Thabes

Thabes Image of Gharnef and his influence looming over Thabes during the War of Shadows.

Chapter(s) Chapter 23: Dark Pontifex Act 6 Appearance(s) Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Mystery of the Emblem Shadow Dragon New Mystery of the Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

“	Across the mountains lies a barren land called the Mamorthod Desert. There you'll find the ruins of an ancient capital called Thabes. Long ago, Thabes was a city so massive as to defy belief. But time worked its cruel magic, and now half the city lies buried in sand.	”	— Furia Harbor resident

Thabes (Japanese: テーベ Thebes), nicknamed the "city of illusion", is an abandoned city located in the northern reaches of the Mamorthod Desert, which itself is located within Anri's Way. It has not housed a population for a very long time, though there are many lost treasures and technologies within its sand-filled halls.

It is home to Thabes Labyrinth, which is plundered by explorers and treasure-hunters alike, to varying success.

It is unknown if Thabes has any connections to Khadein, another city of scholars and mages located in the sands south of Thabes.

History

Ancient times

Ages before the War of Shadows Thabes was an advanced city filled with marvelous technologies and scholars. Eventually the city came to be abandoned, though little of Thabes' history is known.

It is known to have been run by a Senate as well as a vaguely defined Council. At some point in the past an alchemist named Forneus studied in Thabes. The Senate apparently had a great deal of resources; they were able to obtain divine dragon blood for Forneus's experiments. Forneus eventually began to defy the Senate and was sealed in his workshop in Thabes Labyrinth. At a presumably later point, Duma and his army, against Naga's wishes, marched on Thabes and destroyed it; he felt that the humans had gained too much power there. This was the catalyst for Duma's exile.

Ages later, the downfall of Thabes came to be blamed on the greed of its inhabitants, though Duma's direct attack on it is only mentioned in the Book of Valentian Revelations, and doesn't appear to be common knowledge among the people of the realm.

Additionally, it is said that the divine dragon ruler Naga died at Thabes.

Around the War of Shadows and its aftermath

During the War of Shadows a temple within Thabes was the hideout of Gharnef and his magical apparatus. Marth journeyed to Thabes on his quest to reclaim Falchion from Gharnef. Marth would, some years later, draw near to Thabes again during the War of Heroes in search of the Lightsphere.

In the time between the wars Alm and Celica visited Thabes after escorting an Archanean merchant from across the ocean from Valentia. Alm and Celica later descended into its Labyrinth; they themselves unsure as to why. They managed to make their way down to Forneus's workshop, breaking the weakening seal on it in the process, and found his projects, the death masks as well as the Creation.

Notable locations in Thabes

Tower of Thabes

The Tower of Thabes is a tower built above the Temple of Thabes. It served as Gharnef's hideout and the location of his magical apparatus and the source of his power during the War of Shadows.

Thabes Labyrinth

Main article: Thabes Labyrinth

Thabes Labyrinth, as its name suggests, is a sprawling Labyrinth located below the city. Forneus's workshop is located within.

Characters from Thabes

Character	Description	Appears in
N/A Forneus	An alchemist who studied in Thabes.	N/A
The Creation	A creature that was "born" in the depths of Thabes Labyrinth.	Awakening, Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Trivia

• A location known as the Ruins of Time appears in the same location as Thabes in Fire Emblem Awakening, and serves as the setting for Paralogue 12: Disowned by Time.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Thabes	Derived from Thebes; as below.
Japanese	テーベ	Thebes was the name of an ancient city in Egypt. It is presumably named after the Egyptian Thebes, which was the capital of Egypt for a time and was home to the wealthy. Cities known by the name Thebes have existed elswhere, though the Egyptian Thebes appears to be what the name was derived from.
Spanish	Thabes	As above.
French	Thabes	As above.
German	Thabes	As above.
Italian	Thabes	As above.
Dutch	Thabes	As above.
Korean	테베	Thebes; Used in Fates and Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, among the choices for the player's country in their profile card.
Simplified Chinese	泰贝	Thebes
Traditional Chinese	泰貝	Thebes

Gallery

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  Image of Gharnef and his influence looming over Thabes during the War of Shadows.

• 

  The Mamorthod Desert, with the Tower of Thabes visible in the distance.