Sethos (Peabody mysteries)
Encyclopedia
Sethos is the nom de guerre of the shadowy "Master Criminal" in the Amelia Peabody series
of mystery novels.
, as the mastermind of an organized gang of thieves attempting to steal antiquities from Dahshoor, in which he is partially foiled by Amelia Peabody
and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson
. To their surprise, he reveals that he has spent most of the novel right under their noses, pretending to be a Copt
ic priest of the local village. Despite his disguise, Amelia feels sure he is English in origin.
In Lion in the Valley
, his nom de guerre is revealed, and he is thus described by an Englishman who hears of him during his brief foray into slum life:
Amelia becomes obsessed with the idea of apprehending the Master Criminal and putting a stop to his activities. By the end of Lion in the Valley she is captured by Sethos, but astonished when he professes to be passionately in love with her. Amelia is starting to believe that she may be able to reform him when Emerson bursts in and fights with Sethos, who manages to escape. After realizing that he cannot have her, he promises never to harm or threaten her or her family.
He reappears in the novels from time to time, often to rescue Amelia from other foes. Despite her occasional entreaties, he never gives up his illegal activities, which he takes considerable pride in.
He is presumed dead at the end of The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
and again at the end of He Shall Thunder in the Sky
, at which point it is revealed that he has been working for British Intelligence during the Great War
.
that "Sethos" is actually Emerson and Walter's half-brother, the illegitimate son of their father and his mistress, who had been their mother's best friend. He spent his childhood hating Emerson for having the recognition and childhood he craved, not knowing that Emerson spent his own childhood loathing his situation and searching for a way to remove Walter and himself from their mother's grasp.
Sethos eventually takes a wife, Margaret Minton, a female reporter (who bears a striking resemblance to Amelia). His other family includes a grown daughter, Maryam, from a previous relationship with partner-in-crime Bertha, and eventually a grandchild, Maryam's son from her first marriage.
, he reveals to Evelyn Emerson
that Seth is in fact his real name.
His pseudonym is thought to be a pun on the mythological Set
, a god of Egypt who attempted to kill his brother Osiris. The rivalry of Sethos and Radcliffe is probably a parody of Set's feud with Osiris, and Sethos' redemption a parody of Set's transformation into a god of storm by Ra
.
, his own nephew Ramses Emerson
reflects with frustration that, whether he is on the Emersons' side or against them, it is nearly impossible to catch him in a situation where he's not one or two steps ahead of them.
His most prominent talent is that he is a master of disguise and an amazingly talented mimic. Even Amelia, who claims that she would know him anywhere, sometimes has trouble recognizing him. In Lion in the Valley
he admits to appearing to the Emersons in three vastly different roles: a young, vacuous English nobleman, a middle-aged private investigator, and an elderly and obnoxious American female tourist. More impressively, in the course of The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
he spends several months by Amelia's side in the guise of the Emersons' close friend, Cyrus Vandergelt, with Amelia none the wiser.
In Lion, Ramses acquires part of his collection and becomes quite adept at the art of disguise himself.
Amelia Peabody series
The Amelia Peabody series is a series of mystery novels written by Elizabeth Peters featuring Egyptologist Amelia Peabody Emerson, for whom the series is named. The novels are intended as a blend of parody , mystery, and comedy...
of mystery novels.
Role in the Novels
He is first encountered in The Mummy CaseThe Mummy Case
The Mummy Case is the third of a series of mystery novels written by Elizabeth Peters and featuring the character Amelia Peabody.-Plot summary:...
, as the mastermind of an organized gang of thieves attempting to steal antiquities from Dahshoor, in which he is partially foiled by Amelia Peabody
Amelia Peabody
Amelia Peabody Emerson is the protagonist of the Amelia Peabody series, a series of mystery novels, written by author Elizabeth Peters. Peabody is married to Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson and has one biological child, Walter "Ramses" Peabody Emerson, who provides a parallel voice in many of the...
and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson
Radcliffe Emerson
Professor Radcliffe Archibald Emerson , M.A. Ox., D.C.L. , L.L.D. , F.B.A., FRS, FRGS, MAPS, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, Member of the American Philosophical Society, is one of the main characters in the Amelia Peabody series by mystery author Elizabeth Peters...
. To their surprise, he reveals that he has spent most of the novel right under their noses, pretending to be a Copt
Copt
The Copts are the native Egyptian Christians , a major ethnoreligious group in Egypt....
ic priest of the local village. Despite his disguise, Amelia feels sure he is English in origin.
In Lion in the Valley
Lion in the Valley
Lion in the Valley is the 1986 fourth novel in a series of mystery novels, written by Elizabeth Peters and featuring fictional sleuth and archaeologist Amelia Peabody.-Plot summary:...
