Tanis (Ancient Egyptian city)

Tanis is an ancient Egyptian city, half-buried in desert sands and the focus of wartime archaeological excavations. The site is overrun by Nazi excavation crews searching for the Ark; within its ruins lies a hidden map room whose floor contains a sprawling miniature stone model of the city. A shaft of sunlight aligns with seasonal symbols and slots for the Staff of Ra headpiece to mark the buried Well of Souls and reveal the Ark's resting place. Dust and tents of the digs underscore the urgency and moral stakes of unearthing this mythic power.