# Phorenice — The Lost Continent character guide > Phorenice in The Lost Continent by C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** The Empress Phorenice, the Empress Phorenice, Empress, Goddess Phorenice, Goddess, Phorenice the Empress, the Empress **First appearance:** 0002-ii-back-to-atlantis ## Snapshot The Empress who seized Atlantis's throne, declared herself a goddess, and now hunts a husband strong enough to match her ambition. ## Who they are She has broken the ancient law that only a man of the Priestly Clan may rule, and her reign presses cruelly on nobles and commoners alike. Her courtship of Deucalion is less romance than conquest: she wants the strongest man in the kingdom bound to her will. Her caprice and hunger for absolute power set the political storm that drives the novel's central conflict. ## Relationships ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _rivalry_ Phorenice and the narrator are locked in a tense adversarial dynamic, often clashing over power or ideology. ### [Zaemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/zaemon) _rivalry_ Phorenice and Zaemon are fierce antagonists, each vying for control or dominance in the narrative. ### [Deucalion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/deucalion) _rivalry_ Deucalion and Phorenice are direct enemies, often in conflict over power or principles. ### [Nais](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/nais) _rivalry_ Nais and Phorenice are bitter rivals, often clashing over love, power, or status. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _rivalry_ Phorenice and the narrator are locked in a tense adversarial dynamic, often clashing over power or ideology. ### [Zaemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/zaemon) _rivalry_ Phorenice and Zaemon are fierce antagonists, each vying for control or dominance in the narrative. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _rivalry_ Phorenice and the narrator are locked in a tense adversarial dynamic, often clashing over power or ideology. ### [Deucalion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/deucalion) _rivalry_ Deucalion and Phorenice are direct enemies, often in conflict over power or principles. ### [Zaemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/zaemon) _rivalry_ Phorenice and Zaemon are fierce antagonists, each vying for control or dominance in the narrative. ### [Nais](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/nais) _rivalry_ Nais and Phorenice are bitter rivals, often clashing over love, power, or status. ### [Deucalion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/deucalion) _rivalry_ Deucalion and Phorenice are direct enemies, often in conflict over power or principles. ### [Nais](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/nais) _rivalry_ Nais and Phorenice are bitter rivals, often clashing over love, power, or status. ## In the story ### [Prefatory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/prefatory) Mentioned as the reigning Empress of Atlantis, possibly corresponding to Pyrrha. ### [My Recall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/i-my-recall) Empress of Atlantis, risen from a swineherd's daughter; deposed Zaemon, defeated armies, and now recalls Deucalion. ### [A Rival Navy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/iii-a-rival-navy) Mentioned as the Empress who may have Deucalion executed; Tob hopes she will reward him for delivering Deucalion. ### [The Welcome of Phorenice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/iv-the-welcome-of-phorenice) Welcomes Deucalion with high honors, reveals her wound from rebel attack, and discusses the siege of Atlantis. ### [Zaemon's Curse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/v-zaemon-s-curse) Hosts a lavish feast, attempts to win Deucalion's loyalty, and is confronted by Zaemon who declares her deposed. ### [VI: The Biters of the City Walls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/vi-the-biters-of-the-city-walls) Presides over the banquet, curses Tarca, and speaks to Deucalion about thawing his coldness. ### [VII: The Biters of the Walls (Further Account)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/vii-the-biters-of-the-walls-further-account) Mentioned as seeking to marry Deucalion; described as a tyrant by Nais; her rule is criticized as oppressive. ### [VIII: The Preacher from the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/viii-the-preacher-from-the-mountains) Referenced as the scourge of Atlantis and the tyrant to be overthrown. ### [IX: Phorenice, Goddess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/ix-phorenice-goddess) Declares herself a goddess and performs a sacrifice, displaying her charm and authority. ### [X: A Wooing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/x-a-wooing) Newly declared goddess, she pardons Deucalion's defiance, proposes marriage, and cruelly commands that Nais be entombed alive as a wedding gift. ### [An Affair with the Barbarous Fishers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xi-an-affair-with-the-barbarous-fishers) Jealous of Nais, orders her guarded; plays at being a maiden with Deucalion; fights fiercely against the fishers, showing her sword skill; rescued by Deucalion from a turtle. ### [The Drug of Our Lady the Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xii-the-drug-of-our-lady-the-moon) Empress who tests Deucalion's combat skills and plans to marry him. ### [The Burying Alive of Nais](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xiii-the-burying-alive-of-nais) The Empress who decrees Nais's burial and marries Deucalion, displaying both cruelty and passion. ### [Again the Gods Make Change](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xiv-again-the-gods-make-change) Mentioned as having threatened Deucalion with mutilation and as a brilliant speaker who might sway the mob. ### [XV: Zaemon’s Summons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xv-zaemon-s-summons) Referenced as the wanton Empress who has besieged the Sacred Mountain, stolen ancient knowledge, and keeps Nais captive. She is the antagonist the narrator must fight. ### [Siege of the Sacred Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xvi-siege-of-the-sacred-mountain) Condemned by the High Gods for discovering the Secret of Life and Death and defying divine authority. ### [Nais the Regained](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xvii-nais-the-regained) Stands calmly in the square during the earthquake, showing no fear, observed by Deucalion. ### [Storm of the Sacred Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xviii-storm-of-the-sacred-mountain) Directs the assault on the Sacred Mountain from a spur of rock, sacrificing troops relentlessly to overwhelm the defenses. ### [Destruction of Atlantis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/chapters/xix-destruction-of-atlantis) Orders Zaemon's killing but is subdued by the Symbol; last seen in her litter as the flood engulfs the Mountain. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters/phorenice - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lost_continent_se/characters