# Queen Anaïtis — Jurgen character guide

> Queen Anaïtis in Jurgen by James Branch Cabell.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Anaïtis, Dame Anaïtis

**First appearance:** 0025-xxi-how-ana-tis-voyaged

## Snapshot

The restless, dark, thinnish Queen of Cocaigne, who marries Jurgen by accident, loves him with alarming fervor, and suspects every bosom of wanting him.

## Who they are

Anaïtis rules a land where the law is simply to do what seems good to you, and she takes Jurgen as Prince Consort when he blunders through the Breaking of the Veil. Her passion unnerves him — he keeps thinking of the female spider — and her jealousy is equally outsized, though she has some cause where the yogini Stella is concerned. She embodies the book's central temptation: pleasure without consequence, offered by a goddess who cannot quite believe her luck in having him.

## In the story

### [XV: Of Compromises in Glathion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xv-of-compromises-in-glathion)

She accompanies Merlin Ambrosius as the Lady of the Lake, arriving with a great retinue to escort Guenevere to London.

### [XVII: About a Cock That Crowed Too Soon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xvii-about-a-cock-that-crowed-too-soon)

Witnesses the staged murder calmly, interrupts Jurgen and Sylvia, and dismisses the ghost as a product of drink.

### [Why Merlin Talked in Twilight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xviii-why-merlin-talked-in-twilight)

Mentioned as having spoken with Merlin about Jurgen.

### [XX: Efficacy of Prayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xx-efficacy-of-prayer)

Appears beside Jurgen after the procession, invites him to Cocaigne, and he agrees to go with her.

### [XXI: How Anaïtis Voyaged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxi-how-ana-tis-voyaged)

Leads Jurgen to Cocaigne, narrates tales of the Old Gods, and dismisses his concerns about the unusual crew and landscape.

### [XXII: As to a Veil They Broke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxii-as-to-a-veil-they-broke)

Leads Jurgen through the ritual in Cocaigne, kneeling to stroke the lance and speaking of desire and the serpent flame.

### [XXIII: Shortcomings of Prince Jurgen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxiii-shortcomings-of-prince-jurgen)

Rules Cocaigne as a nature myth connected to the Moon, diverts Jurgen with pastimes, and becomes jealous of his attention to other female myths.

### [XXIV: Of Compromises in Cocaigne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxiv-of-compromises-in-cocaigne)

Lives with Jurgen as a humdrum married couple, travels to divert ascetics, and takes pride in Jurgen's cleverness.

### [XXV: Cantraps of the Master Philologist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxv-cantraps-of-the-master-philologist)

Heartbroken over Jurgen's impending departure; she later gives Caliburn to King Arthur.

### [XXVI: In Time's Hourglass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxvi-in-time-s-hourglass)

Shows Jurgen various paradises through Time's hourglass, sees through his lies, and decides to send him to Leukê.

### [XLVI: The Desire of Anaïtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xlvi-the-desire-of-ana-tis)

The Sun's daughter, who tempts Jurgen with descriptions of her palaces and sensual pleasures, then departs forever after he rejects her.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters/anaitis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters