Arrakeen: the first city built on Arrakis
the capital city of Dune
Sheltered by the Shield Wall near the northern pole, it held the Emperor's officials, House Atreides, then Muad'Dib's empire, then Leto II's festival city Onn.
Arrakeen was the first settlement on Arrakis and grew into one of the largest cities on the desert planet, serving for ages as its seat of power. It stood near the northern pole, sheltered by solid rock and the great Shield Wall, and passed through the hands of the Emperor's officials, House Atreides, the empire of Paul Atreides, and the priesthood that succeeded him. During the reign of the God Emperor Leto Atreides II it was designated his festival city and renamed Onn, and in the centuries after his death it was ruled by the Rakian Priesthood and known simply as Keen. (Dune; God Emperor of Dune; Heretics of Dune)
Location and defense#
Arrakeen lay near the northern pole of Arrakis, sitting largely on a mass of solid rock. That foundation, together with the protection of the Shield Wall, prevented incursions by the sandworms that ruled the open desert and made the surrounding region one of the few comfortably habitable parts of the planet. The chief activities of the city were governance, trade with off-world groups and individuals, and service as a gathering point for those Fremen who preferred a more cultured or exotic life than the sietches offered. (Dune)
History under the Houses#
Before the arrival of House Atreides, the Emperor's right-hand man Count Hasimir Fenring and his wife Margot resided in the palace at Arrakeen. When Duke Leto Atreides I took the fief, he chose Arrakeen for his seat of government precisely because it was small, easier to sterilize, and easier to defend than a sprawling capital would have been. (Dune)
Over the ages the city went through repeated transformations. It first became an Imperial capital of staggering proportions under Paul Muad'Dib, when Arrakis became the center of the known universe. Under Leto II it was rebuilt as the festival city of Onn, dedicated explicitly to the worship of the God Emperor. After his death it was known as Keen, a modern and still impressive city built to house the Priesthood of Rakis. Though the old Imperium was by then gone, the city remained an important political center, both as a concentration of those who worshipped the God Emperor and as the administrative hub for spice mining. The Bene Gesserit, the Fish Speakers, and other groups maintained a presence there in various forms across the centuries. (Dune Messiah; God Emperor of Dune; Heretics of Dune)
Landmarks#
The principal landmarks of Arrakeen shifted with its rulers. Before Paul's rise the governor's palace was the Arrakeen Residency, and in the Atreides imperial era the seat of power was known as the Keep. The Arrakeen spaceport handled the off-world traffic on which the city's trade depended. (Dune; Dune Messiah)
Frequently asked questions
- What was Arrakeen?
- Arrakeen was the first settlement on Arrakis and grew into one of the largest cities on the desert planet, serving for ages as its seat of power. It stood near the northern pole, sheltered by solid rock and the great Shield Wall, and passed through the hands of the Emperor's officials, House Atreides, the empire of Paul Atreides, and the priesthood that succeeded him.
- Why was Arrakeen safe from sandworms?
- Arrakeen sat largely on a mass of solid rock, which together with the protection of the Shield Wall prevented incursions by the sandworms that ruled the open desert. This made the surrounding region one of the few comfortably habitable parts of the planet.
- Why did Duke Leto choose Arrakeen for his seat?
- When Duke Leto Atreides I took the fief, he chose Arrakeen for his seat of government precisely because it was small, easier to sterilize, and easier to defend than a sprawling capital would have been.
- What names did Arrakeen have over the centuries?
- Arrakeen became an Imperial capital under Paul Muad'Dib, then was rebuilt as the festival city of Onn under the God Emperor Leto Atreides II, dedicated to his worship. After his death it was known as Keen, a city built to house the Priesthood of Rakis.
- What were the main landmarks of Arrakeen?
- Before Paul's rise the governor's palace was the Arrakeen Residency, and in the Atreides imperial era the seat of power was known as the Keep. The Arrakeen spaceport handled the off-world traffic on which the city's trade depended.
Gallery
Images via Dune Wiki
Sources
- BookDune, Frank Herbert, Chilton Books, 1965
- BookDune Messiah, Frank Herbert, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1969
- BookGod Emperor of Dune, Frank Herbert, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1981
- BookHeretics of Dune, Frank Herbert, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1984
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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