The History of Egypt Podcast

232: Real Housewives of Per-Ramesses with Prof. Peter Brand

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:01:00 -0000

Hybrid episode (narrative & interivew). The Hittite Queen, Maat-Hor-Neferura, may have been surprised to find she wasn't the only King's Great Wife. In fact, Ramesses had already turned to other women to be his Queens. Notably, his eldest daughter Bint-Anat ("Daughter of Anat") became King's Great Wife, along with several of her younger siblings. Why did Ramesses "marry" his own offspring, and what does that mean for the royal family?

Also, we meet Ramesses' oft-forgotten sister, Tia.

In Part 2, we are joined by Prof. Peter Brand to discuss life in the pharaonic palaces. How did they organise their royal households, what terms survive to illuminate this world? And how can Egyptologists understand life in Ramesses' great family?

Music by Luke Chaos & Keith Zizza, used with permission.

Logo image: Bint-Anat as King's Great Wife, from Ramesses' colossal statue now in the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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231: The Hittite Queen of Egypt

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:01:00 -0000

Married before first sight. In regnal year 34 (1259 BCE) Ramesses welcomed a princess of Hatti. Sent by her father Hattusili and mother Puduhepa, the (anonymous) princess came to Egypt and took up the rank of King's Great Wife. Today, she is known by her Egyptian name, MAAT-HOR-NEFERURA "She Who Sees Horus, the Perfection of Ra." This enigmatic woman sits at the centre of a fascinating letter archive and commemorative text. Ramesses celebrated his new bride in grand style...

Music by Luke Chaos

Extended version of this episode available at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast

Sources Beckman, G. (1999). Hittite Diplomatic Texts (2nd ed.).

Brand, P. J. (2023). Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh.

Bryce, T. (2003). Letters of the Great Kings of the Ancient Near East: The Royal Correspondence of the Late Bronze Age. Archive.org.

Edel, E. (1994). Die ägyptisch-hethitische Korrespondenz aus Boghazköi in babylonischer und hethitischer Sprache I: Umschriften und Übersetzungen.

Fisher, M. M. (2013). A Diplomatic Marriage in the Ramesside Period: Maathorneferure, Daughter of the Great Ruler of Hatti. In B. J. Collins & P. Michalowski (Eds.), Beyond Hatti: A Tribute to Gary Beckman (pp. 75—119).

Jung, C. (2007). Rain in ancient Egypt: A linguistic approach. In H.-P. Wotzka, O. Bubenzer, M. Bollig, & R. Vogelsang (Eds.), Aridity, change and conflict in Africa (pp. 331–344). Available in Open Access pdf at Koeln.

Kitchen, K. A. (1975). Ramesside Inscriptions Historical and Biographical (Vol. 2).

Kitchen, K. A. (1996). Ramesside Inscriptions : Translations (Vol. 2).

Kitchen, K. A. (1999). Ramesside Inscriptions: Notes and Comments (Vol. 2).

Mieroop, M. van de. (2016). A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC.

Polo, S. S. (2016, January 11). Inside One of Egypt’s Biggest Royal Weddings. National Geographic History.

Wong, J. (2020). Have you ever seen the rain? Comments on an underrepresented phenomenon. Nile Magazine, 28, 24—35. Available at Academia.edu.

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Introducing Voices of Ancient Egypt with Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:26:00 -0000

New Egyptology podcast! Voices of Ancient Egypt is "the podcast for people who don’t just want to learn about ancient Egypt, but want to understand it at a deeper, more meaningful level. With a blend of solo deep-dives and conversations with experts and everyday Egyptophiles, this podcast brings ancient Egyptian history, beliefs, and language to life — and shows you how learning hieroglyphs is possible, no matter your age, background, or schedule. Whether you want to read hieroglyphs in museums, on social media, or on your next trip to Egypt, you’ll find the tools, stories, and encouragement to make it real."

Voices of Ancient Egypt:

https://podcast.voicesofancientegypt.com/

https://open.spotify.com/show/1k1kqGenm15EJttupCKE4S

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-of-ancient-egypt/id1834639742

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The Grand Egyptian Museum is Open... Now What?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:01:00 -0000

In this mini episode, I explain the history and significance of the new complex (why does Egypt need a billion-dollar museum?) and discuss what will happen to Cairo's other major institutions.

We also have an episode about the lesser-known "gems" of the GEM. See that and the video version of this episode at my YouTube channel: Dominic Perry Ancient Egypt https://www.youtube.com/@dominicperryae

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Khaemwaset Forever with Dr. Campbell Price

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:01:00 -0000

Campbell Price is Curator of Egypt & Sudan at Manchester Museum. Enthusiasts will know him from the books Ancient Egypt in 50 Discoveries and Golden Mummies of Egypt. Interpreting Identities from the Graeco-Roman Period. You may have seen or heard him on History Hit’s The Ancients, a variety of documentaries, and this podcast!

Today, Campbell joins the show once more to talk about KHA-EM-WASET. The fourth son of Ramesses II, renowned priest and conservator of ancient monuments... and fairytale hero in later ages.

Campbell Price:

Academia.edu.

Liverpool University.

Ancient Egypt in 50 Discoveries (2025) via Egypt Exploration Society.

Golden Mummies of Egypt: Interpreting Identities from the Graeco-Roman Period (2023) via Google Books.

Dr. Price’s non-Egyptology reading recommendation: Lucy Fulford, The Exiled (2024) https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/lucy-fulford/the-exiled/9781399711210

Music by Keith Zizza, used with artist's permission.

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Introducing Lost Roman Heroes (Feed Swap)

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:01:00 -0000

This week we’re sharing a special episode from Lost Roman Heroes, recently named a “must-listen history podcast” by Amazon Music and named one of the "Best Ancient History Podcasts" in Find that Pod!

Hosted by Matteo and Matthew Storm, a father-son duo, Lost Roman Heroes brings to life the forgotten figures who helped shape ancient Rome—rebels, generals, philosophers, and outcasts.

Each episode blends narrative, analysis, and just enough humor to make these stories feel vivid, human, and surprisingly relevant.

Like today’s episode – where we’re sharing one of their favorite lost Roman characters – Belisarius. Part 1 of a multipart series, we’ll hear why this guy is a one-named mystery, worshipped in the ancient world, but forgotten today. When you meet Belisarius in this episode, he is not yet the legend he becomes. He’s simply a Thracian boy that makes his way to Constantinople, enters Justinian’s bodyguard and in a heartbeat is a 28 year old Magister Militum Per Orientem, leading an invasion fleet to Carthage, to punish the Vandals for their mortal insult to Roman honor.

For more episodes like this, and to hear the rest of the series on Belisarius, make sure to follow Lost Roman Heroes, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And tell them we sent you.

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230: Khaemwaset & the Book of Thoth

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:45:00 -0000

The prince Kha-em-Waset (lived c.1260 BCE) was a learned man, and an accomplished priest. Centuries after his death, storytellers remembered the prince as a sage and magician. They told tales of his adventures, including one where Khaemwaset stole a magical book, belonging to the great god Djehuty/Thoth. In a tale of gothic horror, the prince must wrangle with the consequences of his greed...

CONTENT WARNING: Story contains themes of suicide, murder, and sexual horror. Please listen with discretion.

Music: Matt Uelman, "Tristram;" Keith Zizza, "Dissatisfaction," "Memories of Thebes," and "Beloved of Ma'at;" Ray Noble & His Orchestra, "Midnight with the Stars and You (Instrumental);" TableTop Audio "The Mummy's Tomb."

Logo image: Statue of Khaemwaset from Asyut, now in British Museum (photo Dominic Perry); painting of Tabubue, by M. Lalau (1932).

The Tale of Khaemwaset and the Book of Thoth:

Griffith, F. L. (1900). Stories of the high priests of Memphis: The Sethon of Herodotus and the Demotic tales of Khamuas. Available at Internet Archive.

Lichtheim, M. (1980). Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume III: The Late Period, 125—151.

Ritner, R. K. (2003b). The Romance of Setna Khaemuas and the Mummies (Setna I). In W. K. Simpson (Ed.), The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry (3rd ed., pp. 453--469).

Vinson, S. (2018). The Craft of a Good scribe: History, Narrative and Meaning in the First tale of Setne Khaemwas.

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229: The First Egyptologist? Khaemwaset & the Apis Bulls

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0000

In 1263 BCE, priests announced the death of the APIS BULL. Sacred to Ptah, the bull dwelled in the temple at Men-nefer (Memphis). Now, in year 30 of Ramesses II, the King's son KHA-EM-WASET would lead the funerary processions.

Shortly after, the prince inaugurated the first phase of a now famous monument. The Lesser Vaults of the SERAPEUM begin to take shape. The prince also starts a project for which he is renowned: the preservation and restoration of old monuments. These acts have earned him the moniker "the first Egyptologist."

Logo: Statue of Khaemwaset from Asyut, now in the British Museum (Photo Dominic Perry).

Music: Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net, used with artist's permission.

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228: Three Funerals & a Sed Festival

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0000

Loss and rejuvenation. Ramesses third decade in power was a time of death. The King's Great Wife Nefertari passed around year 25. Almost simultaneously, his mother Tuya, his second wife Iset-Nofret, and his eldest son Amun-her-khopeshef all passed to the west. We meet these figures, explore their tombs (including the amazing KV5), and trace their surprising legacies. Then, we recount the big event: in Year 30, Ramesses celebrated the first of his jubilees. A magnificent Sed Festival took place in Memphis...

Logo image: gold bead of Iset-Nofret (Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain).

Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/, used with artist's permission.

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227: The One Where Iset Poisons Ra

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:01:00 -0000

What is the true name of god? Once upon a time, Ra ruled the earth directly. But the great goddess Iset/Isis desired to know his private name, the one hidden from all outsiders. A name that, if known, would grant the knower magical power over the sun god. To gain the knowledge she desired, Iset concocted a daring plan...

The Story of Iset and the Secret Name of Ra

University College London. Isis and the Name of Ra. ⁠https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt//literature/isisandra.html⁠

Hieroglyph version: Museo Egizio Turin. Papyrus Turin 1993. https://collezionepapiri.museoegizio.it/en-GB/document/185/ (recto).

Borghouts, J. F. (1978). Ancient Egyptian Magical Texts, pp. 51—55.

Ritner, R. K. (2003). The Legend of Isis and the Name of Re (P. Turin 1993). In W. W. Hallo & K. L. Younger (Eds.), The Context of Scripture (pp. 33--34).

Rowe, A. (1996). The Secret Name of Ra.

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226: Nefertari's Tomb and Book of the Dead

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:01:00 -0000

The tomb of Queen Nefertari is one of the masterpieces of New Kingdom funerary monuments. The tomb is stunningly preserved, with an array of exquisite images, evocative texts (from the Book of the Dead), and traces of her burial goods. In this episode we explore the sepulchre, its decoration, and its conservation in the modern era.

Music: Ihab Mahna and Luke Chaos.

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225: Nefertari, Queen of Egypt

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:01:00 -0000

Around 1300 BCE, King Sety I selected a group of "beauties" for his son, to marry and produce children. One of these was Nefertari (Nefret-Iry, "She Has Become Beautiful"). A girl of unknown origins (but some tantalising possibilites) who would rise to the rank of King's Chief/Great Wife. Nefertari is world-famous, especially for her monuments. But the Queen herself is remarkably shadowy. We go in search of her tale...

Music: Ancient Lyric (intro) & Keith Zizza (outro).

Logo image: Nefertari and Ise/Isis, from the Queen's tomb QV66. Photo by Edward Hutt.

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Dinosaurs of Egypt (2026 Revised Edition)

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:01:00 -0000

In the Cretaceous Period (c.100 million years ago) Egypt and North Africa were radically different environments. With vast tidal flats and mangroves, and a shallow sea, the continent fostered numerous animal and plant species. Creatures like Paralititan (sauropods); the sprinting Deltadromeus; the infamous Spinosaurus; and the newcomer Tameryraptor. These have been preserved in the fossil record from Egypt and other countries in North Africa. Today, we meet some of the inhabitants of this ancient landscape…

Logo image: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, by Paleogeeksquared, via Wikimedia.

Animals mentioned in this episode:

Paralititan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralititan
Deltadromeus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltadromeus
Mawsonia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawsonia_(fish)
Leptostomia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptostomia
Spinosaurus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinosaurus
Tameryraptor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tameryraptor

Select references:

Dal Sasso, C., Maganuco, S., & Iurino, D. (2014). Update on the internal structure of the snout of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. Second North African Vertebrate Palaeontology Congress, Ouarzazate.

Darwish, M. H., & Attia, Y. (2007). Plant impressions from the mangrove-dinosaur Unit of the Upper Cretaceous Bahariya Formation of Egypt. Taeckholmia, 27, 105--125.

Hone, D., & Holtz Jr, T. R. (2021). Evaluating the ecology of Spinosaurus: Shoreline generalist or aquatic pursuit specialist? Palaeontologia Electronica, 24(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.26879/1110

Hone, D., & Witton, M. P. (2025). Spinosaur Tales: The Biology and Ecology of the Spinosaurs.

Ibrahim, N., Sereno, P. C., Dal Sasso, C., Maganuco, S., Fabbri, M., Martill, D. M., Zouhri, S., Myhrvold, N., & Iurino, D. A. (2014). Semiaquatic adaptations in a giant predatory dinosaur. Science, 345(6204), 1613--1616. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1258750

Roach, J. (2001, May 31). “Tidal Giant” Roamed Coastal Swamps of Ancient Africa. National Geographic News. https://web.archive.org/web/20010605022420/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/0531_tidaldinosaur.html

Sereno, P. C., Myhrvold, N., Henderson, D. M., Fish, F. E., Vidal, D., Baumgart, S. L., Keillor, T. M., Formoso, K. K., & Conroy, L. L. (2022). Spinosaurus is not an aquatic dinosaur. eLife, 11, e80092. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.80092

Smith, J. B., Lamanna, M. C., Lacovara, K. J., Dodson, P., Smith, J. R., Poole, J. C., Giegengack, R., & Attia, Y. (2001). A Giant Sauropod Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Mangrove Deposit in Egypt. Science, 292(5522), 1704--1706. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1060561

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The Egyptian Book of Gates (Complete)

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:01:00 -0000

The New Kingdom "Book of Gates" explores Ra's journey through the Duat (Underworld). Passing the western horizon at sunset, Ra sails through the land of the dead. His journey is beset by dangerous creatures, and Ra himself experiences a kind of death at the darkest time of night. Fortunately, Heis not alone. Guided and assisted by friends, the lord of light journeys deep into the night. Hour by hour, he traverses the realm of Osiris, moving towards his own rebirth...

This is a compilation of previously released material (episodes 175 & 176).

First known appearance: KV57 the royal tomb of Horemheb (c.1305 BCE).

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Source: KV57, the tomb of Horemheb; KV17, tomb of Sety I, and others.

Music intro, interludes, and outro: Luke Chaos. Adapted from original compositions by Gorillaz, from the album "Demon Days."

Modern Book of Gates Translations:

J. C. Darnell and C. Manassa Darnell, The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books (2018).

E. Hornung, The Egyptian Book of Gates, trans. T. Abt (2014).

DON'T use Budge. His version is over 100 years out-of-date on language and scholarly understanding of Egyptian religion.

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News from the Field (2025-2026 Part 1)

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:01:00 -0000

The winter 2025/26 excavation season is underway, and lots of news is coming forth already. Let's explore the major finds!

Chapters:

The GEM is open 00:30.

Scans at Menkaura's pyramid: 04:12.

Discovery at Tanis: 07:31.

Alexandria ship: 08:49.

Amarna Plague? 10:39.

Thera Tempest? 12:41.

Karnak Re-Dated: 14:43.

New Temple Discovery: 16:05.

Sources:

Menkaura pyramid scans: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096386952500012X

Tanis discovery: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/557221/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/-royal-ushabti-figurines-unearthed-in-Nile-Delta-T.aspx

Alexandria ship: https://www.franckgoddio.org/shipwreck-k1/⁠

Amarna plague: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/736705⁠

Thera Eruption and Tempest Stela: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0330702⁠

Karnak re-dated: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/conceptual-origins-and-geomorphic-evolution-of-the-temple-of-amunra-at-karnak-luxor-egypt/12B8A406D84C46F89CDDD7A3DCDF297D⁠

Niuserra Valley Temple: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/558520.aspx⁠

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Abu Simbel: Nefertari's Temple & Ramesses' Nubian Empire

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Livestream recording about the Abu Simbel Temples, with a particular focus on Nefertari's monument (Part 1) and the political-religious context of Ramesses' Nubian monuments (Part 2). We also have a fun epilogue about some Greek mercenaries...

Video versions available on the History of Egypt Podcast YouTube channel.

Part 1 (Nefertari) https://youtu.be/B5FLkAtPpdM

Part 2 (Religious/Political Context) https://youtu.be/D7ZTYFOtrA4

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224: Ozymandias (or, Shadow of the Colossus)

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Divine intermediaries. Ramesses II commissioned many statues, some of which are among the largest ever quarried. From the halls of the Grand Egyptian Museum, to the bedrock of Aswan, we follow the King's development of a remarkable project. Colossal statues of the king, bearing distinct names and even their own priests, provided Ramesses' subjects with new intercessors between their world and the gods...

Logo: The statue "Ramesses, Beloved of Ptah," from the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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223: Ramesses & Hattusili Best Friends Forever

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Egyptian-Hittite Diplomacy. In the aftermath of the Treaty, Ramesses II and Hattusili III got down to business establishing their brotherhood. From prospective summits in Canaan, to fabulous gift-exchanges by Nefertari and a prince, the Egyptian and Hittite courts negotiated their new bonds. Alas, things weren't always rosy, and the issue of Urhi-Teshub caused great friction between the two Kings. Finally, we meet the man who shuttled back-and-forth between these kingdoms, delivering the goods: the Egyptian royal messenger Netjerwymes aka Pirikhnawa gets a look in...

Logo image: Hititte drinking vessel in the shape of a fist. Silver, 15th--13th Centuries BCE. Boston Museum of Fine Arts https://collections.mfa.org/objects/322343/drinking-vessel-in-the-shape-of-a-fist

Music: Luke Chaos.

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Ramesses II War and Peace with Prof. Peter Brand

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 20:30:00 -0000

The ultimate pharaoh makes the ultimate agreement. In this interview, Prof. Peter Brand offers us his insights on the cultures of Egypt and Hatti around the time of the Year 21 Treaty. From the background details of diplomatic correspondence, to the larger context of empires at war, we deep-dive the history of this important treaty.

Learn more about Prof. Peter Brand's work at https://memphis.academia.edu/PeterBrand.

Find Prof. Brand's book Ramesses II, Egypt's UIltimate Pharaoh via Lockwood Press and all good retailers.

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222: Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? The Egyptian-Hittite Treaty

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:01:00 -0000

The Egyptian-Hittite Treaty. In regnal year 21 (c.1272 BCE), Ramesses II announced a treaty with Hattusili III. The two kings united in "peace and brotherhood, forever," and agreed to a raft of provisions regarding their territories, vassals, rules-of-succession, and more.

As the first (surviving) treaty between the two Great Powers, the year 21 agreement is a landmark in the history of diplomacy. We explore the text and its impact...

Music: Luke Chaos.

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221: Ramesses II Raiders of Syria

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:01:00 -0000

The later wars of Ramesses II (Years 8 to 15). Following Kadesh, Ramesses led or despatched further campaigns into Canaan and Syria. These battles are documented on his temple walls, preserving some details of the geopolitical situation. From the death of a rival, to the plundering of Syria's heartland, we go in search of these "lost campaigns."

Music: Ancient Lyric and Luke Chaos.

Logo image: Ramesses II attacks Dapur (Wikimedia public domain).

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220: Ramesses II Dead Sea to Galilee

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Moves and counter-moves. In the aftermath of Kadesh, Muwattalli (King of Hatti) seems to consoldiated hold over Syria. Border territories like Amurru fell to Hittite influence. At home, Ramesses spent at least one year regrouping before launching his reponse. Soon, pharaonic armies were marching into northern Canaan (around Galilee) and east, into Moab (Mwibw). The pharaoh's imperial authority had taken a beating; it was time to assert his strength.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU.

We have merch! Browse our designs at Dashery by TeePublic https://egyptpodcast.dashery.com/ .

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219: Abu Simbel, Ramesses' Great Temple

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Holy mountain. Around 1286 BCE, builders started work at Abu Simbel. Sacred to a local form of Horus, this sandstone mountain would become one of the most famous monuments in the Nile Valley. It was called the “House of Ramesses, Beloved of Amun,” and provided a home for dozens of deities. Within, sunlight illuminated its sanctuary on certain days, and the King could honour himself in a “Temple of Millions of Years.” Thanks to some lesser-known records, we explore the function and creation of this renowned shrine, and try to answer some nagging questions...

I’ll do a Livestream about Abu Simbel soon. Subscribe to my YouTube channel to learn more https://www.youtube.com/@dominicperryae

Epilogue: Around 593 BCE, soldiers of Psamtik II (or Psammetichus) marched to war in Nubia. Along the way, they visited Abu Simbel...

Music by Luke Chaos.

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218: Give Me Back My Donkey! and Other Tales

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Daily Life in Ramessid Egypt (Part 1). Starting around 1300 BCE, the (surviving) corpus of written documents from Egypt begins to increase dramatically. It's not clear why, but papyrus and ostraca are far more abundant for this era than anything before. Thanks to these records, we get many glimpses of daily life and personal concerns, from the society of the time; and we can enjoy some Small Stories of life in Ramessid Egypt.

Logo image: Dancers and musicians from the 18th Dynasty tomb of Neb-Amun, now in the British Museum (via Wikimedia Commons public domain). The dancers wear "string" garments that may be the ruwedj referenced by Ise in her letter to her sister.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU.

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217: The Art of Kadesh (Livestream)

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:01:00 -0000

Our final part of the Kadesh story is Ramesses' art. Wall carvings, on major temples, present the pharaohs' summary of Kadesh and the conflict. They include many fun details, including enemy combatants, and comparing some scenes with artefacts allows us to imagine aspects of the ancient battle.

Video version available on my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@dominicperryae under "Live." Direct link here https://youtube.com/live/mos4jf6oVbk.

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Ancient Historical Fiction with Dr. Colleen Darnell

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:01:00 -0000

My guest today is Dr. Colleen Darnell, who will speak to us about New Kingdom literature (featuring rulers like Ramesses, Thutmose III, Seqenenra, and more). It’s a fun discussion, ranging from the calamitous death of Seqenenra Tao, to the triumphs of Thutmose III and Ramesses II, to the divine glamour of chariots, and how pharaohs became literary "heroes."

Dr. Colleen Darnell's website: https://www.colleendarnell.com/

Online classes about ancient Egyptian history and culture: https://www.colleendarnell.com/classes

Dr. Colleen Darnell at Academia.edu: https://yale.academia.edu/ColleenManassaDarnell

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216b: Kadesh, the ROCK Musical (Preview)

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Heavy Metal Hittites. This is a preview of my "rock musical" version of Kadesh. Full version available at patreon.com/c/egyptpodcast.

Song produced by Hermanubis (aka Luke Chaos https://chaosmusick.bandcamp.com/).

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216: How Ramesses Described Kadesh

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:01:00 -0000

The war of the words. Following his strategic defeat at Kadesh, Ramesses set about putting his version of the story into wide circulation. Today, art and texts of this conflict survive at the temples of Abu Simbel, Karnak, Luxor, Abydos, and the Ramesseum. Among those texts, we have the “Literary Record” or “Kadesh Poem.” A lengthy, dramatised version of the events, painting Ramesses as the great hero. In this episode, I introduce the Literary Record and then read it in full, with musical accompaniment by Jeffrey Goodman.

LIVESTREAM about "The Art of Kadesh" on Sunday 14 September. To join, simply subscribe to my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ancientegypthist. The Livestream will be Sunday September 14 at 16:30 (UK time). This translates to:

Berlin, Germany Sun, 14 Sep 2025 at 17:30 CEST

London, United Kingdom Sun, 14 Sep 2025 at 16:30 BST

New York, USA Sun, 14 Sep 2025 at 11:30 EDT

Los Angeles, USA Sun, 14 Sep 2025 at 08:30 PDT

Check other timezones here https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?iso=20250914T153000&p1=37&p2=136&p3=179&p4=137

To learn more about the “Battle of Kadesh” narrative as a piece of literary/historical storytelling, see:

Brand, P. J. (2023). Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh. Lockwood Press. https://www.lockwoodpress.com/product-page/ramesses-ii-egypt-s-ultimate-pharaoh-paper

Manassa, C. (2013). Imagining the Past: Historical Fiction in New Kingdom Egypt. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199982226.003.0003

Spalinger, A. J. (2021). The Books Behind the Masks: Sources of Warfare Leadership in Ancient Egypt. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004466111

More music by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodman.com and on Spotify.

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Kadesh: What Was It Good For? with Prof. Peter Brand

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Why is the Battle of Kadesh so famous, compared to other ancient conflicts? What can we take away from Ramesses' account in terms of "truth" vs "rhetoric." And what did it all up to, really? Prof. Peter Brand returns to discuss the battle in great detail, from the blow-by-blow moments to the larger strategic and political context. Along the way, we learn why Ramesses is like Rambo, and take a whimsical visit to medieval Bohemia...

I'll be doing a livestream about the "Art of Kadesh" on Sun 07 September (UK time). See it at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ancientegypthist

Prof. Peter Brand’s book Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh is available now through Lockwood Press and all good retailers.

Other articles and publications by Prof. Peter Brand at Academia.edu.

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215: Ramesses II Taking Hands, Healing Wounds

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:01:00 -0000

Who won? In the aftermath of battle, Ramesses and Muwattalli withdrew from Kadesh. We discuss the short- and long-term fallout and consider the "score card" for the respective armies. Then, we spend time with the wounded soldiers, using the Edwin Smith Papyrus to understand diagnoses and treatments used by ancient Egyptian physicians (swnw). Finally, we explore a curious hypothesis, suggesting that Ramesses practiced a form of "decimation" on his troops...

Kadesh LIVESTREAM Sunday 07 September (UK time) on “The Art of Kadesh” via our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ancientegypthist

Want more medicine? My interview with Dr. Bob Brier is available at https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mOg7BanFze6F4DYbSWT4K and my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/h8I6M7-czYA

The Edwin Smith Papyrus: Breasted, J. H. (1930). The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus (Vols. 1–2) free online: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015027232282; For a modern medical approach, see Sanchez, G. M., & Meltzer, E. S. (2012). The Edwin Smith Papyrus: Updated Translation of the Trauma Treatise and Modern Medical Commentaries.

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214: The Battle of Kadesh - Ramesses II vs Muwattalli

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0000

In June of 1287 BCE (approximately), one of antiquity’s great conflicts unfolded in southern Syria. Meeting near Kadesh (Qidsha), the armies of Egypt and Hatti fought each other in a spectacular engagement. The events of that battle are recorded, somewhat grandiosely, by Ramesses II in temple art and extended hieroglyph narratives. With those as our foundation, we explore the most dramatic day in the young pharaoh’s life.

CHAPTERS (Note: Chapter times may differ slightly depending on ads)

Prologue 0:00

Red Dawn 5:56

Sekhet Pay 23:57

Twisted Metal 45:10

Doubling Down 1:05:49

White, Red, Black 1:26:12

Wrapping Up 1:53:04

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU.

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213: Ramesses II Seven Nation Army

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0000

Ramesses, Muwattalli, and the Trojans(?). In June of 1287 BCE, the Great Kings of Hatti and Egypt were on the verge of a major confrontation. Ramesses, marching across Sinai and into Canaan, made careful preparations for his assault on Kadesh. Alas, even the best-planned campaign could not be hidden from a watchful enemy. In Hatti, Muwattalli II sent calls to his vassals, summoning them to fight. The Hittite army, and its allies, is a remarkably well-documented force...

For the Kikkuli Text of horse training, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikkuli and https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/orbis:9782188.

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212: Ramesses II The Arsenal of Pharaohcracy

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 18:47:00 -0000

Preparing for Kadesh. In 1287 BCE (late in his fifth regnal year) King Ramesses II departed Egypt on campaign. His target? The city of Kadesh / Qidsha in southern Syria. The Kadesh campaign is famous, as one of history’s “great battles.” Today, we “set the scene,” and explore the preparations for this war. We have a surprisingly detailed picture of this, thanks to inscriptions, art, and excavations. From a new royal city, Pi-Ramesses, to the enormous scale of the army, to the diplomatic manouevres (and espionage) that would accompany this campaign… the preparations for Kadesh are almost as elaborate as the battle itself.

Learn more at the Qantir-Piramesse archaeological project: https://qantir-piramesse.de/home/ort/

Digital reconstruction of Pi-Ramesses, incl. its stables, at Artefacts Berlin: https://www.artefacts-berlin.de/portfolio-item/the-reconstruction-of-pi-ramesse/

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Kadesh: The 200 Year Enemy with Prof. Peter Brand

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:30:00 -0000

Leading up to the Battle of Kadesh (c.1287 BCE) betwen Ramesses II of Egypt and Muwatalli II of Hatti, we need to understand the background. Why was this city the epicentre of such a major conflict? How did the rulers of Kadesh (Kadeshians?) persistently frustrate pharaohs dating back two centuries to Thutmose III (c.1480 BCE). Today, Prof. Peter Brand (University of Memphis) gives us the details...

Learn more about Ramesses and Kadesh in Peter Brand's book Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh (Lockwood Press).

Prof. Peter Brand at Academia.edu.

Interview recorded: May 2025.

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Ancient Egyptian Curse / Swear Words

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:01:00 -0000

We learn how to insult someone in ancient Egyptian, based on the surviving texts...

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Ramesses' Wild West with Prof. Steven Snape

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:45:00 -0000

Heart of Darkness at Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham. Far from the Nile Valley, on Egypt’s northern coastline, Ramessid soldiers and civilians constructed a significant fortress to control the maritime roads. This remote garrison faced off against Libyan tribes coming from the far west (e.g. the Meshwesh of Cyrenaica), traded with Mediterranean merchants, possibly dealt with marauding pirates and Sea Peoples, and built a life for themselves on the western frontier. Alas, it wasn’t all beaches and bonhomie, as soldiers like Nebra, the commander, would learn…

Prof. Steven Snape is the author of many books and articles including The Complete Cities of Ancient Egypt (2014); Ancient Egyptian Tombs: The Culture of Life and Death (2011); Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham I: The Temple and the Chapels (with Penny Wilson, 2007); Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham II: The Monuments of Neb-Re (with Glenn Godenho, forthcoming).

Learn more about excavations and discoveries at this site in a free lecture, “ Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham and the Ramesside Defence System on the Maryut Coast,” on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ1QelBxYiU&

Steven Snape papers and publications at Academia.edu https://liverpool.academia.edu/StevenSnape

Steven Snape at The University of Liverpool: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/steven-snape; Research Profile https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/steven-snape/research

Prof. Snape is currently reading The Arabian Nightmare by Robert Irwin (1983). Wikipedia

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Not Safe for Water (Did Pharaohs Do THAT in the Nile?)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:05:00 -0000

Explicit content. There's a factoid floating around on the internet. It claims that, to ensure fertility and good harvest, pharaohs would ejaculate into the River Nile. Where did this idea originate? Which deities and myths were most closely associated with such concepts? In this mini episode, we explore the factoid and its potential origins.

Great gods of fertility and Creation:

Allen, J. P. (1988). Genesis in Egypt: The Philosophy of Ancient Egyptian Creation Accounts.
Epigraphic Survey. (1940). Medinet Habu, Volume IV. Festival Scenes of Ramses III. Available free via The University of Chicago.
Maher-Taha, M., Loyrette, A.-M., & Sayed, S. (1979). Le Ramesseum XI: les fêtes du dieu Min.
Olette-Pelletier, J.-G. (2023). Min, l’Horus victorieux: Le dieu Min au Moyen Empire (Vol. 33).
Siuda, T. L. (2024). The Complete Encyclopedia of Egyptian Deities.
Wilkinson, R. H. (2000). The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt..
Wilkinson, R. H. (2003). The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt.

Examples of the factoid:

Anonymous, Did Egyptian Pharaohs Masturbate into the Nile? Retrieved June 16, 2025, from https://getmegiddy.com/egyptian-pharaohs-masturbate-into-nile
Margolis, J. (2003). O: The Intimate History of the Orgasm. http://archive.org/details/isbn_9780802117861
Menezes, R. (2022, March 21). Pharaohs Had the Grossest Ritual to Keep the Nile Running. Cracked.com. https://www.cracked.com/article_33015_pharaohs-had-the-grossest-ritual-to-keep-the-nile-running.html
Taylor, M. (2021). You Know What We Should Bring Back? Ritually Jacking Off into Rivers. MEL Magazine. https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/ancient-egypt-masturbation-nile

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Hapi Days (or, Ramesses in DeNile)

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:05:00 -0000

Hapi was Egypt. The life-giving waters of the annual flood (inundation) were his work; and thanks to these waters, Egypt flourished, its people were fed, the gods received their offerings, and the social order was maintained. From the New Kingdom, papyrus and ostraca record songs/poems to the river god, called "Praise (dua) of Hapi." From the days of Ramesses II, we also have elaborate proclamations to the god and his blesings...

A Hymn to Hapi (excerpt)

Hail to you Hapi, who comes forth from the earth,

Who arrives to give life to Egypt (Kemet),

Hidden of nature, like darkness in the day,

Whose followers sing to him,

Who floods the fields, created by Ra,

Who causes every herd to live,

Who satisfies the desert, which is far from water,

He (Hapi) is the moisture, descending from the sky…

...

Egypt is awakened; its exhaustion has gone!

All the creatures celebrate, when (Hapi) makes the Two Banks green.

When he pours forth abundance, among the old and young alike.

How lovely the lotus, whose blossoms dot the flood, that they may tell the happiness to come.

...

Come, O god (Hapi)… do not be slow!

Do not be cruel, reducing what we have, for you might do wrong to the innocent…

May you (Hapi) give breath to the nose, when you come.

O Hapi, do not sink into the ground…

Your perfection is here before us, so that we may turn back to your keeping; and the gods are near…

...

For more information about Hapi and Hymns to the Nile:

Foster, J. L. (1995). Hymns, Prayers, and Songs: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Lyric Poetry.

Lichtheim, M. (1973). Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms.

Quirke, S. (2004). Egyptian Literature 1800 BC: Questions and Readings.

Siuda, T. L. (2024). The Complete Encyclopedia of Egyptian Deities.

Wilkinson, R. H. (2003). The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt.

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Scent of a Mummy: Smells and Pleasure in ancient Egypt, with Dora Goldsmith

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:01:00 -0000

What did ancient Egyptians like to smell? Did they use any narcotics in their day to day lives? And what do mummified bodies smell like? Today, I'm pleased to welcome Dora Goldsmith to the podcast.

Dora Goldsmith is a PhD-candidate at the Freie Universitat in Berlin, Germany. Specialising in ancient smellscapes, Dora explores how the ancient Egyptians perceived and described the scent of their world. Along the way, Dora introduces us to the favoured perfumes and flowers used by the ancients, some of their “recreational” substances, and how mummified bodies smell today.

Publications by Dora Goldsmith at Academia.edu https://fu-berlin.academia.edu/DoraGoldsmith

For perfumes and newsletter, email Dora Goldsmith directly at doragold@zedat.fu-berlin.de. Learn more about her reconstructions in the Ancient Egyptian Scent Kit.

Follow Dora on Instagram @prof_dora

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211: Ramesses II The First Campaign of Victory

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 01:00:00 -0000

Ramesses II defends his borders. In the early years of his reign, Ramesses focussed on home defence. His army established new forts at remote locations along the western Delta and Mediterranean Coast (Marmarica). Traces of this work can be found at famous locations like el-Alamein, Mersa Matruh, and Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham, the latter of which has been the object of detailed excavation in recent decades. Apparently, Ramesses was fortifying his frontiers, guarding the western approaches to Egypt.

Soon after, the pharaoh went forth on campaign. His target? The cities of Canaan and Amurru, in modern-day Lebanon. Along the way, he left inscriptions at Nahr el-Kalb, which started a surprisingly long-lived tradition...

Music: "War" by Ancient Lyric (commissioned by The History of Egypt Podcast).

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

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Introducing The Ancient World - Ages (Feed Swap)

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0000

Fellow podcaster Scott Chesworth, from The Ancient World has a new season. I’m excited to introduce “The Ancient World – Ages”, a series covering the Early Bronze Age Collapse (c. 2200 BC) and the remaking of Southwest Eurasia.

In this feed swap, you’ll hear episode A3 – The Kings of Kish. It covers the period c.2900 BCE and 2350 BCE, also known as the Early Dynastic Period in Sumer. A time of kings, emerging from legends. Figures like Gilgamesh, burial sites like the Royal Cemetery of Ur, and the legendary conflict between the gods Lagash and Umma, recorded on the Stela of the Vultures. Along the way, Scott will introduce you to history’s earliest-known diplomacy, bilateral treaty, and legal codes. Finally, Scott will set the stage for the most famous conqueror of the day: Sargon of Akkad.

The Ancient World – Ages promises to by an exciting, big picture history of this ancient period. While the Egyptians were focused on pyramids, rulers in Mesopotamia were kicking Kish and taking names. Please, consider joining Scott on this epic journey.

Website: https://ancientworldpodcast.com/

Scott Chesworth's The Ancient World is available on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcasting apps.

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210: Ramesses II The Eyes of Ra, The House of Life

Fri, 30 May 2025 21:06:00 -0000

Ramesses goes back to school. Luxor Temple is a magnificent monument, in a city full of them. The sanctuary you visit today is, in large part, the work of Ramesses' early reign. New pylons, colossal statues, obelisks, and dedicatory texts provide the testament to the young pharaoh's work. Exploring these, we also get a surprising insight into temple archives and educational facilities, embodied in the Per-Ankh / House of Life...

Outro music: Jeffrey Goodman, "Prophetic Harps of Amun-Ra," used with permission.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

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209: Ramesses II vs the Sea Peoples

Fri, 16 May 2025 21:41:00 -0000

Delta raiders. Decades before their famous migrations, the "Sea Peoples" were already active and visible in the eastern Mediterranean; and Ramesses II had his own dealings with these groups. In year 2 of his reign, Ramesses II (Usir-Ma'at-Ra) dealt with a coastal raid by the Sherden, who came from the "islands in the midst" of the sea (which the Egyptians called the "Great Green"). The battle, and its aftermath, is referenced in several of Ramesses' inscriptions. We explore this curious first chapter in the Sea Peoples' story...

Music: Michael Levy "Odysseus and the Sirens” www.ancientlyre.com

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast

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208: Ramesses II The Oracle & The Sphinx

Fri, 02 May 2025 18:00:00 -0000

A death at Karnak, and a lion amongst men. In regnal year 1 (c.1292 BCE), Ramesses II was at Abdju / Abydos. While there, he appointed a new First Priest of Amun (Hem Netjer Tepy en Imen). He chose his candidate by consulting the deity directly, engaging in an oracle with Amun to choose the best option.

Shortly after, Ramesses departed Abdju and continued his northward journey. Eventually, he came to Giza, home of the Great Sphinx and the deity that inhabited it...

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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207: Ramesses II Shadow of Two Fathers

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:00:00 -0000

Ramesses had a lot to plan for, in his first year of rule (c.1292 BCE). Staying in Waset / Luxor, the new pharaoh began building work on his tomb (KV7) and his memorial temple (The Ramesseum). Archaeological records testify to both of these projects. Then, the King immortalised his late father, the Osiris Sety I, in scenes of worship at Karnak. Finally, Ramesses left Waset, heading north; but he stopped at Abdju / Abydos on his way. There to commune with Osiris (Sety) once more, and to address some glaring issues...

Chapters:

00:00 Building KV7 and the Ramesseum

04:55 Ramesses celebrates the Opet Festival

12:15 Ramesses honours Sety at Karnak

17:32 Ramesses at Abydos and the "Great Abydos Dedication" text

39:18 Summary and Conclusion

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206: Ramesses II Usir-Ma'at-Ra

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:05:00 -0000

In the annals of Egyptian history there is no one quite like Ramesses II. He is arguably the most famous, or infamous, of Egypt’s pharaohs. His reign would be long (67 years!) and his influence would be incalculable. In this episode, Ramesses "appears" as King, following the death of his father (III Shemu 27). He chooses his royal names (Usir-Ma'at-Ra, Ramesses Beloved of Amun). He buries Sety, in the Valley of the Kings. And he goes before the gods to receive blessings and power...

Episode chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to Ramesses II

04:20 - Ramesses Accession Date & Royal Names

12:56 - The Funeral of Sety I (Horus buries Osiris)

20:50 - Ramesses goes before the gods

43:22 - Conclusion

For the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, and Ramesses’ “coronation” scenes, see the following volumes:

Nelson (1981). The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Volume 1, Part 1: The Wall Reliefs https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/oip/great-hypostyle-hall-karnak-volume-1-part-1-wall-reliefs

Brand et al. (2018). The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak Volume 1, Part 2: Translation and Commentary. https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/oip/oip-142-great-hypostyle-hall-temple-amun-karnak

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU.

We have merch! Browse our designs at Dashery by TeePublic https://egyptpodcast.dashery.com/

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Sety's Borrowed Coffin with Dr. Peter Lacovara

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:05:00 -0000

The coffin of Sety I (now in the NMEC) was probably reworked from an earlier piece, during the reburials in DB320 (the royal cache). But how can we tell? Dr. Peter Lacovara explains.

Dr. Lacovara's website https://peterlacovara.com/

Video version available at Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast

Video version available on YouTube https://youtu.be/6e1fauj4qPA

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205: Sety I The Finest Tomb

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Sety’s royal burial. Valley of the Kings tomb 17 (KV17) came to light in October 1817. Discovered by a team of Egyptian workers, employed by Giovanni Belzoni, the tomb is the most beautiful, and one of the largest, in the entire Valley.

Learn more about KV17:

3D Tour by Mused: https://mused.com/tours/926/tomb-of-seti-i-valley-of-the-kings/

Theban Mapping Project https://thebanmappingproject.com/tombs/kv-17-sety-i

Photos: Kairoinfo4u via https://www.flickr.com/photos/manna4u/albums/72157687439529835/

KV17 at Wikimedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:KV17

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU

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Thutmose III & Hatshepsut: The New Kingdom Defined with Prof. Aidan Dodson

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 19:05:00 -0000

The new royal tomb, and how two 18th Dynasty rulers defined the "New Kingdom" as we know it. Prof. Aidan Dodson is a dedicated and prolific scholar, whose research covers many facets of ancient Egyptian history (and even WW1 warships!) His latest book, Thutmose III & Hatshepsut: Pharaohs of Egypt - Their Lives and Afterlives looks at how these two monarchs, and their followers, defined many of the aspects of "pharaonic culture" as we imagine it. Along the way, we also discuss the new royal tomb, its significance, and its connection to these famous figures.

Prof. Aidan Dodson at Academia.edu and the University of Bristol.

Book: Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, Pharaohs of Egypt at AUC Press.

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Scan Technology Reveals Hidden Chambers at Giza?

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 20:17:00 -0000

Approach with caution. In March 2025, a group calling itself the “Khafre Research Project” posted visual information online about the pyramid of Khafra at Giza. The group claims that Synthetic Aperture Radar (or SAR) scans at Giza have revealed “structures” beneath the pyramids. Using digital modelling (and some AI), they suggest that Khafra’s pyramid and the Giza plateau hide many more chambers. There are a couple facets to this.

The 2022 article publishing raw data about SAR scanning at Giza: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/20/5231

Overview of claims and evidence: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pyramids-of-giza-new-discovery-structures/

I don't usually do "debunking" content or engage with pseudoscience directly. If you'd like to learn more about the truth vs fiction, consider following these creators:

Milo Rossi (Miniminuteman): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TgAp_Ry6dcM

Stefan Milo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=341Lv8JLLV4

Flint Dibble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMfGuKgTwU

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Another Royal Tomb! Abydos | Hatshepsut | Bastet Tooth and more discoveries

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0000

News from the Field (2025) Part 2. The past excavation

season has been extraordinarily productive. Beyond the new royal tomb of

Thutmose II we also have a SECOND royal tomb, at Abydos! The Grand Egyptian

Museum is finally opening in full. And archaeological teams throughout the land

have uncovered wonderful things. We also remember some prominent scholars who

passed away recently.

Chapter times and links to discovery reports with photos:

00:22 – New tombs at Asasif https://southasasif.wordpress.com/2024/11/01/discovery-announcement/.

02:21 – New tombs at Dra Abu Naga https://www.facebook.com/tourismandantiq/posts/pfbid02eqYh7RAiCqrxxDir9Pvbhu4YV1samnfLLtdJUfgNqvNbF6mVHWYkMGHTWixL7efjl

04:31 – Hatshepsut’s Valley Temple discoveries https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/538198.aspx

09:08 – Karnak Treasure Hoard https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/541255.aspx

10:50 – New tombs at Saqqara https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/537986.aspx

12:29 – Bastet Tooth, ancient predator https://www.sci.news/paleontology/bastetodon-syrtos-13673.html

and https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2024.2442472

13:52 – Gold Mines in the Eastern Desert https://www.facebook.com/luxortimesmagazine/posts/pfbid024ATNP7GsdFwC35EgngA7Ys51MrwjrzsMPvPMXkty4oMt1SLC46g1tmRBVSEfpyXEl

15:28 – The Grand Egyptian Museum OPENING https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1238/539361/Egypt/Tourism/A-world-gem-Grand-Egyptian-Museum-set-for-grand-op.aspx

20:18 – Obituaries 2024 & 2025.

