamia so it's grounding in culture is a part of cultural development. And, in addition, the Romans, and their precursors the Eutruscans, also utilized fake doors as part of decor.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

I mean, the Egyptians got it from Mesopotamia so it's grounding in culture is a part of cultural development. And, in addition, the Romans, and their precursors the Eutruscans, also utilized fake doors as part of decor.

That's true. Especially the Etruscans are interesting and relevant for this discussion imo, because of their relationship and shared history with ancient Rome.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Did they take anything from Diane's work for Picard? I felt like Chabon just went out on his own, especially after that whole "When our ancestors first settled on Vulcan" bit.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Did they take anything from Diane's work for Picard? I felt like Chabon just went out on his own, especially after that whole "When our ancestors first settled on Vulcan" bit.

It's debatable whether they got the four names/three names and a secret one bit from Diane Duane's work specifically or if they got it from Memory Beta.

There's a LOT of original Romulan stuff too, like the concept they marry in threes. Here are Michael Chabon's notes on Romulans, created for ST: Picard

 

[Unimatrix Q]

It's debatable whether they got the four names/three names and a secret one bit from Diane Duane's work specifically or if they got it from Memory Beta.

There's a LOT of original Romulan stuff too, like the concept they marry in threes. Here are Michael Chabon's notes on Romulans, created for ST: Picard

I think it's likely that he and the other members of the writer's room at least considered the Rihannsu books and stuff from the novelverse to inform their writing, as Chabon used Ki Baratan as the name of the romulan capital city and Disco canonized the vulcan concept of Arie'mnu (also from Duane) in Season 4.

But i think it's likely that real world history and cultural stuff also played a part in their decissions.