Editorial summary 1956 . Ivan Efremov in these works fascinatingly, with excitement of understanding immortality described the life of unknown to us peoples. "The Great Arc" - the original name, later replaced by the author with a new one: On the Edge of Oikoumena The text is identical for both titles, this file is with original illustrations from the 56th edition. The novel consists of two parts: “The Journey of Baurjeed” and “On the Edge of Oikoumena” The first part describes the reign of Pharaoh Jedefre of the Fourth Dynasty of the Ancient Kingdom of Egypt (2566 2558 BC). e. ), who decided to send an expedition under the leadership of his treasurer Baurjeed to the south of the country in order to search for the famous mysterious country of Punt In the Egyptian picture of the world, a huge ocean surrounds the entire earth, also called the Great Arc. In the second part, the action takes place more than a millennium after the action of the first part .. The story begins in Ancient Greece of the Aegean period (exact dates are not specified, but it is assumed 1200 - 1100 BC. e. A young sculptor named Pandion goes on a trip to the island of Crete, but due to a storm, the ship throws him ashore in Egypt, where he falls into slavery. His only thought is to go home.