31:24 – Breaking News: New Royal Tomb at Abydos https://www.egyptindependent.com/royal-cemetery-from-second-intermediate-period-and-pottery-workshop-discovered-in-sohag/

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204: Sety's Last Journey

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0000

After a reign of approximately eleven years, the Horus Men-Ma’at-Ra (Sety I) passed to the west. He died in reasonably good health, and studies of his mummy reveal a tall, physically robust individual. So, what killed him? We explore these questions, and the history of his Memorial Temple, where the King’s body lay in state ready for burial…

Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

Additional music “Sety’s Funeral” by Ihab Mahna https://www.instagram.com/imahna/.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Egypt's New Royal Tomb Discovery with Dr. Chris Naunton. What's next?

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0000

News from the Field 2025, Part 1. In February 2025, the breaking news was the discovery of a royal tomb. An archaeological mission working in Luxor are confident they have located the grave of King Thutmose II. The tomb itself was discovered in late 2022, and the team announced it publicly in 2023. I reported on that initial find in the news roundup for that year. Now, another season has passed, and the team’s work has come to fruition...

I am also joined by Dr. Chris Naunton, former Director of the Egypt Exploration Society, who was discussed the new find on his blog, and joins us to share some wider context and speculation.

Music interludes by Keith Zizza and Luke Chaos.

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203: Rise of a Vizier

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0000

Paser, servant of Sety I and Ramesses II (c.1300--1270 BCE). In the later years of his reign, King Sety promoted one of his servants to the highest political/government office. Paser, the Vizier, enters our story...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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Ramessid Biographies with Prof. Elizabeth Frood

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:00:00 -0000

Elizabeth Frood is Associate Professor of Egyptology and Director of the Griffith Institute at the University of Oxford, UK. In a lively discussion, Dr. Frood shares her insights into ancient lives and how people living in the non-royal sphere approached their immortality. Statues, texts and graffiti show us the minds of these people and how they depicted their concerns, beliefs and ideas. It's a great conversation and I think you'll really enjoy it!

Prof. Frood's book: Biographical Texts from Ramessid Egypt, 2007.

Academic pages:

Prof. Frood's story:

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202: A Valley of the Queens & The Womb of Hathor

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The Place of Beauties (Ta-Set-Neferu). In the reigns of Ramesses I and Sety I (c.1304—1292 BCE), the Valley of the Queens finally earned its moniker. Having been a burial ground for royal children and courtiers, the wadi south of Deir el-Medina now began to host ruling women. In the days of Sety I, the Queen Mother Sitra and the Queen Tuya both received new tomb constructions in this site. Their monuments include evocative passages from the Book of the Dead (Chapter 17), and hints of the wonders to come in future generations…

Tombs discussed in this episode:

Princess Iah-Mes / Ahmose: Museo Egizio, Turin and Theban Mapping Project.
Queen Sitra: Theban Mapping Project.
Queen Tuya: Theban Mapping Project.
Queen Nefertari: Theban Mapping Project and digital reconstruction at Nefertari Tomb.

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A Memory of Gods with Dr. Tamara Siuda

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:10:00 -0000

Understanding the deities requires us to move beyond inherited preconceptions and prejudices. Fortunately, there are many gods worthy of the effort. From the deified Sphinx Horemakhet, to the meme-lord Medjed, to the deified lover-boy Antinous, the pantheon is rich in variety and personalities. It is a subject that today’s guest, Dr. Tamara L. Siuda, has devoted a great deal of time. Her new book, The Complete Encyclopedia of Egyptian Deities (2024) is a comprehensive guide to many of these figures…

Dr. Tamara Siuda’s website: https://tamarasiuda.com/

For a limited time, 20% off the purchase of The Complete Encyclopedia of Egyptian Deities at Llewellyn.com. Code: CEED20. Valid: 1/23/25 – 2/28/25. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts. Must be logged in to your Llewellyn account for coupon to apply to cart.

Dr. Siuda has generously offered a permanent discount code on any item in her bookstore. Visit http://tamarasiuda.com/shop and use the coupon code historical to receive 20% off any order. Valid for one order per customer.

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201: When Hathor Destroyed the World (The Book of the Sky Cow)

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0000

The Book of the Sky Cow. In the waning years of the 18th Dynasty (the reign of Tut’ankhamun) royal artisans began decorating tombs and funerary equipment with a new text. Sometimes known as “The Destruction of Mankind,” the book tells of a distant age, when Ra ruled on earth. But as the sun-god aged, a group of humans perceived his weakness, and plotted rebellion. Faced with an uprising, Ra marshalled his supporters and sent forth an enforcer. The goddess Hat-Hor (and her alter ego Sakhmet) began to wreak havoc upon the lowly, wayward humans…

The Book of the Sky Cow:

Part I and Part II, and the Shrines of Tutankhamun, available in Piankoff, The Shrines of Tut-Ankh-Amon. Available at Internet Archive Open Access.
Part I and Part II available in Simpson, The Literature of Ancient Egypt, pages 289—298. Available at Internet Archive Open Access.
Part I (the Rebellion) available in Lichtheim Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume II: The New Kingdom. Available at Academia.edu.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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Dendera: Temple of Time with José M. Barrera

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 06:30:00 -0000

Hathor's temple at Dendera is one of the best in Egypt. Constructed in the late 1st Millennium BCE (but with roots stretching back to the Old Kingdom), Hathor’s house preserves amazing art, hieroglyphs, and secrets. It is a temple that today’s guest, José M. Barrera, devoted a great deal of energy to documenting. The result is a wonderful study of Hathor’s celestial realm…

See José's amazing photography of Dendera's ceiling and learn more about his book Dendera: The Temple of Time (2024) at his website: https://josemariabarrera.com/dendera/

See the video version of this interview at https://youtu.be/7xjUzTcRMH0

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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200: How to Make Your Own Tomb

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Livestream recording. The tombs of Deir el-Medina are some of the most vibrant and beautiful in Waset (Thebes). How did they build them, which artists decorated them, and how did folk like Sennedjem pay for the construction and furnishing?

Video version available at Patreon, with extended artistic discussion.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Intro music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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199: The Winter War

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:55:00 -0000

Sety’s final campaign. In winter of year 8 (approx. December 1296 BCE), the King of Egypt Sety I received news: rebellion in the south. In a land called Irem, now in modern Sudan, locals were resisting Egypt’s monarch. Sety gathered an army of infantry and chariots and set off to war. The story is told by Egyptians participating in the event, and by monuments erected to commemorate it…

See the temple of Beit el-Wali at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Temple_of_Beit_el-Wali

Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

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198b: The Tomb Builders in the Age of Sety I

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 07:55:00 -0000

Livestream recording. The village of Deir el-Medina first arose in the 18th Dynasty (c.1550—1310 BCE), but the historical records really multiply in the 19th and 20th Dynasties (c.1310—1070 BCE). In this livestream recording, I set the scene for the village and introduce you to some of its inhabitants. We explore houses and families, and a couple of intact tombs that shed light on the inhabitants…

Video version available at https://www.patreon.com/posts/livestream-deir-117598390.

Deir el-Medina Village

Museo Egizio excavation photos: https://archiviofotografico.museoegizio.it/en/archive/theban-region/deir-el-medina/excavations-at-the-village-temple-and-chapels/?photo=C00949
Kairo info4u: https://www.flickr.com/photos/manna4u/albums/72157615031342678/
Wikimedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Deir_el-Medina

TT1 Sennedjem and Family

Kairoinfo4u: https://www.flickr.com/photos/manna4u/albums/72157645191206615/
Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search?q=sennedjem&geolocation=Thebes&sortBy=AccessionNumber&showOnly=withImage

TT8 Tomb of Kha & Merit

Museo Egizio excavation photos: https://archiviofotografico.museoegizio.it/en/archive/theban-region/deir-el-medina/tt8-tomb-and-chapel-of-kha-and-merit/?photo=C02053
Museo Egizio objects collection https://collezioni.museoegizio.it/en-GB/search/?action=s&provenance=Deir%20el-Medina%20%2f%20tomb%20of%20Kha%20(TT8)

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music by Ihab.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

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198: Servants in the Place of Truth (The Tomb-Builders)

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 07:55:00 -0000

Deir el-Medina’s Golden Age (Part 1). In the age of Sety I, the village of the tomb-builders expanded significantly. Likewise, our evidence for daily life, families, households, and business begins to proliferate. Historians can identify individuals from tombs and connect them with specific houses. We can track their movements, as they form relationships, get married, have children, and pass things to their descendants. Written records tell us about the village’s operations, including their funding from the pharaoh’s government. Around 1300 BCE, we stand on the threshold of some truly detailed stories…

DEIR EL-MEDINA LIVESTREAM, open to the public, see details here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/116333133.

See photos of Deir el-Medina by:

Kairoinfo4u https://flickr.com/photos/manna4u/albums/72157615031342678/
Margaret Lucy Patterson https://flickr.com/photos/24729615@N00/albums/72157625707940536/
Heidi Kontkanen https://flickr.com/photos/plingthepenguin/albums/72157657026077070/

For personal items, including food discovered in tombs, see the collection of the Museo Egizio, Turin (English database).

People and families of Deir el-Medina: Davies, B. G. (1999). Who’s Who at Deir el-Medina: A Prosopographic Study of the Royal Workmen’s Community. Available free from the publisher and author at https://www.nino-leiden.nl/publication/whos-who-at-deir-el-medina and https://www.academia.edu/10955578/Whos_Who_at_Deir_el_Medina.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

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Logo image: The Workman Sennedjem and his wife Iy-Nefret worship the sky goddess Nut, who emerges from a sycamore tree (Photo Chris Ward).

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197: How to Make a Pharaoh's Tomb

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 07:30:00 -0000

Sety I in the Valley of the Kings (Part 1). Archaeological remains and ancient texts reveal a great deal about tomb-building in the 19th and 20th Dynasties (c.1303—1070 BCE). Records, artefacts, and art all combine to inform us of the workers and their practices. In this episode, we use the sepulchre of Sety I (KV17) as a case-study, to understand an ancient tomb project.

Explore the tomb of Sety I in a 3D Walkthrough by MuseEd https://mused.com/guided/926/tomb-of-seti-i-valley-of-the-kings/

Archaeological information for Sety's tomb at the Theban Mapping Project: https://thebanmappingproject.com/index.php/tombs/kv-17-sety-i

Photos of Sety’s tomb by Kairoinfo4u: https://flickr.com/photos/manna4u/albums/72157687439529835/

For up-to-date studies and discussions of the royal tombs and their history, see The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-the-valley-of-the-kings-9780190052072. Individual articles may be available via their authors if you do a web search of the author + article title.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Sety, Thutmose, and Royal Coffins (with Prof. Kara Cooney)

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 07:45:00 -0000

In 1881, a remarkable discovery took place in Luxor, Egypt. In the hills of Deir el-Bahari, a secret tomb held the reburied mummies of Egypt’s famous pharaohs. Figures like Sety I, Ramesses II, Thutmose III, and Amunhotep I lay in rest, in carefully hidden coffins. However, the caskets themselves hold many secrets, which today’s guest has spent years exploring.

VIDEO VERSION available on YouTube.

Interview guest:

Prof. Kara Cooney (UCLA) presents Recycling for Death:Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches. Part of the UCLA Coffins Project https://arce.org/project/ucla-coffins-project/. Available via AUC Press https://aucpress.com/9781649031280/recycling-for-death/.
Kara Cooney’s website: https://karacooney.squarespace.com/.

The Deir el-Bahari cache and the royal coffins & mummies:

Coffin of Sety I https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/coffinofsetii. Possible evidence of its origin as a queenly coffin via Dr. Peter Lacovara https://peterlacovara.com/portfolio/coffin-conundrum/.
Daressy, G. (1909). Cercueils des cachettes royales: Nos 61001-61044. https://archive.org/details/DaressyCercueils1909.
Maspero, G., & Brugsch, É. (1881—1887). La Trouvaille de Deir-el-Bahari, 2 vols. https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/maspero1881bd1 and https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/maspero1887bd2.

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196: The Golden Path

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 07:45:00 -0000

The plan of an honest ruler. Around 1300 BCE, as today, gold was big business. King Sety I personally led an expedition into the eastern desert, to establish a new mining operation. Back in the Nile Valley, high-ranking officials leave monuments testifying to their work delivering, securing, and recording that gold. And thanks to art and artefacts, we can reconstruct the items these gold-workers produced. From the Red Sea Mountains to the Temple of Abydos, we follow the paths of gold…

Logo image: Silver and gold statuette of a New Kingdom pharaoh, possibly Sety I (Louvre).

For records of Sety and his contemporaries, see Kenneth Kitchen. Ramesside Inscriptions, Volume I. Versions: Hieroglyphs; English translations; References and Commentary.

Photos of Sety’s Temple at Kanais in the Wadi Barramiya.

Sety’s monuments including the Abydos and Kanais temples, in P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000). Available free online at Academia.edu.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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195: A Quest for Gold

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 07:45:00 -0000

Sety in the Desert. Around 1300 BCE, King Sety led an expedition into the Red Sea hills. His purpose? Gold. The King brought soldiers and charioteers out to mine precious metals for his treasuries. The journey was difficult, traversing a dry and rocky landscape far from the comforts of home. Fortunately, Sety left detailed descriptions of the event; and art and artefacts from this era allow us to reconstruct the journey...

Episode details:

Logo image: Soldiers make camp, setting up tents for commanders. Tomb of Horemheb at Saqqara (Martin 2016).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.
The Wadi Barramiya, in which Sety’s expedition travelled, by Hakatani Tenfu at Flickr.com.
The Kanais Temple of Sety I, in the Wadi Barramiya, by Mutnedjmet at Flickr.com.

Select bibliography:

A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (Cairo, 2019).
H. Gauthier, ‘Le temple de l’Ouâdi Mîyah (el Knaïs)’, Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale 17 (1920), 1--38. Available online.
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Historical and Biographical, I (Oxford, 1975).
R. Klemm and D. Klemm, Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern Deserts (Berlin, 2013).
G. T. Martin, Tutankhamun’s Regent: Scenes and Texts from the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb (EES Excavation Memoir 111; London, 2016).
C. D. Reader, A Gift of Geology: Ancient Egyptian Landscapes and Monuments (Cairo, 2022).
R. D. Rothe et al., Pharaonic Inscriptions from the Southern Eastern Desert of Egypt (Winona Lake, 2008).
B. M. Sampsell, The Geology of Egypt: A Traveler’s Handbook (Cairo, 2014).
See website for complete listing.

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194: A Prince of Egypt (feat. Prof. Peter Brand)

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:05:00 -0000

Ramesses Rising. Traditionally, Egyptian princes are almost invisible. The pharaohs downplayed the presence of their sons, to reduce political competition and maintain religious order. Sety I (c.1300 BCE) changed this habit. In art and monuments, he promoted young Ramesses II to a position of prominence and power. The exact nature of this promotion is slightly controversial among Egyptologists. In this episode, we explore Ramesses’ rise and some of the thorny issues. Additionally, Prof. Peter Brand joins us to discuss some of the harder questions on these period.

Peter Brand, The Monuments of Sety I (2000), available free at Academia.edu.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023) available from Lockwood Press.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.
Outro music: “River Lullaby” from The Prince of Egypt (1998) – Harp cover by The Knitting Harpist (YouTube).

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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Cleopatra (All Seven of Them) with Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Recorded May 2024. A name more famous than its owners. The Cleopatras of Egypt (all seven of them) were remarkably influential women and rulers. Frequently taking up power and responsibilities far beyond their more famous husbands (the Ptolemies), the seven Cleopatras of Egypt (and even more in the wider Hellenistic world) are worthy of greater attention and respect. In this interview, Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones of Cardiff University introduces these figures and his new book The Cleopatras: Forgotten Queens of Egypt.

Author details:

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, The Cleopatras, 2024. Available in hardback, paperback, ebook, and audiobook (read by the author). See Headline Publishing and all good retailers.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones at Cardiff University and Academia.edu.

Rulers discussed in this episode:

Cleopatra I Syra: Wikipedia.
Cleopatra III: Wikipedia.
Cleopatra Thea of the Seleukid Empire: Wikipedia.
Cleopatra VI Tryphaena: Wikipedia.
Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator: Wikipedia.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.

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193: Slaying the Bull of Seth (Ramesses’ First Rodeo)

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:05:00 -0000

In the Temple of Sety I at Abydos, an out-of-the-way corridor preserves a unique image. The King of Egypt, and his eldest son, wrangle and subdue a bull. This scene appears simple, at first glance. But it has a wealth of deeper symbolism and meanings. In this episode, we explore the idea of Bulls as images of power and violence, and their relationship with gods like Osiris and Seth…

Episode logo: Ramesses and the Bull, by artist Brenna Baines (commissioned by The History of Egypt Podcast). Full version available on my Patreon (link below).
The Bull Hall photos by Heidi Kontkanen at Flickr.com.
The Bull Hall in Peter Brand, Monuments of Sety I (2000) available free online.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Sound effects purchased from Pond5.

Select Bibliography:

M. Abuel-Yazid, ‘Architecture of the Slaughterhouse of the Seti Temple at Abydos’, in I. Regulski (ed.), Abydos: The Sacred Land at the Western Horizon (2019), 7—24.
L. Baqué, ‘“On that Day When the Long-Horned Bull was Lassoed...” (PT [254] 286). A Scene in the “Corridor of the Bull” of the Cenotaph of Sethos I in Abydos: An Iconologic Approach’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 30 (2002), 43—51.
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000). Available free online.
R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (2003).
J. M. Galán, ‘Bullfight Scenes in Ancient Egyptian Tombs’, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 80 (1994), 81—96.
See website for complete reference list.

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A Musical Book of the Dead (with Nemuer and Dr. Christian de Vartavan)

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 06:28:00 -0000

Remember “Going Forth by Day”? It’s back! In song form. Many creative projects have explored themes around the Egyptian underworld. But in 2023, the Czech band Nemuer has taken a novel approach. Their album, Book of Going Forth by Day is based on original funerary papyri; and for the pronunciation of the Egyptian language, they consulted with Egyptologist Dr. Christian de Vartavan. This gives us an opportunity to explore excerpts from the Book of the Dead from a new perspective and connect more deeply with the ancient language.

The podcast has covered the Book of the Dead previously, but it may be time to revisit it. Would you like me to produce more episodes diving into this text? Let me know in the comments.

Episode details:

Nemuer, Going Forth by Day (2023). Available on Spotify and Bandcamp.
Christian de Vartavan, Vocalised Dictionary of Ancient Egyptian (2022). Available in Open Access.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Access expanded materials and support the History of Egypt Podcast at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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192b: Seth's Lore

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 23:55:00 -0000

Warrior, protector, murderer. By 1300 BCE, the Egyptian god Seth had become a complex and multi-faceted deity. Chaotic and destructive, but not "evil," Seth played an important role in the gods' realm and our own. This legend developed and evolved over centuries, from the earliest religious literature to the imperial age. In this episode, we explore Seth's role, appearances, and descriptions in the Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, Book of the Dead, Amduat, and Book of Gates. And we try to get to grips with a god who was (quite literally) two-faced...

Episode details:

Date: c. 2400 - 1300 BCE (Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms up to the reign of Sety I).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro and outro by Michael Levy.
Music interludes by Luke Chaos and Keith Zizza.
Logo image: The hybrid deity Herfy ("Two-Face"), combining the powers of Horus and Seth. Hour 10 of the Book of Gates, from the tomb of Tausret in the Valley of the Kings (Line drawing by Dominic Perry, based on photo by Erik Hornung).
General studies: Erik Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife (1999) at Internet Archive. John Darnell and Colleen Manassa Darnell, The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books at JSTOR.org and the Society of Biblical Literature.
Pyramid Texts in English translation and Egyptian hieroglyphs (Pyramid Texts Online by Vincent Brown).
Coffin Texts in English translation by Raymond Faulkner (1973—1978): Volume I, Volume III. I have been unable to find a copy of Volume II online; if you are aware of one, please let me know. Egyptian Hieroglyphs available in Open Access via the University of Chicago.
Book of the Dead in English translation by Raymond Faulkner (1982 edition) at Internet Archive. Edited volume of scholarly articles available at The University of Chicago (2017, edited by Foy Scalf). Additional English translation, transliteration, and commentary by Stephen Quirke (2013).
The Amduat (Book of the Hidden Chamber) in English translation, transliteration, and Egyptian hieroglyphs by Erik Hornung (2007).
The Book of Gates in English translation, transliteration, and Egyptian hieroglyphs by Erik Hornung (2013).

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192: The Trouble With Seth

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:05:00 -0000

Identity crisis. Seth (aka Sutekh / Setekh / Suty) is a complicated deity. A master of storms, winds, deserts and seas, Seth dominates foreigners and the world outside Egypt. However, he is also treacherous, violent, and aggressive; a god who slew his own brother and tried to seize the throne for himself. As a result, Seth has a complicated relationship with the Egyptian kingship. Part defender and source of legitimacy, but also a threat to the stable order of the world (ma’at). Most kings navigated this relationship fairly easily. But then, most kings weren’t named after the god himself. As a pharaoh of Egypt, a living Horus, and the son of Osiris, King Sety I had to work hard to reconcile his personal identity with his divine. The results are visible on his monuments…

Date: Reign of Sety I (c.1300 BCE).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro, outro, and interludes: Michael Levy.
Music interludes: Keith Zizza and Luke Chaos.
Logo image: A Seth-headed-Sphinx, on an obelisk of Sety I, originally from Heliopolis but now in Alexandria (Line drawing by Dominic Perry, based on a photo by Heidi Kontkanen).

Select Bibliography:

J. P. Allen, The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (2nd edn, 2015).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
E. Cruz-Uribe, ‘The Father of Ramses I: OI 11456’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 37 (1978), 237—244.
E. Cruz-Uribe, ‘Stḫ ꜥꜣ pḥty “Seth, God of Power and Might”’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 45 (2009), 201—26.
A. el-Sawi, ‘Some Variations of Writing of the Names of Sety I at Abydos’, Annales du Services des Antiquités de l’Egypte 70 Supplement (1987), 53—63.
J. G. Griffith, The Conflict of Horus and Seth from Egyptian and Classical Sources (1960).
C. A. Hope, ‘Reconstructing the Image of Seth, Lord of the Oasis, in his Temple at Mut el-Kharab in Dakhleh Oasis’, Rich and Great: Studies in Honour of Anthony J. Spalinger on the Occasion of his 70th Feast of Thoth (2016), 123—145.
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations Volume I: Ramesses I, Sethos I and Contemporaries (Second Publication edn, 2017).
W. M. F. Petrie and J. E. Quibell, Naqada and Ballas 1895 (1896).
D. Schorsch and M. T. Wypyski, ‘Seth, “Figure of Mystery”’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 45 (2009), 177—200.
D. Stewart, ‘The Myth of Osiris in the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Monash University (2014).
I. R. Taylor, ‘Deconstructing the Iconography of Seth’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Birmingham (2016).
H. te Velde, ‘The Egyptian God Seth as a Trickster’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 7 (1968), 37—40.
H. te Velde, Seth, God of Confusion (1967).
H. te Velde, ‘Seth’, in D. B. Redford (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, 3 (2001), 269—271.
P. J. Turner, ‘Seth – A Misrepresented God in the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon?’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Manchester (2012).
R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (2003).
H. E. Winlock, The Temple of Ramesses I at Abydos (1937).
‘Stèle Cintrée E26017’, Musée du Louvre, <https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010004210> accessed 2.2.2024.

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The Sword of Ramesses (News from the Field)

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Blade of Frontiers (not Wyll). In September 2024, the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities announced new discoveries including a sword inscribed with the names of Ramesses II, King of Egypt. In this episode, we discuss the weapon and its origins, as well as the larger significance of the fortress in which this discovery occurred. Who did the sword belong to? What was this fortress guarding against?

Egyptian swords in museum collections:

The Egyptian army and fortifications:

Video lecture series, "Perspectives on the Ramesside Military System" on YouTube.
The Old Kingdom (c.2500—2200 BCE): Spotify and Website.
Grave of the Unknown Warriors (c.2000 BCE): Spotify.
The Army of Sety I (c.1300 BCE), Part 1: Spotify.
The Army of Sety I (c.1300 BCE), Part 2: Spotify.
The New Kingdom (c.1500—1150 BCE): Spotify and YouTube.
Ian Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare (Oxford, 2019).
C. Vogel, The Fortifications of Ancient Egypt 3000-1780 BC (Botley, 2010).
E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (Leiden, 2005).
B. McDermott, Warfare in Ancient Egypt (Stroud, 2004).

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A New Royal Tomb? Egyptology News (2023 End-of-Year Summary)

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:05:00 -0000

A new year dawns, and it’s time to look back. Egyptology and archaeology had a great year in 2023, with numerous major discoveries, studies, and conservation projects reaching fruition. Here is a sample selection of some particularly significant finds…

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Chat with ancient Egypt enthusiasts at our Discord.
Logo image: Statue discovered at Saqqara, 2023.

Select Bibliography (in order of discussion):

Luxor, new royal tomb: Press Release from Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Article by Dr. Piers Litherland in Egyptian Archaeology 63 (2023). Hear about the (brief) reign of Thutmose II on the podcast, episode 60 “Thutmosid Family Values.”
Luxor, tomb re-openings: The tomb of Meru (Polish Centre for Mediterranean Archaeology). The tombs of Hurri and Djehuty (Proyecto Djehuty and Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Press Release).
Abydos, grave goods of Mer(et)-Neith: Press Release from the University of Vienna. Hear about the life and reign of Mer(et)-Neith on the podcast, episode 02 “Horus Takes Flight.”
Abydos, temple of Ramesses II animal burials: Article by Dr. Sameh Iskander in Egyptian Archaeology 63 (2023).
Saqqara, embalming workshops and Old Kingdom tomb: Press Release from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Saqqara, Gisr el-Mudir new finds: Press Release from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Saqqara, new temple for Hathor: Article by Ahmed Osman in Egyptian Archaeology 63 (2023).
Abusir, tomb of the 27th Dynasty scribe Djehuty-em-hat: Press Release from the Czech Institute of Egyptology (Charles University).
Cairo Museum, CT scans and 3d printing of Ptolemaic mummy: Press Release from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and open-access article at Frontiers in Medicine.

Egyptology Newsletters and Websites:

Mailing list by The Egyptologists’ Electronic Forum (Application Form).
Updates from The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Facebook.
Updates and news from Luxor Times on Facebook.

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Napoleon in Egypt (with Grey History Podcast)

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 10:10:00 -0000

In 1798, an army of soldiers and scientists invaded Egypt. At their head, the young general Napoleon Bonaparte. The French Expedition had an enormous impact on Egypt's political history, and Egyptology as a field of scholarly inquiry. Remarkable discoveries, and dedicated study, led to an explosion in knowledge about the ancient past. Today, William Clark of Grey History: The French Revolution & Napoleon joins me to discuss these momentous undertakings. And, of course, we talk about the new film "Napoleon," directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby.

Links and details:

William Clark's Grey History: The French Revolution & Napoleon podcast.
Logo image - Maurice Orange, Napoleon at the Pyramids 1895.
The Description of Egypt complete digital copy at Bibliotecha Alexandrina.
The Description of Egypt complete digital copy at Library of Congress.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

‘Abd al-Rahman al- Jabarti’, Oxford Reference, https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100014918.
E. Prusskaya, ‘Arab Chronicles as a Source for Studying Bonaparte’s Expedition to Egypt’, Napoleonica. LaRevue 24 (2015), 48–60.
P. Mainterot, ‘France’, in A. Bednarski et al. (eds), A History of World Egyptology (Cambridge, 2020), 68–90.
S. Ikram and A. Omar, ‘Egypt’, in A. Bednarski et al. (eds), A History of World Egyptology (Cambridge, 2020), 25–67.
A. Bednarski et al. (eds), ‘The Prehistory of Egyptology’, A History of World Egyptology (Cambridge, 2020), 8–24.
A. Bednarski et al. (eds), A History of World Egyptology (Cambridge, 2020).
O. El Daly, Egyptology: The Missing Millennium – Ancient Egypt in Medieval Arabic Writings (2005).
L. Greener, The Discovery of Egypt (1966).
R. Asprey, The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte (2000).

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Total War Pharaoh - History & Leader Guide

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 17:30:00 -0000

I've wanted a game like Total War: Pharaoh since childhood. Now it's here! Thanks to Creative Assembly, I've had the opportunity to explore the game and prepare some introductions to the history and major leaders. This is meant to be a "listen along while playing" experience, just like I used to do with Mike Duncan's History of Rome and the original Rome: Total War. I hope you enjoy!

Chapters:

Intro: 00:00.

Merneptah: 05:30.

Ramesses: 29:10.

Amenmesse: 1:02:40.

Sety: 1:19:30.

Tausret: 1:40:45.

Bay & Irsu: 2:07:35.

Kurunta & Suppiluliuma: 2:32:07.

Preview and purchase Total War: Pharaoh at https://pharaoh.totalwar.com/.

Music in all episodes by Richard Beddow © Creative Assembly 2023.

Support the History of Egypt Podcast via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Sety I Phase 1 (Summary)

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 10:06:00 -0000

Sety I reigned (approx.) 1303--1292 BCE. In the first half of his reign, the King's followers achieved significant and splendid deeds. We explore these achievements in aggregate, and what they all mean for the Egyptian people. Plus, what 19th Dynasty "expansion" means for our story of pharaohs, ordinary people, and the gods...

Logo image: Sety I, a painted panel from his tomb (Louvre Museum).

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Music by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodman.com.

Interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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191: Libya Minus One

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:05:00 -0000

How the west was won. Around 1298 BCE, King Sety I (Men-ma’at-Ra) attacked the peoples of modern-day Libya and, in a supposedly swift victory, took many captives back to Egypt. The relationship between Libyans and ancient Egyptians is complicated, but we go in search of some answers…

Date: c.1298 BCE (Sety I, year 6).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro/outro: “Godzilla theme” by Akira Ifukube, cover version by Luke Chaos.
Music interludes by: Keith Zizza, Luke Chaos.
Sety’s War Reliefs at Karnak: Available in Open Access at The University of Chicago.

Select Bibliography:

P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023).
W. A. Cooney, ‘Egypt’s Encounter with the West: Race, Culture and Identity’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Durham (2011).
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (2019).
A. A. el Magd, ‘Dehumanization of the “Other:” Animal Metaphors of Defeated Enemies in the New Kingdom Military Texts’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 52 (2016), 329–341.
H. El Saady, ‘The Wars of Sety I at Karnak: A New Chronological Structure’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 19 (1992), 285–94.
R. O. Faulkner, ‘The Wars of Sethos I’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 33 (1947), 34–9.
J. C. M. García, ‘Ḥwt jḥ(w)t, The Administration of the Western Delta and the “Libyan Question” in the Third Millennium BC’, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 101 (2015), 69–105.
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Historical and Biographical, I (Oxford, 1975).
K. A. Kitchen, ‘The Arrival of the Libyans in Late New Kingdom Egypt’, in A. Leahy (ed.), Libya and Egypt c.1300–750 BC (1990), 15–27.
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations Volume I: Ramesses I, Sethos I and Contemporaries (Second Publication edn, 2017).
E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (2005).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (1985).
D. O’Connor, ‘The Nature of Tjemhu (Libyan) Society in the Later New Kingdom’, in A. Leahy (ed.), Libya and Egypt c.1300–750 BC (1990), 29–113.
A. J. Spalinger, ‘The Northern Wars of Seti I: An Integrative Study’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 16 (1979), 29–47.
A. J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom (2005).
The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu, Volume I. Earlier Historical Records of Ramses III (1930).
The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu, Volume II. The Later Historical Records of Ramses III (1932).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak Volume 4: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I (1986).

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190: Omm Sety, Guardian of Abydos

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Dorothy Eady, Bulbul Abd el-Meguid, Omm Sety… A woman of three names, multiple lives, and a lifelong devotion to Egyptology. From the 1950s to 1981, Omm Sety was a resident of Abydos, and a regular worshipper at the great Temple of Sety I. Her life is a tale of dedication, spiritual connection, and fascination with the ancient past. In this episode, we explore Omm Sety’s life and try to “shine a spotlight” on her work, personality, and beliefs…

Documentaries about Omm Sety (YouTube):

BBC Interview with Omm Sety at Abydos: https://youtu.be/2fdNJ2L9_zw?t=1.
Omm Sety explains the Abydos Temple: https://youtu.be/QXmnus48jdI?t=83.
Recollections of Omm Sety by those who knew her (Arabic, with subtitles): https://youtu.be/ZrFA-kDHtzg?t=281.
Egypt – Quest for Eternity, with section on Omm Sety (filmed just prior to her death): https://youtu.be/VHXsv9ZLlYo?t=737.

Episode details:

Jonathan Cott, The Search for Omm Sety at Archive.org.
Omm Sety and Hanny el Zeini, Abydos: Holy City of Ancient Egypt at Archive.org.
Date: 1904—1981 CE.
Places: Blackheath; Cairo; Abydos.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Ancient Lyric.
Interludes: Luke Chaos and Hathor Systrum.

Select Bibliography:

J. Cott, The Search for Omm Sety: A Story of Eternal Love (1987).
E. B. Ghazzouli, ‘The Palace and Magazines Attached to the Temple of Sety I at Abydos and the Facade of this Temple’, Annales du Services des Antiquités de l’Egypte 58 (1964), 99—186.
B. S. Lesko, ‘Omm Sety, 1904—1981,’ in M. S. Joukowsky and B. S. Lesko (eds), Breaking Ground: Women in Old World Archaeology.
O. Sety and H. El-Zeini, Abydos: Holy City of Ancient Egypt (1981).
J. Thompson, Wonderful Things, A History of Egyptology, III: From 1914 to the Twenty-First Century (2018).
J. Uglow et al. (eds), ‘Eady, Dorothy (1904-1981)’, The Palgrave MacMillan Dictionary of Women’s Biography (1982).

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189: For the Ancestors

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:15:00 -0000

Sety at Abydos (Part 4). Finishing our tour of Sety’s Great Temple at Abydos, we explore a few more sanctuaries and facilities. Then, we discuss the monument overall. Sety invested huge resources into his building projects at Abydos, and these monuments connect to some truly ancient traditions. What were the King’s priorities, what was he trying to achieve?

Photos of monuments described in this episode:

Sety’s Temple: Kairoinfo4u.
Sety’s Temple: Wikimedia.
Chapel of Ramesses I: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Umm el-Qa’ab, pottery sherds from ancient offerings: Soloegipto.

Interpreting the temple complex and adjacent facilities:

David, Temple Ritual at Abydos (2018).
O’Connor, Abydos: Egypt’s First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris (2009).
Verner, Temple of the World: Sanctuaries, Cults, and Mysteries of Ancient Egypt (2013).

Additional details and sources:

Date: c.1300 BCE—1292 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro and interludes: Luke Chaos.
Music outro: Ancient Lyric.
Sistrum interludes: Tahya / Hathor Systrum.

Select Bibliography:

P. J. Brand, ‘The Monuments of Seti I and Their Historical Significance: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (1998).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
A. M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume I: The Chapels of Osiris, Isis, and Horus (1933).
A. M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume II: The Chapels of Amen-Re, Re-Harakhti, Ptah, and King Sethos (1935).
A. M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume III: The Osiris Complex (1938).
A. M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume IV: The Second Hypostyle Hall (1958).
J. Capart, Abydos: Le Temple de Seti Ier (1912).
A. S. G. T. Caulfeild, The Temple of the Kings at Abydos (Sety I) (1989).
R. David, Temple Ritual at Abydos (2018).
K. J. Eaton, ‘The Festivals of Osiris and Sokar in the Month of Khoiak: The Evidence from Nineteenth Dynasty Royal Monuments at Abydos’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 35 (2006), 75–101.
A. el-Sawi, ‘Ramesses II Completing a Shrine in the Temple of Sety I at Abydos’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 10 (1983), 307–10.
H. Frankfort, The Cenotaph of Seti I at Abydos (1933).
F. Ll. Griffith, ‘The Abydos Decree of Seti I at Nauri’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 13 (1927), 193–208.
K. Hamilton, ‘The Osireion: A Layman’s Guide’ (2018).
C. H. Herzer Jr, ‘Study of the Osireion at Abydos: Code Book and Source Document for the Birth House of Isis’ (2022).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments, I (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations Volume I: Ramesses I, Sethos I and Contemporaries (Second Publication edn, 2017).
A. Leahy, ‘The Osiris “Bed” Reconsidered’, Orientalia 46 (1977), 424–34.
A. Mariette, Abydos: Description des fouilles (1869).
M. A. Murray, Egyptian Temples (2005).
D. O’Connor, Abydos: Egypt’s First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris (2009).
D. B. Redford, Pharaonic King-Lists, Annals, and Day-Books: A Contribution to the Study of the Egyptian Sense of History (1986).
O. Sety and H. el Zeini, Abydos: Holy City of Ancient Egypt (1981).
M. Smith, Following Osiris: Perspectives on the Osirian Afterlife from Four Millenia (2017).
M. Verner, Temple of the World: Sanctuaries, Cults, and Mysteries of Ancient Egypt (2013).
R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt (2000).
R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (2003).
H. E. Winlock, Bas-Reliefs from the Temple of Ramesses I at Abydos (1921).

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188: The Osireion

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Sety at Abydos (Part 3). The Osireion is an intriguing monument, one that attracts a huge amount of debate, discussion, and speculation. Its discovery was unexpected, its excavation was an enormous undertaking, and there are many uncertainties about its purpose, history, and overall significance. Still, with an extensive photographic record, some meticulous archaeological work, and a great deal of discussion, we can attempt to understand the Osireion. Who built the Osireion (and how old is it)? Why is it here, behind Sety’s great temple? What purpose does it serve? In this episode, we explore these questions, and try to understand the monument overall.

NOTE: Due to the complex nature of the Osireion’s history (ancient and modern), archaeology, and the difficulty of describing it, I will do a video lecture on YouTube in future. Check this post, or the website, for links when published.

Further Information: The Osireion is surprisingly well documented, both in archival photography and modern analysis and discussion.

Modern photos exploring the Osireion:

Flickr: Soloegipto.
Flickr: Archaeology Archive Project.

Archaeology / Excavation Reports for The Osireion (free open access):

Caulfeild, Temple of the Kings at Abydos, 1902: Internet Archive and Heidelberg University. Primarily focusses on main temple but brief discussion of work in western precinct that led to Murray’s excavations.
Murray, The Osireion, 1904: Internet Archive, ETANA.org, and Academia.edu.
Edouard Naville’s excavation reports (various journals) describing work at Abydos including the Osireion: JSTOR.org (requires free account).
Frankfort, The Cenotaph of Sety I at Abydos, volume 1 and volume 2, 1933: Internet Archive. Includes complete summary of earlier excavations and fuller description of the monument (compared to Naville).
James Westerman website (with database of articles and photos): JamesWesterman.org.
Keith Hamilton, “Osiris: A Layman’s Guide,” on Academia.edu.
Charles Herzer, “Study of the Osireion at Abydos,” at Isida Project.

Photo Collections of early excavations at Abydos/Osireion:

Dumbarton Oaks: Photo Exhibition Abydos 1910s—1920s.
Egypt Exploration Society Photo Archives (Flickr): Excavations 1911. Entrance passages and central hall.
Excavations 1913. Central hall.
Excavations 1925 (Part 1). Central hall and side chambers.
Excavations 1925 (Part 2). Central hall clearance and work.

In this episode, I don’t discuss the mechanics of ancient stone working. That will come in future. But for now, you may be interested in archaeologists’ experiments to test ancient tools and the feasibility of carving hard stones (e.g., granite). Some good starter information can be found here:

Denys Stocks, Experiments in Egyptian Archaeology: Stoneworking Technology in Ancient Egypt (2022 updated edition). Taylor and Francis Publications.
YouTube: Ancient Egyptian Stoneworking with Denys Stocks (Sacred Geometry Decoded) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoOCcrgWkIA.
YouTube: Reconstruction of Ancient Technologies (Scientists Against Myths) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJXCRTftQoU_AXz0_uxwMQZCt2O9ULxLE.

Additional details and sources:

Date: c.1300 BCE—1292 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro: Ihab Mahna.
Music interludes and outro: Luke Chaos.
Sistrum interludes: Tahya / Hathor Systrum.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.

Select Bibliography:

A. M. Abudeif et al., ‘Geoarchaeological Investigation of Abydos Area Using Land Magnetic and GPR Techniques, El-Balyana, Sohag, Egypt’, Applied Sciences 12 (2022), 9640.
P. Brand, ‘Secondary Restorations in the Post-Amarna Period’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 36 (1999), 113–34.

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187: The Abydos King List

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Sety in Abydos (Part 2). Having toured the first part of Sety’s Temple at Abydos, we continue our exploration. Today, we discuss one of the monument’s most famous features: a King List, presenting a (supposedly) uninterrupted record of rulers up to Sety’s day. In truth, the Abydos King List is complex, with omissions and inclusions that don’t quite match scholars’ archaeological and historical information. What was Sety trying to achieve, with this curious feature? We explore…

This is part 2 in our tour of the temple. We have already visited the Hypostyle Halls, Seven Chapels, and Osiris Complex. In future episodes, we will discuss the Osireion, the secondary features of the monument, and the known priests/staff who managed it.

Images:

Full-colour reproduction of the Abydos King List at Wonderful Things Art. Use checkout code EGYPTPODCAST for 30% off your order when purchasing 3-or-more items! Logo image by Wonderful Things Art.
A.M. Calverley, The Temple of Sethos I at Abydos, 4 volumes, open access via Chicago University Publications.
Wikimedia: Category: Temple of Seti I in Abydos.
Flickr.com: Kairoinfo4u.
Flickr.com: Heidi Kontkanen.

Details and sources:

Read the Abydos King List at Wikipedia and Pharaoh.se.
Date: c. 1300 BCE—1292 BCE (temple unfinished at Sety I death).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro and interludes: Luke Chaos.
Music interludes and outro: Keith Zizza.
Sistrum interludes: Tahya / Hathor Systrum.
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Texts: Full texts of the temple, including transliteration and translation: Rosalie David, Temple Ritual at Abydos (2018) at Egypt Exploration Society.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.

Select Bibliography:

P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
J. Capart, Abydos: Le Temple de Seti Ier (1912).
A. S. G. Caulfield, The Temple of the Kings at Abydos (Sety I) (1989).
R. David, Temple Ritual at Abydos (2018).
C. Eyre, The Use of Documents in Pharaonic Egypt (2013).
H. W. Fairman, ‘The Kingship Rituals of Egypt’, in S. Hooke (ed.), Myth, ritual, and kingship: essays on the theory and practice of kingship in the ancient Near East and in Israel (1958), 74–104.
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments, I (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations Volume I: Ramesses I, Sethos I and Contemporaries (Second Publication edn, 2017).
H. H. Nelson, ‘Certain Reliefs at Karnak and Medinet Habu and the Ritual of Amenophis I’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 8 (1949), 201–32, 310–45.
D. B. Redford, Pharaonic King-Lists, Annals, and Day-Books: A Contribution to the Study of the Egyptian Sense of History (1986).
K. Ryholt, ‘The Turin King-List’, Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant 14 (2004), 135–55.
O. Sety and H. el Zeini, Abydos: Holy City of Ancient Egypt (1981).

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186: Sety in Abydos

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Part 1. In the ancient city and necropolis of Abydos (Egyptian Abdju), pharaoh Sety I commissioned a magnificent temple. Today, this monument is one of the finest in the country, a highlight of any trip. Sety’s work is complicated, with several components and structures worthy of discussion. So, this is part one of a multi-part tour through the complex. Today, we cover:

The history of Abydos pre-Sety I.
The modern experience of Sety’s temple.
The Hypostyle Halls, the unique “Seven Chapels,” and the “Osiris Complex.”
The meaning and symbolism of the Osiris religion as Sety shows it.

In future episodes, we will discuss the Osireion, the Abydos King List, and the known Priests/Staff who managed it.

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1300 BCE—1292 BCE (temple unfinished at Sety I death).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Texts: Full texts of the temple, including transliteration and translation: Rosalie David, Temple Ritual at Abydos (2018) at Egypt Exploration Society.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.

Images: For high-quality illustrations and photos of Sety’s temple, see:

A.M. Calverley, The Temple of Sethos I at Abydos, 4 volumes, open access via Chicago University Publications.
Wikimedia: Category: Temple of Seti I in Abydos.
Flickr.com: Kairoinfo4u.
Flickr.com: Heidi Kontkanen.
Music intro and interludes: Keith Zizza.
Music interludes: Luke Chaos.
Sistrum interludes: Tahya / Hathor Systrum.