, his nom de guerre is revealed, and he is thus described by an Englishman who hears of him during his brief foray into slum life:
- "He has no name, only a variety of appellations. Those in his employ, I believe, refer to him as the Master. To others, less intimately associated with him, he is known as Sethos... The men who work for the Master are the cream of the criminal crop. To be chosen by him is a mark of honor. Even those who are not in his employ are in deadly terror of him, and it is said that his revenge on a traitor is swift and horrible." (LITV, chapter 5)
Amelia becomes obsessed with the idea of apprehending the Master Criminal and putting a stop to his activities. By the end of Lion in the Valley she is captured by Sethos, but astonished when he professes to be passionately in love with her. Amelia is starting to believe that she may be able to reform him when Emerson bursts in and fights with Sethos, who manages to escape. After realizing that he cannot have her, he promises never to harm or threaten her or her family.
He reappears in the novels from time to time, often to rescue Amelia from other foes. Despite her occasional entreaties, he never gives up his illegal activities, which he takes considerable pride in.
He is presumed dead at the end of The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog is the seventh in a series of mystery novels, written by Elizabeth Peters and featuring fictional archaeologist and sleuth Amelia Peabody.-Plot summary:...
and again at the end of He Shall Thunder in the Sky
He Shall Thunder in the Sky
He Shall Thunder in the Sky is the 12th in a series of mystery novels by Elizabeth Peters, featuring fictional archaeologist and sleuth Amelia Peabody....
, at which point it is revealed that he has been working for British Intelligence during the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Family
It is revealed in He Shall Thunder in the SkyHe Shall Thunder in the Sky
He Shall Thunder in the Sky is the 12th in a series of mystery novels by Elizabeth Peters, featuring fictional archaeologist and sleuth Amelia Peabody....
that "Sethos" is actually Emerson and Walter's half-brother, the illegitimate son of their father and his mistress, who had been their mother's best friend. He spent his childhood hating Emerson for having the recognition and childhood he craved, not knowing that Emerson spent his own childhood loathing his situation and searching for a way to remove Walter and himself from their mother's grasp.
Sethos eventually takes a wife, Margaret Minton, a female reporter (who bears a striking resemblance to Amelia). His other family includes a grown daughter, Maryam, from a previous relationship with partner-in-crime Bertha, and eventually a grandchild, Maryam's son from her first marriage.
Names
In Children of the StormChildren of the Storm
Children of the Storm is the 15th in a series of mystery novels, written by Elizabeth Peters and featuring fictional sleuth and archaeologist Amelia Peabody.-Explanation of the novel's title:...
, he reveals to Evelyn Emerson
Evelyn Emerson
Evelyn Emerson is a fictional character from the Amelia Peabody series of mystery novels by Elizabeth Peters. She is the closest friend, and later sister-in-law, of the protagonist, fictional sleuth and archaeologist Amelia Peabody.-Personal History:...
that Seth is in fact his real name.
His pseudonym is thought to be a pun on the mythological Set
Set (mythology)
Set was in Ancient Egyptian religion, a god of the desert, storms, and foreigners. In later myths he was also the god of darkness, and chaos...
, a god of Egypt who attempted to kill his brother Osiris. The rivalry of Sethos and Radcliffe is probably a parody of Set's feud with Osiris, and Sethos' redemption a parody of Set's transformation into a god of storm by Ra
Ra
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun...
.
Abilities
Sethos possesses a superior intellect, exceptional strength and agility, and a great deal of charisma. He is an extremely capable fighter, but always prefers to anticipate and out-think his adversaries. In Lord of the SilentLord of the Silent
Lord of the Silent is the 13th in a series of mystery novels, written by Elizabeth Peters and featuring fictional sleuth and archaeologist Amelia Peabody.-Plot introduction:...
, his own nephew Ramses Emerson
Ramses Emerson
Walter Peabody Emerson, known universally as “Ramses,” is a fictional character in the Amelia Peabody series of mystery novels set in Victorian Egypt and England, written by author Elizabeth Peters. He is the son of Egyptologists Amelia Peabody and her husband, Professor Radcliffe Emerson...
reflects with frustration that, whether he is on the Emersons' side or against them, it is nearly impossible to catch him in a situation where he's not one or two steps ahead of them.
His most prominent talent is that he is a master of disguise and an amazingly talented mimic. Even Amelia, who claims that she would know him anywhere, sometimes has trouble recognizing him. In Lion in the Valley
Lion in the Valley
Lion in the Valley is the 1986 fourth novel in a series of mystery novels, written by Elizabeth Peters and featuring fictional sleuth and archaeologist Amelia Peabody.-Plot summary:...
he admits to appearing to the Emersons in three vastly different roles: a young, vacuous English nobleman, a middle-aged private investigator, and an elderly and obnoxious American female tourist. More impressively, in the course of The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog is the seventh in a series of mystery novels, written by Elizabeth Peters and featuring fictional archaeologist and sleuth Amelia Peabody.-Plot summary:...
he spends several months by Amelia's side in the guise of the Emersons' close friend, Cyrus Vandergelt, with Amelia none the wiser.
In Lion, Ramses acquires part of his collection and becomes quite adept at the art of disguise himself.