Marvel’s Ancient Egyptian History Explained (X-Men ’97, Kang, Moon Knight, & More)

Warning! This post contains SPOIELRS for X-Men ’97 season 2 episodes 1-3

Thanks to the premiere of X-Men ’97 season 2, Marvel Studios is putting an exciting spotlight on the past, particularly 5000 years ago during Ancient Egypt. As seen in the finale of X-Men ’97 season 1, the X-Men were split across time. While half were sent to the far future, the other half found themselves in 3000 BCE in the deserts of Egypt. Likewise, this new season is already taking major inspiration from the original comics, just as the first season did.

On the page, in animation, across the live-action MCU, and beyond, Ancient Egypt and its mythology have repeatedly served as a major time period in various Marvel timelines. Not only are the days of Ancient Egypt the background for the origins of En Sabah Nur aka Apocalypse, but they’re also a major era for the likes of Kang the Conqueror. Throw in all kinds of warriors and plenty of time-displaced heroes, and it’s definitely a fascinating period in the Marvel Universe (regardless of the continuity).

That being said, it feels particularly important to have a good grasp of the original history seen in the comics, especially with X-Men’ 97 taking several of its cues (and entire arcs) directly from what was first shown on the page. Here’s a basic breakdown of the history of Ancient Egypt in Marvel Comics, how it’s being adapted for X-Men ’97 season 2, and our best guesses as to what we might see in future episodes.

A Brief History Of Marvel Comics’ Ancient Egypt Explained

In Marvel Comics, Ancient Egypt was an intense battleground for time travelers, gods, mutants, and major cosmic threats. First and foremost, one of the biggest threats of the era was the time-traveling despot Kang the Conqueror, who ruled the region as Pharaoh Rama-Tut (a Rama-Tut/Kang variant was featured in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s post-credits scene). Using advanced technology, Rama-Tut’s rule would have been absolute if not for the interference of time-displaced heroes from the modern era like The Fantastic Four, who ultimately forced him out of Egypt.

Ancient Egypt was also the birthplace En Sabah Nur, the world’s First Mutant, who would eventually become the major supervillain known as Apocalypse. Born a slave and abandoned for his appearance, En Sabah Nur was raised to believe in “survival of the fittest”, who also sought to remove Rama-Tut from his throne, as Kang had tried and failed to control En Sabah Nur’s power. Likewise, it was Rama-Tut’s abandoned technology that aided in Apocalypse’s own reign for centuries.

Like The Fantastic Four, Ancient Egypt has also hosted other time-displaced heroes from the modern era, including the West Coast Avengers, Doctor Strange, and even Marc Spector, the modern-day Moon Knight who was summoned by the Egyptian moon god Khonshu to help fight Rama-Tut. That said, Marvel Comics has also featured past Moon Knights in Khonshu’s employ who actually belonged to the time period (like Ravonna Renslayer).

Additionally, Khonshu also had a different Ancient Egyptian Moon Knight join forces with the human warrior Imhotep, En Sabah Nur, and Apocalypse’s First Horsemen to ward off an alien invasion from the insectoid species known as The Brood. Together, they formed the Brotherhood of the Shield, the ancient foundation for what would become SHIELD in the modern era.

X-Men ’97 Season 2 Is Adapting Major Parts of Apocalypse’s Origins

Now, Marvel Studios’ X-Men ’97 season 2 is bringing many of these same Ancient Egyptian concepts and arcs into the animated canon with a specific focus on the origins of En Sabah Nur. As seen in X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 3, it’s revealed that the time-displaced X-Men of the 1990s (Magneto, Xavier, Rogue, Beast, and Nightcrawler) have all been transported to 3000 BCE, just before En Sabah Nur would become Apocalypse. Likewise, the young En Sabah Nur and his warriors known as the Sandstormers are in active conflict with Rama-Tut and his high-tech androids (mirroring the original comics).

On the page, the fear humans had of En Sabah Nur and his appearance hardened his heart, eventually motivating him to fully embrace the “survival of the fittest” ideology of his mentor Baal, the leader of the Sandstormers who saved Nur’s life as an abandoned infant.

However, X-Men ’97 season 2 sees Magneto serving as a rival voice to Baal’s, one that has helped Nur become a leader who is followed without fear. While Magneto was hoping to fully guide Nur toward Xavier’s dream of mutant-human coexistence to create a far better present than the one they left, the odds and destiny itself are definitely stacked against that outcome. After all, X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 3 ends with a major complication.

Seeing as how the X-Men didn’t tell Nur who they were or where they were from, Nur misinterprets their intentions when he finds them using Rama-Tut’s androids to devise a way back home, believing instead that they must be building their own secret weapon for a power grab. Killing one of Rama-Tut’s generals, whose life Magneto has previously convinced Nur to spare, the new distrust may very well lead Nur to become Apocalypse all the same. That said, the war with Rama-Tut has yet to be concluded in X-Men ’97 season 2.

Will We See More Of Marvel’s Ancient Egypt In Future Episodes?

With the conflict still escalating and a major attack on the Sandstormers’ base from Rama-Tut, X-Men ’97 season 2 will no doubt continue exploring Ancient Egypt in upcoming episodes (at the very least in Episode 4). After all, the X-Men remain stranded in the wrong time period, and Magneto will no doubt try to sway En Sabah Nur one last time.

Furthermore, there’s also some potential for even more comic book accuracy. Rama-Tut’s role has only been partially explored so far, and his dynamic as Kang the Conqueror could expand significantly in future episodes. Likewise, we could easily see Nur claiming Rama-Tut’s technology from his Sphinx as he does in the comics (and the Sphinx has already been teased).

While it may be too much to see a version of Moon Knight and/or The Fantastic Four, it’s not impossible. After all, the first season of X-Men ’97 featured the likes of Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Daredevil, and more non-X-Men heroes from the Marvel Universe.

At any rate, it’s going to be very exciting to see what else X-Men ’97 season 2 has in store for Ancient Egypt before the X-Men fully return and reunite in the 1990s.

New episodes of X-Men ’97 release Wednesdays on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.

Release Date

March 20, 2024

Network

Disney+

Directors

Jake Castorena, Emi Yonemura, Chase Conley

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