Select Bibliography:

M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume I: The Chapels of Osiris, Isis, and Horus (1933) https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/misc/sethos-1-temple-king-sethos-i-abydos-volume-i-chapels-osiris-isis-and.
M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume II: The Chapels of Amen-Re, Re-Harakhti, Ptah, and King Sethos (1935) https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/misc/sethos-2-temple-king-sethos-i-abydos-volume-ii-chapels-amen-re-re.
M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume III: The Osiris Complex (1938) https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/misc/sethos-3-temple-king-sethos-i-abydos-volume-iii-osiris-complex.
M. Calverley, The Temple of King Sethos I at Abydos Volume IV: The Second Hypostyle Hall (1958) https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/misc/sethos-4-temple-king-sethos-i-abydos-volume-iv-second-hypostyle-hall.
Capart, Abydos: Le Temple de Seti Ier (1912).
S. G. Caulfield, The Temple of the Kings at Abydos (Sety I) (1989).
David, Temple Ritual at Abydos (2018).
J. Eaton, ‘The Festivals of Osiris and Sokar in the Month of Khoiak: The Evidence from Nineteenth Dynasty Royal Monuments at Abydos’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 35 (2006), 75–101.
Mariette, Abydos: Description des fouilles (1869).
O’Connor, Abydos: Egypt’s First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris (2009).
Sety and H. el Zeini, Abydos: Holy City of Ancient Egypt (1981).
Smith, Following Osiris: Perspectives on the Osirian Afterlife from Four Millenia (2017).
Verner, Temple of the World: Sanctuaries, Cults, and Mysteries of Ancient Egypt (2013).
H. Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt (2000).

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185: House of the Rising Son

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Ramesses II: Prince of Egypt. When Sety I took power, his eldest son was probably 10—15 years old. The King's Son Ra-messes (“Born of Ra”) enjoyed a privileged upbringing. And by the time he was physically mature, the young prince was ready to expand the royal household. His father Sety had some plans in that regard…

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1299 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro: Keith Zizza.
Music interludes and outro: Luke Chaos.
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptionsvolume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.
Looking to upgrade your eating habits? Try HELLO FRESH and get 50% off your order. Visit hellofresh.com/egypt50 and use the promo code EGYPT50 for 50% off (U.S. customers only).

Select Bibliography:

P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023).
A. Dodson and D. Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (2004).
M. M. Fisher, The Sons of Ramesses II (2001).
D. C. Forbes, The Royal Mummies Caches (TT320 & KV35) (2015).
W. Grajetzki, Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary (2005).
J. E. Harris and K. R. Weeks, X-Raying the Pharaohs (1973).
Z. Hawass and S. N. Saleem, Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging in the New Kingdom Royal Mummies (2016).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Historical and Biographical, III (1980).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations, II (2017).
W. J. Murnane, ‘The Earlier Reign of Ramesses II and His Coregency with Sety I’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 34 (1975), 153–90.
K. C. Seele, The Coregency of Ramses II with Seti I and the Date of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak (1940).
A. J. Spalinger, The Great Dedicatory Inscription of Ramesses II: A Solar-Osirian Tractate at Abydos (2009).
J. Tyldesley, Ramesses: Egypt’s Greatest Pharaoh (2001).
J. Tyldesley, Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt (2006).
T. Wilkinson, Ramesses the Great: Egypt’s King of Kings (2023).

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Sety I, Great Pharaoh, with Prof. Peter Brand

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:10:00 -0000

Karnak, Abydos, foreign wars, and prince Ramesses. In this interview, Prof. Peter Brand joins us once again to explore the life, reign, and legacy of Sety I. We also explore the rise of prince Ramesses (later King Ramesses II), who becomes increasingly prominent in the later years of his father's rule.

Links and more info:

Peter Brand at Memphis University.
National Geographic documentary "Egypt: Quest for Eternity," on YouTube.
Peter Brand articles and books on Academia.edu.
Peter Brand, The Monuments of Sety I (2000), free pdf version at Academia.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh (2023) available now via Lockwood Press. Free preview at Academia.
Peter Brand (with Rosa Ferleg and William Murnane), The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak, volumes II and III (2018) free pdf versions via Chicago University. Volume I (by Harold Hays and William Murnane) also available via Chicago University.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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184b: Feeding the Fighters

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 23:05:00 -0000

Sety I (Part 6b): Standards and Practices. The early 19th Dynasty army was a well-organised machine, with distinct units (the zA ‘company’) and officers (e.g., chai sereet, ‘Standard Bearers’). Papyrus archives record the daily business of military life, like the Standard Bearer Mai-Sety / Mai-Sutekhy, the company scribe User-Hat, and the royal administrators that monitored food deliveries, rations, and supplies of essential goods…

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro and interludes: Luke Chaos.
Music outro: Bettina Joy de Guzman (Ancient Lyric).
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.

Select Bibliography:

S. Allam, ‘Trois missives d’un commandant (Pap. CGC 58053-5), (avec 5 planches)’, Annales du Services des Antiquités de l’Egypte 71 (1987), 5–27.
A. H. Gardiner, ‘The Ancient Military Road between Egypt and Palestine’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 6 (1920), 99–116.
B. Heagren, ‘The Art of War in Pharaonic Egypt’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Auckland (2010).
M. Healy, Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the Warrior Kings (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments, I (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (2017).
S. McDermott, ‘Ancient Egyptian Footsoldiers and Their Weapons: A Study of Military Iconography and Weapon Remains’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Manchester (2002).
A. R. Schulman, ‘Military Rank, Title, and Organization in the Egyptian New Kingdom’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania (1962).
A. J. Spalinger, Aspects of the Military Documents of the Ancient Egyptians (1982).
A. J. Spalinger, ‘The Army’, in T. Wilkinson (ed.), The Egyptian World (2007), 118–131.
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak Volume 4: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I (1986).
E. F. Wente, Letters from Ancient Egypt (1990).

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184: Fighting for Pharaoh

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Sety I (Part 6): Mesha, Menfat, Pedjet, Pecherer. By 1300 BCE, Egyptians had developed a sophisticated, well-organised military system. Distinct branches and types of troops (infantry, archers, auxiliaries, and more) marched and fought in identifiable units. Their weapons survive in the archaeological record, and ancient texts and art reveal their equipment, behaviour, and battlefield roles. Today, we introduce the soldiers who won Sety I’s wars…

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro and interludes: Bettina Joy de Guzman.
Interludes: Luke Chaos.
Music outro: Keith Zizza.
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.

Select Bibliography:

P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023).
A. H. Gardiner, ‘The Ancient Military Road between Egypt and Palestine’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 6 (1920), 99–116.
B. Heagren, ‘The Art of War in Pharaonic Egypt’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Auckland (2010).
M. Healy, Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the Warrior Kings (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments, I (Oxford, 1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (Wallasey, 2017).
S. McDermott, ‘Ancient Egyptian Footsoldiers and Their Weapons: A Study of Military Iconography and Weapon Remains’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Manchester (2002).
E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (2005).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (1985).
A. R. Schulman, ‘Military Rank, Title, and Organization in the Egyptian New Kingdom’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania (1962).
A. J. Spalinger, Aspects of the Military Documents of the Ancient Egyptians (1982).
A. J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom (2005).
A. J. Spalinger, ‘The Army’, in T. Wilkinson (ed.), The Egyptian World (New York, 2007), 118–131.
The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu, Volume I. Earlier Historical Records of Ramses III (1930).
The Epigraphic Survey, Medinet Habu, Volume II. The Later Historical Records of Ramses III (1932).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak Volume 4: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I (1986).

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183: Fire Over Hatti

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Sety I (Part 5): Empires clash. Around 1300 BCE (approximately), Sety I records a battle against the Hittites. In the course of his northern wars, perhaps following the reconquest of Kadesh and Amurru, Sety faced off with his distant rival. The Kingdom of Hatti, land of the Hittites, sent forces to challenge the Egyptian resurgence…

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Luke Chaos.
Interludes: Keith Zizza, Luke Chaos, Hathor Systrum.
The Battle Reliefs of Sety I by The Epigraphic Survey Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Volume IV: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I | Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (uchicago.edu).
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.
Support the History of Egypt Podcast and get amazing skincare products from RA EGYPTIAN, the natural skincare range inspired by ancient ingredients! Shop at www.ra-egyptian.comand use the checkout code EGYPT to get 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

G. Beckman, Hittite Diplomatic Texts (1996).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023).
T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (2005).
T. R. Bryce, Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History (2014).
T. R. Bryce, Warriors of Anatolia: A Concise History of the Hittites (2019).
V. Davies, ‘The Treatment of Foreigners in Seti’s Battle Reliefs’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 98 (2012), 73–85.
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (2019).
H. El-Saady, ‘The Wars of Sety I at Karnak: A New Chronological Structure’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 19 (1992), 285–94.
R. O. Faulkner, ‘The Wars of Sethos I’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 33 (1947), 34–9.
B. Heagren, ‘The Art of War in Pharaonic Egypt’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Auckland (2010).
M. Healy, Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the Warrior Kings (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments, I (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (2017).
S. Langdon and A. H. Gardiner, ‘The Treaty of Alliance between Ḫattušili, King of the Hittites, and the Pharaoh Ramesses II of Egypt’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 6 (1920), 179–205.
D. D. Luckenbill, ‘Hittite Treaties and Letters’, The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures 37 (1921), 161–211.
S. McDermott, ‘Ancient Egyptian Footsoldiers and Their Weapons: A Study of Military Iconography and Weapon Remains’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Manchester (2002).
E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (2005).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (1985).
D. B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (1992).
A. Spalinger, Aspects of the Military Documents of the Ancient Egyptians (1982).
A. J. Spalinger, ‘The Northern Wars of Seti I: An Integrative Study’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 16 (1979), 29–47.
A. J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom (2005).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak Volume 4: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I (1986).
G. Wilhelm, ‘Muršilis II. Konflikt mit Ägypten und Haremhabs Thronbesteigung’, Die Welt des Orients 39 (2009), 108–16.
W. Wreszinski, Atlas zur altaegyptischen Kulturgeschichte (1988).

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182b: Destruction in Amurru

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:05:00 -0000

Amurru (Part 4): Reconquista. The land of Amurru, and its leaders, have been a noteworthy part of the story in recent decades. Since the reigns of Amunhotep III and Akhenaten, the lords of Amurru have caused great trouble in Egypt’s northern empire. They have raided, plundered, and even murdered their way to regional prominence. Now, a couple decades after their betrayals, King Sety I is bringing vengeance…

Note: This episode includes new content and old material from episodes 123, 124, 142c. See timecodes for relevant chapters.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction.
02:25 The Land of Amurru.
12:25 How Science Uncovered Amurrite Expansion.
24:04 The Amurru – Hittite Alliances.
35:44 The Battle of Amurru.
46:28 Can We Trust Sety's Story?
51:15 Conclusion.
53:50 Episode 123, Amurrites and Where to Find Them.
2:07:17 Episode 124, The Crimes of Aziru.
3:07:45 Episode 142c, Aziru’s Betrayal.

Episode Details:

Date: c. 1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Michael Levy - Composer for Lyre (ancientlyre.com).
Interludes: Keith Zizza and Luke Chaos.
Logo image: Warriors of Kadesh, near Amurru, falling before Sety I's assault. Battle reliefs at Karnak, via the University of Chicago (below).
Goren, Finkelstein, and Na’aman: The Expansion of the Kingdom of Amurru According to the Petrographic Investigation of the Amarna Tablets | Yuval Goren and Nadav Na'aman - Academia.edu.
Sety’s Battle Reliefs, including the possible scenes of Amurru, at the University of Chicago: Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Volume IV: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I | Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (uchicago.edu).
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.
Support The History of Egypt Podcast by shopping at RA EGYPTIAN, the clean skincare line inspired by ancient Egyptian ingredients! Visit www.ra-egyptian.com and use code EGYPT at checkout for 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

S. Aḥituv, Canaanite Toponyms in Ancient Egyptian Documents (1984).
G. Beckman, Hittite Diplomatic Texts (1996).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (2005).
T. Bryce and J. Birkett-Rees, Atlas of the Ancient Near East from Prehistoric Times to the Roman Imperial Period (2016).
T. R. Bryce, Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History (2014).
T. R. Bryce, Warriors of Anatolia: A Concise History of the Hittites (2019).
V. Davies, ‘The Treatment of Foreigners in Seti’s Battle Reliefs’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 98 (2012), 73–85.
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (2019).
H. El-Saady, ‘The Wars of Sety I at Karnak: A New Chronological Structure’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 19 (1992), 285–94.
R. O. Faulkner, ‘The Wars of Sethos I’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 33 (1947), 34–9.
Y. Goren et al., ‘The Expansion of the Kingdom of Amurru According to the Petrographic Investigation of the Amarna Tablets’, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (2003), 1–11.
M. Healy, Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the Warrior Kings (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments, I (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (2017).
S. Langdon and A. H. Gardiner, ‘The Treaty of Alliance between Ḫattušili, King of the Hittites, and the Pharaoh Ramesses II of Egypt’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 6 (1920), 179–205.
D. D. Luckenbill, ‘Hittite Treaties and Letters’, The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures 37 (1921), 161–211.
E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (2005).

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182: Sety's Battle for Kadesh

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Sety I (Part 4): Catching Up with the Kadeshians. Around 1300 BCE (chronology uncertain), Sety led another campaign into the north. This time, the pharaoh of Egypt marched into Canaan, Lebanon, and Syria. In the process, he visited local chieftains, went “shopping” for luxury items, and then launched a daring attack on Kadesh…

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro Music: Bettina Joy de Guzman.
Interludes: Keith Zizza.
Outro music and interludes: Luke Chaos.
Logo image: A warrior/cattleman flees with his animals, while Sety I attacks Kadesh. Image colours based on traces found at Karnak, edited by Dominic Perry 2023.
Sety’s Battle Reliefs at Karnak, published by The Epigraphic Survey of The University of Chicago: Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Volume IV: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I | Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (uchicago.edu).
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.
Support The History of Egypt Podcast by shopping at RA EGYPTIAN, the clean skincare line inspired by ancient Egyptian ingredients! Visit www.ra-egyptian.com and use code EGYPT at checkout for 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

M. R. Abbas, ‘The Town of Yenoam in the Ramesside War Scenes and Texts of Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak 16 (2017), 329–341.
S. Aḥituv, Canaanite Toponyms in Ancient Egyptian Documents (1984).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023).
T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (2005).
T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (2009).
T. R. Bryce, Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History (2014).
T. R. Bryce, Warriors of Anatolia: A Concise History of the Hittites (2019).
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (2019).
H. El-Saady, ‘The Wars of Sety I at Karnak: A New Chronological Structure’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 19 (1992), 285–94.
R. O. Faulkner, ‘The Wars of Sethos I’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 33 (1947), 34–9.
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments, I (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (2017).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (1985).
N. Na’aman, ‘Yeno’am’, Tel Aviv 4 (1977), 168–77.
D. B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (1992).
A. Spalinger, Aspects of the Military Documents of the Ancient Egyptians (1982).
A. J. Spalinger, ‘The Northern Wars of Seti I: An Integrative Study’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 16 (1979), 29–47.
A. J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom (2005).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak Volume 4: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I (1986).
W. Wreszinski, Atlas zur altaegyptischen Kulturgeschichte (1988).

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181: Akh-en-Amun (Effective for Amun)

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 22:05:00 -0000

Sety I (Part 3): The Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak. In 1302 BCE (approximately) the pharaoh of Egypt Men-Ma’at-Ra Sety I commissioned a remarkable monument. A hall of columns, near the entrance of Karnak sanctuary, would be a gathering place for the gods and the faithful. This hall, called “Sety is Effective in the House of Amun,” is now one of Egypt’s most famous (and most photographed) monuments…

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1302 BCE (Year 2 of Sety I).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza and Bettina Joy de Guzman.
The Hypostyle Hall: Publications by The University of Chicago Epigraphic Survey: https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/oip/great-hypostyle-hall-karnak-volume-1-part-1-wall-reliefs and https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/oip/oip-142-great-hypostyle-hall-temple-amun-karnak
Texts: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptionsvolume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.
Support The History of Egypt Podcast by shopping at RA EGYPTIAN, the clean skincare line inspired by ancient Egyptian ingredients! Visit www.ra-egyptian.com and use code EGYPT at checkout for 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

E. Blyth, Karnak: Evolution of a Temple (2006).
P. J. Brand, ‘The Monuments of Seti I and Their Historical Significance: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (1998).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
P. J. Brand et al., The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak Volume 1, Part 2: Translation and Commentary (2018).
S. Costa, ‘On the Scenes of the King Receiving the Sed-Fests in the Theban Temples of the Ramesside Period’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 35 (2006), 61–74.
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (2019).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions: Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (2017).
H. H. Nelson, The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Volume 1, Part 1: The Wall Reliefs, ed. W.J. Murnane (1981).
J. Revez et al., ‘Gaining New Perspectives on the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Through the Use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Other Emerging Techniques’, in R. Lucarelli et al. (eds), Ancient Egypt, New Technology (2023), 476–511.
A. Spalinger, ‘Some Revisions of Temple Endowments in the New Kingdom’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 28 (1991), 21–39.
Memphis.edu: ‘Field Reports’, https://www.memphis.edu/hypostyle/project/field_reports.php
‘Hypostyle Hall – Digital Karnak’. https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/hypostyle-hall/

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180: Eager to Fight

Tue, 30 May 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Sety I (Part 2): The First Campaign of Victory. In1302 BCE, the pharaoh Men-Ma'at-Ra Sety I led a military expedition to the east. He attacked the Bedouin ("Shasu") in Sinai. Then, he turned his sights on Canaan. The new King was an active warlord, aggressive and eager to fight. Thanks to records at Karnak and elsewhere, we can trace his assault...

Date: c. 1302 BCE (March - June).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Ancient Lyric and Luke Chaos.
Sources: The war reliefs of Sety I, at Karnak, via the University of Chicago Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Volume IV: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I | Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (uchicago.edu).
Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.
Support The History of Egypt Podcast by shopping at RA EGYPTIAN, the clean skincare line inspired by ancient Egyptian ingredients! Visit www.ra-egyptian.com and use code EGYPT at checkout for 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

W. F. Albright, ‘The Smaller Beth-Shan Stele of Sethos I (1309-1290 B. C.)’, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (1952), 24–32.
M. Artzy, ‘From Akko/Acco to Beit She’an/Beth Shan in the Late Bronze Age’, Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant 28 (2018), 85–98.
P. J. Brand, ‘The Monuments of Seti I and Their Historical Significance: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (1998).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (Cairo, 2019).
H. El-Saady, ‘The Wars of Sety I at Karnak: A New Chronological Structure’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 19 (1992), 285–94.
R. O. Faulkner, ‘The Wars of Sethos I’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 33 (1947), 34–9.
A. H. Gardiner, ‘The Ancient Military Road between Egypt and Palestine’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 6 (1920), 99–116.
M. Healy, Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the Warrior Kings (1993).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions: Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (2017).
A. Mazar, ‘Four Thousand Years of History at Tel Beth-Shean: An Account of the Renewed Excavations’, The Biblical Archaeologist 60 (1997), 62–76.
E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (2005).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (1985).
D. B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (1992).
A. J. Spalinger, ‘The Northern Wars of Seti I: An Integrative Study’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 16 (1979), 29–47.
A. J. Spalinger, ‘The Army’, in T. Wilkinson (ed.), The Egyptian World (2007), 118–131.
A. J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom (2005).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak Volume 4: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I (Chicago, 1986).
N. E. Wernick, ‘The Images of Fortifications in the Sety I Battle Reliefs: Comparing Art and Archaeology’, in J. Corbelli et al. (eds), Current Research in Egyptology 2009, Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Symposium, 10 (2011), 157–70.

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179: Sety's Renaissance

Tue, 23 May 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Sety I (Part 1): A Repeat Appearance. In 1303 BCE, the old king Ramesses is dead after a brief reign. But now, for the first time in decades, a royal son is taking power. King Sety (Men-ma'at-Ra) ascends, aged approximately thirty years old. The new ruler's reign will be noteworthy for its splendid monuments and its abundant records. In fact, as his reign begins, we can even trace his movements on a week-to-week basis...

Video version of Sety's coronation imagery available on YouTube.

Note: Patrons enjoy an extended epilogue on this episode.

Date: c. 1303 BCE (roughly July to September).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Luke Chaos and Keith Zizza.
Logo image: Sety I from his royal tomb. Louvre Museum.
Sources: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.
Support The History of Egypt Podcast by shopping at RA EGYPTIAN, the clean skincare line inspired by ancient Egyptian ingredients! Visit www.ra-egyptian.com and use code EGYPT at checkout for 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

D. D. Baker, Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs Volume I: Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300 – 1069 BC (2008).
P. J. Brand, ‘The Monuments of Seti I and Their Historical Significance: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (1998).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (2000).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023).
P. J. Brand et al., The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak Volume 1, Part 2: Translation and Commentary (2018).
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (2019).
A. Dodson and D. Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (2004).
D. C. Forbes, Complete Catalogue of the Royal Mummies Plus 7 Addenda (2016).
J. E. Harris and K. R. Weeks, X-Raying the Pharaohs (1973).
Z. Hawass and S. N. Saleem, Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging in the New Kingdom Royal Mummies (2016).
K. A. Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions: Translated and Annotated: Translations, I (2017).
R. J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Wilson, 2013).
M. Murray, Egyptian Temples (2005).
H. H. Nelson, The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Volume 1, Part 1: The Wall Reliefs, ed. W.J. Murnane (1981). The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, Volume 1, Part 1: The Wall Reliefs | Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (uchicago.edu)

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The Ramessids Rule, with Prof. Peter Brand

Wed, 17 May 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Peter Brand (Part 2): Ramesses I and Sety I. The start of Egypt's 19th Dynasty saw two significant reigns. Ramesses I, though short-lived, established a new regime and legacy. His son, Sety I, confirmed that legacy and expanded it magnificently. In this interview, Prof. Peter Brand continues his conversation about the early Ramessids. How they legitimized their rule, how they differed from their predecessors, and how they responded to recent political events (e.g. the Amarna Period).

Dr. Peter Brand is Associate Professor at The University of Memphis (Tennessee, USA). He completed his PhD. in 1998 studying The Monuments of Sety I. In 2023, he has published an enormous study of the Ramesside era: Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh. A long-needed and beautifully written study of this reign in the big picture, Prof. Brand's book is a lively and beautifully presented work that will become a "standard reference" for Ramessid enthusiasts.

Dr. Peter Brand at The University of Memphis.
Peter Brand at Academia.edu.
Peter Brand's new book, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh at Lockwood Press.
Peter Brand's book The Monuments of Sety I (2000) free pdf copy on Academia.
Peter Brand (et al), The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, Vols. 2-3, free pdf copies at Chicago Oriental Institute.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Luke Chaos.
Music interludes by Keith Zizza and Hathor Systrum.

Select Bibliography:

P. Brand, ‘Secondary Restorations in the Post-Amarna Period’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 36 (1999), 113–34.
P. Brand, ‘Reuse and Restoration’, UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2010).
P. J. Brand, ‘The Monuments of Seti I and Their Historical Significance: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (1998).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (Leiden, 2000).
P. J. Brand, ‘Usurpation of Monuments’, in W. Wendrich (ed.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (Los Angeles, 2010).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (Columbus, 2023).
P. J. Brand et al., The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak Volume 1, Part 2: Translation and Commentary (Oriental Institute Publications 142; Chicago, 2018).

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The Ramessids Rising, with Prof. Peter Brand

Tue, 16 May 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Peter Brand (Part 1): Ramesses I and his Household. When Paramessu became Ramesses I, his ascent marked a "break" in many ways. For historians studying this period, the evidence presents these pharaohs as a curious blend of traditional motifs and conscious reinvention. How did Ramesses, and his son Sety I, establish a new royal household; and guarantee their legitimacy, as newcomers to the throne?

Dr. Peter Brand is Associate Professor at The University of Memphis (Tennessee, USA). He completed his PhD. in 1998 studying The Monuments of Sety I. In 2023, he has published an enormous study of the Ramesside era: Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh. A long-overdue, and beautifully written study of this reign in the big picture, Prof. Brand's new book is a lively and beautifully presented work that will become a "standard reference" for Ramessid enthusiasts.

Dr. Peter Brand at The University of Memphis.
Peter Brand at Academia.edu.
Peter Brand's new book, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh at Lockwood Press.
Peter Brand's book The Monuments of Sety I (2000) free pdf copy on Academia.
Peter Brand (et al), The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, Vols. 2-3, free pdf copies at Chicago Oriental Institute.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Luke Chaos.
Music interludes by Keith Zizza and Hathor Systrum.

Select Bibliography:

P. Brand, ‘Secondary Restorations in the Post-Amarna Period’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 36 (1999), 113–34.
P. Brand, ‘Reuse and Restoration’, UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2010).
P. J. Brand, ‘The Monuments of Seti I and Their Historical Significance: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (1998).
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (Leiden, 2000).
P. J. Brand, ‘Usurpation of Monuments’, in W. Wendrich (ed.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (Los Angeles, 2010).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (Columbus, 2023).
P. J. Brand et al., The Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun at Karnak Volume 1, Part 2: Translation and Commentary (Oriental Institute Publications 142; Chicago, 2018).

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Ramesses I, International Mummy of Mystery with Dr. Peter Lacovara

Wed, 10 May 2023 23:05:00 -0000

Ramesses I and Pharaoh's Palace(s). Dr. Peter Lacovara is an experienced archaeologist, museum curator, and specialist in the palaces of Egyptian pharaohs. Since the 1980s Dr. Lacovara has been involved in many noteworthy projects. Most famously, he led the project to identify and repatriate the mummy of King Ramesses I. In this interview, we discuss the mummy and its return to Egypt, as well as the elaborate royal palace complex at Deir el-Ballas.

Learn more:

Peter Lacovara
Home | The Ancient Egypt Heritage and Archeology Fund (ancientegyptarchaeologyfund.com)
Deir el-Ballas - Wikipedia
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Introducing The Mummy Movie Podcast

Sat, 06 May 2023 11:05:00 -0000

The Mummy Movie Podcast is dedicated to the many (many) films in which ancient Egyptian mummies play a role. From the 1932 classic, to the 1999 remake, and dozens more in between, mummies are a classic feature of horror, suspense, and adventure filmmaking. Egyptologist Peter Rose dives into these movies from the historical, production, and entertainment point of view, exploring every nook and cranny in these classic works. Find the Mummy Movie Podcast on all podcasting apps, or visit Mummy Movie Podcast - Hosted by Peter Rose (acast.com)

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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178: From Nile to Niagara, The Mummy of Ramesses I

Tue, 02 May 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Ramesses I (Part 2): Family, Regime, Remains. In 1304 BCE, Ramesses I rules Egypt. The new royal family is an interesting group, and we have a surprisingly detailed idea of Ramesses' son Suty (Sety). Then, we consider the legacy of Ramesses, which has some remarkably international elements...

Details and sources:

Date: c. 1304 - 1303 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Luke Chaos and Keith Zizza.
Sources: Kenneth Kitchen's Ramesside Inscriptions volume 1. Hieroglyph versions at Internet Archive, English translations at Abercromby Press.
Peter Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh, out now from Lockwood Press.

Select Bibliography:

P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (Leiden, 2000).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (Cairo, 2019).
A. Dodson and S. Ikram, The Mummy in Ancient Egypt (London, 1998).
D. C. Forbes, The Royal Mummies Caches (TT320 & KV35) (Tombs. Treasures. Mummies. Seven Great Discoveries of Egyptian Archaeology I; 2015th edn, Weaverville, 2015).
D. C. Forbes, Complete Catalogue of the Royal Mummies Plus 7 Addenda (Tombs. Treasures. Mummies. Seven Great Discoveries of Egyptian Archaeology V; Sebastopol, 2016).
F. Janot, The Royal Mummies: Immortality in Ancient Egypt (Vercelli, 2008).
A. Piankoff, ‘La tombe de Ramsès Ier’, Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale 56 (1957), 189–200.

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177: Sun Born, Ramesses I

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Ramesses I (Part 1): Appearing in Splendour. In this episode, we repeat the career and rise of Paramessu (content recycled from episode #170). Then, we begin the reign of Ramesses I, who takes the throne around 1305 BCE. The new king is fully aware of his unusual succession and immediately works to establish his legitimacy...

Details:

Date: c.1305 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Luke Chaos and Keith Zizza.
Research assistance: Elissa Day.

Episode chapters:

Career (recycled): 02:35 - 26:20.
Reign (new): 26:20 - 53:50.

Listener survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave

Select Bibliography:

P. Brand, ‘Secondary Restorations in the Post-Amarna Period’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 36 (1999), 113–34.
P. J. Brand, The Monuments of Seti I: Epigraphic, Historical and Art Historical Analysis (Leiden, 2000).
P. J. Brand, ‘Usurpation of Monuments’, in W. Wendrich (ed.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (Los Angeles, 2010).
P. J. Brand, Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
A. Dodson, Sethy I King of Egypt: His Life and Afterlife (Cairo, 2019).
A. Dodson and D. Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (London, 2004).
E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (Leiden, 2005).
A. Piankoff, ‘La tombe de Ramsès Ier’, Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale 56 (1957), 189–200.
R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, The Temples of Karnak (London, 1999).

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Introducing: Dynasty 19

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 11:05:00 -0000

Reflective and Prospective. In this episode, we take a moment to reflect on the outgoing 18th Dynasty (and its last scion, Horemheb). Then, we consider some of the major themes that will appear in Dynasty 19, and the continuities between the two eras. Finally, we reflect on the 10th Anniversary of The History of Egypt Podcast!

Date: c.1305 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Luke Chaos.
Help The History of Egypt Podcast by completing a brief listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave. 100% anonymous.

Select Bibliography:

D. D. Baker, Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs Volume I: Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300 – 1069 BC (Cairo, 2008).
K. M. Bryson, ‘Some Year Dates of Horemheb in Context’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 51 (2015), 285–302.
K. M. Bryson, ‘The Reign of Horemheb: History, Historiography, and the Dawn of the Ramesside Era’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2018).
E. Cruz-Uribe, ‘The Father of Ramses I: OI 11456’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 37 (1978), 237–44.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
A. Dodson and D. Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (London, 2004).
E. Hornung, Das Grab des Haremhab im Tal der Könige (Bern, 1971).
C. Manassa Darnell, ‘Transition 18th—19th Dynasty’, UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2015).
J. Van Dijk, ‘New Evidence on the Length of the Reign of Horemheb’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 44 (2008), 193–200.

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176: The Ancient Egyptian Book of Gates (Part 2)

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 10:05:00 -0000

From hours 6-12, Ra continues his journey. The great serpent Apep returns, bringing an army of his followers. The sun god deals with those who have died in horrible ways. The journey reaches its climax, and the dawn approaches...

Date: c. 1305 BCE (first appearance).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro and interludes: Luke Chaos.
Sistrum: Tahya Hathor Systrum.
TRANSLATIONS of the Book of Gates by Erik Hornung (2014) and John Darnell & Colleen Manassa Darnell (2018)

Select Bibliography:

C. Carrier, Grands Livres Funéraires de l’Égypte Pharaonique (Paris, 2009).
J. C. Darnell and C. Manassa Darnell, The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books (Writings from the Ancient World 39; Atlanta, 2018).
N. J. Dominy, ‘Mysteries of Ancient Egypt’s Sacred Baboons Revealed’, Scientific American, <https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mysteries-of-ancient-egypts-sacred-baboons-revealed/> accessed 3.21.2023 (2021).
N. J. Dominy, ‘Secrets of the Sacred Baboons’, Scientific American 325 (2021), 46–53.
E. Hornung, Das Grab des Haremhab im Tal der Könige (Bern, 1971).
E. Hornung, Das Buch von den Pforten des Jenseits, I (Geneva, 1979).
E. Hornung, Das Buch von den Pforten des Jenseits, II (Geneva, 1984).
E. Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife (Ithaca, 1999).
E. Hornung, The Egyptian Book of Gates, trans. T. Abt (Zurich, 2014).
J. Roberson, ‘The Royal Funerary Books: The Subject Matter of Scenes and Texts’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2016), 316–332.
M. Smith, Following Osiris: Perspectives on the Osirian Afterlife from Four Millenia (Oxford, 2017).
Theban Mapping Project, ‘KV 57 The Tomb of Horemheb’.
J. Zandee, ‘The Book of Gates’, Liber Amicorum: Studies in Honor of Professor Dr. C.J. Bleeker (Leiden, 1969), 282–324.

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175: The Ancient Egyptian Book of Gates (Part 1)

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:05:00 -0000

In the dark of the night, Ra took a journey through the Duat (underworld). His voyage was fraught with danger, but he also made many friends along the way. In the Book of Gates, the sun god takes a mysterious but meaningful journey...

Details:

Date: c.1305 BCE (first recorded appearance).
Source: KV57, the tomb of Horemheb, and others.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro: Jeffrey Goodman.
Music interludes: Cover versions by Luke Chaos.
Music outro: Ancient Lyric.
Logo image: Ra on his solar barque, from the tomb of Ramesses I (Photo by Dominic Perry, 2022).
TRANSLATIONS of the Book of Gates by Erik Hornung (2014) and John Darnell & Colleen Manassa Darnell (2018).

Select Bibliography:

J. Assmann, Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom: Re, Amun and the Crisis of Polytheism (1995).
C. Carrier, Grands Livres Funéraires de l’Égypte Pharaonique (2009).
J. C. Darnell and C. Manassa Darnell, The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books (2018).
E. Hornung, Das Grab des Haremhab im Tal der Könige (1971).
E. Hornung, Das Buch von den Pforten des Jenseits, I (1979).
E. Hornung, Das Buch von den Pforten des Jenseits, II (1984).
E. Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife (1999).
E. Hornung, The Egyptian Book of Gates, trans. T. Abt (2014).
C. Manassa, ‘The Judgement Hall of Osiris in the Book of Gates’, Revue d’Égyptologie 57 (2006), 109—150.
J. Roberson, ‘The Royal Funerary Books: The Subject Matter of Scenes and Texts’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (2016), 316–332.
M. Smith, Following Osiris: Perspectives on the Osirian Afterlife from Four Millenia (2017).
Theban Mapping Project, ‘KV 57 The Tomb of Horemheb’.
Y. Volokhine, Le porc en Égypte ancienne (2014).
J. Zandee, ‘The Book of Gates’, Liber Amicorum: Studies in Honor of Professor Dr. C.J. Bleeker (1969), 282–324.

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174b: Horemheb, Unfinished Business

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 10:05:00 -0000

Horemheb's Lesser-known works and monuments. A selection of "off-cuts" from the Horemheb narrative including the Luxor Cachette, Horemheb's burial(s) of the Apis Bulls, and the rock-cut temple at Gebel Silsila.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and Interludes: Luke Chaos.
Additional music interludes: Keith Zizza.
See statues from the Luxor Cachette in Luxor Museum, Wikimedia.

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174: Horemheb, Death and Legacy

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:05:00 -0000

The Death and Legacy of Horemheb (c.1305 BCE). Horemheb's reign ended after some 27-years of rule, though this is debated fiercely among historians. His latter-day achievements include an unorthodox approach to building his Memorial Temple, as well as an innovative and spectacular royal tomb. Ultimately, the King reached the end of his reign, leaving a legacy that deserves greater attention...

Date: c.1305 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music and interludes: Luke Chaos.
Additional interludes: Keith Zizza.
Outro music: Ancient Lyric.
Read the excavation report for Horemheb/Ay's Memorial Temple at The University of Chicago.

Select Bibliography:

N. Brown, ‘Coffin of Ramesses II’, American Research Center in Egypt.
K. M. Bryson, ‘Some Year Dates of Horemheb in Context’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 51 (2015), 285–302.
K. M. Bryson, ‘The Reign of Horemheb: History, Historiography, and the Dawn of the Ramesside Era’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2018).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, 2017).
U. Hölscher, The Excavation of Medinet Habu II: The Temples of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1939). Available free online.
E. Hornung, Das Grab des Haremhab im Tal der Könige (1971).
M. Nilsson and P. Martinez, ‘In the Footsteps of Ricardo Caminos: Rediscovering the “Speos of Gebel el Silsila”’, in G. Rosati and M. C. Guidotti (eds), Proceedings of the XI International Congress of Egyptologists (2017), 445—449.
N. Reeves, ‘The Coffin of Ramesses II’, Proceedings of the First Vatican Coffin Conference 19–22 June 2013, I (2013), 425—438.
Theban Mapping Project, ‘KV 57 The Tomb of Horemheb’.
A.-C. Thiem, Speos von Gebel es-Silsileh: Analyse der architektonischen und ikonographischen Konzeption im Rahmen des politischen und legitimatorischen Programmes der Nachamarnazeit (2000).
J. Van Dijk, ‘New Evidence on the Length of the Reign of Horemheb’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 44 (2008), 193—200.

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The Tomb of Tutankhamun (The Full Story)

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 10:08:00 -0000

100 Year Anniversary, 2022. The story of King Tutankhamun's tomb, in one epic episode.

Chapters and their original episodes (with references and pictures):

Part 1 (Chapters 1 to 5).
Part 2 (Chapters 6 and 7).
Part 3 (Chapters 8 and 9).
Part 4 (Chapters 10 to 12).
Part 5 (Chapters 13 and 14).
Part 6 (Chapters 15 and 16).
The 2010 DNA study (Episode 128).
The Possible Tomb of Nefertiti (Episode 137b).

Reference materials:

For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, at the ⁠Griffith Institute⁠.
See other images, including the treasures, at ⁠Wikimedia⁠.
The Tomb of Tutankhamun at ⁠The Theban Mapping Project⁠.
The life and reign of Tutankhamun at ⁠The History of Egypt Podcast⁠.

Episode Details

Date: 1340 BCE and 1922 - 1932 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: The gold mummy mask of Tutankhamun via Wikimedia.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music by Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos

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173: A Forgotten Campaign

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 10:05:00 -0000

To Vile Carchemish. In Year 16, King Horemheb may have led a "campaign of victory" to the far north. An artefact identified in the 1970s, but lost for decades, testifies to these events... but what do they mean?

Episode details:

Date: c.1316 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro: Keith Zizza.
Music interludes and outro: Luke Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

A. Ahrens, ‘New Light on the Amarna Period from the Northern Levant: A Clay Sealing with the Throne Name of Akhenaten/Amenhotep IV from the Royal Palace at Tall Mišrife/Qatna, in: Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie 5 (2012): 232-248’, Zeitschrift für Orient-Archäologie 5 (2012), 232—248.
A. Ahrens, ‘Pharao Haremhab und die nördliche Levante. Bemerkungen zu einem Skarabäenabdruck aus Tell Mišrife/Qatna, in: Ugarit-Forschungen 45, In memoriam Oswald Loretz (2014): 1-9’, Ugarit-Forschungen 45 (2014), 1—9.
E. Devecchi and J. L. Miller, ‘Hittite-Egyptian Synchronisms and their Consequences for Ancient Near Eastern Chronology’, in J. Mynářová (ed.), Egypt and the Near East – The Crossroads (Prague, 2011), 139—176.
H. Gauthier, Dictionnaire des noms géographiques contenus dans les textes hiéroglyphiques (Paris, 1925).
R. Gautschy, ‘A Reassessment of the Absolute Chronology of the Egyptian New Kingdom and its “Brotherly” Countries’, Egypt and the Levant 24 (2014), 141—158.
N. Grimal, ‘L’offrande d’un vétéran de l’an 16 d’Ḥoremḥeb’, Comptes rendus de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-lettres (Paris) (2018), 319—338.
B. Lagarce-Othman, ‘Un nouveau vase inédit d’Horemheb’, in V. Matoïan and M. al-Maqdissi (eds), Études Ougaritiques III, Ras Shamra–Ougarit XXI (Leuven, 2013), 347—364.
V. Matoïan, ‘Ugarit et l’Égypte: essai d’interprétation de la documentation archéologique et perspectives de la recherche’, in B. Eder and R. Pruzsinszky (eds), Policies of Exchange Political Systems and Modes of Interaction in the Aegean and the Near East in the 2nd Millenium B.C.E, Proceedings of the International Symposium at the University of Freiburg Institute for Archaeological Studies, 30th May – 2nd June 2012, 2 (Vienna, 2015), 35—84.
J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibḫururiya In the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252—293.
D. B. Redford, ‘New Light on the Asiatic Campaigning of Ḥoremheb’, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 211 (1973), 36—49.
D. B. Redford, ‘A Head-Smiting Scene from the 10th Pylon’, in M. Görg (ed.), Fontes Atque Pontes. Eine Festgrabe für Hellmut Brunner (Wiesbaden, 1983), 362—373.
Z. Simon, ‘Kann Armā mit Haremhab gleichgesetzt werden?’, Altorientalische Forschungen 36 (2009), 340—348.
G. Wilhelm, ‘Muršilis II. Konflikt mit Ägypten und Haremhabs Thronbesteigung’, Die Welt des Orients 39 (2009), 108—116.
J. A. Wilson, ‘Egyptian Historical Texts’, in J. B. Pritchard (ed.), Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement (1978), 227–64.
W. Wreszinski, Atlas zur altaegyptischen Kulturgeschichte (Geneva, 1988).

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172: Horemheb, Wise Like Thoth

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 10:05:00 -0000

Horemheb's favourite god. Throughout his life, Horemheb commissioned monuments and artefacts that honoured Djehuty (Thoth). As a courtier, then a King, Horemheb showed a certain favour towards this god. Why did he like this god, in particular, and what do these artefacts tell us about Horemheb as a person?

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Horemheb as a Scribe, statue in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Read the Hymn to Thoth at the Metropolitan Museum of Art website.
Music interludes by Luke Chaos, Hathor Systrum, and Keith Zizza.

Select Bibliography:

N. Allon, Writing, Violence, and the Military: Images of Literacy in Eighteenth dynasty Egypt (1550-1295 BCE). (2019).
B. G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, VI (1995).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume II: The New Kingdom (1976).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (1995).
K. Sowada, ‘A Late Eighteenth Dynasty Statue in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 80 (1994), 137–43.
H. E. Winlock, ‘A Statue of Horemhab before His Accession’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 10 (1924), 1–5.

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171: Law & Order (Special Ma'at Unit)

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:05:00 -0000

Horemheb's Great Decree. Sometime during his reign, King Horemheb proclaimed a new set of laws. Taking aim at corruption and abuses-of-power (allegedly happening throughout Egypt), the pharaoh went hard on corrective measures. Punishments could range from beatings to disfigurement, exile, and death. Horemheb was not messing around. But what was he really trying to achieve?

Episode details, pictures and references at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net
Interludes and Outro music by Luke Chaos www.twitter.com/luke_chaos

Select Bibliography:

G. de la Bédoyere, Pharaohs of the Sun: The Rise and Fall of Tutankhamen’s Dynasty (2022).
C. Eyre, The Use of Documents in Pharaonic Egypt (2013).
A. Gnirs, ‘Haremhab - ein Staatsreformator? Neue Betrachtungen zum Haremhab-Dekret’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 16 (1989), 83–110.
A. M. Gnirs, Militär und Gesellschaft: Ein Beitrag zur Sozialgeschichte des Neuen Reiches (1996).
A. M. Gnirs, ‘Coping With the Army: The Military and the State in the New Kingdom’, in J. C. Moreno García (ed.), Ancient Egyptian Administration (2013), 639—717.
R. Hari, Horemheb et la reine Moutnedjemet ou la fin d’une Dynastie (1965).
W. Helck, Urkunden der 18. Dynastie: Ubersetzung zu den Heften 17–22 (1961).
J.-M. Kruchten, Le décret d’Horemheb: traduction, commentaire épigraphique, philologique et institutionnel (1981).
K. Pflüger, ‘The Edict of King Haremhab’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 5 (1946), 260–76.
YouTube: Guy de la Bédoyere, "Horemheb, the 'Enlightened Despot,'" https://youtu.be/-jCEo21_hK4

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The Ancient Egyptian Empire with Dr. Uroš Matić

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 10:05:00 -0000

New Kingdom vs the World. This week we have an interview with Dr. Uroš Matić. Dr. Matić is a member of the Austrian Archaeological Institute, and takes a fascinating view of ancient society, including violence, gender, and the state. This episode was recorded in 2021.

Dr. Uroš Matić online: Twitter, Academia.edu, and the Austrian Archaeological Institute.
The Egyptian Empire in the 18th Dynasty: episodes at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

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170: Horemheb and Ramesses

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:05:00 -0000

The Mother is Sweet, Born of the Sun. In the second half of Horemheb’s reign, Egypt’s Queen died in childbirth. Subsequently, pharaoh chose one of his servants, Paramessu (Ramesses) as a successor. This choice arguably established the 19th royal Dynasty. Why did Horemheb do this?

Episode details:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music: Keith Zizza.
Interlude sounds and Outro music: Luke Chaos.
Additional research by Elissa Day.
See Geoffrey Martin discussing the discovery of Horemheb's Saqqara tomb at the Associated Press (1975).

Select Bibliography:

G. Brunton, ‘The Inner Sarcophagus of Prince Ramessu from Medinet Habu’, Annales du Services des Antiquités de l’Egypte 43 (1943), 133—156.
G. Brunton and R. Engelbach, Gurob (1927).
E. Cruz-Uribe, ‘The Father of Ramses I: OI 11456’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 37 (1978), 237–44.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2017).
W. Grajetzki, Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary (London, 2005).
G. T. Martin, ‘Excavations at the Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, 1977: Preliminary Report’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 64 (1978), 5–9.
G. T. Martin, The Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, Commander-in-Chief of Tutʻankhamūn, 1 (1989).
G. T. Martin, Tutankhamun’s Regent: Scenes and Texts from the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb (2016).
G. T. Martin, ‘Bestower and the Recipient: On a Controversial Scene in the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb’, in C. Demarée et al. (eds), Imaging and Imagining the Memphite Necropolis: Liber Amicorum René van Walsem (2017), 47—56.
D. Polz, ‘Die Särge des (Pa-)Ramessu’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 42 (1986), 145—166.
E. Strouhal, ‘Queen Mutnodjmet at Memphis: Anthropological and Paleopathological Evidence’, L’Egyptologie en 1979 II (1982), 317—322.
E. Strouhal, The Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, Commander-in-Chief of Tutʻankhamūn IV: Human Skeletal Remains (2008).
E. Strouhal and V. G. Callender, ‘A Profile of Queen Mutnodjmet’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 3 (1992), 67—75.
J. van Dijk, ‘Horemheb and the Struggle for the Throne of Tutankhamun’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 7 (1996), 29—42.

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169: Horemheb, Reinventing the Tomb

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 11:05:00 -0000

In the Valley of the Kings, Horemheb commissioned a magnificent tomb. Artistically innovative, it has one foot in the past and one in the future. This tomb introduced a new style of decoration, developed on recent trends, and reshaped the model of royal burials…

Episode Details:

Date: c. 1323 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro and break music: Keith Zizza.
Outro music and interludes: Luke Chaos.
Learn more about the tomb of Horemheb at the Theban Mapping Project.
See Prof. Geoffrey Martin's description of the tomb at YouTube.
Logo: Unfinished scene from the tomb of Horemheb. Hornung 1971.

Select Bibliography:

T. M. Davis, The Tombs of Harmhabi and Toutânkhamanou (1912).
E. Hornung, Das Grab des Haremhab im Tal der Könige (1971).
Geoffrey Martin, Haremhab, Pharaoh and Conqueror: New Investigations in His Royal Tomb in the Valley of the Kings (2012). YouTube.
‘Horemheb | Theban Mapping Project’, https://thebanmappingproject.com/tombs/kv-57-horemheb.

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168: Security in the Valley of the Kings

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:05:00 -0000

Securing the halls. In the 8th year of Horemheb's reign, a royal official named Maya visited a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. He was there to inspect the burial of Thutmose IV, to ensure its security, and repair it if necessary…

Episode details:

Date: c.1324 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music: Luke Chaos.
Interlude music: Luke Chaos and Keith Ziza.
Outro music: Bettina Joy de Guzman.
See the tomb of Thutmose IV at the Theban Mapping Project.
Logo image: Detail from the chariot of Thutmose IV (Photo by Dominic Perry).

Select Bibliography:

B. M. Bryan, The Reign of Thutmose IV (Baltimore, 1991).
K. M. Bryson, ‘The Reign of Horemheb: History, Historiography, and the Dawn of the Ramesside Era’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2018).
H. Carter, ‘Introduction’, in T. M. Davis (ed.), The Tomb of Thoutmôsis IV (London, 1904), VII—XII.
T. M. Davis (ed.), The Tomb of Thoutmôsis IV (2002 Reprint edn, London, 1904).
P. E. Newberry, ‘Description of the Tomb and Sarcophagus of Thoutmôsis IV’, in T. M. Davis (ed.), The Tomb of Thoutmôsis IV (London, 1904), XXIX—XL.
N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings (London, 1996).
‘Thutmes IV | Theban Mapping Project’, <https://thebanmappingproject.com/tombs/kv-43-thutmes-iv> accessed 8.27.2022.
‘Thutmosis IV — KV43’, <https://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/pharaons/thoutmosis4/e_thoutmosis4_01.htm> accessed 8.27.2022.

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167: Horemheb, Reviving Deir el-Medina

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 11:05:00 -0000

Back in the village. In regnal year 7, Horemheb's officials turn up in western Thebes (Waset). They began reorganising the village of the tomb-builders, Set-Ma'at "The Place of Truth." Doing so, the King's government created a lasting legacy in the town we call Deir el-Medina.

Episode details:

Date: c.1325 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music: Keith Zizza.
Outro music: Ancient Lyric.
Music interludes: Luke Chaos.
Logo image: Horemheb in his tomb, decorated by the workers of Deir el-Medina (Image: Hornung 1971).

Select Bibliography:

M. B. Bruyère, ‘Fouilles de Deir el Medineh (1923—1924)’, Fouilles de L’Institut Francais d’Archéologie Orientale du Caire (1925).
J. Černý, A Community of Workmen at Thebes in the Ramesside period (Cairo, 1973).
B. G. Davies, Who’s Who at Deir el-Medina: A Prosopographic Study of the Royal Workmen’s Community (Leiden, 1999).
B. G. Davies, Life Within the Five Walls: A Handbook to Deir el-Medina (Wallasey, 2018).
Y. M. El Shazly, ‘Royal Ancestor Worship in Deir el-Medina During the New Kingdom’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2008).
B. J. J. Haring, ‘Workmen’s Marks and the Early History of the Theban Royal Necropolis’, in J. Toivari-Viitala et al. (eds), Deir el-Medina Studies: Helsinki, June 24 – 26, 2009, Proceedings (Helsinki, 2014), 87—100.
J. R. Harris, ‘How Long was the Reign of Horemheb?’, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 54 (1968), 95—99.
M. Müller, ‘Deir el-Medina in the Dark – The Amarna Period in the History of the Village’, in J. Toivari-Viitala et al. (eds), Deir el-Medina Studies: Helsinki, June 24 – 26, 2009, Proceedings (Helsinki, 2014), 154—167.
M. S. i Sanjaume, ‘La Tomba de Sennedjem a Deir el-Medina TT1’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University de Barcelona (2013).
E. Uphill, ‘Some Matters Relating to the Growth and Walls of Deir el-Medina’, in Jac. J. Janssen et al. (eds), Deir el-Medina in the Third Millenium AD: A Tribute to Jac. J. Janssen, Egyptologische uitgaven XIV (Leiden, 2000), 325–9.

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News: Carter's Thefts and Tutankhamun's Amulet

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 08:44:00 -0000

On August 13th, 2022, The Guardian (UK) ran a headline "Howard Carter stole Tutankhamun’s treasure, new evidence suggests." What's going on, exactly? We dive into the new information and its context. Read the Guardian article here.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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166: Restoration III, Re-Restoring

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 11:05:00 -0000

Horemheb vs Ay, Tutankhamun, and others. Everyone talks about Horemheb "erasing" Akhenaten. But the King demolished monuments of several rulers, and erased the names of others. What does it all mean?

Episode details:

Date: c. 1327 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music intro: Luke Chaos.
Music interludes: Luke Chaos.
Music outro: Keith Zizza.

Select Bibliography:

M. Azim, ‘La structure des pylônes d’Horemheb à Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 127—166.
E. Blyth, Karnak: Evolution of a Temple (2006).
P. Brand, ‘Secondary Restorations in the Post-Amarna Period’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 36 (1999), 113–34.
L. Cotelle-Michel, ‘Présentation préliminaire des blocs de la Chapelle de Sésostris Ier découverte dans le IXe Pylône de Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak XI.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy (2014).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, 2017).
C. Manassa Darnell, ‘Transition 18th—19th Dynasty’, UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2015).
W. J. Murnane, ‘Tutankhamun on the Eighth Pylon at Karnak’, Varia Aegyptiaca I (1985), 59—68.
R. Saad, ‘Fragments d’un monument de Toutânkhamon retrouvés dans le IXe pylône de Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak V (1975), 93—109.
R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, The Temples of Karnak (1999).
E. Sullivan, ‘Karnak: Development of the Temple of Amun-Ra’, in W. Wendrich (ed.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2010).
C. Traunecker, ‘Rapport préliminaire sur la chapelle de Sésostris Ier découverte dans le IXe pylône’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 121—126.

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165: Horemheb vs Akhenaten (Praise Ra and Pass the Talatat)

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:05:00 -0000

To build his magnificent pylons at Karnak, Horemheb dismantled other monuments. Within the masonry of these pylons, archaeologists found nearly fifty thousand blocks from temples of Akhenaten...

Episode details:

Date: c.1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music: Keith Zizza.
Interlude music: Luke Chaos.
Outro music: Bettina Joy de Guzman.
Logo image: author unknown.

Select Bibliography:

M. Azim, ‘La structure des pylônes d’Horemheb à Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 127—166.
E. Blyth, Karnak: Evolution of a Temple (2006).
P. Brand, ‘Secondary Restorations in the Post-Amarna Period’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 36 (1999), 113–34.
L. Cotelle-Michel, ‘Présentation préliminaire des blocs de la Chapelle de Sésostris Ier découverte dans le IXe Pylône de Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak XI.
Digital Karnak, ‘2nd Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/2nd-pylon/.
Digital Karnak, ‘9th Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/9th-pylon/.
Digital Karnak, ‘10th Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/10th-pylon/.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy (2014).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, 2017).
J. Gohary, ‘Final Report “Talatat Project”’, The Egyptian Antiquities Conservation Project (2012).
M. Jordan et al., La porte d’Horemheb au Xe pylône de Karnak (2015).
C. Manassa Darnell, ‘Transition 18th—19th Dynasty’, UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2015).
W. J. Murnane, ‘Tutankhamun on the Eighth Pylon at Karnak’, Varia Aegyptiaca I (1985), 59—68.
D. Redford, ‘Akhenaten: New Theories and Old Facts’, Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research 369 (2013), 9.
D. B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King (1984).
D. B. Redford, ‘Studies on Akhenaten at Thebes. I. A Report on the Work of the Akhenaten Temple Project of the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 10 (1973), 77–94.
R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, The Temples of Karnak (1999).
E. Sullivan, ‘Karnak: Development of the Temple of Amun-Ra’, in W. Wendrich (ed.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2010).

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164b: Karnak, Renovation Station

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 11:05:00 -0000

Horemheb at Karnak (Part 2). There are secrets beneath the sand of Karnak. Horemheb's architects significantly changed the temple's landscape. In some cases, they even relocated older buildings, dismantling and moving them piece-by-piece...

Episode details:

Date: c. 1329 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music interludes by Luke Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

M. Azim, ‘La structure des pylônes d’Horemheb à Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 127—166.
E. Blyth, Karnak: Evolution of a Temple (New York, 2006).
Digital Karnak, ‘9th Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/9th-pylon/.
Digital Karnak, ‘10th Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/10th-pylon/.
Digital Karnak, ‘Edifice of Amenhotep II’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/edifice-of-amenhotep-ii/.
J-C. Goyon and C. Traunecker, ‘La Chapelle de Thot et d’Amon au sud-ouest du lac sacré’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 355—366.
M. Jordan et al., La porte d’Horemheb au Xe pylône de Karnak (2015).
R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, The Temples of Karnak (1999).
C. Van Siclen III, ‘The Edifice of Amenhotep II at Karnak: An Architectural Pious Fraud’, in C. Leblanc and G. Zaki (eds), The Temples of Millions of Years and Royal Power at Thebes in the New Kingdom (2010), 81—89.
W. Wreszinski, Atlas zur altaegyptischen Kulturgeschichte (1988).

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164: You Must Construct Additional Pylons

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 11:05:00 -0000

Horemheb at Karnak (Part 1). Before his ascent, Horemheb had managed building projects for Tutankhamun. Now, as pharaoh, Horemheb went all out. He invested in one of the largest building sprees Karnak would ever see. His monuments continue to define this temple...

Episode details:

Date: c.1329 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Horemheb theme by Luke Chaos.
Music interludes by Luke Chaos and Keith Zizza.
Logo image: The Tenth Pylon, completed in Horemheb's reign. Photo by Neithsabes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
See photos of Horemheb’s Pylons (2, 9, and 10) at Wikimedia.

Select Bibliography:

M. Azim, ‘La structure des pylônes d’Horemheb a Karnak’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 127—166. Online.
M. Azim, ‘Un mât du IXe Pylône au nome d’Horemheb’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 75—92. Online.
E. Blyth, Karnak: Evolution of a Temple (New York, 2006).
Digital Karnak, ‘2nd Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/2nd-pylon/
Digital Karnak, ‘9th Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/9th-pylon/
Digital Karnak, ‘10th Pylon’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/10th-pylon/
Digital Karnak, ‘Edifice of Amenhotep II’, https://digitalkarnak.ucsc.edu/edifice-of-amenhotep-ii/
J.-C. Goyon and C. Traunecker, ‘La Chapelle de Thot et d’Amon au sud-ouest du lac sacré’, Cahiers de Karnak VII (1982), 355—366. Online.
W. R. Johnson, ‘Amenhotep III and Amarna: Some New Considerations’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 82 (1996), 65–82.
M. Jordan et al., La porte d’Horemheb au Xe pylône de Karnak (2015).
R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, The Temples of Karnak (1999).
E. Sullivan, ‘Karnak: Development of the Temple of Amun-Ra’, in W. Wendrich (ed.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2010).
The Epigraphic Survey, The Temple of Khonsu Volume 1: Scenes of King Herihor in the Court (1979). Online.
C. Van Siclen III, ‘The Edifice of Amenhotep II at Karnak: An Architectural Pious Fraud’, in C. Leblanc and G. Zaki (eds), The Temples of Millions of Years and Royal Power at Thebes in the New Kingdom (Cairo, 2010), 81—89.
W. Wreszinski, Atlas zur altaegyptischen Kulturgeschichte (1988).

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The Darkest Days of Karnak Temple

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 11:05:00 -0000

Karnak had experienced a tumultuous time, in the three decades preceding Horemheb's reign...

Dates: c.1362 - 1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music interludes: Keith Zizza, Ancient Lyric, and Hathor Systrum.

Select Bibliography:

E. Blyth, Karnak: Evolution of a Temple (New York, 2006).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy (Cairo, 2014).
M. Eaton-Krauss, ‘Tutankhamun at Karnak’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo (1988), 1–11.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
D. Redford, ‘Akhenaten: New Theories and Old Facts’, Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research 369 (2013), 9.

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163: Nefertiti's Sister?

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 11:05:00 -0000

Queen Mutnodjmet is a curious case. For some scholars, she may be the lost sister of Nefertiti. This hypothesis has kicked around for over 100 years. Why can’t we resolve it?

Episode details:

Date: c.1330 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: "Hymn to Hathor," by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com
Interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/luke_chaos

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, 2017).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (2015).
W. Grajetzki, Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary (2005).
R. Hari, Horemheb et la reine Moutnedjemet ou la fin d’une Dynastie (1964).
R. Hari, ‘La reine d’Horemheb était-elle la sœur de Nefertiti?’, Chronique d’Egypte 51 (1976), 39—46.
G. T. Martin, Tutankhamun’s Regent: Scenes and Texts from the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb (2016).
G. T. Martin, The Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, Commander-in-Chief of Tutʻankhamūn, 1 (1989).
G. T. Martin, The Hidden Tombs of Memphis (1991).
E. Strouhal, ‘Queen Mutnodjmet at Memphis: Anthropological and Paleopathological Evidence’, in L’Egyptologie en 1979 (1982), 317—322.
E. Strouhal and V. G. Callender, ‘A Profile of Queen Mutnodjmet’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology (1992), 67—75.

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162: Horemheb, The Chosen One

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 09:05:00 -0000

Revisionist history in the age of pharaohs. King Horemheb (“Horus in Celebration”) came to power in unusual circumstances. To justify his rule, the new pharaoh set about “retelling” his origins. In a lengthy story, Horemheb cast himself as one chosen by the gods, and destined to rule…

Episode details:

Date: c. 1330 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro Music & Interludes: Luke Chaos.
Intro Music & Interludes: Keith Zizza.
Outro Music: Bettina Joy de Guzman.
Read "The Reign of Horemheb," PhD Thesis by K.M. Bryson at Johns Hopkins University.
Logo image: Horemheb and Horus, in the King's tomb (KV57).
Booklet: No booklet for this episode, as it describes text only.

Select Bibliography:

N. Allon, Writing, Violence, and the Military: Images of Literacy in Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt (1550-1295 BCE) (2019).
K. M. Bryson, ‘The Reign of Horemheb: History, Historiography, and the Dawn of the Ramesside Era’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2018).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, 2017).
A. Gardiner, ‘The Coronation of King Ḥaremḥab’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 39 (1953), 13–31.
G. T. Martin, Tutankhamun’s Regent: Scenes and Texts from the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb (2016).
G. T. Martin, The Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, Commander-in-Chief of Tutʻankhamūn, 1 (1989).
G. T. Martin, The Hidden Tombs of Memphis: New Discoveries from the Time of Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great (1991).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (1995).

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161: Pharaoh Horemheb

Tue, 31 May 2022 09:05:00 -0000

The Coronation of King Hor-em-heb. A few months after he took power, Egypt's new pharaoh Horemheb ("Horus in Celebration") celebrated his rule. It was a magnificent party...

Episode details:

Date: c.1330 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo: Horemheb's royal names, from his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. MMA.
Music interludes by Luke Chaos twitter.com/luke_chaos.

Select Bibliography:

K. M. Bryson, ‘The Reign of Horemheb: History, Historiography, and the Dawn of the Ramesside Era’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2018).
Gardiner, ‘The Coronation of King Ḥaremḥab’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 39 (1953), 13–31.
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).

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160b: The Purge

Thu, 26 May 2022 09:05:00 -0000

Other victims, and some clarifications. In this brief episode, I describe another individual who suffered desecration. Following Ay's death, members of his family/network fell from grace. Did they oppose, or fight, the new King Horemheb?

Episode details:

Date c.1330 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Luke Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 87–96.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2017).
M. El-Ghandour, ‘The Anthropoid Coffin of Senqed From Saqqara’, in B. G. Ockinga, A Tomb from the Reign of Tutankhamun at Akhmim, The Australian Centre for Egyptology Reports 10 (1997).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (2015).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
B. G. Ockinga, A Tomb from the Reign of Tutankhamun at Akhmim (1997).
A. R. Schulman, ‘The Berlin “Trauerrelief” (No. 12411) and Some Officials of Tutʿankhamūn and Ay’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 4 (1965), 55–68.

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160: Succession Crisis(?)

Tue, 24 May 2022 09:05:00 -0000

Inheritance and vengeance. King Ay had his own plans for the succession. He promoted his relative, Nakht-Min, to great power and prominence. But when Ay died, Nakhtmin found himself at odds with Egypt's mighty general, Horemheb. What would happen, to the feuding leaders?

Episode details:

Date: c.1330 BCE (approximate).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 87–96.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
N. Kawai, ‘Ay versus Horemheb: The Political Situation in the Late Eighteenth Dynasty Revisited’, Leiden, The Netherlands Journal of Egyptian History 3 (2010), 261–92.
N. Kawai, ‘The Time of Tutankhamun: What New Evidence Reveals’, Scribe: The Magazine of the American Research Center in Egypt Spring 2022 (2022), 44–53.
A. R. Schulman, ‘Excursus on the “Military Officer” Nakhtmin’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 3 (1964), 124–6.
A. R. Schulman, ‘Some Observations on the Military Background of the Amarna Period’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 3 (1964), 51–69.
A. R. Schulman, ‘The Berlin “Trauerrelief” (No. 12411) and Some Officials of Tutʿankhamūn and Ay’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 4 (1965), 55–68.
J. Van Dijk, ‘Horemheb and the Struggle for the Throne of Tutankhamen’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 7 (1996), 29—42.

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Introducing: Casting Through Ancient Greece Podcast!

Sat, 07 May 2022 02:12:00 -0000

Check out Casting Through Ancient Greece, a chronological deep dive on the world of the Aegean. From the earliest ages, through epic tales and archaeological discovery, Casting Greece takes you on a wonderful journey. Enjoy this teaser trailer, from a recent episode. And learn more at https://castingthroughancientgreece.com/ and https://twitter.com/CastingGreece

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159b: Double Death

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:05:00 -0000

King Ay suffered badly in the afterlife. His funeral, in 1331 BCE, was poor; and a few decades/centuries later, vandals broke into his tomb. They ransacked the monument, attacked the King's images, and erased his names. The attack was brutal but methodical. Why did this happen?

Episode Details

Date c.1331 BCE and a few decades / centuries later.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Erasures on the wrists of Nut, Lady of the Sky, as she offers nyny (welcome) to King Ay. Photo by Dominic Perry, 2022.
Photos: See photos of the tomb of Ay (KV23) by Dominic Perry, available on Google Drive.
Music: “The Mummy’s Tomb,” by Tabletop Audio. Used with permission.
Music: Sistrum sound effect by Hathor Systrum www.hathorsystrum.com. Used with permission.
Music: Interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

B. G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, VI (Warminster, 1995).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017). AUC Press.
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015). PYGMALION Press.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
O. J. Schaden, ‘Clearance of the Tomb of King Ay (WV-23)’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 21 (1984), 39–64. JSTOR online.
R. H. Wilkinson, ‘Controlled Damage: The Mechanics and Micro-History of the Damnatio Memoriae Carried Out in KV-23, the Tomb of Ay’, Journal of Egyptian History 4 (2011), 129–47. BRILL online.

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159: End of an Era

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 08:05:00 -0000

When Ay Died. The elderly pharaoh, Kheper-kheperu-Ra Ay, probably died in his fourth or fifth year of power (c. 1331 / 1330 BCE). Officially, his reign was short. But in the big picture, Ay's influence lasted decades. As a courtier, under Akhenaten and Tutankhamun, Ay participated in government and royal affairs for many years. This means we have abundant records for the man and his career, and Ay contributed to Egyptian history in some noteworthy ways. In this episode, we explore the final years of Ay's reign, and consider his legacy as a pharaoh of ancient Egypt...

Episode details:

Date: c.1331 / 1330 BCE.
Kings: Kheper-kheperu-Ra Ay, “Doer of Ma’at” and “True Ruler.”
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: The sarcophagus of Ay, artist’s reconstruction. Prisse D'Avennes, 1878.
See photos of Ay’s tomb (WV23) by Kairoinfo4u on Flickr.com.
See Ay’s tomb (WV23) by Curtis Ryan Woodside on YouTube.
Music: “Memories of Thebes,” by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Used with permission.
Music: “Funeral,” by Bettina Joy de Guzman http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com. Used with permission.
Additional music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

The royal tomb of Ay (KV23 / WV23):
The tomb of Ay (KV23) at Theban Mapping Project.
Schematic and plans (TMP).
The tomb of Ay (KV23) at Orisis.net.
Translation of texts by E. Ramm, 2016.
See a 3D reconstruction at Orisis.net.
A tour of Ay’s tomb (KV23) by Curtis Ryan Woodside, on YouTube.
Photos of Ay’s tomb on Flickr.com.
Photos of Ay’s tomb on joomeo.com.
G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, VI (Warminster, 1995).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
R. J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Wilson, 2013).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
P. E. Newberry, ‘King Ay, the Successor of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 18 (1932), 50–2.
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD. Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
O. J. Schaden, ‘Clearance of the Tomb of King Ay (WV-23)’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 21 (1984), 39–64.
R. H. Wilkinson, ‘Controlled Damage: The Mechanics and Micro-History of the Damnatio Memoriae Carried Out in KV-23, the Tomb of Ay’, Journal of Egyptian History 4 (2011), 129–47.

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158b: Ay, jr.

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 08:05:00 -0000

Pharaoh's Nephew. A small statue, in the Brooklyn museum, tells a tale. Of a King's nephew (by marriage), and the paths to lucrative work and influence in Egyptian society. A young man, also named Ay, worked as a priest for Mut (the Mother Goddess) and Amun (the Hidden One). Along the way, this young man probably gained wealth and position. His tale gives us an opportunity to explore the "system" by which prominent families jostled for position, and promoted their sons...

Episode details:

Date: c.1331 BCE.
King: Kheper-kheperu-Ra, the God's Father Ay.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: The statue of Ay, priest, in the Brooklyn Museum.
Music: "Splendors of Egypt," by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com
Additional music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos and Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

B. V. Bothmer, ‘Private Sculpture of Dynasty XVIII in Brooklyn’, The Brooklyn Museum Annual 8 (1966), 55–89.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
Block Statue of Ay, ca. 1332-1322 B.C.E. Limestone, 18 9/16 x 10 x 12 1/4in. (47.1 x 25.4 x 31.1cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 66.174.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 66.174.1_view1_SL1.jpg)

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158: What Ay Did

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 08:05:00 -0000

Building Legacies. It is easy to overlook Ay, as a minor figure in the history of ancient Egypt. However, when we step back, and view his entire career (including pre-royal achievements), we can see things more clearly. As pharaoh, Ay continued many projects started under Tutankhamun. But since Ay had been a major advisor / courtier for that king, we can recognise these projects as part of a larger, longer trend. After the death of Akhenaten, the royal household radically reshaped many of its priorities. Since he first appeared on the scene, Ay was at the heart of those decisions…

Episode details:

Date: c.1331 BCE.
Kings: Kheper-kheperu-Ra Ay, “Who Repels the ‘Asiatics.’”
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Episode logo: A colossal statue in Cairo Museum. Often attributed to Tutankhamun but excavated from the Memorial Temple of Ay.
Music: “Lament of Isis and Nephythys on the Death of Osiris,” by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com.
Additional music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

King Ay at the St Louis University website.
Colossal statue of Ay (Tutankhamun?) in Berlin.
Colossal statue of Ay (Tutankhamun?) in Chicago.
B. G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, VI (Warminster, 1995).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
U. Hölscher, The Excavation of Medinet Habu II: The Temples of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Chicago, 1939). Free download available from The University of Chicago website.
R. J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Wilson, 2013).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
O. J. Schaden, ‘Clearance of the Tomb of King Ay (WV-23)’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 21 (1984), 39–64.

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157b: Warlords

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 08:05:00 -0000

Horemheb and Hatti. In the days of King Ay (and Tutankhamun before him) conflicts in Canaan and Syria remained a constant issue. In recent years, scholars have uncovered more information about these events and people. Horemheb, the Overseer of the Overseers of the Troops (aka the General of Generals) seems to have dealt, and fought, with Hittite forces. The records are fragmentary, but the clues are intriguing...

Episode details:

Date: c.1334 BCE (debated).
Kings: Tutankhamun and Ay (debated).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Episode logo: Foreigners praising the cartouche of Ay, from a piece of gold foil discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Image edited for clarity.
Music: Ancient rendition of "The Eve of the War," adapted by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Music: "War Song of Horus and Sekhmet," by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com.
Additional music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (New Edition edn, New York, 2005).
T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009).
T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105.
K. M. Bryson, ‘The Reign of Horemheb: History, Historiography, and the Dawn of the Ramesside Era’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2018).
H. Güterbock, ‘The Deeds of Suppiluliuma as Told by His Son, Mursili II’, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 10 (1956), 41–68, 75–98, 107–30.
G. T. Martin, Tutankhamun’s Regent: Scenes and Texts from the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb (EES Excavation Memoir 111; London, 2016).
G. T. Martin, The Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, Commander-in-Chief of Tutʻankhamūn, 1 (London, 1989).
G. T. Martin, The Hidden Tombs of Memphis: New Discoveries From the Time of Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great (London, 1991).
J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93.
J. L. Miller, ‘The Rebellion of Ḫatti’s Syrian Vassals and Egypt’s Meddling In Amurru’, Studi micenei ed egeo-anatolici (2008), 533—554.
W. L. Moran, The Amarna Letters (Baltimore, 1992).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (Chicago, 1985).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
Z. Simon, ‘Kann Armā mit Haremhab gleichgesetzt werden?’, Altorientalische Forschungen 36 (2009), 340—348.

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157: Ay's Road to Kadesh

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 08:05:00 -0000

Keeping up with the Kadeshians. In the past, historians thought the Egyptian government was passive (or even "pacifist") in the days of Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, and Ay. However, newer research has proved this wrong. We now have a fragmentary, but fascinating picture of warfare and diplomacy, taking place through Canaan and Syria. The town of Kadesh, on the Orontes River, is prominent. Once a vassal to pharaoh, the city suffered an attack by Hittite forces. It then changed sides, paying tribute to Suppiluliuma, King of the Land of Hatti. In the later years of Tutankhamun, or the early reign of Ay, the Egyptians responded to Kadesh's treachery...

Episode details:

Date: c.1334 BCE (debated).
Kings: Tutankhamun and Ay (debated).
Battle scene of Tutankhamun: learn more in a free lecture by W. Raymond Johnson (YouTube). Battle reliefs discussion begins at 51:29.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Episode logo: A statue, presumed to be Ay, in the Staatliche Museum, Berlin. Image upscaled, cropped, and edited.
Music: "War Song," by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com. Used with permission.
Music: "King Tut's Song," by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com. Used with permission.
Sistrum sound effect by Hathor Systrum www.hathorsystrum.com. Used with permission.
Additional music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (New Edition, New York, 2005).
T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009).
T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105.
J. Fraser, ‘Kadesh-on-the-Orontes’, in C. M. Furey et al. (eds.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, 14 (2017), 1203—1205.
H. Güterbock, ‘The Deeds of Suppiluliuma as Told by His Son, Mursili II’, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 10 (1956), 41–68, 75–98, 107–30.
G. T. Martin, Tutankhamun’s Regent: Scenes and Texts from the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb (EES Excavation Memoir 111; London, 2016).
J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93.
S. N. Morschauser, ‘The End of the Sḏf(ȝ)-Tr(yt) “Oath”’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 25 (1988), 93–103.
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (Chicago, 1985).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
W. J. Murnane, ‘Imperial Egypt and the Limits of Her Power’, in R. Cohen and R. Westbrook (eds.), Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations (Baltimore, 2000), 101–11.
W. J. Murnane, ‘Kadesh’, in D. B. Redford (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2001).
D. B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King (Princeton, 1984).
D. B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (Princeton, 1992).
I. Singer, Hittite Prayers (Atlanta, Ga., 2002).
J. A. Wilson, ‘Egyptian Historical Texts’, in J. B. Pritchard (ed.), Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement (1978), 227–64.

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156: Oh, Ay Just Can't Wait to be King

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 08:05:00 -0000

The servant ascends. Considering his background, it's not surprising that King Ay turned out to be quite "conservative." His early deeds continued the policies of Tutankhamun (a regime in which Ay had actively participated). The new pharaoh completed one of Tutankhamun's temples (the Ḥwt-Neb-kheperu-Ra in Waset/Thebes), and evoked Tutankhamun in his art. Ay also started his own monuments, at Akhmim / Akhmin (Khent-Menu). There, colossal statues and sanctuaries for Min would convey pharaoh's agenda...

Date: c. 1334 BCE.
King: Kheper-Kheperu-Ra, It-Netjer Ay ("Ra is Supreme of Manifestations, the God's Father Ay").
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/.
Music interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

A. Ashmawy, ‘The Administration of Horse Stables in Ancient Egypt’, Egypt and the Levant 24 (2014), 121—139.
T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
K. P. von Kuhlmann, ‘Des Felstempel des Eje bei Achmim’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 35 (1979), 165—188.
B. Lurson, ‘Ay, Neferti, Nakhtmin and Ameny: Politics and Rhetoric at the End of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde 146 (2019), 164–208.
P. E. Newberry, ‘King Ay, the Successor of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 18 (1932), 50–2.
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
O. J. Schaden, ‘Clearance of the Tomb of King Ay (WV-23)’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 21 (1984), 39–64.
A. R. Schulman, ‘The Berlin “Trauerrelief” (No. 12411) and Some Officials of Tutʿankhamūn and Ay’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 4 (1965), 55–68.
K. C. Seele, ‘King Ay and the Close of the Amarna Age’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 14 (1955), 168–80.

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155: The Queen's Gambit

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 08:05:00 -0000

A difficult decision. Events in this period are murky. But if Ankhesenamun was the "Daḫamunzu" of Hittite record, then her attempt to find a new husband (of royal blood) had failed. So, she would have to accept a "servant." Whom would she choose?

Episode Details:

Chapter 2 begins 00:24:10
Date: c. 1334 BCE (debated).
King: none (hopefully just temporary).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/.
Music: Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/.
Music interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Music at 25:10, "Shine for the Show," via Pond5 (licensed).
Misc audio clips via YouTube users Sound Effects King and Saraschan Stienwongnusa.

Select Bibliography:

T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998).
M. Gabolde, ‘L’ADN de la famille royale amarnienne et les sources égyptiennes’, Égypte nilotique et méditerranéenne 6 (2013), 177–203.
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
Z. Hawass et al., ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’, JAMA 303 (2010), 638–47.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93.
P. E. Newberry, ‘King Ay, the Successor of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 18 (1932), 50–2.
N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings (London, 1996).
J. Romer, Valley of the Kings (London, 1981).
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
A. R. Schulman, ‘The Berlin “Trauerrelief” (No. 12411) and Some Officials of Tutʿankhamūn and Ay’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 4 (1965), 55–68.

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154: Daḫamunzu - Ankhesenamun & the Hittites

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 08:05:00 -0000

He said, she said. Around 1334 BCE (give or take), the King of Hatti received a curious message. While on campaign, King Suppiluliuma got word that Egypt's pharaoh (someone called "Nib-ḫuru-riya") had died. He had no son, and Egypt's ruling lady (daḫamunzu, or tA-ḥmt-nsw, the "King's Great Wife") needed assistance. The Queen sent a message: would Suppiluliuma help her, and Egypt? Strange events were about to unfold...

Date: c. 1334 BCE (debated).
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun (debated) deceased
King: Suppiluliuma, Great King of the Land of Hatti
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Sound interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos

Select Bibliography:

T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (New Edition edn, New York, 2005).
T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009).
T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105.
T. R. Bryce, Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History (Oxford, 2014).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
H. Güterbock, ‘The Deeds of Suppiluliuma as Told by His Son, Mursili II’, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 10 (1956), 41–68, 75–98, 107–30.
H. A. Hoffner Jr., ‘Deeds of Šuppiluliuma (1.74)’, in W. W. Hallo and K. L. Younger (eds.), The Context of Scripture (Leiden, 2003), 185—192.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93.
M. Sadowska, ‘Semenkhkare and Zananza’, Göttinger Miszellen 175 (2000), 73—77.
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
M. Van de Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC (West Sussex, 2016).

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Tutankhamun Inc. with Prof. Christina Riggs

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 18:17:00 -0000

Face-to-face with the legends. Christina Riggs is a Professor (History of Visual Culture) at Durham University. In 2021, her book Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century took a broader view of the tomb and its discovery than most books on the subject. Her discussion helps us review and revisit older myths or assumptions, and encourage new perspectives on Egyptology's most famous discovery.

Prof. Christina Riggs at Durham University.

Christina Riggs at Academia.edu.

Christina Riggs' website including her blog and the article "Waterboys and Wishful Thinking."

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Tutankhamun and Philomena Cunk with Dr. Joyce Tyldesley

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:41:00 -0000

An enigmatic icon. Dr. Joyce Tyldesley returns for her second interview with The History of Egypt Podcast! We spoke about her recent book Tutankhamun: Pharaoh. Icon. Enigma. and the legacy of the discovery, including aspects of its excavation and significance. We also got into some random topics including Philomena Cunk, Scandinavian Noir shows, and Strictly Come Dancing. Enjoy!

Dr. Joyce Tyldesley at The University of Manchester.

Dr. Tyldesley's 2022 book Tutankhamun: Pharaoh. Icon. Enigma. at Headline Publishing.\

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Bob Brier & the Mysteries of Tutankhamun (and the Great Pyramid)

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 10:05:00 -0000

Recorded 2022. Tutankhamun, Mummies, and Murder, oh my! I sat down with Dr. Bob Brier to discuss the Tomb of Tutankhamun, and the legacy of this important discovery. We also chatted about Dr. Brier's work in Egyptology, including his experiment in mummifying a human for scientific research. Finally, we touched on some older works including his "Murder of Tutankhamun" hypothesis and the Great Pyramid's construction (including the "internal ramp" hypothesis of Jean-Pierre Houdin).

My thanks to Dr. Brier for coming on the show, and for allowing me to release the video version! Extra special thanks to Pat Remler for organising the conversation!

Preorder Dr. Brier's book Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World from Oxford University Press.
Read a report on Carter's thefts at The Guardian.
Find Dr. Brier's hierogylphs lessons (and others) at The Great Courses.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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153f: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 6, Final)

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 08:05:00 -0000

The Annexe and End of Excavation. Howard Carter uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in November 1922. He would continue labouring in the monument until 1927, and the final conservation of objects would finish in 1932. Over these ten years of work, Carter tackled many challenges, some of which proved insurmountable. In the end, his labour, and the story of Tutankhamun's burial, stand as a testament to human effort and long legacies.

Episode Chapters:

Chapter 15: The Scouring of the Tomb 00:00:15
Chapter 16: The End of Excavations 00:31:50
Series Conclusion: 00:52:30

Episode Links:

For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website.
Date: 1922 CE - 1932 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: A ceremonial shield belonging to the King. Wikimedia.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, III (2000 Reprint edn, London, 1933).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tutankhamen (Century edn, London, 1983).
J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
T. G. H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (Tauris 2001 edn, New York, 1992).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
N. Reeves and J. H. Taylor, Howard Carter Before Tutankhamun (London, 1992).
The Griffith Institute, ‘Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation’, The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/.

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153e: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 5)

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Treasured Heirlooms. East of the Burial Chamber, in Tutankhamun's tomb, the per hedj ("Treasury") contained a smorgasbord of beautiful objects. Some of these were sacred, like the canopic vessels for Tutankhamun's organs. Others were symbolic, connecting the pharaoh with great gods like Osiris. And still others were curious, including some "heirlooms" from earlier rulers and generations...

Episode Chapters:

Chapter 13: Anubis and the King 00:00:13
Chapter 14: The Heirlooms of Akhenaten 00:24:30

Episode Links:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

J. P. Allen, ‘The Original Owner of Tutankhamun’s Canopic Coffins’, in Z. Hawass and J. H. Wegner (eds.), Millions of Jubilees: Studies in Honor of David P. Silverman (Cairo, 2010), 27—41.
H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979).
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, 3vols, 1927 – 1933.
J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965).
A. Dodson, ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 87–96.
A. Dodson, ‘Canopics’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 260—274.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
J. R. Harris, ‘Akhenaten and Neferneferuaten in the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn’, in N. Reeves (ed.), After Tutankhamūn: Research and Excavation in the Royal Necropolis at Thebes (London, 1992), 55—72.
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117.

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153d: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 4)

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Curses and Controversies. From the moment they announced their discovery, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon were faced with overwhelming attention. How they responded, and how they chose to approach the excavation, would have a major impact on public perception of the tomb. And, when events took a tragic turn, the media were happy to capitalise on the issue...

Episode Chapters:

Chapter 10: The Choices of Lord Carnarvon 00:05:10.
Chapter 11: Journey to the Crossroads 00:25:30
Chapter 12: Of Bricks and Lost Portraits 00:48:48

Episode Links:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
The "curse" brick, with text from Book of the Dead, Chapter 151: http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/carter/263.html
Music Opening: "She Gypped Egypt on the Nile," midi rendition by SheetMusicSinger.com. Used with permission (audio editing: added vinyl crackling sound effects).
Music Interlude at 00:24:34: "Vintage Ragtime," purchased from Pond5.com.
Music Interlude at 00:48:05: "Tomb Song," by Nora Keyes, public domain via Freemusicarchive.com.
Outro music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/.
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965).
Cox, ‘The Death of Lord Carnarvon’, The Lancet 361 (2003), 1994.
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
T. G. H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (Tauris 2001 edn, New York, 1992).
M. R. Nelson, ‘The Mummy’s Curse: Historical Cohort Study’, BMJ 325 (2002), 1482.
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
N. Strudwick, Texts From the Pyramid Age (Atlanta, 2005).
E. Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt (New York, 2011).
The Griffith Institute, ‘Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation’, The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, <http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/> accessed .
H. V. F. Winstone, Howard Carter and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (London, 1991).
Websites: Rarenewspapers.com, valuable source for old clippings; Newspapers.com, source of various reportsl; Historyembalmed.org, a valuable summary of Tutankhamun’s tomb, media reports, and the Curse narratives.

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153c: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 3)

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Coffins, Masks, and a Mummy. Within his Burial Chamber, Tutankhamun slept amid gold, glass, wood, and precious stone. His mummy is an extraordinary find, covered with ornaments, amulets, ceremonial clothing, and even weapons. From the famous image of his mummy mask, to a dagger made of "sky rock," the King's body reveals many tantalising stories...

Episode Chapters:

Eight: In the House of Tutankhamun 00:00:10
Nine: The Face of the Pharaoh 00:31:15
Epilogue: A Curious Dagger 01:02:35

Episode details:

Date: c. 1922 CE
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Tutankhamun and the Royal Ka before Osiris. FactumArte.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network
Nicholas Reeves' discussions of the Mummy mask, and its possible ownership. Article 1, 2015, and Article 2, 2015.
For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website.

Select Bibliography:

H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979).
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, II (London, 1927).
D. Comelli et al., ‘The Meteoritic Origin of Tutankhamun’s Iron Dagger Blade’, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 51 (2016), 1301–9.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Sarcophagus in the Tomb of Tutankhamun (Oxford, 1993).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
K. El Mallakh and A. C. Brackman, The Gold of Tutankhamen (First English Language edn, New York, 1978).
O. Goelet Jr. et al., The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth By Day (Revised edn, San Francisco, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
N. Reeves, ‘The Gold Mask of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten’, Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 7 (2015), 77–9.
N. Reeves, ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’, Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015), 511–26.
A. Silotti, Guide to the Valley of the Kings and to the Theban Necropolises and Temples (Vercelli, 2000).
K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117.
H. V. F. Winstone, Howard Carter and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (London, 1991).

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153b: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 2)

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Shrines and Painting. Tutankhamun's Burial Chamber is a beautiful space. The decorations, though "simple," convey a meaningful series of events. The King's ascent to the sky, his entry to Osiris' kingdom, and his meeting with various gods, forms a beautiful journey in the afterlife. Also, the King's shrines (wood and gold) are decorated with complex and fascinating texts. In these chapters, we explore the first set of Tutankhamun's burial equipment...

Episode Chapters

Chapter 6: The King of the Golden Hall
Chapter 7: The Portraits in the West

Episode Links

Alexandre Piankoff, The Shrines of Tut-Ankh-Amon (1995) on Archive.org.
For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website.
Date: 1922 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Tutankhamun and the Royal Ka before Osiris. FactumArte.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music by Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979).
H. Beinlich, ‘Zwischen Tod und Grab: Tutanchamun und das Begräbnisritual’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 34 (2006), 17–31.
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, 3vols, (London, 1927—1933).
J. C. Darnell, The Enigmatic Netherworld Books of the Solar-Osirian Unity: Cryptographic Compositions in the Tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI and Ramesses IX (Academic Press, 2004).
J. C. Darnell and C. Manassa, The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books (Atlanta, 2018).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
K. El Mallakh and A. C. Brackman, The Gold of Tutankhamen (First English Language edn, New York, 1978).
O. Goelet Jr. et al., The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth By Day (Revised edn, San Francisco, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
A. Piankoff, The Shrines of Tut-Ankh-Amon (New York, 1955). Available free online at Archive.org.
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
D. P. Silverman, ‘Cryptographic Writing in the Tomb of Tutankhamun’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 8 (1980), 233–6.
K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117.

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153a: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 1)

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Seek and Discover. In this episode, we begin the tale of the most famous tomb in history. KV62, a small monument, in the lower reaches of the Valley of the Kings. Overlooked for three thousand years, the tomb finally emerged thanks to a persistent excavator and a stroke of good fortune. However, the Tomb of Tutankhamun has built up its own mythology. In this episode, we begin to explore the tomb, and its discovery, including some lesser-known questions...

Episode Chapters

Chapter 1: A Long-Expected Pharaoh 04:15
Chapter 2: The Stairway to the Past 27:36
Chapter 3: The Door Goes West 46:51
Chapter 4: Candles in the Dark 1:08:40
Chapter 5: The Antechamber Unmasked 1:22:52
Conclusion: 1:38:55

Episode Links

Howard Carter and George Herbert (Lord Carnarvon), Five Years' Exploration at Thebes: A Record of Work Done 1907-1911 by The Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, 1912. Available at Project Gutenberg and Archive.org.
Christina Riggs, "Waterboys and Wishful Thinking," https://photographing-tutankhamun.com/2020/06/20/the-water-boy-who-wasnt/
For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website.
Date: 1922 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: A statue of Tutankhamun, from the antechamber of his tomb. Photo by Skip Howard.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music by Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.

Select Bibliography:

H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979).
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
E. C. Brock, ‘A Possible Chariot Canopy for Tutankhamun’, in A. Veldmeijer and S. Ikram (eds.), Chasing Chariots: Proceedings of the First International Chariot Conference (Cairo 2012) (Leiden, 2013), 29–44.
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, II (London, 1927).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, III (2000 Reprint edn, London, 1933).
H. Carter and A. C. Mace, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, I (London, 1923).
T. M. Davis, The Tombs of Harmhabi and Toutânkhamanou (2001 Reprint edn, London, 1912).
E. S. Edwards, ‘Some Reflections on the Tutankhamun Exhibition’, The Burlington Magazine 114 (1972), 202–8.
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
T. G. H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (Tauris 2001 edn, New York, 1992).
N. Kawai et al., ‘The Ceremonial Canopied Chariot of Tutankhamun (JE61990 and JE60705) A Tentative Virtual Reconstruction’, CIPEG 4 (2020), 1–11.
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
N. Reeves, ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’, Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015), 511–26.
N. Reeves and J. H. Taylor, Howard Carter Before Tutankhamun (London, 1992).
N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings (London, 1996).
The Griffith Institute, ‘Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation’, The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, <http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/> accessed .
Theban Mapping Project, ‘KV 62 The Tomb of Tutankhamun’.
Unknown Author, ‘Work at the Tomb of Tutankhamun’, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 33 (1975), 96–108.
K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117.

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152: An Unexpected Burial

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Tutankhamun's Funeral. Following his death, the body of Tutankhamun underwent mummification. From studying his body, archaeologists can identify strange aspects of his preservation. We also know many details of his burial, thanks to paintings in the tomb, and curious items discovered nearby. From these sources, we can imagine King Tutankhamun’s funeral…

Episode details:

Date: c. 1334 BCE.
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: The north wall of Tutankhamun's burial chamber. FactumArte.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

H. Beinlich, ‘Zwischen Tod und Grab: Tutanchamun und das Begräbnisritual’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 34 (2006), 17–31.
R. Connolly and G. Godenho, ‘Further Thoughts on Tutankhamun’s Death and Embalming’, in C. Price et al. (eds.), Mummies, Magic, and Medicine in Ancient Egypt: Multidisciplinary Essays for Rosalie David (2016), 240–8.
T. M. Davis, The Tombs of Harmhabi and Toutânkhamanou (2001 Reprint edn, London, 1912).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
C. El Mahdy, Tutankhamen: The Life and Death of a Boy King (London, 1999).
L. Gabolde and M. Gabolde, ‘Les temples “mémoriaux” de Thoutmosis II et Toutânkhamon (un rituel destiné à des statues sur barques)’, Le Bulletin de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale 89 (1989), 127—178.
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
W. B. Harer, ‘New Evidence for King Tutankhamen’s Death: His Bizarre Embalming’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 97 (2011), 228–33.
R. G. Harrison and A. B. Abdalla, ‘The Remains of Tutankhamun’, Antiquity 46 (1972), 8–14.
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. N. Saleem, Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging in the New Kingdom Royal Mummies (Cairo, 2016).
K. Hussein et al., ‘Paleopathology of the Juvenile Pharaoh Tutankhamun: 90th Anniversary of Discovery’, Virchows Archiv 463 (2013), 475–9.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
J. Tyldesley, Tutankhamen’s Curse: The Developing History of an Egyptian King (London, 2012).
H. E. Winlock and D. Arnold, Tutankhamun’s Funeral (Revised edn, New York, 2010).

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Review: Tut (2015)

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 08:05:00 -0000

A three-part miniseries, produced by Spike TV. "Tut" tells a story of the young ruler, as he wields power, confronts enemies, and deals with love and loss. Having watched the show during lockdown, I give my thoughts, with a special focus on the characters vs their historical counterparts...

"Tut" at IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3214310/

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
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Tutankhamun's Life and Reign (with Prof. Nozomu Kawai)

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:05:00 -0000

An interview with Nozomu Kawai, Professor of Egyptology at Kanazawa University, Japan. In this episode, we discuss the background of Tutankhamun's reign and family; and get to grips with some of the people who have appeared in the podcast (e.g. Maia, Sennedjem, and Userhat Hatiay). Prof. Kawai is an expert on this period, and his insights have been wonderful.

Interviewee details:

Prof. Nozomu Kawai on Academia.edu
Profile at Kanazawa University
An interview with the ARCE Podcast.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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151: The Death of Tutankhamun

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 01:00:00 -0000

A life cut short. By 1334 BCE, Tut'ankhamun had ruled Egypt for approx. 10 years. Sadly, this would be his last. At the age of nineteen or so, the young ruler died. How did it happen? There are a few major hypotheses (illness, accident, or murder). However, as technology and medical science develops, some ideas seem less likely than others. In this episode, I review the major studies and proposals, and present a hypothetical reconstruction of the King's final moments...

Date: c. 1334 BCE.
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Statue of Anubis, from the tomb of Tut'ankhamun, KV62 (Artstor).
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/.
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/.
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
Hear additional music on my Spotify Playlist.
Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast.
Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

B. Brier, The Murder of Tutankhamen: A True Story (New York, 1998).
R. Connolly and G. Godenho, ‘Further Thoughts on Tutankhamun’s Death and Embalming’, in C. Price et al. (eds.), Mummies, magic and medicine in ancient Egypt, Multidisciplinary essays for Rosalie David (2016), 240–8.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
C. El Mahdy, Tutankhamen: The Life and Death of a Boy King (London, 1999).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
J. G. Gamble, ‘King Tutankhamun’s Family and Demise’, JAMA 303 (2010), 2471–5.
W. B. Harer, ‘New Evidence for King Tutankhamen’s Death: His Bizarre Embalming’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 97 (2011), 228–33.
R. G. Harrison and A. B. Abdalla, ‘The Remains of Tutankhamun’, Antiquity 46 (1972), 8–14.
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. N. Saleem, Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging in the New Kingdom Royal Mummies (Cairo, 2016).
K. Hussein et al., ‘Paleopathology of the Juvenile Pharaoh Tutankhamun: 90th Anniversary of Discovery’, Heidelberg Virchows Archiv 463 (2013), 475–9.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
F. Rühli and S. Ikram, ‘Purported Medical Diagnoses of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, c. 1325 BC-’, HOMO – Journal of Comparative Human Biology 65 (2014), 51–63.
J. Tyldesley, Tutankhamen’s Curse: The Developing History of an Egyptian King (London, 2012).

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150: Teenage Hunting Fighting Pharaoh

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:05:00 -0000

King Tut'ankhamun was young, rich, and well-equipped for sport. His tomb contained an arsenal of goods, including chariots, bows, arrows, throwing sticks, and more. Also, artistic images convey the idea of the pharaoh as a triumphant hunter and warrior. In this episode, we explore evidence for Tut'ankhamun as a sportsman, pursuing game across the desert and through the marshes. From archaeology and art, the King's pastimes come through clearly...

Episode details:

Date: c.1334 BCE.
King: Neb-khepeur-Ra Tut-'ankh-Amun.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: G. M. Vogelsang-Eastwood, Tutankhamun’s Wardrobe (Rotterdam, 1999).
Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/.
Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/.
Interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Audio mixing and editing: Vincent Cavanagh.
Hear additional music on my Spotify Playlist.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

N. M. Davies, Ancient Egyptian Paintings, III (Chicago, 1936).
J. van Dijk and M. Eaton-Krauss, ‘Tutankhamun at Memphis’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 42 (1986), 35–42.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
M. Eaton-Krauss and E. Graefe, The Small Golden Shrine from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (Oxford, 1985).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
S. Hassan, The Sphinx. Its History in the Light of Recent Excavations (Cairo, 1949).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
W. McLeod, Composite Bows from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn, (Tut’ankhamūn’s Tomb Series III; Oxford, 1970).
W. McLeod, Self Bows and Other Archery Tackle from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Tut’ankhamūn’s Tomb Series IV; Oxford, 1982).
C. A. Reed and D. J. Osborn, ‘Taxonomic Transgressions in Tutankhamun’s Treasures’, American Journal of Archaeology 82 (1978), 273–83.
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
‘Resthouse of Tutankhamen’, Digital Giza, http://giza.fas.harvard.edu/sites/2043/full/ accessed 4.22.2021 (2021).

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149: The King's Men

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 09:05:00 -0000

Maya, Ay, Horemheb, and others. The men who served King Tut'ankhamun were unusually prominent and powerful. The Overseer of the Treasury (Maya), the Supreme General (Horemheb) and the highest courtier (Ay) may have divided power among themselves. Why were they so powerful? The youth of Tut'ankhamun, and developments in royal power since the reign of Akhenaten, may have weakened the authority or influence of the individual ruler. This was the next phase in an ongoing trend, as the power of the pharaohs evolved over time...

Epilogue: We meet the King's servants, including his personal scribe (Iny); his personal driver (Per-aa-neheh); and the chief manager of the palaces (Ipy).

Episode details:

Date: c. 1334 BCE.
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo: Statue of Horemheb, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/.
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/.
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
Hear additional music on my Spotify Playlist.
Website www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast.
Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order.

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
A. M. Gnirs, Militär und Gesellschaft: Ein Beitrag zur Sozialgeschichte des Neuen Reiches (Heidelberg, 1996).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
G. T. Martin, The Tomb of Maya and Meryt I: The Reliefs, Inscriptions, and Commentary (EES Excavation Memoir 99; London, 2012).
G. T. Martin, The Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, Commander-in-Chief of Tutʻankhamūn, 1 (London, 1989).
G. T. Martin, The Hidden Tombs of Memphis: New Discoveries From the Time of Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great (London, 1991).
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
A. R. Schulman, ‘Military Rank, Title, and Organization in the Egyptian New Kingdom’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania (1962).
J. J. Shirley, ‘Crisis And Restructuring Of The State: From The Second Intermediate Period To The Advent Of The Ramesses’, in J. C. Moreno García (ed.), Ancient Egyptian Administration (Leiden, 2013), 521—606.
A. J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom (Malden, 2005).

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148: The Life of Tutankhamun

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:05:00 -0000

The King's mummy, daily routine, and children. Thanks to the preservation of his burial, we know a lot about Tut'ankhamun's daily life and habits. Aspects of his routine, like his shaving kit, walking sticks, and even his children survive to this day. Some of these stories are curious, others carry echoes of tragedy and loss.

This episode contains detailed descriptions of human remains and themes like stillbirth.

Date: c.1334 BCE
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound Interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
Hear additional music on my Spotify Playlist.
Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast
Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast

Select Bibliography:

G. M. Crowfoot and N. de G. Davies, ‘The Tunic of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 27 (1941), 113–30.
D. E. Derry, ‘Report Upon the Two Human Foetuses Discovered in the Tomb of Tut.Ankh-Amen’, in H. Carter (ed.), The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, Discovered by the Late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, Volume III (London, 1933), 167–9.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
M. Eaton-Krauss and E. Graefe, The Small Golden Shrine from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (Oxford, 1985).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass et al., ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’, JAMA 303 (2010), 638–47.
Z. Hawass and S. N. Saleem, ‘Mummified Daughters of King Tutankhamun: Archeologic and CT Studies’, American Journal of Roentgenology 197 (2011), W829–36.
Z. Hawass and S. N. Saleem, Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging in the New Kingdom Royal Mummies (Cairo, 2016).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
G. M. Vogelsang-Eastwood, Tutankhamun’s Wardrobe (Rotterdam, 1999).

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147: Ankhesenamun

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:05:00 -0000

The King's Great Wife. Queen Ankh-es-en-Amun (“She Lives for Amun”) was slightly older than her husband. Having grown up in the court, Ankhesenamun was established in power and experienced in royal life. However, she is far less prominent than her famous predecessors (Nefertiti and Tiye). Why? In this episode, we explore some of the traces of Ankhesenamun’s life, and her role as the King’s Great Wife.

Titles of Ankhesenamun:

“The King’s Great Wife, his Beloved”
“Hereditary Noble”
“Great of Praise”
"Sweet of Love”
“Lady of Charm”
“Ruling Lady of the Two Lands”
“The Ruling Lady of Southern and Northern Egypt”

Episode info:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Ancient Lyric.
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos.
Audio mixing / editing by Vincent Cavanaugh.
Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast.
Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy (Cairo, 2014).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
M. Eaton-Krauss and E. Graefe, The Small Golden Shrine from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (Oxford, 1985).
Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple – Volume I: The Festival Procession of Opet in the Colonnade Hall (Chicago, 1994).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
W. Grajetzki, Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary (London, 2005).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
G. Robins, Women in Ancient Egypt (London, 1993).

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146: Tutankhamun and the Opet Festival of Amun

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:10:00 -0000

Restoration (Part III): Amun, Mut, Khonsu, and the King. Once a year, the city of Waset (Thebes / Luxor) hosted an enormous celebration. The Beautiful Festival of Opet honoured the great gods Amun-Ra, Mut, and Khonsu. The deities would emerge from their secret shrines, and ride in procession through the city and on the river. King Tut'ankhamun would lead these events, renewing the power of the gods and his right to rule...

This is a big episode, probably best consumed over several sittings. Enjoy!

Episode Details

Date: c. 1336 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Ancient Lyric.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos.
Special voiceover work by vorob1003.
Read the full publication of Tut’ankhamun’s Opet reliefs in The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple - Volume I: The Festival Procession of Opet in the Colonnade Hall (Chicago, 1994). PDF available free from the University of Chicago.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

L. Bell, ‘Aspects of the Cult of the Deified Tutankhamun’, in P. Posener-Kriéger (ed.), Mélanges Gamal Eddin Mokhtar, Bibliothèque d’étude 97 (Cairo, 1985), 31–59.
L. Bell, ‘Luxor Temple and the Cult of the Royal Ka’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 44 (1985), 251–94.
J. C. Darnell, ‘Opet Festival’, UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (2010).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
L. Manniche, Music and Musicians in Ancient Egypt (London, 1991).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple – Volume I: The Festival Procession of Opet in the Colonnade Hall (Chicago, 1994).
M. Verner, Temple of the World: Sanctuaries, Cults, and Mysteries of Ancient Egypt (Prague, 2013).
W. Waitkus, Untersuchungen zu Kult und Funktion des Luxortempels (Gladbeck, 2008).
R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt (London, 2000).
R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (New York, 2003).

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Update: Patreon!

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 21:52:00 -0000

Annual memberships now available. Patreon recently introduced a new feature: a full year's subscription, in one go. Sign up today and get 10% off your subscription. Learn more at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast Thanks for your support!

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Akhenaten & Aten Worship with Dr. Briana Jackson

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 09:05:00 -0000

Shrines, Temples, Sanctuaries. Dr. Briana Jackson is a specialist in the worship of Aten. The sanctuaries, shrines, temples, and monuments of Akhenaten appear throughout Egypt, Wawat, and Kush. In this interview, Dr. Jackson discusses the Aten temples, as well as her work on YouTube. Learn more about Dr. Briana Jackson on her website, Academia.edu, Twitter, YouTube, and many more (Linktree).

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Music in the Ancient World with Michael Levy

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Reconstructing Music. Michael Levy is a renowned composer for ancient instruments and music. Using replicas of artefacts, and taking inspiration from texts and art, Michael creates wonderful songs based in the ancient styles. Michael sat down with the podcast to discuss his recent works, including his wonderful albums of ancient Egyptian compositions...

Find Michael Levy at his website, on Spotify, on Bandcamp, on Apple Music and Amazon.
Learn more about The History of Egypt Podcast at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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145b: Funding the Regime

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Gold in them hills. Tut'ankhamun is famous for his gold. But where did it come from? And how did the pharaoh pay for his costly Restoration project? In this episode, we briefly explore some records for Tut’ankhamun’s gold miners and how they obtained that precious yellow metal…

Date: c. 1336 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

A. A. M. A. Amer, ‘Tutankhamun’s Decree for the Chief Treasurer Maya’, Revue d’Égyptologie 36 (1985), 17–20.
M. W. Brown, ‘“Keeping Enemies Closer:” Ascribed Material Agency in Ancient Egyptian Rock Inscriptions and the Projection of Presence and Power in Liminal Regions’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Yale University (2015).
J. C. Darnell, ‘A Bureaucratic Challenge? Archaeology and Administration in a Desert Environment (Second Millennium BCE)’, in J. C. Moreno García (ed.), Ancient Egyptian Administration, Handbook of Oriental Studies 104 (Leiden, 2013), 785–830.
J. C. Darnell, ‘Tutankhamun in the Wadi Abbad’, in J. Kamrin et al. (eds.), Guardian of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Zahi Hawass (Prague, 2020), 343–55.
J. C. Darnell, Egypt and the Deserts (Elements in Ancient Egypt in Context; Cambridge, 2021).
N. de G. Davies, The Tomb of Huy: Viceroy of Nubia in the Reign of Tutankhamun (No. 40) (London, 1926).
S. L. D. Katary, ‘Land Tenure and Taxation’, in T. Wilkinson (ed.), The Egyptian World (New York, 2007), 185–204.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
D. Klemm et al., ‘Gold of the Pharaohs – 6000 Years of Gold Mining in Egypt and Nubia’, Journal of African Earth Sciences 33 (2001), 643–59.
R. Klemm and D. Klemm, Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern Deserts (Berlin, 2013).
E.-S. Mahfouz, ‘Les directeurs des déserts aurifères d’Amon’, Revue d’Égyptologie 56 (2005), 55–78.
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).

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145: Restoration II, Faces of the Gods

Sun, 30 May 2021 09:10:00 -0000

Living Images. King Tut’ankhamun is famous for the Restoration of traditional temples. But what did that involve? Records from the King’s reign give us insight to the practical business. We see the repairs of Karnak and Luxor Temples, royal decrees for new statues, and we meet the man who made the gods’ holy images…

Date: c. 1336 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza
Music by Ancient Lyric
Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

B. G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, VI (Warminster, 1982).
J. van Dijk, ‘Maya’s Chief Sculptor Userhat-Hatiay. With a Note on the Length of the Reign of Horemheb’, Gottinger Miszellen 148 (1995), 29–34.
J. van Dijk and M. Eaton-Krauss, ‘Tutankhamun at Memphis’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 42 (1986), 35–42.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, ‘Four Notes on the Early Eighteenth Dynasty’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 84 (1998), 205–10.
M. Eaton-Krauss, ‘Tutankhamun at Karnak’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo (1988), 1–11.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
W. J. Murnane, ‘The Bark of Amun on the Third Pylon at Karnak’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 16 (1979), 11–27.
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple – Volume I: The Festival Procession of Opet in the Colonnade Hall (Chicago, 1994).

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144b: Sennedjem, Menay

Sun, 23 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Caregiver and Tutor. Young Tut’ankhamun had multiple caregivers. We have already met Maia, the menat of the King. Now, we meet Sen-nedjem, the menay. From his large (but overlooked) tomb, Sen-nedjem left a record of his work, family, and beliefs. We explore this monument and get a sense of his world…

Date: c. 1353 – 1340 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
M. El-Ghandour, ‘Coffin of Senqed from Saqqara’, in B. G. Ockinga (ed.), A Tomb from the Reign of Tutankhamun at Akhmim, The Australian Centre for Egyptology Reports 10 (Warminster, 1997), 49–53.
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
B. G. Ockinga, A Tomb from the Reign of Tutankhamun at Akhmim (The Australian Centre for Egyptology Reports 10; Warminster, 1997).

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144: Maia, Menat

Sun, 16 May 2021 09:05:00 -0000

One who nourished the god. Tut’ankhamun never refers to his birth mother. And until 1996, historians had little idea of the person who raised this young pharaoh. That changed with the discovery of Maia, the royal menat (wet-nurse and teacher). The opening of her tomb, at Saqqara, dramatically expanded our understanding of Tut’ankhamun’s early life. Today, we dive deep into Maia’s career and place in society...

Date: c. 1353 – 1340 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and "Maia" vocal performance by Ancient Lyric.
Special music by Luke Chaos.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
Read Prof. Alain Zivie’s discussion of Maia and the princess Meritaten at Academia.edu.
Logo and Banner images from Zivie, La Tombe de Maïa, 2009 (edited for clarity).

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
E. El-Kilany and H. Mahran, ‘What Lies Under the Chair! A Study in Ancient Egyptian Private Tomb Scenes, Part I: Animals’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 51 (2015), 243–64.
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
A. Schnell, ‘Breastfeeding Without Giving Birth’, La Leche League International (2020).
B. Wilson-Clay, ‘Induced Lactation’, Surrogacy.com (2010).
S. Wittig and D. Spatz, ‘Induced Lactation’, MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing 33 (2008), 76–81.
A. Zivie, ‘From Maia to Meritaten’, Saqqara Newsletter 17 (2019), 47–60.
A. Zivie et al., La tombe de Maïa, mère nourricière du roi Toutânkhamon et grande du harem (Bub. I. 20) (Toulouse, 2009).

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143b: Fun and Fashion

Sun, 09 May 2021 09:05:00 -0000

When archaeologists opened the tomb King Tut'ankhamun, they found many of his childhood possessions inside. Today, we can get a sense of his life by looking at his games, toys, and clothes.

Date: c. 1353 – 1340 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Ancient Lyric.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
YouTube: Dr. Irving Finkel plays the Royal Game of Ur with Tom Scott. Dig It with Raven plays the Royal Game of Ur in Two Parts (Part 1 and Part 2).
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

Online Resources:
Dr. Irving Finkel plays the Royal Game of Ur with Tom Scott (YouTube)
Dig It with Raven plays the Royal Game of Ur, in Two Parts (YouTube Part 1; YouTube Part 2).
Introduction to “Twenty Squares: An Ancient Board Game,” The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Introduction to “Senet and Twenty Squares: Two Board Games Played by Ancient Egyptians,” The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Nicholas Brown, “Mannequin of Tutankhamun,” ARCE.org (Website).
Blog: Senet in the Book of the Dead (UCL).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, Discovered by the Late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, Volume II (New York, 1927).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, Discovered by the Late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, Volume III (London, 1933).
H. Carter and A. C. Mace, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, Discovered by the Late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, Volume I (London, 1923).
G. M. Crowfoot and N. de G. Davies, ‘The Tunic of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 27 (1941), 113–30.
Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
E. S. Edwards, Tutankhamun, His Tomb and its Treasures (New York, 1976).
L. Finkel, ‘On the Rules for the Royal Game of Ur’, in I. L. Finkel (ed.), Ancient Board Games in Perspective: Papers from the 1990 British Museum Colloquium, with Additional Contributions (London, 2007), 16–32.
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
N. A. Hoskins, ‘Woven Patterns on Tutankhamun Textiles’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 47 (2011), 199–215.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
P. A. Piccione, ‘The Egyptian Game of Senet and the Migration of the Soul’, in I. L. Finkel (ed.), Ancient Board Games in Perspective: Papers from the 1990 British Museum Colloquium, with Additional Contributions (London, 2007), 69–86.
E. B. Pusch, ‘The Egyptian “Game of Twenty Squares:” Is it Related to “Marbles” and the Game of the Snake?’, in I. L. Finkel (ed.), Ancient Board Games in Perspective: Papers from the 1990 British Museum Colloquium, with Additional Contributions (London, 2007), 69–86.
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
G. M. Vogelsang-Eastwood, Tutankhamun’s Wardrobe (Rotterdam, 1999).
S. Wright, ‘12 Stunning Garments Re-created From Piles Of King Tut’s 3,400-Year-Old Laundry’, Ranker.com.

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143: The Boy King Tutankhamun

Sun, 02 May 2021 09:05:00 -0000

From baby to boy. For all his fame and glamour, the life of Tut'ankhamun was more difficult than it seems. The young king dealt with physical challenges and a social environment that treated him as an "idea," more than a person. Today, studies of his mummy give us clues at his early life...

Date c.1353 – 1343 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
Music by Ancient Lyric.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009).
V. Cordani, ‘Aziru’s Journey to Egypt and its Chronological Value’, in J. Mynářová (ed.), Egypt and the Near East – The Crossroads (Prague, 2011), 103–16.
W. L. Moran, The Amarna Letters (Baltimore, 1992).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (Chicago, 1985).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
J. Mynářová, Language of Amarna – Language of Diplomacy: Perspectives on the Amarna Letters (Prague, 2007).
J. Mynářová, ‘Egypt Among the Great Powers and Its Relations to the Neighboring Vassal Kingdoms in the Southern Levant According to the Written Evidence’:, in B. Eder and R. Pruzsinszky (eds.), Policies of Exchange Political Systems and Modes of Interaction in the Aegean and the Near East in the 2nd Millenium B.C.E: Proceedings of the International Symposium at the University of Freiburg Institute for Archaeological Studies, 30th May – 2nd June 2012, 2 (2015), 157–66.
N. Naʼaman, Canaan in the Second Millennium B.C.E: Collected Essays, Volume 2 (Winona Lake, 2005).
A. F. Rainey, The El-Amarna Correspondence: A New Edition of the Cuneiform Letters From the Site of El-Amarna Based On Collations of All Extant Tablets (Leiden, 2015).

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142c: Amurrites 3, Betrayal

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 09:05:00 -0000

Interlude: The greatest treachery. By the end of Akhenaten's reign, events in Syria had developed their own momentum. Rulers like Aziru, prince of Amurru, were causing trouble. Akhenaten had to deal with Aziru as best he could. But the death of Akhenaten interrupted any reconciliation. Soon after, Aziru was looking to other opportunities...

Date c.1345 – 1340 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Michael Levy.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order!
Cover image adapted from Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Select Bibliography:

Additional references in the bibliographies of Episode 123 and Episode 124.
V. Cordani, ‘Aziru’s Journey to Egypt and its Chronological Value’, in J. Mynářová (ed.), Egypt and the Near East – The Crossroads (Prague, 2011), 103–16.
W. L. Moran, The Amarna Letters (Baltimore, 1992).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (Chicago, 1985).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
J. Mynářová, Language of Amarna – Language of Diplomacy: Perspectives on the Amarna Letters (Prague, 2007).
J. Mynářová, ‘Egypt Among the Great Powers and Its Relations to the Neighboring Vassal Kingdoms in the Southern Levant According to the Written Evidence’, in B. Eder and R. Pruzsinszky (eds.), Policies of Exchange Political Systems and Modes of Interaction in the Aegean and the Near East in the 2nd Millenium B.C.E: Proceedings of the International Symposium at the University of Freiburg Institute for Archaeological Studies, 30th May – 2nd June 2012, 2 (2015), 157–66.
N. Naʼaman, Canaan in the Second Millennium B.C.E: Collected Essays, Volume 2 (Winona Lake, 2005).
A. F. Rainey, The El-Amarna Correspondence: A New Edition of the Cuneiform Letters From the Site of El-Amarna Based On Collations of All Extant Tablets (Leiden, 2015).

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142b: Deeds of the Hittites

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 09:10:00 -0000

Interlude: Warlords and Adventurers. In the second millennium BCE, a new power rose to the north of Egypt. The Kingdom of Hatti (aka the land of the Hittites) emerged as a significant political, economic, and military force. In this episode, we introduce the Hittite state and its early deeds before the reign of Tut'ankhamun.

Date c.1790 – 1350 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Michael Levy.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Episode logo adapted from a photo by Carole Raddato via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0. Image cropped/enhanced.
Check out the new Hittite series on The Ancient World Pocast.

Select Bibliography:

M. Alparslan and M. Dogan-Alparslan, ‘The Hittites and their Geography: Problems of Hittite Historical Geography’, European Journal of Archaeology 18 (2015), 90–110.
T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009).
E. Devecchi, ‘Suppiluliuma’s Syrian Campaigns in Light of Documents from Ugarit’, in S. de Martino and J. L. Miller (eds.), New Results and New Questions on the Reign of Suppiluliuma I (Florence, 2013).
H. Güterbock, ‘The Deeds of Suppiluliuma as Told by His Son, Mursili II’, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 1041–68, 75–98, 107–30.
W. L. Moran, The Amarna Letters (Baltimore, 1992).
W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (Chicago, 1985).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
W. J. Murnane, ‘Imperial Egypt and the Limits of Her Power’, in R. Cohen and R. Westbrook (eds.), Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations (Baltimore, 2000), 101–11.
J. Mynářová, Language of Amarna – Language of Diplomacy: Perspectives on the Amarna Letters (Prague, 2007).
A. F. Rainey, The El-Amarna Correspondence: A New Edition of the Cuneiform Letters From the Site of El-Amarna Based On Collations of All Extant Tablets (Leiden, 2015).
A. Spalinger, ‘Egyptian-Hittite Relations at the Close of the Amarna Period and Some Notes on Hittite Military Strategy in North Syria’, Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar 1 (1979), 55–89.
A. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom (Malden, 2005).
M. Van de Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC (West Sussex, 2016).

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News: Aten Town, Luxor

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:05:00 -0000

A remarkable discovery. In April 2021, Egyptologists working in Luxor announced a major discovery. A new “lost” city, associated with Amunhotep III (and probably Akhenaten as well). In this brief roundup, we discuss the details, the context, and the significance of the find.

Date c.1350 BCE and 2021 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Ancient Lyric.

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142: Wars in the North

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 09:05:00 -0000

Egypt on the offensive. King Tutankhamun's government had to deal with major threats in the north. Instability and regional warfare had spread through Syria and Canaan. To tackle these, pharaoh despatched his most prominent general. Horemheb, representative of the King, led the soldiers of Egypt into battle...

Date c.1340 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Ancient Lyric.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman.
Hear the trumpets of Tutankhamun on BBC Radio.
The History of Egypt Podcast is supported by RA EGYPTIAN, the natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egypt. Visit www.ra-egyptian.com and use the checkout code EGYPT to receive a massive 30% discount on your order.

Select Bibliography:

Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998).
Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Les Grands Pharaons; Paris, 2015).
R. Johnson, ‘Tutankhamun’s Life, Death, and Afterlife: New Evidence from Thebes’, November 6th, 2020. https://youtu.be/JuHCL88qpFw
Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
T. Martin, The Memphite Tomb of Ḥoremḥeb, Commander-in-Chief of Tutʻankhamūn, 1 (London, 1989).
T. Martin, The Hidden Tombs of Memphis: New Discoveries From the Time of Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great (London, 1991).
J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).

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News: The Pharaohs' Parade

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 09:05:00 -0000

Splendour and Ceremony. On April 3rd, 2021, Egypt hosted a magnificent celebration. Royal mummies, including Kings and Queens, departed their old home and made for a new one. In future, these rulers will reside in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Moving the royal mummies was a complex, grandiose event. I report on the parade, and the historical background of these famous mummies…

Recordings of the parade on YouTube
Musical performance by Amira Salim and Ahmed Mounib
Cairo residents cheer the parade, by Rania Atef on Twitter
Details of the performance by Heba Abd el Gawad on Twitter
Photos at Ahram.
Further details, links, images, and references at The History of Egypt Podcast website.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade:
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities YouTube stream (Arabic).
Experience Egypt YouTube stream (Arabic and English).
Reuters YouTube stream (Arabic and English).
Performance by Amira Selim with “violin” music by Ahmed Mounib.
Twitter thread by Heba abd el Gawad.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Facebook.
Maspero, “Les Momies Royales de Déir el-Bahari,” Mémoires publiés par les membres de la mission archéologique française du Caire, vol. 1 (1889): 511–790. Available online.
Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings (London, 1996).
Romer, Valley of the Kings (London, 1981).
Thompson, Wonderful Things, A History of Egyptology, II: The Golden Age: 1881–1914 (Cairo, 2015).
Wilson, “Finding Pharaoh,” The Century: Illustrated Monthly Magazine 34 (May 1887): 3–10.
Winlock, “The Tomb of Queen Meryetamun: I The Discovery.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin33, no. 2 (1975): 77–89.
Web Archive: Theban Tomb 320 (TT320) also known as Deir el-Bahari 320 (DB320) “The Cachette of the Royal Mummies” Available online.
KV35 (Amunhotep II tomb) at pl.
Video: Cairo residents cheer the parade on Twitter.
Video: A trip to the Royal Cache (TT320 / DB320) on YouTube.
Mummies:
The mummies found in TT320 / DB320 at Wikimedia and The Theban Royal Mummy Project.
The mummies found in KV35 (Amunhotep II) at Wikimedia and SLU.

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Mery-Neith, First Servant of Aten

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 08:05:00 -0000

A complicated career. In the reigns of Akhenaten and Tut'ankhamun, one of Egypt's top religious officials was Mery-Neith ("Beloved of Neith"). This man served in the temples, first as a Steward, then as the High Priest of Aten in Amarna. Along the way, Meryneith had to navigate the difficult political waters. To survive in Akhenaten's court, he even had to change his name...

Date c.1360 – 1340 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Ancient Lyric.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

The Tomb of Meryneith:
Summary of excavations at Saqqara.nl
High-quality photos by merja attia at Flickr
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
M. J. Raven and R. van Walsem, The Tomb of Meryneith at Saqqara (Turnhout, 2014).

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141: The Restoration of Amun

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 08:05:00 -0000

I'm bringing ma'at back. One of Tutankhamun's famous projects is the Restoration, a country-wide program of repairs and gifts for major temples. After the excesses of Akhenaten, the boy king and his government invested massive amounts of resources. Their goal? Renew the temples, replenish the priesthood, and curry favour with both the gods and the elites of Egyptian society...

Date c.1341 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
The History of Egypt Podcast is supported by RA EGYPTIAN, the natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egypt. Visit www.ra-egyptian.com and use the checkout code EGYPT to receive a massive 30% discount on your order.

Select Bibliography:

J. Bennett, ‘The Restoration Inscription of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 25 (1939), 8–15. JSTOR.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd Edition edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
W.J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
M. van Nederhof, “Restoration Stela of Tutankhamun,” Transliteration and translation online.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple – Volume I: The Festival Procession of Opet in the Colonnade Hall (Chicago, 1994).
The Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple – Volume II: The Facade, Portals, Upper Register Scenes, Columns, Marginalia, and Statuary in the Colonnade Hall (Chicago, 1998).

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140: Tutankhamun (New Name, New Me)

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Tut-Ankh-Amun. Early in his reign, the young pharaoh Tut-ankh-Aten changed his name to Tut-ankh-Amun. Why did he do this? What did it mean? And how much control did this young ruler have over his own identity?

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/.
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman http://www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com/.
Sound Interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

The House of Ranefer

The Amarna Project Website: with separate pages for background and excavations in 1921, 2002, 2003, 2004.
Bronze plaques from the House of Ranefer at Wikimedia.
Kemp, “Tell el-Amarna, 2004,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 90 (2004), 14–26.
Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People (London, 2014).
J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
E. Peet and C. L. Woolley, The City of Akhenaten, Volume I (London, 1923).
Schulman, “Military Rank, Title, and Organization in the Egyptian New Kingdom,” Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania (1962).
Spalinger, “Review of Robert Hari, Répertoire onomastique amarnien, 1976,” Journal of Near Eastern studies 39 (1980), 230–1.

Tutankhamun

Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd Edition edn, Cairo, 2017).
Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998).
Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Wilson, 2013).
J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).

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139: King Tut (ankh-Aten)

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 08:05:00 -0000

A famous reign. Following the death of Nefer-neferu-aten, a new ruler came to the throne. Tut-ankh-Aten was young, perhaps nine years old. He inherited power at a tumultuous point in history...

Date c. 1343 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza.
Additional music by Jeffrey Goodman.
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
Written by Dominic Perry.
The History of Egypt Podcast endorses RA EGYPTIAN, the clean, natural skincare line with products derived from ancient Egyptian sources. Use the checkout code EGYPT to enjoy 30% off your order!

Select Bibliography:

A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd Edition, Cairo, 2017).
A. Dodson and D. Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (London, 2004).
M. Eaton-Krauss, ‘King Tutankhaten’, Orientalia 80 (2011), 300–4.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
M. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998).
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).

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Ancient Egyptian Mummies with Prof. Ann Rosalie David

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 08:05:00 -0000

What does a mummy smell like? Prof. Ann Rosalie David is a pioneering researcher in mummies and ancient pathology. Having led many studies on Egyptian bodies, Prof. David helps reconstruct the lifestyles of the past. In this interview, she helpfully answers questions about ancient diseases, the Amarna royal mummies, and some left-field topics as well. Learn more about Ann Rosalie David and her work at Manchester University. Purchase "A Year in the Life of Ancient Egypt," by Rosalie David at Pen & Sword Publishing (Kindle, Hardcover, and ePub).

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com
Sound effects by Keith Zizza keithzizza.com and Hathor Systrum.

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138: Lost Women of Amarna

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Powerful, but vanished. Following the death of Akhenaten, several prominent women disappear from history. Meritaten, the King’s Eldest Daughter; Kiya, one of his wives; and two mysterious daughters, the “Tasherits” present unresolved questions. What happened to them? We explore this question…

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

Nile Magazine: “The Maia-Meritaten Mystery,” Online.
Allen, James P. “The Amarna Succession,” in P. Brand and L. Cooper (eds) Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane (2009): 9–20.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy (2014).
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition (2017).
Gabolde, Marc. “Under a Deep Blue Starry Sky,” in P. Brand and L. Cooper (eds) Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane (2009): 109–120.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (1995).
Redford, Donald B. “Studies on Akhenaten at Thebes, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt12 (1975): 11. JSTOR.
Zivie, Alain P. “From Maia to Meritaten,” Saqqara Newsletter 17 (2019). edu
Zivie, Alain P. La tombe de Maïa, mère nourricière du roi Toutânkhamon et grande du harem (Bub. I 20). Les tombes du Bubasteion à Saqqara 1 (2009).

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137b: The Tomb of Nefertiti

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 08:05:00 -0000

A Hidden Monument? In recent years, the public has thrilled to reports that hidden chambers, in the tomb of Tutankhamun, might contain the burial of Nefertiti. But the question of Nefertiti's tomb is complicated. In fact, it's possible she never even received a kingly/royal burial. In this episode, we explore the results of many studies...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh

Select Bibliography:

Nature: “Radar clues reignite debate over hidden chambers” https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00465-y
Dodson, Aidan. Nefertiti: Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt, Her Life and Afterlife. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2020.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62): Supplementary Notes (The Burial of Nefertiti? III).’ Amarna Royal Tombs Project, Valley of the Kings, Occasional Paper No. 5 (2020). Academia
Reeves, Nicholas. “The Decorated North Wall in the Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) (The Burial of Nefertiti? II).’ Amarna Royal Tombs Project, Valley of the Kings, Occasional Paper No. 3 (2019). Academia
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Burial of Nefertiti?’ Amarna Royal Tombs Project, Valley of the Kings, Occasional Paper No. 1 (2015). Academia
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Gold Mask of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten’. Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 7 (2015): 77–79.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’. Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015): 511–26.
Smith, Grafton Elliot. The Royal Mummies. London: Duckworth, 1912.

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137: The Death of Nefertiti

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 08:05:00 -0000

A Short-Lived Reign. By 1344 BCE, Nefer-neferu-Aten (Nefertiti) was in her mid-thirties. She did not have long to live. In her third regnal year, the King of Egypt died. Her death is mysterious: was it natural, an accident, or murder? Studying Nefertiti's last years, and the mummy that might belong to her, we go in search of answers. How did Nefertiti die?

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.
Music by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com

Select Bibliography:

Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Nefertiti: Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt, Her Life and Afterlife. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2020.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Hawass, Zahi, Yehia Z. Gad, Somaia Ismail, Rabab Khairat, Dina Fathalla, Naglaa Hasan, Amal Ahmed, et al. ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’. JAMA 303, no. 7 (17 February 2010): 638–47. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.121.
Hawass, Zahi, and Sahar N. Saleem. Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging in the New Kingdom Royal Mummies. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2016.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Paulshock, Bernadine Z. ‘Tutankhamun’s Mother’. JAMA 249, no. 16 (22 April 1983): 2178–2178. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1983.03330400030014.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62): Supplementary Notes (The Burial of Nefertiti? III).’ Amarna Royal Tombs Project, Valley of the Kings, Occasional Paper No. 5 (2020). Academia
Reeves, Nicholas. “The Decorated North Wall in the Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) (The Burial of Nefertiti? II).’ Amarna Royal Tombs Project, Valley of the Kings, Occasional Paper No. 3 (2019). Academia
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Burial of Nefertiti?’ Amarna Royal Tombs Project, Valley of the Kings, Occasional Paper No. 1 (2015). Academia
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Gold Mask of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten’. Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 7 (2015): 77–79.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’. Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015): 511–26.
Smith, Grafton Elliot. The Royal Mummies. London: Duckworth, 1912.

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136: Pharaoh Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten)

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 08:05:00 -0000

Nefertiti, King of Egypt. Following the death of Akhenaten, Queen Nefertiti may have become a King. Modern research suggests that, following her husband's death, Nefertiti became the new pharaoh. Her reign, and policies, are a shadowy but fascinating chapter in the royal history...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

Select Bibliography:

Coregency Stela: UCL online
Graffito of Pairy TT139: Semataui
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Gabolde, Marc. ‘L’ADN de La Famille Royale Amarnienne et Les Sources Égyptiennes’. Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 6 (2013): 177–203.
Gabolde, Marc. ‘Under a Deep Blue Starry Sky’. In Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, edited by Peter J. Brand and Louise Cooper. Leiden: Brill, 2009.
Hawass, Zahi, Yehia Z. Gad, Somaia Ismail, Rabab Khairat, Dina Fathalla, Naglaa Hasan, Amal Ahmed, et al. ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’. JAMA 303, no. 7 (17 February 2010): 638–47. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.121.
Hawass, Zahi, and Sahar N. Saleem. Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging in the New Kingdom Royal Mummies. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2016.
Kemp, Barry J. The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. First paperback edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2014.
Miller, William Max. ‘The Theban Royal Mummy Project’. The Theban Royal Mummy Project, n.d. http://anubis4_2000.tripod.com/mummypages1/18B.htm.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
O’Neill, Megan C. “The Decorative Program of the Eighteenth-Dynasty Tomb of Pairy (TT 139).” MA Thesis, Georgia State University, 2015. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/art_design_theses/173
Paulshock, Bernadine Z. ‘Tutankhamun’s Mother’. JAMA 249, no. 16 (22 April 1983): 2178–2178. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1983.03330400030014.
Redford, Donald. ‘Akhenaten: New Theories and Old Facts’. Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research 369 (2013): 9.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Gold Mask of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten’. Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 7 (2015): 77–79.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’. Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015): 511–26.
Tyldesley, Joyce. Nefertiti’s Face: The Creation of an Icon. London: Profile Books, 2018.
Van Der Perre, Athena. ‘The Year 16 Graffito of Akhenaten in Dayr Abū Ḥinnis. A Contribution to the Study of the Later Years of Nefertiti’. Journal of Egyptian History 7, no. 1 (2014): 67–108. https://doi.org/10.1163/18741665-12340014.

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Princesses of Amarna, Wives of Gods with Courtney Marx and ARCE

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 03:40:00 -0000

Recorded 2024. The daughters of Akhenaten and Nefertiti were not just "ornaments" for their parents. Like many princesses, they also participated in the religious rituals and royal pageantry of the Egyptian government. In this interview, Courtney Marx (MA, George Mason University) joins us on behalf of the American Research Center in Egypt, to discuss the Amarna princesses and their role as priestesses. We also explore the history of royal women as priestesses and the unique roles they played in the temple rituals. Finally, we explore the aftermath of Amarna: how the visible roles, titles, and imagery of princesses changed following the death of Akhenaten and Nefertiti.

The American Research Center in Egypt is celebrating 75 years of work in the Nile Valley. Dedicated to scholarship of the ancient, medieval, and modern worlds, the ARCE supports researchers and students, funds archaeological and scholarly work, and organises many public outreach programs. Learn more about ARCE at their website and follow the ARCE Podcast online and on all podcasting apps.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Block fragment showing two Amarna princesses (Metropolitan Museum of Art 1985.328.6). Photo by Courtney Marx.

Select Bibliography (provided by Courtney Marx):

Ayad, Mariam F. “The God's Wife of Amun: origins and rise to power.” In Carney, Elizabeth D. and Sabine Müller (eds), The Routledge companion to women and monarchy in the ancient Mediterranean world, 47-60. New York: Routledge, 2021.
Ayad, Mariam F. God's Wife, God's Servant: The God's Wife of Amun (ca.740–525 BC). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, 2009.
Bryan, Betsy M. “Property and the God’s Wives of Amun.” In D. Lyons and R. Westbrook, eds. Women and Property in Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean Societies. Washington, DC: Center For Hellenic Studies, Harvard University, 2005.
Pawlicki, Franciszek. Princess Neferure in the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari: Failed Heiress to the Pharaoh’s Throne? Études et Travaux 21, 109-127. 2007.
Xekalaki, Georgia. Symbolism in the Representation of Royal Children During the New Kingdom. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2011.
Troy, Lana. “Patterns of Queenship in Ancient Egyptian Myth and History.” PhD diss., Uppsala University, 1986.
Williamson, Jacquelyn. “Death and the Sun Temple: New Evidence for Private Mortuary Cults at Amarna.” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 103, no. 1 (June 2017): 117–123.

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Chief of the Medjay at Amarna

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 08:05:00 -0000

In the city of Akhet-Aten (Amarna) a small tomb hides a noteworthy story. Here, we find the life and work of a police officer. Mahu, Chief of the Medjay in Akhet-Aten, managed the guards who patrolled the Horizon of Aten. Mahu, and his troops, were responsible for guarding the outposts and apprehending fugitives. Possibly, they were also involved in criminal punishments. Some of those practices were quite cruel…

Date c. 1357-1343 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

Select Bibliography:

Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of El-Amarna, vol. IV, 1903.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy, 2014.
Barry J. Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2014.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.

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Egypt: The Place and the People with Fatma Keshk

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 08:00:00 -0000

Fatma Keshk is an Egyptologist, archaeologist and researcher in Egyptian heritage. She leads the outreach project "The Place and the People," working to strengthen ties between archaeologists and local Egyptian communities. It is my pleasure to welcome Fatma to the History of Egypt Podcast; I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Fatma Keshk at the Free University of Berlin https://exoriente.academia.edu/FatmaKeshk, The Place and the People online www.facebook.com/The-Place-and-the-People-2315808581791112, The Tale of Shutb (children's story in English) https://www.britishmuseum.org

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Egypt & Nubia with Dr. Aaron de Souza

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 08:05:00 -0000

Aaron de Souza is an archaeologist specializing in the material culture of Egypt and Nubia. He earned his PhD at Macquarie University, Sydney, in 2016, and is now a Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellow at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, in Vienna. In the field, Aaron works with ceramics and material culture, particularly in cemetery contexts. He has published several articles and a book, titled New Horizons: The Pan-Grave Ceramic Tradition in Context. Aaron is an insightful researcher, part of the new generation of scholars that are examining (and re-examining) historical material in new ways.

Learn more about Dr. Aaron de Souza online at Academia https://oeaw.academia.edu/AarondeSouza, the In Between Nubia website https://inbetweennubia.com/author/amdesouza/, and on Twitter https://twitter.com/aaronmdesouza.
Shop History of Egypt merchandise at www.teepublic.com
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

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Ancient Egypt Today with Heba abd el Gawad

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 08:05:00 -0000

Heba Abd el Gawad is an exhibition curator, public outreach specialist and researcher in Egyptian heritage within museum contexts. She is the postdoctoral researcher for the project ‘Egypt’s Dispersed Heritage: Views from Egypt’ at the Institute of Archaeology, University College of London, in addition to many other important works. Heba joins the History of Egypt Podcast to discuss public outreach, museum communication and accessibility, and the cultural heritage of Egypt and its people.

For more information about the projects discussed in this interview, see the following links:

Egypt's Dispersed Heritage project on Twitter www.twitter.com/excavatedegypt and Facebook www.facebook.com/EgyptsDispersedHeritage
The Manchester Museum Podcast "Who Owns Egyptian heritage?" Manchester Museum https://www.mmfromhome.com/podcast/episode/39f9e1a5/who-owns-egyptian-heritage-with-heba-abd-el-gawad
Arabic Digital Comics during COVID 19 www.al-fanarmedia.org/2020/08/arabic-comics-reach-a-wider-audience-through-digital-projects/
"Fayoum Human Remains Your mummies, Their Ancestors," a webinar on the ethics of displaying and researching human remains in partnership with Egypt Exploration Society and Everyday Orientalist www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC51hWto1J8&t=4603s.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

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The Tomb Kings of Nehekhara (Egyptological History & Analysis)

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 05:51:00 -0000

An unofficial history, just for fun. In distant ages, and forgotten realms, a mighty civilization once flourished on the banks of a great river. The people of Nehekhara and their great kings are now a memory… but they are not dead. Not quite. Today, we dive into the lore of a fantasy civilization, inspired by ancient Egypt…

Date c.2,500 Before the Imperial Calendar (I.C.). Includes non-canonical material inspired by ancient Egyptian history.

Music by TableTop Audio www.tabletopaudio.com

Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

Music from Pond5 www.pond5.com

References (2020):

Games Workshop – The Tomb Kings (⁠6th Edition⁠).

Games Workshop – The Tomb Kings (8th Edition).

Games Workshop – The Liber Necris, 2006.

Games Workshop – Winds of Magic: Advanced Magic and Wizardry, 2010.

Games Workshop – Lure of the Liche Lord, 2005.

Website – The Warhammer Wiki ⁠https://warhammerfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Warhammer_Wiki⁠

Chapters:

Nehekhara 06:00

Settra Prince of Khemri 18:10

Settra the Imperishable 29:50

The Time of Kings, the Rise of Nagash 48:06

The Tyranny of Nagash 56:44

The Creation of the Tomb Kings 1:08:34

Miniatures and Inspirations of Ancient Egypt 1:25:16

Epilogues 1:40:34

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Update: End of 2020

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:05:00 -0000

Some good news and some bad news. Before we start the next chapter of Egyptian history, I need to take a break. Fortunately, I also have some help on the next step. In this update, I explain my situation at the end of 2020 and what the future holds for the podcast...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

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Akhenaten Phase 3 (Summary)

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 08:05:00 -0000

The final chapters. The last years of Akhenaten's reign (12 to 17) are a litany of difficulties and losses. The King's household suffered challenges, and he responded with extreme policies. Before we leave the King for good, we summarise what had happened, and what it all means...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

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135: The Face(s) of Akhenaten

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0000

Legacy and Summary. Today, we look back at Akhenaten's reign, and I ramble for a while about his importance in history, both ancient and modern...

Date c. 1346 BCE and 20th Century CE,
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Aldred, Cyril. Akhenaten: King of Egypt. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1988.
Arnold, Dorothea. The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996.
Assmann, Jan. Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom: Re, Amun and the Crisis of Polytheism. London: Taylor & Francis Group, 1995.
Blyth, Elizabeth. Karnak: Evolution of a Temple. New York: Routledge, 2006.
Boorn, G.P.F. van den. The Duties of the Vizier: Civil Administration in the Early New Kingdom. London: Kegan Paul International, 1988.
Cohen, Raymond, and Raymond Westbrook, eds. Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
Davies, Benedict G. Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty. Vol. IV. Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1992.
Davies, Norman de Garis. The Rock Tombs of El-Amarna. London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1903.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Eyre, Christopher. The Use of Documents in Pharaonic Egypt. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Gabolde, Marc. D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon. Paris: Institut d’archéologie et d’histoire de l’antiquité, 1998.
Haring, B. J. J. Divine Households: Administrative and Economic Aspects of the New Kingdom Royal Memorial Temples in Western Thebes. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 1997.
Hodgkinson, Anna K. Technology and Urbanism in Late Bronze Age Egypt. Ebook edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.
Hornung, Erik. Akhenaten and the Religion of Light. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1999.
Kemp, Barry J. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. 3rd Revised Edition. London: Routledge, 2018.
Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992.
Moreno García, Juan Carlos. The State in Ancient Egypt: Power, Challenges and Dynamics. London: Bloomsbury, 2020.
Morris, Ellen Fowles. Ancient Egyptian Imperialism. Hoboken: Wiley, 2018.
Morris, Ellen Fowles. The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom. Leiden: Brill, 2005.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Mynářová, Jana. Language of Amarna – Language of Diplomacy: Perspectives on the Amarna Letters. Prague: Czech Institute of Egyptology, 2007.
Redford, Donald B. Akhenaten: The Heretic King. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.
Reeves, Nicholas. Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet. London: Thames & Hudson, 2001.
Robins, Gay. The Art of Ancient Egypt. London: The British Museum Press, 1997.
Spalinger, Anthony John. War in Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom. Malden: Blackwell, 2005.
Warburton, David. State and Economy in Ancient Egypt: Fiscal Vocabulary of the New Kingdom. Fribourg: University Press, 1997.
Wente, Edward Frank. Letters from Ancient Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1990.

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134b: The Burial(s) of Akhenaten

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0000

Side-episode. Today we discuss some "extra" items from Akhenaten's tomb. Also, we return to KV55, that elusive monument in the Valley of the Kings, to see some reasons why it *might* be Akhenaten.

Date c.1346 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Connolly, R.C. ‘Kinship of Smenkhkare and Tutankhamen Affirmed by Serological Micromethod: Microdetermination of Blood Group Substances in Ancient Human Tissue’. Nature 224, no. 5217 (1 October 1969): 325–325.
Davis, Theodore M. The Tomb of Queen Tiyi: The Discovery of the Tomb. London: Constable and Co Ltd, 1910.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
———. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Dodson, Aidan, and Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames & Hudson, 2004.
Duhig, Corrinne. ‘Comments on “Biological Age of the Skeletonised Mummy from Tomb KV55 at Thebes (Egypt)” by Eugen Strouhal’. Anthropologie 48, no. 2 (2010): 113–16.
Eaton-Krauss, Marianne. ‘Reprise: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Amarna’. Chronique d’Egypte 88, no. 175 (1 January 2013): 64–80.
Gabolde, Marc. D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon. Paris: Institut d’archéologie et d’histoire de l’antiquité, 1998.
———. ‘L’ADN de La Famille Royale Amarnienne et Les Sources Égyptiennes’. Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 6 (2013): 177–203.
———. ‘Under a Deep Blue Starry Sky’. In Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, edited by Peter J. Brand and Louise Cooper. Leiden: Brill, 2009.
Habicht, M.E., A.S. Bouwman, and F.J. Rühli. ‘Identifications of Ancient Egyptian Royal Mummies from the 18th Dynasty Reconsidered’. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 159, no. S61 (1 January 2016): 216–31.
Harrison, R. G. ‘An Anatomical Examination of the Pharaonic Remains Purported to Be Akhenaten’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 52 (1966): 95–119.
Hawass, Zahi, Yehia Z. Gad, Somaia Ismail, Rabab Khairat, Dina Fathalla, Naglaa Hasan, Amal Ahmed, et al. ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’. JAMA 303, no. 7 (17 February 2010): 638–47.
Kemp, Barry J. ‘The Amarna Royal Tombs at Amarna’, 2016. https://amarnaproject.com/documents/pdf/Amarna-Royal-Tombs.pdf.
———. The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. First paperback edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2014.
Martin, Geoffrey Thorndike. The Royal Tomb at El-ʻAmarna. 2 vols. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1974.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Redford, Donald. ‘Akhenaten: New Theories and Old Facts’. Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research 369 (2013): 9.
Reeves, C. N. ‘A Reappraisal of Tomb 55 in the Valley of the Kings’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 67 (1981): 48–55.
Reeves, Nicholas. Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet. London: Thames & Hudson, 2001.
Smith, Grafton Elliot. The Royal Mummies. London: Duckworth, 1912.

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134: The Death of Akhenaten

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 10:05:00 -0000

A controversy comes to its end. King Akhenaten died in his 17th year on the throne. Surprisingly, we know a lot about his passing and his burial. From the date of his death, to his sarcophagus, shabti figurines and his innovative tomb, we can get a sense of how this controversial ruler finally met his end...

Date c.1346 BC.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Aldred, Cyril. Akhenaten: King of Egypt. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1988.
Allen, James P. ‘The Religion of Amarna’. In The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, edited by Dorothea Arnold, 3–6. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996.
Arnold, Dorothea. The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Dodson, Aidan, and Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames & Hudson, 2004.
Eaton-Krauss, Marianne. ‘Reprise: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Amarna’. Chronique d’Egypte 88, no. 175 (1 January 2013): 64–80.
Fairman, H. W. ‘Once Again the So-Called Coffin of Akhenaten’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 47 (1961): 25–40.
Gabolde, Marc. D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon. Paris: Institut d’archéologie et d’histoire de l’antiquité, 1998.
Gabolde, Marc. ‘L’ADN de La Famille Royale Amarnienne et Les Sources Égyptiennes’. Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 6 (2013): 177–203.
Gabolde, Marc. ‘Under a Deep Blue Starry Sky’. In Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, edited by Peter J. Brand and Louise Cooper. Leiden: Brill, 2009.
Hawass, Zahi, Yehia Z. Gad, Somaia Ismail, Rabab Khairat, Dina Fathalla, Naglaa Hasan, Amal Ahmed, et al. ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’. JAMA 303, no. 7 (17 February 2010): 638–47.
Hornung, Erik. Akhenaten and the Religion of Light. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1999.
Kemp, Barry J. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. 3rd Revised Edition. London: Routledge, 2018.
Kemp, Barry J. ‘The Amarna Royal Tombs at Amarna’, 2016. https://amarnaproject.com/documents/pdf/Amarna-Royal-Tombs.pdf.
———. The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. First paperback edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2014.
Martin, Geoffrey Thorndike. The Royal Tomb at El-ʻAmarna. 2 vols. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1974.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Murnane, William J. ‘The End of the Amarna Period Once Again’. Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 96 (2001): 9–22.
Peet, T. E., and C. Leonard Woolley. The City of Akhenaten, Volume I. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1923.
Pendlebury, J.D.S. The City of Akhenaten, Volume III. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1951.
Redford, Donald. ‘Akhenaten: New Theories and Old Facts’. Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research 369 (2013): 9.
Redford, Donald B. Akhenaten: The Heretic King. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.
Reeves, Nicholas. Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet. London: Thames & Hudson, 2001.
UCL Web Archive. ‘Stela UC 410’, https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/ave/detail/details/index_no_login.php?objectid=UC__410__&accesscheck=%2Fmuseums-static%2Fave%2Fdetail%2Fdetails%2Findex.php.
Strouhal, Eugen. ‘Biological Age of Skeletonized Mummy from Tomb KV 55 at Thebes’. Anthropologie 48, no. 2 (2010): 97–112.

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133: The Heretic King

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Erasing a God. Sometime in his reign, Akhenaten initiated a project that has made him infamous. The King’s agents, sculptors and masons travelled throughout the country, visiting major temples and shrines. Their job? Hack away the name and figure of Amun, King of the Gods, wherever they found it. This project is the most controversial of Akhenaten’s reign. Today, we dig into what happened, and why the King did it..

Date c.1347 BCE www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Aldred, Cyril. ‘Two Theban Notables during the Later Reign of Amenophis III’. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 18, no. 2 (1959): 113–20.
Aldred, Cyril. Akhenaten: King of Egypt. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1988.
Allen, James P. ‘The Religion of Amarna’. In The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, edited by Dorothea Arnold, 3–6. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996.
Assmann, Jan. Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom: Re, Amun and the Crisis of Polytheism. London: Taylor & Francis Group, 1995.
Bell, Lanny. ‘Luxor Temple and the Cult of the Royal Ka’. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 44, no. 4 (1985): 251–94.
Bennett, John. ‘The Restoration Inscription of Tut’ankhamūn’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 25, no. 1 (1939): 8–15.
Blyth, Elizabeth. Karnak: Evolution of a Temple. New York: Routledge, 2006.
Brand, Peter. ‘Secondary Restorations in the Post-Amarna Period’. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 36 (1999): 113–34.
Bryan, Betsy M. ‘Hatshepsut and Cultic Revelries in the New Kingdom’. In Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut, edited by José M. Galán, Betsy M. Bryan, and Peter F. Dorman, 93–124. Chicago: The Oriental Institute, 2014.
Bull, Ludlow. ‘Two Egyptian Stelae of the XVIII Dynasty’. Metropolitan Museum Studies 2, no. 1 (1929): 76–84.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Fischer, Henry G. ‘An Early Example of Atenist Iconoclasm’. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 13 (1976): 131–32.
Galán, José M. ‘EA 164 and the God Amun’. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 51, no. 4 (1992): 287–91.
Galán, José M. ‘Hymns to Amun-Ra and Amun in the Tomb Chapel of Djehuty (TT11)’. In Joyful in Thebes: Egyptological Studies in Honor of Betsy M. Bryan, edited by Richard Jasnow and Kathlyn M. Cooney, 183–96. Atlanta: Lockwood Press, 2015.
Gulyás, András. ‘The Unique Amun-Re at Luxor Temple’. In Current Research in Egyptology 2005, edited by Rachel Mairs and Alice Stevenson, 6:22–37. Oxbow Books, 2007.
Johnson, W. Raymond. ‘Amenhotep III and Amarna: Some New Considerations’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 82 (1996): 65–82.
Krauss, Rolf. ‘Akhenaten: Monotheist? Polytheist?’ Bulleting of the Australian Centre of Egyptology, no. 11 (2000): 93–101.
Manuelian, Peter der. ‘Semi-Literacy in Ancient Egypt: Some Erasures from the Amarna Period’. In Gold of Praise: Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honor of Edward F. Wente, edited by Emily Teeter and John Larson, 285–98. Chicago: The Oriental Institute, 1999.
McClymont, Alice. ‘Action, Reaction & Interaction’. In Tradition and Transformation in Ancient Egypt, edited by Andrea Kahlbacher and Elisa Priglinger, 105–22. Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 2018.
Murnane, William J. ‘The Bark of Amun on the Third Pylon at Karnak’. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 16 (1979): 11–27.

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Uncovering Amarna with Dr. Chris Naunton

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Interview. Chris Naunton is the former head of the Egypt Exploration Society and the elected President International Association of Egyptologists (2016-2019). With decades of experience, he is an enthusiastic and engaging scholar, with a particular talent for outreach and communication. Dr. Naunton sat down to discuss the city of Amarna, its exploration, and the evidence that helps us connect with its ancient, famous people.

Dr. Naunton's website and books https://chrisnaunton.com.
Youtube seminars: "The People of Amarna" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A6f5yk1QdM, "A History of the Egypt Exploration Society" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AgqomUA-BQ, and The Lost Tombs of Egypt" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-ogtWxeV9A.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

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132: The Nefertiti Bust

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:05:00 -0000

How it was made, how it was discovered, and how it wound up in a museum far from its home.

Date c.1347 BCE and 1912 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Additional music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com

Select Bibliography:

Arnold, Dorothea. ‘Aspects of the Royal Female Image During the Amarna Period’. In The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, edited by Dorothea Arnold, 85–120. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996.
Arnold, Dorothea. ‘The Workshop of the Sculptor Thutmose’. In The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, edited by Dorothea Arnold, 41–84. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996.
‘Did Germany Cheat to Get Bust of Nefertiti?’, 10 February 2009. https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/archaeological-controversy-did-germany-cheat-to-get-bust-of-nefertiti-a-606525.html.
Robins, Gay. The Art of Ancient Egypt. London: The British Museum Press, 1997.
Tyldesley, Joyce. Nefertiti’s Face: The Creation of an Icon. London: Profile Books, 2018.

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131: King Nefertiti

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 09:05:00 -0000

The Queen becomes King. Throughout Akhenaten’s reign, the Great King’s Wife Neferet-Iti (Nefertiti) grew more and more prominent. By regnal year 16 (1437 BCE), she seemed to be an equal to her husband. Eventually, the Queen may have transitioned to a new role, and become a co-regent alongside Akhenaten. In this episode, we explore the evidence for Nefertiti as a King… CHAPTER TWO TIME CODE 22:38

Date c. 1347 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Aldred, Cyril. Akhenaten: King of Egypt. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1988.
Allen, James P. ‘Two Altered Inscriptions of the Late Amarna Period’. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 25 (1988): 117–26. https://doi.org/10.2307/40000874.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2017.
Dodson, Aidan. ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990): 87–96. https://doi.org/10.2307/3822009.
Gabolde, Marc. D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon. Paris: Institut d’archéologie et d’histoire de l’antiquité, 1998.
Gabolde, Marc. ‘L’ADN de La Famille Royale Amarnienne et Les Sources Égyptiennes’. Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 6 (2013): 177–203.
Gabolde, Marc. ‘Under a Deep Blue Starry Sky’. In Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, edited by Peter J. Brand and Louise Cooper. Leiden: Brill, 2009.
Gunn, Battiscombe. ‘Notes on the Aten and His Names’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 9, no. 3/4 (1923): 168–76. https://doi.org/10.2307/3854036.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Redford, Donald B. Akhenaten: The Heretic King. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.
Reeves, C. N. ‘A Further Occurrence of Nefertiti as Hmt Nsw AAt’. Göttinger Miszellen 30 (1978): 61–69.
Reeves, Nicholas. Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet. London: Thames & Hudson, 2001.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘The Gold Mask of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten’. Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 7 (2015): 77–79.
Reeves, Nicholas. ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’. Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015): 511–26.
Van Der Perre, Athena. ‘The Year 16 Graffito of Akhenaten in Dayr Abū Ḥinnis. A Contribution to the Study of the Later Years of Nefertiti’. Journal of Egyptian History 7, no. 1 (2014): 67–108. https://doi.org/10.1163/18741665-12340014.
Wilson, John A. ‘Akh-En-Aton and Nefert-Iti’. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 32, no. 1/2 (1973): 235–41.

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130: The Life and Death of Smenkhkare

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 09:05:00 -0000

A Short-Lived Ruler. In 1349 BCE, Egypt had two kings. But not for long. The young ruler, Smenkhkare, was destined to die early. In this episode, we explore the strange case of Akhenaten's co-king...

Date c.1349 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

Select Bibliography:

Aldred, Cyril. Akhenaten: King of Egypt. 1988.
Allen, James P. ‘Two Altered Inscriptions of the Late Amarna Period’. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 25 (1988): 117–26. https://doi.org/10.2307/40000874.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. 2nd Edition, 2017.
Dodson, Aidan. ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990): 87–96. https://doi.org/10.2307/3822009.
Gabolde, Marc. D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon. 1998.
Gabolde, Marc. ‘Under a Deep Blue Starry Sky’. In Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, edited by Peter J. Brand and Louise Cooper, 2009.
Murnane, William J. Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt. 1995.
Redford, Donald B. Akhenaten: The Heretic King. 1984.
Reeves, C. N. Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet. 2001.

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129: Amarna, the Hard-Knock Life

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Child labour, plague, and dark deeds at Amarna. By regnal year 14 (c.1349 BCE) Akhenaten's capital city had grown to almost thirty thousand people. This massive growth carried a price, one that archaeologists are finding in the city's vast cemeteries...

Date c.1349 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Dabbs, Gretchen R. ‘Bioarchaeology of the Non-Elite North Tombs Cemetery at Amarna: A Preliminary Assessment of the Non-Elite Individuals of the North Tombs Cemetery at Tell El-Amarna, Egypt’. Bioarchaeology International 3, no. 3 (2019): 174–86. https://doi.org/10.5744/bi.2019.1012.
Dabbs, Gretchen R. ‘Human Bones from the South Tombs Cemetery: The 2013 Study Season’, 2013. https://www.amarnaproject.com/documents/pdf/STC-2013-bioarchaeology.pdf.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Egypt Exploration Society Website. ‘The Northern Cemeteries of Amarna’, 2018. https://www.ees.ac.uk/the-northern-cemeteries-of-amarna.
Kemp, Barry J. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. 3rd Revised Edition. London: Routledge, 2018.
Kemp, Barry J. ‘Tell El-Amarna, 2016’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 102 (2016): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.2307/26379068.
Kemp, Barry J. The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. First paperback edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2014.
Kemp, Barry, Anna Stevens, Gretchen R. Dabbs, Melissa Zabecki, and Jerome C. Rose. ‘Life, Death and Beyond in Akhenaten’s Egypt: Excavating the South Tombs Cemetery at Amarna’. Antiquity 87, no. 335 (2013): 64–78. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00048626.
Kuckens, Kathleen. ‘The Children of Amarna: Disease and Famine in the Time of Akhenaten’. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 2013. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/888.
Panagiotakopulu, Eva. ‘Pharaonic Egypt and the Origins of Plague’. Journal of Biogeography 31, no. 2 (2004): 269–75. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0305-0270.2003.01009.x.
Shidner, Ashley. ‘Growing Up in Tell El-Amarna: An Examination of Growth and Non-Specific Stress Indicators in New Kingdom Children’. University of Arkansas, 2018.
Stevens, Anna. ‘Death and the City: The Cemeteries of Amarna in Their Urban Context’ 28, no. 1 (2018): 103–26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774317000592.
Amarna Project website, ‘The South Tombs Cemetery’, 2013. https://www.amarnaproject.com/pages/recent_projects/excavation/south_tombs_cemetery/2013.shtml.
Zakrzewski, Sonia R. ‘Variation in Ancient Egyptian Stature and Body Proportions’. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 121, no. 3 (1 July 2003): 219–29. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.10223.

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Amarna Sunset with Prof. Aidan Dodson

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Royal Tombs, Amarna, Egyptology. Prof. Aidan Dodson has been in the game many years, and has published widely on a variety of topics. From his best-selling Amarna Sunset, Amarna Sunrise and The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt, Prof. Dodson is familiar to many who are interested in ancient Egypt. In this interview, he sat down to discuss the Amarna Period, royal tombs, and the science of history in Egyptology. A fascinating conversation, which I'm excited to share!

Date c.1350 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Find more of Prof. Dodson's work and purchase his book The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt at Pen & Sword Publishing https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Aidan-Dodson/a/2681

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128: True Crime KV55 (DNA, CSI... etc)

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 09:05:00 -0000

The Mysterious Mummy. In this episode, we visit the historical crime scene known as Valley of the Kings tomb number 55. KV55 is easily the most analysed, debated, and confounding find in all of Egyptology...

Date: c.1350 BCE and 1907 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Martha R. Bell, ‘An Armchair Excavation of KV 55’. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 27 (1990): 97–137.
R.C. Connolly, ‘Kinship of Smenkhkare and Tutankhamen Affirmed by Serological Micromethod: Microdetermination of Blood Group Substances in Ancient Human Tissue’. Nature 224, no. 5217 (1 October 1969): 325–325.
Theodore M. Davis, The Tomb of Queen Tiyi: The Discovery of the Tomb. 2nd edition. London: Constable and Co Ltd, 1990.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Corrinne Duhig, ‘Comments on “Biological Age of the Skeletonised Mummy from Tomb KV55 at Thebes (Egypt)” by Eugen Strouhal’. Anthropologie 48, no. 2 (2010): 113–16.
Marianne Eaton-Krauss, ‘“The Sarcophagus in the Tomb of Tutankhamun”: A Clarification’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 84 (1998): 210–12.
Marianne Eaton-Krauss, ‘Reprise: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Amarna’. Chronique d’Egypte 88, no. 175 (1 January 2013): 64–80.
H.W. Fairman, ‘Once Again the So-Called Coffin of Akhenaten’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 47 (1961): 25–40.
Marc. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon. Paris: Institut d’archéologie et d’histoire de l’antiquité, 1998.
Marc. Gabolde, ‘L’ADN de La Famille Royale Amarnienne et Les Sources Égyptiennes’. Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 6 (2013): 177–203.
Marc. Gabolde, ‘Under a Deep Blue Starry Sky’. In Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, edited by Peter J. Brand and Louise Cooper. Leiden: Brill, 2009.
R. G. Harrison, ‘An Anatomical Examination of the Pharaonic Remains Purported to Be Akhenaten’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 52 (1966): 95–119.
Zahi Hawass, Yehia Z. Gad, Somaia Ismail, Rabab Khairat, Dina Fathalla, Naglaa Hasan, Amal Ahmed, et al. ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’. JAMA 303, no. 7 (17 February 2010): 638–47.
Geoffrey Thorndike Martin, The Royal Tomb at El-ʻAmarna. 2 vols. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1974.
William Max Miller, ‘The Theban Royal Mummy Project’. The Theban Royal Mummy Project, http://anubis4_2000.tripod.com/mummypages1/18B.htm.
William J. Murnane, ‘The End of the Amarna Period Once Again’. Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 96 (2001): 9–22.
Bernadine Z. Paulshock, ‘Tutankhamun’s Mother’. JAMA 249, no. 16 (22 April 1983): 2178–2178.
C. N. Reeves, ‘A Reappraisal of Tomb 55 in the Valley of the Kings’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 67 (1981): 48–55.
Grafton Elliot Smith, The Royal Mummies. London: Duckworth, 1912-2000. Online edition.
Eugen Strouhal, ‘Biological Age of Skeletonized Mummy from Tomb KV 55 at Thebes’. Anthropologie 48, no. 2 (2010): 97–112.
Charles F. Timmons, ‘Genetics of the Eighteenth Dynasty’. JAMA 245, no. 15 (17 April 1981): 1525–1525.

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127: Meket-Aten and Smenkh-Ka-Re

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Two Funerals and a Wedding, Part 2. In 1350 BCE the royal house of Egypt was in crisis. The princess Meket-Aten, just eight years old, was the second prominent person to die in a short span of time. Soon after, Akhenaten seems to have appointed a new co-ruler. His name was Smenkh-ka-Re.

Date c.1350 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold, The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, 1996.
Martha R. Bell, ‘An Armchair Excavation of KV55’. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 27 (1990): 97–137.
R.C. Connolly, ‘Kinship of Smenkhkare and Tutankhamen Affirmed by Serological Micromethod: Microdetermination of Blood Group Substances in Ancient Human Tissue’. Nature 224, no. 5217 (1 October 1969): 325–325.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of El-Amarna, vol II, 1905.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation, 2009.
Aidan Dodson, ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990): 87–96.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
Corrinne Duhig, ‘Comments on “Biological Age of the Skeletonised Mummy from Tomb KV55 at Thebes (Egypt)” by Eugen Strouhal’. Anthropologie 48, no. 2 (2010): 113–16.
Marianne Eaton-Krauss, ‘“The Sarcophagus in the Tomb of Tutankhamun”: A Clarification’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 84 (1998): 210–12.
H.W. Fairman, ‘Once Again the So-Called Coffin of Akhenaten’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 47 (1961): 25–40.
Marc Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon, 1998.
John Harris, ‘En Sag Om Forveksling’. Papyrus 2, no. 4 (2004): 4–13.
R.G. Harrison, ‘An Anatomical Examination of the Pharaonic Remains Purported to Be Akhenaten’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 52 (1966): 95–119.
Zahi Hawass, Yehia Z. Gad, Somaia Ismail, Rabab Khairat, Dina Fathalla, Naglaa Hasan, Amal Ahmed, et al. ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’. JAMA 303, no. 7 (17 February 2010): 638–47.
Geoffrey Thorndike Martin, The Royal Tomb at El-ʻAmarna. 2 vols. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1974.
William Max Miller, ‘The Theban Royal Mummy Project’. The Theban Royal Mummy Project, n.d. http://anubis4_2000.tripod.com/mummypages1/18B.htm.
William J. Murnane, ‘The End of the Amarna Period Once Again’. Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 96 (2001): 9–22.
C.N. Reeves, ‘A Reappraisal of Tomb 55 in the Valley of the Kings’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 67 (1981): 48–55.
Eugen Strouhal, ‘Biological Age of Skeletonized Mummy from Tomb KV 55 at Thebes’. Anthropologie 48, no. 2 (2010): 97–112.

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126: The Death of Queen Tiye

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Two Funerals and a Wedding, Part 1. Around year 12 of Akhenaten, the Queen Mother Tiye died. She journeyed to the West at the age of 60, having been a powerful influence for more than fifty years. Tiye is a monumental figure, literally, in the history of ancient Egypt. In this episode, we do her honour, and explore her legacy following her death.

Date c.1351 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold (ed.), The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, 1996.
Martha R. Bell, “An Armchair Excavation of KV55,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 27 (1990): 97–137.
Benedict G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty. Vol. IV, 1992.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of El-Amarna, 1903.
Theodore M. Davis, The Tomb of Queen Tiyi: The Discovery of the Tomb, 1910.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy, 2014.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation, 2009.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
Marc Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon, 1998.
Marc Gabolde, “L’ADN de La Famille Royale Amarnienne et Les Sources Égyptiennes,” Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 6 (2013): 177–203.
Michael E. Habicht, A.S. Bouwman, and F.J. Rühli. “Identifications of Ancient Egyptian Royal Mummies from the 18th Dynasty Reconsidered’,” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 159 (2016): 216–31.
James E. Harris, Edward F. Wente, Charles F. Cox, Ibrahim El Nawaway, Charles J. Kowalski, Arthur T. Storey, William R. Russell, Paul V. Ponitz, and Geoffrey F. Walker. “Mummy of the “Elder Lady” in the Tomb of Amenhotep II: Egyptian Museum Catalog Number 61070,” Science 200, no. 4346 (1978): 1149–51.
Zahi Hawass, Yehia Z. Gad, Somaia Ismail, Rabab Khairat, Dina Fathalla, Naglaa Hasan, Amal Ahmed, et al. “Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family,” JAMA 303, no. 7 (17 February 2010): 638–47.
Barry J. Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2014.
Geoffrey Thorndike Martin, The Royal Tomb at El-ʻAmarna, 2 vols, 1974.
William Max Miller, “The Theban Royal Mummy Project,” The Theban Royal Mummy Project, http://anubis4_2000.tripod.com/mummypages1/18B.htm.
William J. Murnane, Texts From the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William J. Murnane, “The End of the Amarna Period Once Again,” Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 96 (2001): 9–22.
Paul T. Nicholson, and Caroline Jackson, “Glass of Amenhotep II From Tomb KV55 in the Valley of the Kings,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 99 (2013): 85–99.
C.N. Reeves, “A Reappraisal of Tomb 55 in the Valley of the Kings,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 67 (1981): 48–55.
Joyce Tyldesley, Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt, 2006.

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125b: Maru Aten and North Palace

Wed, 20 May 2020 09:05:00 -0000

A guided tour. In this episode we explore two monuments belonging to an ancient princess, and see the luxury in which a pharaoh's daughter lived...

Date c.1451 BCE (reign of Akhenaten)
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Badawy, Alexander. ‘Maru-Aten: Pleasure Resort or Temple?’ The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 42 (1956): 58–64.
Kemp, Barry J. ‘Tell El-Amarna, Spring 2011’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 97 (2011): 1–9.
The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. First paperback edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2014. Read online at archive.org
Newton, F.G. “Excavations at El-’Amarnah, 1923-24.” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 10 (1924): 289–98. Read for free at JSTOR.org
Amarna Project. ‘North Palace’, https://www.amarnaproject.com/pages/amarna_the_place/north_palace/index.shtml.
Peet, T. E., and C. Leonard Woolley. The City of Akhenaten, Volume I. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1923.

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125: House of Meritaten

Mon, 18 May 2020 09:05:00 -0000

A Princess of Egypt. By 1351 BCE, princess Meritaten was approximately ten years old. The pharaoh's eldest daughter was front and centre of propaganda. But what was her life like? Today, we explore the life of an Egyptian princess...

Date c. 1451 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast

Select Bibliography:

Badawy, Alexander. ‘Maru-Aten: Pleasure Resort or Temple?’ The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 42 (1956): 58–64.
Davies, Benedict G. Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty. Vol. IV. Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1992.
Davies, Norman de Garis. The Rock Tombs of El-Amarna. London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1903.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunrise: Egypt From Golden Age to Age of Heresy. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2014.
Dodson, Aidan. Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2009.
Hornung, Erik. Akhenaten and the Religion of Light. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1999.
Kemp, Barry J. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. 3rd Revised Edition. London: Routledge, 2018.
Kemp, Barry J. ‘Tell El-Amarna, Spring 2011’. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 97 (2011): 1–9.
Kemp, Barry J. The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. First paperback edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2014.
Murnane, William J. Texts From the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Murnane, William J. ‘The End of the Amarna Period Once Again’. Orientalistische Literaturzeitung 96 (2001): 9–22.
Neveu, François. The Language of Ramesses: Late Egyptian Grammar. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2015.
Pasquali, Stéphane. ‘A Sun-Shade Temple of Princess Ankhesenpaaten in Memphis?’ The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 97 (2011): 216–22.
Peet, T. E., and C. Leonard Woolley. The City of Akhenaten, Volume I. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1923.
Wegner, Josef. The Sunshade Chapel of Meritaten from the House-of-Waenre of Akhenaten. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017.

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124: Amurrites 2, The Crimes of Aziru

Mon, 04 May 2020 09:02:00 -0000

Diplomacy, Betrayal, Murder. Around 1350 BCE, the sons of Abdi-Ashirta inherited his power and began to pursue further conquests. Along the way, they committed several heinous crimes...

Date c.1355-1350 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Derek and Brandon Fiechter https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/.

Select Bibliography:

Altman, Amnon. ‘Some Controversial Toponyms from the Amurru Region in the Amarna Archive’. Zeitschrift Des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins (1953-) 94, no. 2 (1978): 99–107.
Badre, Leila. ‘Tell Kazel-Simyra: A Contribution to a Relative Chronological History in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age’. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 343 (2006): 65–95.
Badre, Leila et al. ‘The Provenance of Aegean- and Syrian-Type Pottery Found at Tell Kazel (Syria)’. Ägypten Und Levante / Egypt and the Levant 15 (2005): 15–47.
Bryce, Trevor. The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire. London: Taylor & Francis, 2009.
Campbell, Edward F. ‘The Amarna Letters and the Amarna Period’. The Biblical Archaeologist 23, no. 1 (1 February 1960): 2–22.
Cohen, Raymond. ‘Intelligence in the Amarna Letters’. In Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations, edited by Raymond Cohen and Raymond Westbrook, 85–98. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
Goren, Yuval, Israel Finkelstein, and Nadav Naʾaman. ‘The Expansion of the Kingdom of Amurru According to the Petrographic Investigation of the Amarna Tablets’. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 329 (2003): 1–11.
Izre’el, Shlomo, and Itamar Singer. Amurru Akkadian: A Linguistic Study. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991.
James, Alan. ‘Egypt and Her Vassals: The Geopolitical Dimension’. In Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations, edited by Raymond Cohen and Raymond Westbrook, 112–24. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992.
Morris, Ellen Fowles. The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom. Leiden: Brill, 2005.
Murnane, William J. ‘Imperial Egypt and the Limits of Her Power’. In Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations, edited by Raymond Cohen and Raymond Westbrook, 101–11. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
Murnane, William J. Texts From the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Murnane, William J. The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak. Chicago: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1985.
Mynářová, Jana. ‘Expressions of Dates and Time in the Amarna Letters’. Ägypten Und Levante / Egypt and the Levant 21 (2011): 123–28.
Mynářová, Jana. Language of Amarna – Language of Diplomacy: Perspectives on the Amarna Letters. Prague: Czech Institute of Egyptology, 2007.
Naʾaman, Nadav. ‘Four Notes on the Size of Late Bronze Age Canaan’. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 313 (1999): 31–37.
Pryke, Louise M. ‘The Many Complaints to Pharaoh of Rib-Addi of Byblos’. Journal of the American Oriental Society 131, no. 3 (2011): 411–22.
Singer, Itamar. ‘The “Land of Amurru” and the “Lands of Amurru” in the Šaušgamuwa Treaty’. Iraq 53 (1991): 69–74.
Stieglitz, Robert R. ‘The City of Amurru’. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 50, no. 1 (1991): 45–48.
Van de Mieroop, Marc. A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2016.
Waterhouse, Samuel Douglas. ‘Syria in the Amarna Age’. Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Michigan, 1965.

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123: Amurrites and Where to Find Them

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Abdi-Ashirta and the Rise of Amurru. In the later years of Amunhotep III (father of Akhenaten) and the early years of Akhenaten himself, events in the north began to trouble the royal court. The Egyptian empire, long established in Canaan and Syria, was under threat. Great powers were rising, and regional vassals were starting to fight amongst themselves. Into this milieu, a man named Abdi-Ashirta began to make waves...

Episode date c.1365-1360 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Derek and Brandon Fiechter.
Intro music by Keith Zizza.

Select Bibliography:

Assmann, Jan. The Invention of Religion. Princeton University Press, 2018. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvc77519.
Campbell, Edward F. ‘The Amarna Letters and the Amarna Period’. The Biblical Archaeologist 23, no. 1 (1 February 1960): 2–22.
Cohen, Raymond, and Raymond Westbrook, eds. Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
Dalley, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others. Revised ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Goren, Yuval, Israel Finkelstein, and Nadav Naʾaman. ‘The Expansion of the Kingdom of Amurru According to the Petrographic Investigation of the Amarna Tablets’. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 329 (2003): 1–11.
Izre’el, Shlomo, and Itamar Singer. Amurru Akkadian: A Linguistic Study. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991.
James, Alan. ‘Egypt and Her Vassals: The Geopolitical Dimension’. In Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations, 112–24. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
Moran, William L. The Amarna Letters. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992.
Moran, William L., and ו”ל מוראן. ‘מותו של עבד-אשרת / The Death of Abdi-Ashirta’. Eretz-Israel: Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies / ארץ–ישראל: מחקרים בידיעת הארץ ועתיקותיה ט (1969): 94–99.
Morris, Ellen Fowles. The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom. Leiden: Brill, 2005.
Murnane, William J. Texts From the Amarna Period in Egypt. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
Murnane, William J. The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak. Chicago: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1985.
Mynářová, Jana. ‘Expressions of Dates and Time in the Amarna Letters’. Ägypten Und Levante / Egypt and the Levant 21 (2011): 123–28.
Mynářová, Jana. Language of Amarna – Language of Diplomacy: Perspectives on the Amarna Letters. Prague: Czech Institute of Egyptology, 2007.
Na’aman, Nadav. ‘David’s Sojourn in Keilah in Light of the Amarna Letters’. Vetus Testamentum 60, no. 1 (2010): 87–97.
Parzen, Rabbi Herbert. ‘The Problem of the Ibrim (“Hebrews”) in the Bible’. The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures 49, no. 3 (1933): 254–61.
Pryke, Louise M. ‘The Many Complaints to Pharaoh of Rib-Addi of Byblos’. Journal of the American Oriental Society 131, no. 3 (2011): 411–22.
Singer, Itamar. ‘The “Land of Amurru” and the “Lands of Amurru” in the Šaušgamuwa Treaty’. Iraq 53 (1991): 69–74.
Stieglitz, Robert R. ‘The City of Amurru’. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 50, no. 1 (1991): 45–48.
Van de Mieroop, Marc. A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2016.

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122: Letters from Akhet-Aten

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 08:05:00 -0000

A Man Living Alone. In the midst of Akhenaten's whirlwind reforms, and his radical decisions, it's easy to forget the impact this probably had on ordinary people. How did the folks who followed Akhenaten adjust to life in a completely new city? A few letters and texts, excavated in the old capital, give us a glimpse...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

Select Bibliography:

Susan Thorpe, Social Aspects in Ancient Egyptian Personal Correspondence, Unpublished PhD Thesis, 2016.
Edward F. Wente, Letters from Ancient Egypt, 1990.

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Amarna International (Part 2)

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Mediterranean, Aegean, Pirates. In the 14th Century BCE, records from Egypt hint at piracy and raiding across the sea. And artistic images even show Mycenaeans(?) at the pharaoh's court. All of this may reflect the history behind great stories like the Odyssey...

Date: c.1400 - 1300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Michael Levy, "Odysseus and the Sirens," www.ancientlyre.com.
Audio editing by www.yourpodcastpal.com.
See the "Mycenaean Papyrus" at the British Museum website. Mycenaean pottery from Amarna, at the Petrie Museum University College London.

Select Bibliography:

T. Bryce and J. Birkett-Rees, Atlas of the Ancient Near East from Prehistoric Times to the Roman Imperial Period (2016).
R. D’Amato and A. Salimbeti, Bronze Age Greek Warrior 1600 – 1100 BC (2011).
E. H. Cline, Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: International Trade and the Late Bronze Age Aegean (1994).
T. Everson, Warfare in Ancient Greece: Arms and Armour from the Heroes of Homer to Alexander the Great (2004).
J. M. Kelder, ‘Royal Gift Exchange Between Mycenae and Egypt: Olives as “Greeting Gifts” in the Late Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean’, American Journal of Archaeology 113 (2009), 339—352.
J. M. Kelder, ‘The Egyptian Interest in Mycenaean Greece’, Jaarbericht ‘Ex Oriente Lux’ 42 (2010), 125—140.
W. L. Moran, The Amarna Letters (1992).
E. D. Oren (ed.), The Sea Peoples and Their World: A Reassessment (2000).
C. Pulak, ‘Analysis of the Weight Assemblages from the Late Bronze Age Shipwrecks at Uluburun and Cape Gelidonya, Turkey, Volume I’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Texas A&M University (1996).
C. Pulak, ‘The Uluburun Shipwreck and Late Bronze Age Trade’, in J. Aruz et al. (eds), Beyond Babylon: Art, Trade, and Diplomacy in the Second Millennium B.C. (New Haven, 2008), 289–310.
Pulak, ‘Uluburun Shipwreck’, in E. H. Cline (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (2012), 863—876.
F. Rainey, The El-Amarna Correspondence: A New Edition of the Cuneiform Letters From the Site of El-Amarna Based On Collations of All Extant Tablets (2015).
L. Schofield and R. B. Parkinson, ‘Of Helmets and Heretics: A Possible Egyptian Representation of Mycenaean Warriors on a Papyrus from El-Amarna’, The Annual of the British School at Athens 89 (1994), 157–70.
F. Zangani, ‘Amarna and Uluburun: Reconsidering Patterns of Exchange in the Late Bronze Age’, Palestine Exploration Quarterly 148 (2016), 230—244.

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Amarna International (Part 1)

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 09:05:00 -0000

Egypt, Canaan, Babylon, Assyria. In the 14th Century BCE, travellers criss-crossed the world. Many came to Egypt for diplomacy, trade, and to live. In this episode, we explore three short stories relating to Egypt and its neighbours...

Episode details

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music intro: Michael Levy, "Babylonian Banquet" and "The Magic of Marduk," www.ancientlyre.com

Select Bibliography:

T. Bryce and J. Birkett-Rees, Atlas of the Ancient Near East from Prehistoric Times to the Roman Imperial Period (London, 2016).
M. H. Feldman, ‘Assur Tomb 45 and the Birth of the Assyrian Empire’, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (2006), 21–43.
Y. L. Holmes, ‘The Messengers of the Amarna Letters’, Journal of the American Oriental Society 95 (1975), 376–81.
S. Izre’el, The Amarna Scholarly Texts (Groningen, 1997).
I. Spar et al., Cuneiform Texts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I (New York, 1988).
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, ‘Amarna letter: Royal Letter from Ashur-uballit, the king of Assyria, to the king of Egypt ca. 1353–1336 B.C.’, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, <https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544695> accessed 4.18.2022.
University College London, ‘Amarna: the cuneiform tablets, background information’, Digital Egypt for Universities, <https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/amarna/cuneiform2.html> accessed 4.18.2022.
R. Westbrook, ‘Babylonian Diplomacy in the Amarna Letters’, The Journal of the American Oriental Society 120 (2000), 377.
A. Zivie, ‘The “Saga” of Aper-El’s Funerary Treasure’, in S. D’Auria (ed.), Offerings to the Discerning Eye: An Egyptological Medley in Honor of Jack A. Josephson (Leiden, 2010), 349–56.
A. Zivie, ‘Pharaoh’s Man, ‘Abdiel: The Vizier with a Semitic Name’, Biblical Archaeology Review 44 (2018).

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Akhenaten Phase 2 (Summary)

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 08:30:00 -0000

More Story So Far... We've covered a lot since Akhenaten abandoned the traditional capitals and moved to his new home of Akhet-Aten. Now, the second phase of pharaoh's rule lasted between regnal years 6 and 12 (c.1357-1351 BCE). In this time, the King completed many of the goals he initiated back in phase 1. Then, he began to build on those, further refining his ideas and moving forward into new territory...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

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121: Akhenaten, King of the World (Festival of Tribute)

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:05:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 11). By 1351 BCE, Akhenaten had achieved many of his early goals. His city, Akhet-Aten, was established, his religious ideas were reaching maturity, and the King could begin to express his vision of Aten in a new way. Finally, pharaoh could celebrate his mastery over foreign populations. Thus, in 1351 BCE, Egypt played host to a grand celebration of tribute…

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

John Coleman Darnell and Colleen Manassa, Tutankhamun’s Armies: Battle and Conquest during Ancient Egypt’s Late Eighteenth Dynasty, 2007.
Benedict G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, vol. VI, 1995.
Norman De Garis Davies and Seymour De Ricci, The Rock Tombs of El Amarna, Volume II: The Tombs of Panehesy and Meryra II, 1905.
Norman De Garis Davies and Seymour De Ricci, The Rock Tombs of El Amarna, Volume III: The Tombs of Huya and Ahmes, 1905.
Barry J. Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012/2014.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William Moran, The Amarna Letters, 1993.
Alan R. Schulman, “Some Observations on the Military Background of the Amarna Period.” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 3 (1964): 51-69.
Alan R. Schulman, “Hittites, Helmets and Amarna: Akhenaten’s First Hittite War,” in Donald B. Redford, The Akhenaten Temple Projec, Volume II: Rwd-Mnw and Inscriptions, 1988.
Anthony J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.

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120: Queen Tiye, Reverend Mother

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:05:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 10): Queen Tiye's Retirement. For the first decade of Akhenaten's rule, his mother Tiye was a background figure. But we have more evidence for her later years than you'd expect, including magnificent art and objects. Plus, the Queen herself returned to public life when she made a splendid visit to pharaoh's new city...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold “Artistic Revolution” in Dorothea Arnold (ed.) The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt (1996): 7-17. Free download.
John Baines, “The Dawn of the Amarna Age,” in David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Lawrence M. Berman, “Overview of Amenhotep III and His Reign,” in David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Betsy M. Bryan, “Antecedents to Amenhotep III,” in David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Eric H. Cline, “Amenhotep III, the Aegean, and Anatolia,” in David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Benedict G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, vols. IV, V, V, 1992, 1994, 1995.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2012.
Rita Freed, Yvonne Markowiz, Sue D’auria (eds.), Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, 1999.
Green, “The Royal Women of Amarna: Who Was Who,” in Dorothea Arnold (ed.) The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt (1996): 7-17. Free download.
Raymond Johnson, “Monuments and Monumental Art Under Amenhotep III: Evolution and Meaning,” in David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Barry Kemp, City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff & Betsy M. Bryan (eds.), Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amunhotep III and His World, 1992.
Arielle P. Kozloff, “The Decorative and Funerary Arts During the Reign of Amenhotep III,” in David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William Flinders Petrie, Illahun, Kahun & Ghurob, 1894.
Lana Troy, Patterns of Queenship in Ancient Egyptian Myth and History, 1986.
Christiane Ziegler, Queens of Egypt: from Hetepheres to Cleopatra, 2008.
James M. Weinstein, “The World Abroad: Egypt and the Levant in the Reign of Amenhotep III,” in David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Websites:
Egyptian Museum, Berlin, Room 2.09, The Amarna Period.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Work, Objects Related to Tiye.
British Museum, Stela of Amunhotep III and Tiye.

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The Doomed Prince

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 08:05:00 -0000

Ancient Fairytales (Part 2). Sometime in the 18th Dynasty, perhaps around the time of Akhenaten, a fairy-tale became popular in Egypt. The story spoke of a prince, forced to flee his home after a prophecy foretold that he would die from one of three fates - a dog, a snake, or a crocodile. Leaving Egypt, the prince went on many adventures - some quite familiar from our own fairy tales. Inevitably, though, the young man had to face his destiny, and confront the three fates which came for him...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom, 1976.
George Posener, “On the Tale of the Doomed Prince,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 39 (1953). JSTOR.
William Kelly Simpson (ed.), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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The Tale of Two Brothers

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 08:05:00 -0000

Ancient Fairytales (Part 1). In the late 18th or early 19th Dynasties, a story developed in Egypt. It told of two siblings, Anubis and Bata, who contended with injustice and misfortune. Facing treachery, divine intervention and even the pharaoh himself, the two brothers overcame obstacles and sought to restore justice, against those who did them wrong. In this fairytale, we see how two (divine) beings contended with falsehood.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Susan T. Hollis, The Ancient Egyptian “Tale of Two Brothers:” The Oldest Fairy Tale in the World, 1990.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom, 1976.
Thomas Schneider, “Innovation in Literature on Behalf of Politics: The Tale of the Two Brothers, Ugarit, and 19th Dynasty History,” Egypt and the Levant 18 (2008). Online.
William Kelly Simpson (ed.), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Pascale M. Teysseire, Portrayal of Women in the Ancient Egyptian Tale, PhD. Dissertation, 1998.

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119: Tut-ankh-Aten (Tutankhamun the Prince)

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 08:05:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 9): A Royal Son. By 1352 BCE, Akhenaten and his family were well ensconced in the palaces of Amarna. The pharaoh could enjoy the company of his Great Wife, Nefertiti, and his three elder daughters. He could also enjoy the pleasures afforded by his second wife and look forward to the eventual birth of his son, a prince who would become one of the most famous names in Egyptian history...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2012.
Lyn Green, ‘The Royal Women of Amarna: Who Was Who’, in D. Arnold et al. (eds), The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt (New York, 1999), 7--16. Free download.
Nozomu Kawai, Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun, PhD Diss., 2006. Preview.
Barry Kemp, City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
Arris Kramer, “Enigmatic Kiya,” in A.K. Eyma and C.J. Bennett (eds.), A Delta-Man in Yebu: Occasional Volume of the Egyptologists’ Electronic Forum, Volume I (2003): 48-64. Google Books preview.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. I: The Tomb of Meryre, 1903. Archive.org.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William J. Murnane and Cornel van Siclen III, The Boundary Stelae of Akhenaten, 1993.
Alain Zivie, La tombe de Maïa, mère nourricière du roi Toutânkhamon et grande du harem (Bub. I. 20), 2009.
Alain Zivie, “La nourrice royale Maïa et ses voisins: cinq tombeaux du Nouvel Empire récemment découverts à Saqqara” Comptes rendus des séances de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (1998): 33-54. Online edition.

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118b: Funding the Aten Temples

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:45:00 -0000

Around 1354 BCE (regnal year 8), Akhenaten took care to organise his new royal city. Among other things he expanded the agricultural domain which would serve Aten (the sun god), and he also appointed new priests and administrators to manage his temples. As the first decade of his rule came towards its end, Akhenaten's vision was finally starting to become reality...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2012.
Barry Kemp, City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. I: The Tomb of Meryre, 1903. Archive.org.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. II: The Tombs of Panehsy and Meryre II, 1905. Archive.org.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. V: Smaller Tombs and Boundary Stela, 1908. Archive.org.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William J. Murnane and Cornel van Siclen III, The Boundary Stelae of Akhenaten, 1993.

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118: The Temples of Aten

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 08:05:00 -0000

Amarna (Part 5): Great Temples. When he established his new residence-city, Akhenaten made special provision for his god’s house. Two great temples, dedicated to the solar disc, rose on the east bank of the Nile River. Searching the archaeological remains, and scouring the artistic record of these temples, we can get a sense of how Akhenaten worshipped his god; and some of the symbols and meanings he used to express it...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2012.
Barry Kemp, City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
J.D.S. Pendlebury, The City of Akhenaten, Part III, Vol II, 1951.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984.
Eric Uphill, “The Per Aten at Amarna,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1970.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. I: The Tomb of Meryre, 1903. Archive.org.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. II: The Tombs of Panehsy and Meryre II, 1905. Archive.org.

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Akhnaten (a MetOpera Cast Interview)

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 08:05:00 -0000

In 1983, Philip Glass debuted his opera Akhnaten, a bold musical exploration of the pharaoh, his reign and his legacy. Now, Akhnaten returns in a new run. Akhnaten by The Metropolitan Opera, in New York, is running from November 8th to December 7th, 2019 and will be broadcast worldwide in cinemas; find tickets here

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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117: Adoring Ra (or Where Did Akhenaten Get His Ideas?)

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 08:05:00 -0000

Precursors to Atenism.

The god Aten has a long history; and in the 18th Dynasty, many Egyptians were praising the sun god in a variety of forms (Ra, Atum, Horakhty, Aten, Khepri etc). Akhenaten's reforms were radical, but they have some obvious roots. Looking at several religious texts, side by side, we can see how the sun god became a major, universal deity at this time...

Date = 1400-1360 BCE
King = Akhenaten
Queen = Nefertiti
Location = Thebes and Amarna
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Sistrum by Hathor Systrum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7pYdPOS4yw.

Select Bibliography:

Jan Assmann, Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom, 1995.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. IV: The Tombs of Penthu, Mahu and Others, 1906. Online edition at Archive.org.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. VI: The Tombs of Parennefer, Tutu, and Aye, 1908. Online edition at Archive.org.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Jean Saint Fare Garnot, “Notes on the Inscriptions of Suty and Ḥor (British Museum Stela No. 826),” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 35 (1949): 63-68.
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & The Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Erik Hornung, Akhenaten and the Religion of Light, 1999.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol. 2, 1976.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
OIP, The Tomb of Kheruef, 1980. Online edition at University of Chicago.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten the Heretic King, 1987. Online edition at Archive.org.
H.M. Stewart, “A Possibly Contemporary Parallel to the Inscription of Suty and Hor,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 43 (1957): 3-5.
Stephen Quirke, The Cult of Ra: Sun-Worship in Ancient Egypt, 2001.

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116: Akhenaten's Great Hymn

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:00:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 7): The Great Hymn to Aten.

In 1356 BCE, Egypt sweltered under the heat of Aten's rays; the god's servant, King Akhenaten, glorified the deity above all. We see this in some remarkable prayers and hymns which survive in the hidden tombs of Akhenaten's city. In these sepulchres, we find glimpses of the King's beliefs and how he expressed them...

Date = c.1356 BCE
King = Akhenaten
Queen = Nefertiti
Location = Akhet-Aten / Amarna
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Aten Hymn Translation: UCL Website
Cyril Aldred, Akhenaten King of Egypt, 1988.
Jan Assmann, Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom, 1995.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. VI: The Tombs of Parennefer, Tutu, and Aye, 1908.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & The Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Erik Hornung, Akhenaten and the Religion of Light, 1999.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol. 2, 1976.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William J. Murnane and Charles van Siclen III, The Boundary Stelae of Akhenaten, 1993.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten the Heretic King, 1987
Stephen Quirke, The Cult of Ra: Sun-Worship in Ancient Egypt, 2001.

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Tomb Builders of Amarna

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 15:07:00 -0000

Amarna Tales (Part 1). East of Akhet-Aten (Amarna), a walled-village hides among the hills. This "East Village" is a well-ordered, secluded community. It seems to be the new home of pharaoh's tomb builders. Originally, they lived at Deir el-Medina in west Luxor. But when Akhenaten founded his new royal city, the tomb-builders left their homes and came here. Today, archaeologists have uncovered a vast amount of material. Homes, animal pens, chapels, and countless artefacts shed light on daily life and family organisation in ancient Egypt. From homes to chapels, guard-houses to water depots, the East Village offers fantastic insights. It even includes traces of Tutankhamun, before he abandoned Amarna...

Episode details:

Date: c.1355 - 1340 BCE.
Location: Akhet-Aten (el-Amarna).
Kings: Akhenaten, Neferneferuaten, Tutankhaten/Tutankhamun.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: A battle standard or soldier's emblem, with a sigil of Wepwawet (Kemp 2012).
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.
Music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

Read reports on the East Village and other aspects of Amarna's archaeology free, at The Amarna Project.
M. Bierbrier, The Tomb-Builders of the Pharaohs (1982).
A. H. Bomann, The Private Chapel in Ancient Egypt: A Study of the Chapels in the Workmen’s Village at El Amarna with Special Reference to Deir el Medina and Other Sites (1991).
B. G. Davies, Life Within the Five Walls: A Handbook to Deir el-Medina (2018).
B. Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People (2012).
B. J. Kemp, Amarna Reports I (1984). Free at The Amarna Project.
B. J. Kemp, ‘The Amarna Workmen’s Village in Retrospect’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 73 (1987), 21–50.
T. E. Peet and C. L. Woolley, The City of Akhenaten, Volume I (1923). Available free at Archive.org.
A. Stevens, Private Religion at Amarna. The Material Evidence (2006).
A. Stevens, ‘Private Religion in the Amarna Suburbs’, in F. Kampp-Seyfried (ed.), In the Light of Amarna: 100 Years of the Nefertiti Discovery (2012), 95—97.
A. Stevens, ‘Visibility, Private Religion and the Urban Landscape of Amarna’, in M. Dalton et al. (eds.), Seen & Unseen Spaces (2015), 77—84.

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Akhenaten Phase 1 (Summary)

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 09:05:00 -0000

The Story So Far... We've covered a lot since Amunhotep IV / Akhenaten appeared on the throne of Egypt. Today, we take a breather to sort it all out and summarise what we've seen so far. This will put us on a good footing for even more drama in the years to come...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

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115b: Amarna, Building Quickly

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 10:00:00 -0000

Amarna (Part 4): Raising a City in Haste.

When Akhenaten demanded a new royal residence (Akhet-Aten), it fell to countless labourers, overseers and donkeys to gather the material needed for the city. Archaeologists scouring the landscape of Akhet-Aten and its neighbourhood have found a great deal of evidence for stone quarrying, ancient road networks, and even the rudimentary concrete used to strengthen buildings...

Date. c.1357 BCE
King: Akhenaten (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re)
Queen: Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten)
Location: Amarna (Akhet-Aten)
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Barry Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
W.M. Flinders Petrie, Tell el Amarna, 1894.
James A. Harrell, “Amarna gypsite: A new source of gypsum for ancient Egypt,” Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (2016). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.12.031

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115: Hatiay's House

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Amarna (Part 3): House of a Master Builder.

The Overseer of Works, Hatiay, was one of Akhenaten's most prominent and useful servants. He helped build pharaoh's new city, bringing the vision to life, by organising work teams and resources for the massive construction projects. Along the way, Hatiay received many perks, including one of the nicest houses discovered at the site...

Date: c.1357 BCE (regnal year 6).
Pharaoh: Akhenaten (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re).
Queen: Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten).
Locations: Akhet-Aten (Amarna).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Henri Frankfort; H W Fairman; J D S Pendlebury, The City of Akhenaten II: The North Suburb and the Desert Altars, 1933.
Barry Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984.

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114b: Akhenaten, Defining the Horizons

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 09:05:00 -0000

Amarna (Part 2): Akhenaten's Priorities and Mindset.

A short side episode, concerning Akhenaten's mind-set around the time he moved to Amarna. Did the King always plan this city? Did he want to live here forever and never leave? And how did he think about the community he was developing? We explore these questions...

Date: c.1357 BCE (Regnal Year 6).
King: Akhenaten (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re).
Queen: Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten Neferet-Iti).
Locations: Thebes (Waset); Amarna (Akhet-Aten).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Marianne Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun, 2016.
Marc Gabolde, Akhenaten a Toutankhamoun, 1998.
Barry Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
Dimitri Laboury, Akhenaton les grand pharaons, 2010.
Phillipe Martinez, “Un monument préamarnien ignoré: Le Ramesséum,” Memnonia 15 (2004): 123-150.
Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005.
William J. Murnane, The Boundary Stelae of Akhenaten, 1993.
William J. Murnane, Texts From the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984.

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114: Akhenaten's New City (Amarna)

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 09:05:00 -0000

In regnal year 5, Akhenaten decreed the foundations of his new city devoted to the sun god. One year later, the King returned to perform ceremonies and to review what had been completed...

Date: c.1357 BCE (regnal year 6)
King: Akhenaten (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re)
Queen: Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten)
Cities: Amarna (Akhet-Aten)
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza (www.keithzizza.com).
Music by Michael Levy (www.ancientlyre.com).

Select Bibliography:

Betsy M. Bryan, “New Kingdom Sculpture,” in Allan B. Lloyd, A Companion to Ancient Egypt, 2 volumes, 2010.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Barry Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005.
William J. Murnane, Texts From the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
T.E. Peet and C. Leonard Woolley, The City of Akhenaten Part I: Excavations of 1921 and 1922 at El-Amarneh, 1923.
J.D.S Pendlebury, The City of Akhenaten Part III: The Central City and The Official Quarters, 2 volumes, 1951. Available at Archive.org: Volume I: Texts & Volume II: Plates
Sir W. M. Flinders Petrie, Tell el Amarna, 1894. Available at Archive.org.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984.
Donald B. Redford, “Akhenaten: New Theories, Old Facts,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 369 (2013): 9-34.
Patrick C. Salland, Palatial Paintings and Programs: The Symbolic World of the Egyptian Palace in the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BCE), Unpublished PhD Dissertation, 2015.
Fran Weatherhead, Wall-Paintings from the King’s House at Amarna, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 81 (1995): 95-113.

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113: Akhenaten, Effective for Aten

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 09:05:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 6): New Name, Who Dis? In regnal year 5, Amunhotep IV reached the conclusion of his early ideological development. His views had crystallized and he was ready to express them more explicitly than before. Soon, pharaoh issued a public declaration; he would now be called Akh-en-Aten...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

Cyril Aldred, Akhenaten King of Egypt, 1988 edition.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Rock Tombs of el-Amarna, Vol. V: the Smaller Tombs and Boundary Stelae, 1908. Available at Archive.org
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Francis Llewellyn Griffith, The Petrie Papyri: Hieratic Papyri from Kahun and Gurob, 1898. Available at Archive.org
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & the Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Barry Kemp, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People, 2012.
Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1987.

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112: Akhenaten 's Artistic Revolution

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 09:55:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 5): Amarna Art.

Around the time of his Sed-Festival, Amunhotep IV introduced a whole new form of artistic representation. Royal imagery was reworked from the ground up, including new proportions, displays and themes. In this episode, we explore the changes to relief and sculpture, and meet the artisans who put pharaoh's vision into practice...

Time Period: c.1359 BCE (regnal year 4)
King: Amunhotep IV (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re, Imen-Hetep)
Queen: Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten Neferet-Iti)
Locations: Thebes (Waset), Aswan (Elephantine).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza (www.keithzizza.com).
Join the Agora Podcast Network at the Intelligent Speech Conference AND get 5% off your order with the discount code EGYPT (https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/shop/).

Select Bibliography:

Cyril Aldred, Akhenaten King of Egypt, 1988.
Dorothea Arnold, Lyn Green and James Allen, The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, 1999 (MetMuseum).
N. de Garis Davies, The Tomb of the Vizier Ramose, 1941. Archive.org.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Earl L. Ertman, “Images of Amenhotep IV and Nefertiti in the Style of the Previous Reign,” in Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, 2009 (Google Books).
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & the Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Lise Manniche, The Akhenaten Colossi at Karnak, 2010.
Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1987.
Donald B. Redford, The Akhenaten Temple Project vol. II: Rwd-Mnw and Inscriptions, 1988.
Donald B. Redford, “Akhenaten: New Theories, Old Facts,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (2013): 9-34. JSTOR.
Nicholas Reeves, Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet, 2005.
Gay Robins, Proportion and Style in Ancient Egyptian Art, 1994.
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 1997.
Ray Winfield Smith and Donald B. Redford, The Akhenaten Temple Project vol. I: Initial Discoveries, 1976.
Joyce Tyldesley, Nefertiti’s Face: Creation of an Icon, 2018.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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111: Aten the Royal God

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 09:05:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 4). In 1360 BCE, regnal year 3, King Nefer-kheperu-Re Amunhotep IV made some of his most startling decisions yet. Promoting the sun disc, Aten, even further, Amunhotep began to give the god royal accessories (cartouches, uraei etc) and present it as a being tied intimately with the pharaoh. This culminated in an unprecedented event: a Sed-Festival, celebrated at Karnak, and shared by the King and God together...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Select Bibliography:

Smith and Redford, Akhenaten Temple Project, 1976.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Jocelyn Gohary, Akhenaten’s Sed-Festival at Karnak, 1992.
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & the Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1987.
Donald B. Redford, The Akhenaten Temple Project vol. II: Rwd-Mnw and Inscriptions, 1988.
Donald B. Redford, “Akhenaten: New Theories, Old Facts,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (2013): 9-34. JSTOR.
Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William J. Murnane, “Observations on Pre-Amarna Theology During the Earliest Reign of Amenhotep IV,” Gold of Praise: Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honor of Edward F. Wente (1999): 303-317.
Nicholas Reeves, Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet, 2005.
Ray Winfield Smith and Donald B. Redford, The Akhenaten Temple Project vol. I: Initial Discoveries, 1976.
Eric Uphill, “The Sed-Festivals of Akhenaton,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies (1963): 123-127. JSTOR.

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110: The Aten Appears

Wed, 15 May 2019 09:00:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 3): Revelation of a Religion.

Soon after he came to power, Amunhotep IV (later Akhenaten) began to reveal his unique vision of god and the world. A remarkable amount of evidence survives for this crucial period: from a royal speech, magnificent temples at Karnak and a massive artistic shift, the King revealed his strange and fascinating ideas...

Time period: c.1361 BCE (regnal year 2)
King: Amunhotep IV (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re)
Queen: Nefertiti (Nefer-neferu-Aten Neferet-iti)
Locations: Waset (Thebes); Gebel el-Silsila
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music: Derek & Brandon Fiechter https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/

Select Bibliography:

ATP – Smith and Redford, Akhenaten Temple Project, 1976.
Dorothea Arnold, Lyn Green and James Allen, The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, 1999 (MetMuseum).
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of ancient Egypt, 2010.
Earl L. Ertman, “Images of Amenhotep IV and Nefertiti in the Style of the Previous Reign,” in Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, 2009 (Google Books).
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & the Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Donald B. Redford, “A Royal Speech From the Blocks of the Tenth Pylon,” Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar 3 (1981).
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1987.
Lise Manniche, The Akhenaten Colossi at Karnak, 2010.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
Ray Winfield Smith and Donald B. Redford, The Akhenaten Temple Project: Initial Discoveries, 1976.
Joyce Tyldesley, Nefertiti’s Face: Creation of an Icon, 2018.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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Nefertiti and the Uluburun Shipwreck

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 08:05:00 -0000

Or, the Life Aquatic with Gold Scarabs... Around 1325 BCE (estimates vary) a vessel sank near the cape of Uluburun, Turkey. The cargo was immense: twenty tonnes of goods, including copper, ivory, ornamental objects, spices, and more. Amid the finds, a curious item came to light: a gold scarab, bearing the name Neferneferuaten Nefertiti... What was a Nefertiti scarab doing on a trade ship, far from Egypt? And what do the finds tell us about the ship, its crew, and ancient trade?

The Uluburun Shipwreck:

Date: c.1325 BCE (estimated).
Cultures: Multiple, including Egyptian, Canaanite, Syrian, and Mycenaean.
Ship destination: Possibly the Aegean, western Anatolia, or even the Balkans.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Divers working on the Uluburun wreck, via The Institute of Nautical Archaeology website.
Catalogue of objects in Beyond Babylon, 2008. Free pdf from MMA.
Image gallery at The Institute of Nautical Archaeology website.
Artefacts in the Bodrum museum, on Flickr.com.
Miscellaneous items, at Wikimedia.
A replica of the ship, Uluburun II, at Underwater360.
A lecture by Cemal Pulak, one of the lead excavators. YouTube.

Select Bibliography:

G. Bass et al., ‘The Bronze Age Shipwreck at Ulu Burun: 1986 Campaign’, American Journal of Archaeology 93 (1989), 1–29.
C. M. Monroe, ‘Sunk Costs at Late Bronze Age Uluburun’, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 357 (2010), 19–33.
C. Pulak, ‘Analysis of the Weight Assemblages from the Late Bronze Age Shipwrecks at Uluburun and Cape Gelidonya, Turkey, Volume I’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Texas A&M University (1996).
C. Pulak, ‘The Uluburun Shipwreck: An Overview’, The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 27 (1998), 188–224.
C. Pulak, ‘The Uluburun Shipwreck and Late Bronze Age Trade’, in Beyond Babylon: Art, Trade, and Diplomacy in the Second Millennium B.C. (2008), 289–310. Book available free, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
C. Pulak, ‘Uluburun Shipwreck’, in The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (2012), 863—876.
C. Pulak, lecture on YouTube.
J. Weinstein, ‘The Bronze Age Shipwreck at Ulu Burun: 1986 Campaign, Part 3: The Gold Scarab of Nefertiti from Ulu Burun: Its Implications for Egyptian History and Egyptian-Aegean Relations’, American Journal of Archaeology 93 (1989), 17–29.

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109: Queen Nefertiti feat. Dr. Joyce Tyldesley

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 09:05:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 2): The Great Queen(s)... In 1361 BCE, Amunhotep IV was settled into his power. It was time to find a queen - his choice would be one of Egypt's most famous women...

This episode covers Amunhotep's diplomatic engagements with Mitanni and the first appearance (and origins) of Nefertiti. Also, we present part 2 of our interview with Dr. Joyce Tyldesley of Manchester University...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold, Lyn Green and James Allen, The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt, 1999 (MetMuseum)
Norman de Garis Davis, Rock Tombs of el-Amarna: Part VI: The Tombs of Parennefer, Tutu and Ay, 1908 (Archive.org).
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Earl L. Ertman, “Images of Amenhotep IV and Nefertiti in the Style of the Previous Reign,” in Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, 2009 (Google Books).
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & the Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1987.
Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005.
William L. Moran, The Amarna Letters, 1992.
Nicholas Reeves, Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet, 2005.
Joyce Tyldesley, Nefertiti’s Face: Creation of an Icon, 2018.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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108: Amunhotep IV (Akhenaten)

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Akhenaten (Part 1): Conventional Start.

Around 1362 BCE, the reign of Amunhotep IV began. Although destined to shake the Egyptian state, this King began with some surprisingly conventional choices. His monuments and art are a far cry from what he would become...

Time period: c.1362 BCE (regnal year 1)
King: Amunhotep IV (Nefer-kheperu-Re Wa-en-Re).
Notable sites: Karnak (Ipet-Sut); West Bank of Thebes (Waset).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza (keithzizza.com).

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of ancient Egypt, 2010.
The Epigraphic Survey, The Tomb of Kheruef: Theban Tomb 192, 1980 (Digital Edition).
James K. Hoffmeier, Akhenaten & the Origins of Monotheism, 2015.
Erik Hornung, Akhenaten and the Religion of Light, 1999.
Donald B. Redford, “Akhenaten: New Theories, Old Facts,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2013.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1987.
Dominic Montserrat, Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt, 2005.
William J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
William J. Murnane, “On the Accession Date of Akhenaten,” Studies in Honor of George R. Hughes, 1976.
William J. Murnane, “Observations on Pre-Amarna Theology During the Earliest Reign of Amenhotep IV,” Gold of Praise: Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honor of Edward F. Wente, 1999.
Nicholas Reeves, Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet, 2005.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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107: Looking Back

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 14): The End. In his last regnal years, Neb-ma'at-Re Amunhotep III experienced victories and defeats. While his health declined, the pharaoh got into a serious argument with the King of Babylon, inspected his magnificent tomb, and celebrated one last Sed-Festival. Finally, after 38 years on the throne, the inevitable moment arrived...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza.
Music by Michael Levy

Select bibliography:

Dieter Arnold, The Monuments of Egypt, 2009.
Lawrence M. Berman (ed.), The Art of Amenhotep III: Art Historical Analysis, 1987.
Norman G. Bisset (et al.), “Was Opium Known in 18th Dynasty Ancient Egypt? An Examination of Materials from the Tomb of the Chief Royal Architect Kha” Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant (1996): 199-201.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of ancient Egypt, 2010.
The Epigraphic Survey, The Tomb of Kheruef: Theban Tomb 192, 1980 (Digital Edition).
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
Marc van de Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000 – 323 BC, 2016.
William L. Moran, The Amarna Letters, 1992.
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 2001.
Nicholas Reeves and Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings, 2008.
G.E. Smith, The Royal Mummies, 1912 (Chicago Digital Edition).
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
The Theban Mapping Project: KV22 (Amunhotep III)
Osiris.Net: WV22 (Amunhotep III)
Website of The Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative

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106b: Last Monuments (Bonus)

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Bonus Episode! Lesser-known Monuments of Amunhotep III.

By the last years of his reign, c.1365 BCE, King Amunhotep had dozens of important monuments going up throughout Egypt and Nubia. But some of these have been overlooked. In this bonus episode, we explore some of the King's lesser-known structures. We also take a guided tour of Luxor Temple, now almost finished...

Time period: c.1365 BCE (year 35).
King: Amunhotep III (Neb-ma'at-Re).
Notable sites: Memphis (Hwt-ka-Ptah), Thebes (Waset), Malqata (Nebmaatre-Aten-Tjehen).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza keithzizza.com

Select Bibliography:

Lanny Bell, “Luxor Temple and the Cult of the Royal Ka,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies (1985).
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Anna Garnett, “‘The Like of Which Never Existed’: The Memphite Building Programme of Amenhotep III,” Current Research in Egyptology (2009).
Anna Koltsida, “The North Palace at Malkata,” Archiv für Orientforschung (2011).
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 2001.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, 2000.

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106: Mail-Order Bride

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 13): Foreign Wives and Magnificent Tiye

By 1366 BCE, Amunhotep was on top of the world: foreign kings begged his friendship and they were willing to pay (beautifully) to get it. Meanwhile, Queen Tiye enjoyed an unprecedented level of parity with her husband, expressed quite publicly in grand monuments...

Time period: c.1366 BCE
Kings: Amunhotep III, Tushratta of Mitanni
Notable sites: Kingdom of Mitanni, Waset (Thebes), Bubastis
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

Select Bibliography:

Trevor Bryce, Ancient Syria, 2014.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of ancient Egypt, 2010.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
Marc van de Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000 – 323 BC, 2016.
William L. Moran, The Amarna Letters:, 1992.
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 2001.
Joyce Tyldesley, Nefertiti: Egypt’s Sun Queen, 1998.

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105: The Sun King

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 12): Pharaoh as a God. By 1366 BCE, Amunhotep III was ready to celebrate a second sed-festival. However, the King's pretensions had begun to reach celestial heights - in regnal year 34 he appeared to be an equal to the gods themselves...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Michela Schiff Giorgini (et al.), Soleb, (multiple volumes), 2002-2003.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 2001.

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104: A Wealthy House

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Daily Life in New Kingdom Egypt.

Around 1370 BCE, wealthy Egyptians enjoyed a comfortable and well-furnished lifestyle. From their tombs, houses and scattered texts, we can get a sense of daily life for ancient aristocrats...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

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Mini Episode: Egyptian Dinosaurs

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 10:05:00 -0000

Egypt in the Cretaceous period.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Brandon Feichter (Bandcamp).

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Mini Episode: An Intact Tomb

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 08:45:00 -0000

Kha and Merit, an Intact Tomb. In 1906, a remarkable discovery came to light: the tomb of a middle-class couple, who lived in the town of Deir el-Medina. Here, amid the craftsmen and specialists who made tombs, a man named Kha and a woman named Merit enjoyed an affluent lifestyle. When they died, they were interred with all their worldly possessions and slept undisturbed for 3300 years. Then, a wonderful discovery occurred and an ancient story came to life...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

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103: The House of Rejoicing (Malqata Palace)

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 11): The Royal Palace and a King's Life.

By 1370 BCE, King Amunhotep III was living in a sumptuous palace at Thebes. Built for the first sed-festival (ep.100), the "House of Rejoicing" was a magnificent structure with many beautiful elements. Today, we start to explore how a pharaoh lived and the lifestyle they enjoyed...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aikaterini Koltsida, “The North Palace at Malkata,” Archiv für Orientforschung 2011.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
William C. Hayes, “Inscriptions from the Palace of Amenhotep III,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 1951.
Peter Lacovara, The New Kingdom Royal City, 1999.
Peter Lacovara, “Recent Work at Malqata Palace,” conference paper 2013.
Franck Monnier, “Scientific Reconstruction of the Palace of Amenhotep III at Malqata,” in Peter Lacovara (ed.) Studies on The Palace of Amenhotep III at Malqata 2019 (forthcoming).
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 2001.
Website of the Joint Expedtion to Malqata: https://imalqata.wordpress.com/

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102b: Colourful Keftiu (Twilight on Crete)

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 10:05:00 -0000

The Minoans Fade Away. In 1370 BCE, an Egyptian embassy visited the Aegean. As part of their journey, they came to Crete, visiting the Keftiu (Minoans) who had ruled the island for 1000 years. Until now....

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com
Music by Derek & Brandon Fiechter www.dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/

Select Bibliography:

Baruch Brandl (et al.), “Beth-Shemesh and Sellopoulo: Two Commemorative Scarabs of Amenhotep III and Their Contribution to Aegean Chronology,” The Annual of the British School at Athens 108 (2013).
Eric H. Cline, “Amenhotep III and the Aegean: A Reassessment of Egypto-Aegean Relations in the 14th Century B.C.,” Orientalia 56 (1987).
Nanno Marinatos, Minoan Religion: Ritual, Image and Symbol, 1993.
David O’Connor and Eric H. Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Cynthia W. Shelmerdine, “Mycenaean Palatial Administration,” in Deger-Jalkotzy and Lemos (eds.) Ancient Greece: From the Mycenaean Palaces to the Age of Homer, 2006.
Malcolm H. Wiener, “The Absolute Chronology of Late Helladic III A2 Revisited,” The Annual of the British School at Athens 98 (2003).

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102: An Egyptian Odyssey (Passage to Greece)

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Ancient Egypt and the Greeks of Mycenae. It's time to set sail! We journey far from Egypt to visit lands only whispered about until now. We are visiting Greece and the lands of Mycenae, who in 1370 BCE were beginning to make their mark on the international scene.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Outro music by Doug Metzger www.literatureandhistory.com/.
Harp music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.
Intro music by Gabriel Yared www.gabrielyared.com.

Select Bibliography:

Eric H. Cline, “Amenhotep III and the Aegean: A Reassessment of Egypto-Aegean Relations in the 14th Century B.C.,” Orientalia 56 (1987).
Elizabeth French, Mycenae: Agamemnon’s Capital: the Site and its Setting, 2002.
Jorrit M. Kelder, “Royal Gift Exchange between Mycenae and Egypt: Olives as “Greeting Gifts” in the Late Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean,” American Journal of Archaeology 113 (2009).
Christine Lilyquist, “On the Amenhotep III Inscribed Faience Fragments from Mycenae,” Journal of the American Oriental Society 119 (1999).
David O’Connor and Eric H. Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Cynthia W. Shelmerdine, “Mycenaean Palatial Administration,” in Deger-Jalkotzy and Lemos (eds.) Ancient Greece: From the Mycenaean Palaces to the Age of Homer, 2006.
Lord William Taylour, The Mycenaeans, 1964.
Lord William Taylour and Elizabeth French, Well-Built Mycenae: the Helleno-British excavations within the Citadel at Mycenae, 1959-1969, 1981-2013.
Malcolm H. Wiener, “The Absolute Chronology of Late Helladic III A2 Revisited,” The Annual of the British School at Athens 98 (2003).

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Ancient Egyptian Religion with Dr. Campbell Price

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Private Worship and Images in New Kingdom Egypt.

00:00 - 32:00 18th Dynasty (see episode 101b).
32:00 - 90:00 Private Worship and Images in New Kingdom Egypt.
Check out Campbell's new book Pocket Museum: Ancient Egypt, available at all good retailers (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Additional Music by Derek and Brandon Feichter https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/

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101b: Successful Statues (with Dr. Campbell Price)

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 10:05:00 -0000

The Man Who Became a God.

In this episode we look at the divine statues of Amunhotep son of Hapu(c.1370 BCE) and how they helped him become a god. With me for this episode is Dr. Campbell Price, Curator of Egypt and Sudan at the Manchester Museum, University of Manchester. Dr. Price is an expert on non-royal statues and religion and he generously agreed to discuss these topics with me. The result was a wonderful interview, that I think you'll really enjoy!

Chapter Times:

00:00 Prologue,

02:47 Episode Intro,

04:00 Amuhotep Son of Hapu as a god,

08:00 Pilgrims to Amunhotep Hapu's statues,

14:45 Campbell Price Interview (Part 1),

27:07 Campbell Price Interview (Part 2),

47:40 Summary and Conclusion,

49:07 Epilogue.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com
Sistrum by Hathor Systrum www.hathorsystrum.com/

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101: Hapu's Son

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Success After Fifty. In 1470 BCE, King Amunhotep III's closest advisor was already eighty years old. The scribe, overseer and wise man Amunhotep Son of Hapu achieved prominence quite late in life, but he did not waste the opportunity. From a small town in the Delta, to the vast construction sites of Thebes, a royal scribe went to work for his pharaoh, and gained immortality...

Chapter Times:

Intro.
Amunhotep's Statues 02:25.
Early life 05:40.
Rise to Prominence 11:25.
The Colossi of Memnon 15:13.
King's Counsellor 19:55.
The Sed Festival 24:08.
Conclusion 30:45.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.
Sistrum by Hathor Systrum www.hathorsystrum.com/.

Select bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014 (Amazon).
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 2001.
Eleanor B. Simmance, “Amenhotep Son of Hapu: Self-Presentation Through Statues and Their Texts in Pursuit of Semi-Divine Intermediary Status,” Unpublished MA Thesis, University of Birmingham 2014 (Online).
Alexandre Varille, Inscriptions concernant l’architecte Amenhotep, fils de Hapon, 1968.
Clement Robichon and Alexandre Varille, Le temple du scribe royal Amenhotep, fils de Hapou. 1936 (Archive.org).

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Mini Episode: The Lost Son (A Lament)

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 11:05:00 -0000

A Father Begs His Son to Return Home.

Late in the New Kingdom (c.1250 BCE), an Egyptian father wrote a letter to his son. The son had gone to sea, sailing on a ship; he had not sent any word of his wellbeing. Worried, the father writes a letter, begging his son to return home.

The letter is possibly based off real events, for it involves people who were genuine figures in their community. The father, Menna, and the son Pay-Iry were inhabitants of the village of Deir el-Medina (Set-Ma'at, the Place of Truth). They lived around 1250 BCE, approximately, and this may be a record of their real relationship.

Translations by John L. Foster, Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology (Amazon)
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Twitter: @EgyptianPodcast
Instagram: @EgyptPodcast
Facebook: @EgyptPodcast

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Mini Episode: A Wayward Scribe (The Drinking)

Sat, 15 Sep 2018 11:05:00 -0000

A former pupil goes off the rails and gets lost in drink; his teacher tries to bring him back.

After completing his education, a young scribe might take a job in a temple, government office, or work team. But this time, the student went off into some wayward behaviours. Writing a stern letter, a schoolmaster tries to bring his former pupil back to sobriety and good living.

Translations by John L. Foster, Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology (Amazon)
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Twitter: @EgyptianPodcast
Instagram: @EgyptPodcast
Facebook: @EgyptPodcast

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Question Time! (Q+A)

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 09:05:00 -0000

To celebrate 100 episodes, I took your questions on all things ancient Egypt.

Pictures on topics (particularly Egyptian revival architecture of the 1800s) at the website www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com

If you didn't hear your question, I have sent out written responses. Some questions covered material already in the show, or on topics that don't have enough evidence to discuss in detail.

Thanks for submitting!

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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100b. Raising the Children High

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 11:05:00 -0000

A Princess Becomes Queen, a Prince Becomes Heir. In 1370 BCE, the same year as the Sed-Festival, pharaoh Amunhotep III made two interesting decisions. He made his eldest daughter his wife, and named his eldest (surviving) son as heir to the throne. In a short side-episode, we explore these events and their significance...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aidan Dodson, “On the Alleged “Amenhotep III/IV Coregency” Graffito at Meidum,” Göttinger Miszellen, 2009.
Peter F. Dorman, “The Long Coregency Revisited: Architectural and Iconographic Conundra in the Tomb of Kheruef,” Causing His Name To Live Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane, 2009.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
William J. Murnane, Ancient Egyptian Coregencies, 1977.
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (eds.) Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 2001.
Lana Troy, Patterns of Queenship in Ancient Egyptian Myth and History, 1986.

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100: Celebration

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 18:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 10): The Sed Festival, As Told by Kheruef Who Witnessed It.

In regnal year 30, Amunhotep III celebrated the first of his sed-festivals. This was a spectacular event, with a number of rituals and performances celebrating the King's reign, and renewing his authority on earth. Some of these rites were truly arcane, hearkening back to the very earliest days of the Egyptian kingdom.

In this special episode, we explore the festival from beginning to end as it is recorded in the tomb of Kheruef, a royal official who witnessed the celebration...

Episode divided into four chapters:

Chapter One at 03:28

Chapter Two at 20:44

Chapter Three at 33:20

Chapter Four at 52:20

Epilogue at 1:06:14

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com/
Music by Derek and Brandon Feichter https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/

Select Bibliography:

C.J. Bleeker, Egyptian Festivals, 1968 (Google Books).
Epigraphic Survey, The Tomb of Kheruef: Theban Tomb 192, 1980 (Oriental Institute).
Eric Cline and David O’Connor, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998 (Amazon).
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014 (Amazon).
Henri Frankfort, Kingship and Ritual, 1978 (Oriental Institute).
Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012 (Amazon).
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984 (Amazon).
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Music by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com/
Music by Derek and Brandon Feichter https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/

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99: Sakhmet's Demons

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 9): The Dark Years.

Between 1380 and 1370 BCE, Egypt may have suffered an outbreak of disease. In this decade, at least four royal family members died, and the political situation was irrevocably changed. It wasn't all bad, though: around 1380, Queen Tiy went through the difficulties of childbirth and offered a new son to the lineage...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

James P. Allen, The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Anne Austin, “Contending with illness in ancient Egypt: A textual and osteological study of health care at Deir el-Medina,” unpublished PhD Thesis (2014) (online)
Eric Cline and David O’Connor, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998 (Amazon).
Theodore M. Davis The Tomb of Iouiya and Touiyou, 2000 (reprint).
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014 (Amazon).
Aidan Dodson, “Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1990).
Hans Goedicke, “The Canaanite Illness,” Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur (1984).
Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012 (Amazon).
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
Kathleen Kuckens, “The Children of Amarna: Disease and Famine in the Time of Akhenaten,” unpublished MA Thesis ( (online)
Eva Panagiotakopulu, “Pharaonic Egypt and the Origins of Plague,” Journal of Biogeography (2004).
James Quibell, The Tomb of Yuaa and Thuiu, 1908 (archive.org).
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984 (Amazon).
Josef Wegner, “Tradition and Innovation: the Middle Kingdom,” Egyptian Archaeology, 2010.

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98: Young Bull Appearing In Memphis

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 11:00:00 -0000

Royal Children On the Rise. From 1385 to 1380, the prince of Egypt Thutmose was climbing up the ranks. From a lowly sem-priest to the chief of a great temple, Thutmose was a quickly rising star. His sister, Sit-Amun, also leaves a tantalizing trace of her life. We explore a non-royal funeral, the cult of the Apis Bull, and see how a prince of Egypt left some wonderful personal records, including those of his pet.

Part of this episode was revised & re-recorded in 2026.

Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com, used with artist's permission.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Kate Bosse-Griffiths, “The Memphite Stela of Merptah and Ptahmose,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1955).

Katherine Griffis-Greenberg, The Coffin of the She-Cat of the Crown Prince Thutmose (2006) online.

Eric Cline and David O’Connor, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.

Theodore M. Davis The Tomb of Iouiya and Touiyou, 2000 (reprint).

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.

Aidan Dodson, “Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1990).

Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.

Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.

Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984.

James Quibell, The Tomb of Yuaa and Thuiu, 1908 (archive.org).

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Mini Episode: Music in Ancient Egypt (Part 2) with Jeffrey Goodman

Thu, 31 May 2018 11:45:00 -0000

An interview with composer Jeffrey Goodman.Jeff Goodman has composed some wonderful pieces evoking the world of ancient Egypt. Taking inspiration from mythology, art and literature, he crafts lovely songs with a focus on authenticity in instrumentation. As part of the larger investigation of music, I invited him onto the show for a discussion about composition, ancient musicality, and how to evoke the past when we have no written notation left. This is the first time I've interviewed someone; it was an interesting experience!

Jeffrey Goodman's website https://www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com/tears-of-isis/
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Leibovitch, “The Statuette of an Egyptian Harper and String-Instruments in Egyptian Statuary,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1960).
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, 2006.
Miriam Lichtheim, “The Songs of the Harpers,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies (1945).
Lise Manniche, Music and Musicians in Ancient Egypt, 1992.
William Kelly Simpson, The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Edward F. Wente, “Egyptian “Make Merry” Songs Reconsidered” Journal of Near Eastern Studies (1962).

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Mini Episode: Music in Ancient Egypt (Part 1)

Wed, 30 May 2018 11:05:00 -0000

Instruments, Musicians, and Songs.

In this mini episode, we explore the traces of ancient Egyptian songs and music. Although the melodies and rhythms are lost, we still have lyrics, instruments and artwork detailing some of these arts. From this, we can understand how certain instruments were played, and what different artists tried to achieve. Plus, modern reconstructions can give us a hint at the soundscape of ancient Egypt.

Musical Interludes (by permission):

Flute: Erik the Flutemaker (Youtube) (Website)
Sistrum: Tahya of HathorSystrum (Youtube) (Website)
Harp: Michael Levy (Website)
Prayer: Michael Atherton (Website)
Drums: Jeffrey Goodman (Youtube) (Website)

This is Part One; a second part (including an interview with composer Jeffrey Goodman) will follow soon.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Leibovitch, “The Statuette of an Egyptian Harper and String-Instruments in Egyptian Statuary,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1960).
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, 2006.
Miriam Lichtheim, “The Songs of the Harpers,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies (1945).
Lise Manniche, Music and Musicians in Ancient Egypt, 1992.
William Kelly Simpson, The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Edward F. Wente, “Egyptian “Make Merry” Songs Reconsidered” Journal of Near Eastern Studies (1962).

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97b: The In-Laws

Wed, 23 May 2018 11:05:00 -0000

Interlude: Queen Tiy's Lucky Family.

The family of Queen Tiy came from an interesting place, and led a fascinating life. Her mother and father - Tjuyu and Yuya - and her brother Anen enjoyed great privileges thanks to their family connections. In life, and in death, they left an enduring legacy...

Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Eric Cline and David O’Connor, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.
Theodore M. Davis The Tomb of Iouiya and Touiyou, 2000 (reprint).
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff and Betsy M. Bryan, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
Donald B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King, 1984.
James Quibell, The Tomb of Yuaa and Thuiu, 1908 (archive.org).
G. Elliot Smith, Egyptian Mummies, 1924.

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97: What Does The Scarab Say?

Mon, 07 May 2018 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 8): Hunting, Wedding, Building.

From 1392 to 1390 BCE, Amunhotep III experienced an interesting few years. He hunted his 100th lion, and welcomed a new bride to his court. The princess Gilu-khepa came from Mitanni, for a diplomatic marriage to the king. Then, Amunhotep commissioned an artificial lake, built for the glory of his main wife, Tiy. Interesting times, all round...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Check out The History of Vikings podcast at www.thehistoryofvikings.com/
Get 25% off your first three months at Online Great Books, by visiting http://onlinegreatbooks.com/egy and entering the discount code EGY (Advertisement at the end of the episode).

Select Bibliography:

Daphna Ben-Tor, “Egyptian-Canaanite Relations in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages as Reflected by Scarabs,” Egypt, Canaan and Israel:History, Imperialism, Ideology and Literature, 2011.
C. Blankenberg-van Delden, The Large Commemorative Scarabs of Amenhotep III, 1969.
Peter A. Clayton, “Some More ‘Fierce Lions’, and a ‘Marriage’ Scarab: The Large Commemorative Scarabs of Amenophis III,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1996.
David O’Connor & Eric Cline, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1997.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Orly Goldwasser, “A ‘Kirgipa’ Commemorative Scarab of Amenhotep III from Beit-Shean,” Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant, 2002.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom, 2006.

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Mini Episode: All Is Full of Love (The Embrace)

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 11:05:00 -0000

Three Poems of Love from 18th Dynasty Egypt.

Around 1400 BCE, scribes and composers put together delightful works exploring themes of love, longing, lust and courtship. They told tales from both male and female perspectives, describing the emotions and sensations of their desires and affections. In this mini episode, we explore three short poems.

Translations by John L. Foster, Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology (Amazon)
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Twitter: @EgyptianPodcast
Instagram: @EgyptPodcast
Facebook: @EgyptPodcast

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96: The Colossi of Memnon

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 7): Everything Bigger Than Everything Else.

For 2000+ years, the Colossi of Memnon have dazzled visitors to Thebes. What are the statues doing there? In this episode, we explore the lost Mortuary Temple of Amunhotep III, in particular the immense statues which are his enduring legacy. From the work of Egyptian builders to the heroes of Greek myth, the Colossi of Memnon have a unique and unusual story...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Harp Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com
Check out The History of Vikings at http://thehistoryofvikings.com/episodes/

Select Bibliography:

Dieter Arnold, The Monuments of Egypt, 2009.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom, 2006.
Hourig Sourouzian et al., “Conservation work at the temple of Amenhotep III at Thebes, by The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project,” 2016 (Online).
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, 2000.

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95: Hundred-Gated Thebes

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 6): City of a Hundred Pylons.

In 1397 BCE, King Amunhotep III began a massive series of building projects in Thebes. At Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the new "Maru" viewing place, the King inaugurated sanctuaries and gardens for the god Amun. We explore these monuments, and how they created a reputation that still resonated in the sagas of Greek myth...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Harp Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com
Check out Literature & History podcast at www.literatureandhistory.com

Select Bibliography:

Dieter Arnold, The Monuments of Egypt, 2009.
Lanny Bell, “Luxor Temple and the Cult of the Royal Ka,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies (1985)
David O’Connor & Eric Cline, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1997.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom, 2006.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, 2000.

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Mini Episode: Memphis River Blues (The Healing)

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 10:05:00 -0000

A Scribe yearns for a holiday, and goes in search of peace.

Two texts, written between 1400 and 1300 BCE, tell of the exhausted scribe's yearning for a holiday. Sick of work, he struggles to focus on tasks, and finds his heart wandering off to more pleasant places. The city of Memphis, Men-nefer (or Ineb-Hedj) looms large in his fantasies.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Twitter: @EgyptianPodcast
Instagram: @EgyptPodcast
Facebook: @EgyptPodcast
Translations by John L. Foster, Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology (Amazon).

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94: The Pools of Horus

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 5): Exploring the Southlands. In late 1397 BCE, King Amunhotep III took a band of warriors deep into Nubia (Sudan). They traversed deserts, explored hidden pools, and came to mysterious lands. It was a trip into strange new places...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Special music by Doug Metzger, of Literature and History podcast at www.literatureandhistory.com.

Select bibliography:

The Sudan Antiquities Service French Archaeological Unit website
The Sudan Archaeological Research Society website
Charles Bonnet, “Upper Nubia from 3000 to 1000 BC,” in W.V. Davies (editor), Egypt and Africa: Nubia from Prehistory to Islam, 1991.
P.L. Shinnie, “Trade Routes of the Ancient Sudan 3,000 BC – AD 350,” in W.V. Davies (editor), Egypt and Africa: Nubia from Prehistory to Islam, 1991.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Stuart Tyson Smith, Wretched Kush: Ethnic Identities and Boundaries in Egypt’s Nubian Empire, 2003.
Lazlo Török, Between Two Worlds: The Frontier Region between Ancient Nubia and Egypt 3700 BC – 500 AD, 2008.

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93: The River War

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 4): Pharaoh's First War.

At the start of regnal year 5 (around August 1397 BCE), Amunhotep III led his first and only military campaign. Responding to a revolt in Nubia, the King gathered an army and began an expedition. We follow the king on campaign, and explore a slightly unusual situation...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Additional Music by Jeff Goodman, discover more at https://www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com/tears-of-isis

Select Bibliography:

Charles Bonnet, “Upper Nubia from 3000 to 1000 BC,” in W.V. Davies (editor), Egypt and Africa: Nubia from Prehistory to Islam, 1991.
John C. Darnell and Colleen Manassa, Tutankhamun’s Armies: Battle and Conquest During Ancient Egypt’s Late Eighteenth Dynasty, 2007.
P.L. Shinnie, “Trade Routes of the Ancient Sudan 3,000 BC – AD 350,” in W.V. Davies (editor), Egypt and Africa: Nubia from Prehistory to Islam, 1991.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2012.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Stuart Tyson Smith, Wretched Kush: Ethnic Identities and Boundaries in Egypt’s Nubian Empire, 2003.
Anthony J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Lazlo Török, Between Two Worlds: The Frontier Region between Ancient Nubia and Egypt 3700 BC – 500 AD, 2008.

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Mini Episode: Love Songs

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Interlude: Romance, Passion and Love...in Song Form!

A look at New Kingdom love songs, as they survive. We see how the Egyptians felt and explored love, and encounter songs written from both the male and female perspective.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Renata Landgrafova, Sex and the Golden Goddess: Ancient Egyptian Love Songs in Context 2009.
A.G. McDowell, Village Life in Ancient Egypt: Laundry Lists and Love Songs, 1999.
William K. Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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92: The Great Lady (Queen Tiye)

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 3): Introducing Queen Tiye. In 1399 BCE, the pharaoh Amunhotep III married his first and most important wife: Tiye, Royal Wife, Great of Praises, Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt. Just twelve years old, the young queen would go on to be the most powerful woman in the world...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select bibliography:

Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
David O’Connor and Eric Cline (editors), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1998.

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91: The Mighty Bulls

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 2): A Busy Start. From May 1400 to April 1399, King Amunhotep finished his first year (just 4 months long) and began his second. In this 12-month period, he began a flurry of new projects. From donations to Thoth, to a mighty hunt, the King set himself as a vigorous and dynamic youth. His mother, Mutemwia, helped drive much of this...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select bibliography:

Lawrence Michael Berman, The Art of Amenhotep III, 1990.
David O’Connor & Eric Cline, Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, 1997.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Egypt’s Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World, 1992.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Shin-Ichi Nishimoto, “Hieratic Inscriptions from the Quarry at Qurna: an interim Report,” British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (2002). British Museum.

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90: Neb-Ma'at-Re

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep III (Part 1): The Birth of a God.

Amunhotep III (Neb-maat-Re) came to power in mid-1400 BCE. He was twelve-years old, but already he had spent years being groomed for power. Today we explore the birthing myth and the childhood of one of the greatest pharaohs in history.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Harp Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com

Select Bibliography:

Hellmut Brunner, Die Geburt des Gottkönigs, 1964.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Charles Cornell van Siclen III, “The Accession Date of Amenhotep III and the Jubilee,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 1973.

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89: Lords of the Desert

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 10:05:00 -0000

Interlude: Nebi and the Guardians of the Sinai.

Around 1414 BCE, a man and his comrades were marching into the unrelenting heat of the Sinai Peninsula. We follow Nebi of Tjaru and his men, as they undertake the grueling work of protecting Egypt's frontiers...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Additional Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com
Map at https://i.imgur.com/ufZgO4U.jpg

Select Bibliography:

Gun Björkman, “Neby the Mayor of Tjaru,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 1974.
Betsy M. Bryan, The Reign of Thutmose IV, 1991.
Andrea M. Gnirs, “Coping with the Army: the Military and the State in the New Kingdom,” in Ancient Egyptian Administration, 2013.

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88: Ladies of the Lake

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Queen of the Faiyum Oasis. Before she became queen of Egypt, the lady Tia'a spent her days at the royal harem of the Faiyum. This was a mysterious institution, devoted to serving queens, concubines and all the children of a pharaoh. We explore the Queen's background, the harem as an institution and the people who led the Faiyum's communities...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Additional music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.

Select bibliography:

Betsy M. Bryan, The Reign of Thutmose IV, 1991.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Eberhard Dziobek et al., Das Grab des Sobekhotep Theben Nr. 63, 1990.
The Gurob Palace Project (Website).

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The Gods' Birthdays

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 10:05:00 -0000

The Egyptian Religious Year (12/12): Birthdays of the Gods.

The end of the year in ancient Egypt was a surprisingly unlucky time. With summer heat at unbearable levels, the Nile at its lowest ebb, and people suffering from physical or spiritual malaise, the final days of the religious year were not so happy. Fortunately, the ancients had some tools to ward off disaster.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza http://www.keithzizza.com/
Additional music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com

Select Bibliography:

Tamas A. Bacs, “Two Calendars of Lucky and Unlucky Days,” Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur, 1990.
J.F. Borghouts, Ancient Egyptian Magical Texts, 1978.
Peter Der Manuelian, “An Essay in Document Transmission: Nj-k-anx and the Earliest hriw-rnpt,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1986.
Richard A. Parker, The Calendars of Ancient Egypt, 1950.
Anthony Spalinger, “Some Remarks on the Epagomenal Days in Ancient Egypt,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1995.

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87: Comforts of Power

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Thutmose IV (Part 2): The Entire Reign at Once. For ten years, maybe more, Thutmose IV ruled Egypt. It was a successful reign and the treasures that emerge from this period are testament to a prosperous realm. The royal court is more visible than ever, with intriguing tales to tell...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Additional music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.

Select bibliography:

Betsy M. Bryan, The Reign of Thutmose IV, 1991.
Gun Björkman, “Neby, the Mayor of Tjaru in the Reign of Thutmosis IV,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 1974.
Howard Carter & Theodore M. Davis, The Tomb of Thoutmosis IV, 1904 & 2002.
Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Raphael Giveon, “Thutmose IV in Asia,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 1969.
Arielle P. Kozloff, Amenhotep III: Egypt’s Radiant Pharaoh, 2012.
Nicholas Reeves & Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings, 2010.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, 2017.

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86: Doing God's Work

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Thutmose IV (Part 1): Old Enemies Become New Friends.

1418 - 1416 BCE. The new pharaoh spends his first two years involved in political reprisals and military actions. He removes rivals, but also makes friends with some longstanding enemies...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Derek and Brandon Fiechter https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/

Select Bibliography:

Betsy M. Bryan, The Reign of Thutmose IV, 1991.
Raphael Giveon, “Thutmosis IV and Asia,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 1969 (JSTOR).
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.

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85: A Clash of Princes

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Interlude: Two Princes Clash.

In 1418 BCE, Egypt momentarily lacks a pharaoh. Two sons of the crown go head to head, in a duel to be the next ruler. Who wins? Only the Sphinx knows...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Hutan Ashrafian, “Familial epilepsy in the pharaohs of ancient Egypt’s eighteenth dynasty,” 2012.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
James E. Harris, “The Identification of the Eighteenth Dynasty Royal Mummies: A Biological Perspective,” 1991.
Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1987.
Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000.
J.J. Shirley, The Culture of Officialdom, 2005.

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The Ancient Egyptian Day of the Dead

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 10:05:00 -0000

The Religious Year (Parts 10-11): the Egyptian Day of the Dead.

In the 10th month of the year, Egyptians celebrated the "Beautiful Festival of the Valley," a grand affair similar to today's Day of the Dead or Qingming celebrations.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Additional Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.

Select Bibliography:

Anthony J. Spalinger, “Ancient Egyptian Calendars,” in Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy, 2015.
Emily Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt, 2011.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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Assassin's Creed Origins: Egyptological Impressions

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Assassin's Creed Origins sees video-game players visiting ancient Egypt (c.50 BCE). From the desert oases to the city of Alexandria, the Faiyum to the Pyramids, you can now explore a fully-realised version of ancient Egypt.

But how does the game play, and is it historical enough? Today I explore some of the history behind it, and what the game does right.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Music by Brandon and Derek Fiechter https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/

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84b: Into the Tomb

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep II (Part 7): Remarkable Discoveries in a Royal Tomb.

Around 1440 BCE, Egyptians were carving the burial monument of Amunhotep II in the Valley of the Kings. In 1898 CE, a group of excavators were uncovering the edifice once more. In a dual narrative, we explore the design, construction and discovery of a most remarkable tomb...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com
Additional Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com

Select Bibliography:

Erik Hornung, The Valley of the Kings, 1990.
Erik Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife, 1999.
C.N. Reeves, Richard Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings, 1996.
Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1989.
Elliot Smith, The Royal Mummies, 1912.
Online Resources:
Theban Mapping Project – Tomb of Amunhotep II
Narmer.pl – The Royal Cache
Egypt, Land of Eternity – The Royal Cache
Theban Royal Mummy Project – The Mummies of Dynasty 18
Egyptian Monuments – Tomb of Amunhotep II
Saint Louis University – The KV35 Cache

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84: The Bald Falcon

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep II (Part 6): Finding an Heir. Around 1420 BCE, Amunhotep II comes to the end of his days. We explore his family life, what we know about the man himself, and try to get a handle on his legacy...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select bibliography:

Alexandra von Lieven, “Mortuary Ritual in the Valley of the Kings,” in Richard H. Wilkinson and Kent R. Weeks, The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings, 2016.
Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1987.
Barbara A. Richter, “The Amduat and Its Relationship to the Architecture of Early 18th Dynasty Royal Burial Chambers,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt (2008).
G. Elliot Smith, The Royal Mummies, 2000.

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83: The Brat Pack

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep II (Part 5): How to Make Friends and Rule the Nile Valley.

The pharaoh Amunhotep II has a reputation for cronyism: he put his childhood friends into positions of power, and removed trusted officials from office at a whim. Does he deserve this reputation? We go in search of an answer, exploring the lives of some noteworthy men who rose to prominence in this time...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1987.
M. Eaton-Krauss, “The Fate of Sennefer and Senetnay at Karnak and in the Valley of the Kings,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1999.
JJ Shirley, “Crisis and Restructuring of the State: From the End of the Middle Kingdom to the Advent of the Ramesses,” in Ancient Egyptian Administration, 2013.
JJ Shirley, The Culture of Officialdom: An examination of the acquisition of offices during the mid-18th Dynasty, PhD Thesis, 2005.
Osiris.net – the Tomb of Sen-nefer (TT96).

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Festivals for Bastet ... with Onions!

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 11:05:00 -0000

The Religious Year (Parts 8-9): Onions for Bastet.

Months 8 and 9 were big on drinking and eating, with some strange rituals to go along with them. We meet Bastet (the cat) and Renen-utet (the snake), two goddesses who were friends to farmers. As the harvest season began, all looked towards the growth of the fields...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Anthony J. Spalinger, “Ancient Egyptian Calendars,” in C.L.N. Ruggles (ed.) Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy, 2015.

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82: That Which Is In The Underworld

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Interlude: A Royal Journey Through the Underworld

Rulers of the 18th Dynasty decorated their tombs with lavish images of the underworld, which we know as the Duat. These scenes, and texts, reveal a complex story of Re's journey beneath the western horizon, through the nether, and ultimately into a cosmic re-birth. Along the way he crossed waters and deserts, faced demons and monsters, and even met with his own corpse...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Erik Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife, 1999.
Erik Hornung, Texte zum Amduat, 1987.
Erik Hornung, Valley of the Kings: Horizon of Eternity, 1990.
Emily Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt, 2011.

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81: The Book of the Dead

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 11:05:00 -0000

The Ultimate Underworld Story. The Book of the Dead might be the most famous piece of writing from ancient Egypt. It is also one of the most misunderstood... Around 1420 BCE, a royal architect commissioned a book for his tomb. This text is one of the best preserved Books of the Dead from the mid-18th Dynasty. From its unrolled pages, we can explore the journey into the underworld, as experienced by a non-royal Egyptian. Note: This episode functions as an introduction to the Book of the Dead. As we move forward through the centuries, we will revisit the text to see new developments and additions.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Jeffrey Goodman www.shelterofclearlight.com/.

Select Bibliography:

Francoise Dunand and Christiane Zivie-Coche, Gods and Men in Egypt: 3000 BCE to 395 CE.
Richard Faulkner, The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, 1985.
Dennis C. Forbes, Tombs. Treasures. Mummies. Book Two: The Tombs of Maiherpri (KV36) & Kha & Merit (TT8), 2015.
Erik Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife, 1999.
Ernesto Schiaperelli, Relazione sui lavori della Missione Archeologica Italiana in Egitto (anni 1903-1920) (Volume 2): La tomba intatta dell’architetto “Cha” nella necropoli di Tebe, 1927. Available online via the University of Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55349#0046
John H. Taylor, Journey Through the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, 2013.
Emily Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt, 2011.
E. Vassilika, The Tomb of Kha, 2010.
Toby Wilkinson, Writings from Ancient Egypt, 2016.

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Festivals of False Summer

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 11:01:00 -0000

The Religious Year (Parts 6-7): The False Summer.

In the months of "Great Heat" and "Small Heat," Egyptians celebrated some very important festivals. Mid-winter had passed, and it was time to bring life back to the cosmos. Along the way, the Egyptians celebrated the gods Anubis, Amun-Re, and a deified Pharaoh...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Richard Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

Anthony Spalinger, “Ancient Egyptian Calendars,” Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy, 2015.

G.S. Hawkins, “Astronomical Alignments in Britan, Egypt and Peru,” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 1974.

J. Norman Lockyer, “The Dawn of Astronomy,” Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 1894.

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80: Servant of Great Gods

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 00:01:00 -0000

Amunhotep II (Part 4): Worshiping the Sphinx.

Before he became king, Amunhotep II made a promise to embellish and restore monuments on the Giza Plateau. Once Pharaoh, he fulfilled his promise beautifully. As he did so, he introduced a new chapter in Egypt's religious history...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.
Selim Hassan, The Great Sphinx and Its Secrets, 1953.
Stéphane Pasquali, “Baraize Excavations 1933 – 1934 at Giza,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 2009.
William Kelly Simpson, “Reshep in Egypt,” Orientalia, 1960.
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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79: Let My People Go (Exodus and Slavery?)

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep II (Part 3): Slavery and the Bible. In 1435 BCE, King Amunhotep II led a devastating war in Syria. He took thousands of captives and transported them to Egypt by force. Once there, they became captive workers of the Egyptian elite. Was this the historical inspiration for the Biblical "Captivity"? We go in search of answers...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Additional Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.

Select Bibliography:

Osiris.net – Tomb of Nakht (website)
Yohanan Aharoni, “Some Geographical Remarks Concerning the Geography of the Campaigns of Amenhotep II,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1960.
Manfred Bietak, “Peru-Nefer: The Principle New Kingdom Naval Base,” Egyptian Archaeology, 2009.
Edwin C.M. van den Brink, Tombs and Burial Customs at Tell el-Dab’a, 1982.
Barbara Cummings, Egyptian Historical Records of the Later Eighteenth Dynasty, 1982.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Tomb of Ken-Amun at Thebes, 1917.
Norman de Garis Davies, The Tomb of Rekh-mi-Re at Thebes, 1944.
James K. Hoffmeier, “Out of Egypt,” Ancient Israel and the Exodus, 2012.
A. Lucas, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries, 4th Edition 1989.
Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1987.
Patrick E. McGovern, Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viniculture, 2013. Google Books.
Ellen Fowles Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism, 2005.
Ellen Morris, “Mitanni Enslaved: Prisoners of War, Pride, and Productivity in a New Imperial Regime,” Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut, 2014.
Paul T. Nicholson & Ian Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology, 2003. Google Books.
William H. Peck, The Material World of Ancient Egypt, 2013.
James B. Pritchard, “Syrians as Pictured in the Paintings of the Theban Tombs,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 1951.
Anson F. Rainey, “Whence Came the Israelites and Their Language?” Israel Exploration Journal, 2007.
Anson F. Rainey, “Unruly Elements in Late Bronze Canaanite Society,” Pomegranates and Golden Bells: Studies in Biblical, Jewish, and Near Eastern Ritual, Law, and Literature in Honor of Jacob Milgrom 1995.
Catharine A. Roehrig, Life Along the Nile: Three Egyptians of Ancient Thebes, 2002.
J.J. Shirley, “Kenamun/Qenamun,” The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, 2013.
William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Barbara J. Sivertsen, The Parting of the Sea, 2009.
Rachael Thyrza Sparks, “Canaan in Egypt: Archaeological Evidence for a Social Phenomenon,” Invention and Innovation: Social Context of Technological Change (2), 2004.
B.G. Trigger et al., Ancient Egypt: A Social History, 1983.
William A. Ward, “The Shasu ‘Bedouin’: Notes on a Recent Publication,” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, 1972.
William A. Ward, “Foreigners Living in the Village,” Pharaoh’s Workers: The Villagers of Deir el-Medina, 1994.

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78: The Duties of the Vizier

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep II (Part 2): The Pharaoh's Aide.

In 1440 BCE, a servant of Pharaoh inscribed his tomb with a remarkable text detailing every aspect of his job. What was life like, for one of Egypt's most important officials?

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
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Select Bibliography:

G.P.F. van den Boorn, The Duties of the Vizier, 1988.
Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1987.
B.G. Trigger et al., Ancient Egypt: A Social History, 1983.
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.

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Festivals of Snakes & Cats

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 11:05:00 -0000

The Religious Year (Part 5): Worshipping Snakes and Cats.

The fifth month was an interesting one, involving worship of snakes, and cats sailing down the Nile. Major gods of this month include Neheb-Kau, Bastet, Shesmet-et, Wadjet and Mut. We meet a few of these strange deities and see why snakes and cats went hand-in-hand...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Anthony Spalinger, “Ancient Egyptian Calendars,” in C.L.N. Ruggles (ed.), Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy, 2015.
Alan W. Shorter, “The God Nehebkau,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1935).

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77: Lean and Swift

Mon, 29 May 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep II (Part 1): The Sportsman King.

From 1459 to 1440 BCE, the prince Amunhotep II enjoyed a privileged upbringing. Once he ascended to power, he displayed his prowess to all and sundry. From the battlefield to the sports field, Amunhotep set out to make his name...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1987.
Betsy M. Bryan, The Reign of Thutmose IV, 1991.
W. Vivian Davies, “The British Museum epigraphic survey at Tombos: the stela of Usersatet and Hekaemsasen,” British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan (2009).
John Coleman Darnell, “The Stela of the Viceroy Usersatet (Boston MFA 25.632), his Shrine at Qasr Ibrim, and the Festival of Nubian Tribute under Amenhotep II,” ENiM (2014).
Aidan Dodson, Amarna Sunrise, 2014.

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76: 54 Years of Splendour

Mon, 15 May 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Thutmose III (Part 10): The End of a Mighty Reign.

From 1450 to 1441, Thutmose lived out the last nine years of his reign. He commanded one last expedition; oversaw building projects, and brought his tomb to completion. Finally, he had to prepare for the succession, and his own inevitable death...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Correction: at 48:10, I refer to the date of Amunhotep II's co-regency as 1441. This should be 1444 BCE.

Select Bibliography:

Articles

Anson F. Rainey, “Amenhotep II’s Campaign to Takshy,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt (1973) JSTOR.
Donald B. Redford, “The Coregency of Thutmosis III and Amenophis III,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1965) JSTOR.
George A. Reisner, “The Viceroys of Nubia,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1920) JSTOR.
Barbara A. Richter, “The Amduat and Its Relationship to the Architecture of Early 18th Dynasty Royal Burial Chambers,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt (2008) JSTOR.

Books

Eric Cline & David O’Connor (eds.), Thutmose III: A New Biography, 2006.
Erik Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife, 1999.
Peter der Manuelian, Studies in the Reign of Amenophis II, 1987.
H.S. Smith & W. B. Emery, The Fortress of Buhen, 1971-1979.
Richard H. Wilkinson & Kent R. Weeks (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings, 2016.
Richard H. Wilkinson & Nicholas Reeves, The Complete Valley of the Kings, 2008.

Websites

University College London – website
SLU – website
Bernard M. Adams “My Luxor” – website

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Osiris Festivals (Khoiak)

Sat, 29 Apr 2017 11:05:00 -0000

The Religious Year (Part 4): Hathor and Osiris.

In the fourth month of the year, the Egyptians celebrated the end of the Nile flood (Akhet). With grand ceremonies to Hathor, Osiris and the god Sokar, they brought the first season of the year to a close.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Stuart Tyson-Smith, “Raising the Djed-Pillar” (PDF)
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
University College London – Khoiak (Website)
UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology – Sokar (Website)

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75: Thutmose Triumphant

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Thutmose III (Part 9): Home and Propaganda. From 1455-1450 BCE, Thutmose spent much of his time involved in domestic affairs. Unfortunately, this involved some very harsh policies towards his immediate predecessor...

Update: Thutmose III probably reburied some of his immediate successors. In 2023, archaeologists may have found a tomb associated with one of these rulers. More information in the episode "News from the Field (2023 Review)" and on the website.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Eric H. Cline and David O’Connor (eds.), Thutmose III: A New Biography, 2006.
Sue D’Auria, “The Princess Baketamun,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 69 (1983) (JSTOR).
Vanessa Davies, “Hatshepsut’s Use of Thutmosis III in Her Program of Legitimation,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 41 (2004) (JSTOR).
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
Aidan Dodson, “Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (199) (JSTOR).
Aidan Dodson, “Thutmosis III: Family Man,” The Ostracon: The Journal of the Egyptian Study Society 15, 2004.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1992.
Dimitri Laboury, “Portrait versus Ideal Image” – UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (Website).
Dimitri Laboury, “Royal Portrait and Ideology: Evolution and Signification of the Statuary of Thutmose III,” Thutmose III: A New Biography, 2006 (Academia.edu).
H. E. Winlock, “Notes on the Reburial of Thutmosis I,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 15 (1929) (JSTOR).
Scott Woodward, “Geneaology of New Kingdom Pharaohs and Queens,” Archaeology 49 (1996) (JSTOR).

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74: Thutmose III, War Stories

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 11:05:00 -0000

Thutmose III (Part 8): The Final Campaigns. After 20+ years of near-annual campaigning, Thutmose III finally came to the end of his military career. We explore the last ten years of this process in one sweep: successes (and failures) abound...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Donald B. Redford, The Wars in Syria and Canaan of Thutmose III, 2003.
Donald B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan and Israel in Ancient Times, 1992.
Ellen Fowles Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism, 2005.
Richard A. Gabriel, Thutmose III: A Military Biography, 2009.
Colleen Manassa, Imagining the Past: Historical Fiction in New Kingdom Egypt, 2013.
James K. Hoffmeier, “Aspects of Egyptian Foreign Policy in the 18th Dynasty in Western Asia and Nubia,” Penn State 2001.
Norman de Garis Davies, “Foreigners in the Tomb of Amenemhab (No. 85),” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 1934.

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Hathor Festivals

Fri, 31 Mar 2017 10:05:00 -0000

The religious year (Part 3): Worshipping Hathor.

The month of Hathor saw a concentrated effort on renewing fertility energies in the natural world. Festivals to the male god of sexual energy, and the widow and sister of Osiris dominated the time.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Toby Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
UCL – Festival Dates (website)
Ancient Egypt Online – The Calendar (website)
The Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys:
Ancient.eu (website)
Ancient Egyptian Literature (pdf)

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73: Three Brides for One Pharaoh

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Thutmose III (Part 7): Diplomatic Marriage.

After the brilliant campaign of year 33, Thutmose enjoys a period of peace and plenty. Foreign powers seek accommodation with the Egyptians, and this manifests in a series of remarkable diplomatic engagements...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Herbert Winlock, The Treasure of Three Egyptian Princesses (1948).
Christine Lilyquist (ed), The Tomb of Three Foreign Wives of Thutmosis III (2003).
Nora E. Scott, “Egyptian Jewelry,” The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (March 1964).
Donald B. Redford, The Wars in Syria and Palestine of Thutmose III (2003).

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Opet Festivals

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:05:00 -0000

The Religious Year (Part 2): Worshipping Osiris.

In the month of Pa-Opet ("Phaophi") the Egyptians continued their long re-enactment of the myth of Osiris. They also celebrated a huge festival in honour of the Pharaoh. And they mummifed a bunch of rams, for some reason...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

John Darnell, “Opet Festival,” UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology, 2010 (Online)
Richard Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Anthony Spalinger, “The Limitations of Formal Ancient Egyptian Religion,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 1998 (JSTOR)
UCL Website – Festival Dates of Ancient Egypt (Online)

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72: Letters to Ahmose

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Busy Lives at Thebes. Personal correspondence is an exciting find for Egyptologists. It's even more wonderful when the letters come together to form a cohesive group, all related to one person. Come meet Ahmose, a letter writer from ancient Egypt...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Edward F. Wente, Letters from Ancient Egypt, 1990.
S.R.K. Glanville, “The Letters of Aahmose of Peniati,”Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 14 (1928) JSTOR
T. Eric Peet, “Two Eighteenth Dynasty Letters,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 12 (1926) JSTOR
Elizabeth Frood, “Social Structure and Daily Life,” in Toby Wilkinson (ed.) The Egyptian World 2010.

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71: Thirty-Two Years Old, Thirty Years of Rule

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Thutmose III (Part 6): The Sed-Festival.

Three years before the Mitanni Campaign (Episode 70), Thutmose celebrated his first jubilee. To do that, he needed a new monument, a few gods, and the ancient equivalent of a baseball bat...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

J.G. Griffiths, “The Costume and Insignia of the King in the Sed-Festival,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 1955 (JSTOR).
E.P. Uphill, “A Joint Sed-Festival of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 1961 (JSTOR).
E.P. Uphill, “The Egyptian Sed-Festival Rites,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1965 (JSTOR).
A. Spalinger, “A Remark on Renewal,” Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 1990 (JSTOR).
A. Spalinger, “The Festival Structure of Thutmose III’s Buto Stele,” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 1996 (JSTOR).
Lana Troy, “Religion and Cult during the Time of Thutmose III,” in Thutmose III: A New Biography 2006.

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Mini Episode: The First Pharaohs

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:05:00 -0000

Question: What does "Pharaoh" mean?

A quick look at the word "Pharaoh:" what it means, how it came about, and why I very rarely use it in the Podcast (until now).

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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New Year Festivals

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 10:05:00 -0000

The Religious Year (Part 1): New Year.

Welcome to a new series detailing the Egyptians' religious year, the major events and the gods they celebrated. Month number one was called "Tekh," and it heralded several important rituals. There were festivals of the Nile Flood (Hapi), festivals of the blessed dead (Wagy-and-Thoth), and the beginning of a multi-month re-enactment of the legends of the god Osiris. The Egyptians got up to all kinds of shenanigans...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Katherine Eaton, “Monthly Lunar Festivals in the Mortuary Realm,” 2011 (JSTOR).
William C. Hayes, The Sceptre of Egypt, 1959.
Antony Leahy, “The Osiris ‘Bed’ Reconsidered,” 1977 (JSTOR).
William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Anthony Spalinger, “The Limitations of Formal Ancient Egyptian Religion,” 1998 (JSTOR).
Richard H. Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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70: Thutmose III, the Napoleon of Egypt

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 10:05:00 -0000

Thutmose's Greatest Campaign. In 1462 BCE, approximately, King Men-kheperu-Re Thutmose III led his most daring campaign. He travelled far from Egypt to attack the heartland of Egypt's enemy, the Mitanni. What followed was one of the standout moves in ancient military history...

Date c.1462 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Donald B. Redford, Wars in Syria and Palestine of Thutmose III, 2003.
Donald B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan and Israel in Ancient Times, 1992.
Richard Gabriel, Thutmose III: A Military Biography, 2009.
Betsy M. Bryan (editor), Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut, 2014.
Norman de Garis Davies, “Foreigners in the Tomb of Amenemhab,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1934 (JSTOR).
Bettina Bader, “Egypt and the Mediterranean in the Bronze Age: the Archaeological Evidence,” Oxford Handbooks Online, 2015.

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69: When Pharaohs Met Minoans

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 10:05:00 -0000

Foreign Lands, Foreign Peoples. We take a break from the reign of Thutmose III to meet some of Egypt's neighbours. The people of Crete (Keftiu), Cyprus (Alashiya), and Byblos (Kupna / Gubla) made significant contributions to their world. We meet some of them. Oh, and there's a goofy poem at the end...

Date. 1465 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Donald B. Redford, The Wars in Syria and Palestine of Thutmose III, 2003.
Donald B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan and Israel in Ancient Times, 1992.
Yannis Galanakis, The Aegean World: A Guide to the Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenean Antiquities in the Ashmolean Museum, 2013.
Richard A. Gabriel, Thutmose III: A Military Biography, 2009.
Shelley Wachsmann, Seagoing Ships and Seamanship in the Bronze Age Levant, 2008 (Google Books).
Eric H. Cline & David O’Connor, Thutmose III: A New Biography, 2006.
H.R. Hall, “Keftiu and the Peoples of the Sea,” 1902 (JSTOR).
J.B. Pritchard, “Syrians as Pictured in the Paintings of the Theban Tombs,” 1951 (JSTOR).
M.H. Wiener, “Neo-Palatial Knossos: Rule and Role,” 2007 (malcolmweiner.net – ignore Google Warning, false flag).
R. van Dijk, “Bull-Leaping in the Ancient Near East,” 2013 (Academia.edu).

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68b: Deception at Joppa

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:05:00 -0000

Troy before Troy. In the reign of Thutmose III, the Egyptian general Djehuty led a siege at Joppa (Yappho / Yafa, in modern Tel Aviv). The enemy were resisting all attempts to break in. Until Djehuty had a cunning plan...

Logo: A gold cupt belonging to the general Djehuty, from his tomb at Saqqara (Louvre).
Date c. 1465 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.

Select Bibliography:

Anthony Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2005
William K. Simpson, The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003
Colleen Manassa, Imagining the Past: Historical Fiction in New Kingdom Egypt, 2013

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68: The Countless Victories of Thutmose III

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 10:05:00 -0000

Submissions and Settlements. After his victory at Megiddo, King Thutmose III began to organise his new conquests. The lands of Canaan and Syria were transformed, as the Egyptians built a network of garrisons, supply depots, and fortresses. Step-by-step, they built their military capability and their empire...

Date c.1470 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Anthony Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2004;
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994;
Richard A. Gabriel, Thutmose III: A Military Biography, 2009;
Donald Redford, The Wars in Syria and Palestine of Thutmose III, 2003;
Eric Cline & David O’Connor (eds), Thutmose III: A New Biography, 2006;
Manfred Bietak, “Peru-Nefer: The Principle New Kingdom Naval Base,” 2009;

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67b: The Battle of Megiddo (A Dramatic Reading)

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 10:05:00 -0000

A royal drama. In this episode, we replay the "official account" of Thutmose III's great victory at Megiddo. Drawing on the King's own proclamations, and using the voices of some other podcasters, we bring the story to life...

Date c.1473 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Dramatic readings provided by Elias Belhaddad (The History of Islam), Ben Jacobs (Wittenberg to Westphalia), Travis J Dow (History of Germany), Steve Guerra (History of the Papacy), Thomas Daly (American Biography), David Crowther (The History of England), Erik Fogg (ReConsider).

Select Bibliography:

Toby Wilkinson, Writings from Ancient Egypt, 2016 (text).
Hans Goedicke, The Battle of Megiddo, 2000.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol. 2.
Donald B. Redford, The Wars in Syria and Palestine of Thutmose III, 2003.
Anthony Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.

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67: The Battle of Megiddo

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 10:05:00 -0000

Armageddon. Around 1473 BCE, Thutmose III faced a rebellion, when enemies in Canaan gathered to oppose him. The King of Egypt had a choice: destroy his foes, or risk losing the empire. Battle, chaos, and Monty Python ensued...

Date c. 1473 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Hans Goedicke, The Battle of Megiddo, 2000.
Toby Wilkinson, Writings from Ancient Egypt, 2016.
Richard A. Gabriel, Thutmose III: A Military Biography, 2009.
Donald Redford, The Wars in Syria and Palestine of Thutmose III, 2003.
Eric Cline & David O’Connor (eds), Thutmose III: A New Biography, 2006.

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66: An Awkward Transition

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 10:05:00 -0000

Hatshepsut's Last Years. After a long life and successful reign, Ma'at-Ka-Re Hatshepsut died. We wrap up her story, review her legacy, and review some standout events. Plus, we dig into the mystery of her tomb. Do we have Hatshepsut's mummy? There are many questions...

Date c.1473 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would Be King, 2014.
Peter F. Dorman, The Monuments of Senenmut, 1988.
Richard A. Gabriel, Thutmose III: A Military Biography, 2009.
Alan R. Schulman, “Some Remarks on the Alleged “Fall” of Senenmut,” JARCE 8 (1969).
Filip Taterka, “Hatshepsut and Senenmut or the Secret Affairs of the Egyptian State,” in D. Lewandowska et al (eds.), Cupido Dominandi (2015).
Betsy M. Bryan et al (eds.), Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut (2014).

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Thutmose III, Child-King

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 10:05:00 -0000

The prince Thutmose III. It's time to catch-up with the "other" King of Egypt. Thutmose III, still young, spent his early years in the palace, learning the arts of rule. He learned religious rituals, literacy, and skills in fighting. In this episode, we explore the young King's life through two institutions: the army and the royal palace "harem."

Date c.1480 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Anthony Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Richard Gabriel, Thutmose III: A Military Biography, 2009.
Eric Cline (editor), Thutmose III: A New Biography, 2006.
Juan Carlos Moreno García (editor), Ancient Egyptian Administration, 2013.
Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would Be King, 2014.
Betsy M. Bryan (editor), Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut, 2014.

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65b: Two Texts of Hatshepsut

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:05:00 -0000

The Punt Expedition and the Speos Artemidos. We take a short break from the narrative, to explore two important texts from Hatshepsut's reign. These are the records of the Punt Expedition, and a propaganda text from the Speos Artemidos, a temple in middle Egypt. Guest vocals by Anya Banerjee.

Date c.1480 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast

Select Bibliography:

James H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, volume II, 1906.
Edouard Naville, The Temple of Deir el-Bahari, volume III, 1898.
James P. Allen, The Speos Artemidos Inscription of Hatshepsut, Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar 16, 2012.

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65: Hatshepsut of Millions of Years

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:05:00 -0000

A Sed-Festival. By 1485 BCE, Hatshepsut's subjects were bustling to prepare her grand jubilee. The sed-festival, held in year 16, celebrated an anniversary. But, an anniversary of what, exactly?

Date c.1485 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast

Select Bibliography:

Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would be King, 2014.
Peter Dorman, The Monuments of Senenmut, 1988.
Alan B. Lloyd, A Companion to Ancient Egypt, 2010.
William Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt, volume II, 1978 (Book Online).
Todd Gillen, The Historical Inscription on Queen Hatshepsut’s Chapelle Rouge, 2005 (Article Online).
Websites:
UCL – Hatshepsut
UCLA – Digital Karnak, time of Hatshepsut
Maat-ka-ra.de – the Speos Artemidos

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64: Beloved Uncle

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Hatshepsut's Trusted Advisor. As Hatshepsut's power grew, so did that of Senenmut. A royal courtier, Senenmut found his career accelerating in tandem with the new King. In this episode, we follow Senenmut from his early upbringing to the corridors of power, and his victory over his rivals...

Date c.1495-1485 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Peter Dorman, The Monuments of Senenmut, 1988.
Ben Haring, “The Rising Power of the House of Amun in the New Kingdom,” in Ancient Egyptian Administration, 2013, read online.
Bernard V. Bothmer, Egyptian Art: Selected Writings of Bernand V. Bothmer, 2004, read online.
Edward F. Wente, “Some Graffiti of the Reign of Hatshepsut,” 1984, read online.
Kahtryn Bard, The Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would Be King, 2014.
Maat-ka-Re.de – Senenmut
Digital Karnak – The Obelisks of Hatshepsut/Senenmut
SLU.edu – Senmut
Ancient Egypt Online – Neferure

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63: Hatshepsut's Excellent Adventure

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 11:05:00 -0000

The Great Expedition to Punt. In 1488 BCE, King Hatshepsut launched her most famous project. A fleet of ships sailed down the Red Sea coast, in order to visit the land of Punt. There, they gathered trade goods, and met some truly fascinating locals...

Date c.1488 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000.
Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would Be King, 2014.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
James H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, 1906.
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Catherine A. Roehrig (editor), Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh, 2005.
Edouard Naville, The Temple of Deir el-Bahari, vols. V and VI, 1906.
Betsy M. Bryan (editor), Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut, 2014.

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Hatshepsut the Queen-King with Prof. Kara Cooney

Tue, 19 Jul 2016 05:05:00 -0000

Interview recorded 2020. The Impact of Hatshepsut's Reign on the Royal House of Dynasty 18. Kara (Kathlyn) Cooney is professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). In this interview, we discuss her book The Woman Who Would be King, and her research into the reign and legacy of King Hatshepsut. Episode image: a statue of Hatshepsut, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Kara Cooney's website http://karacooney.squarespace.com/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/karacooneyegyptologist/
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Intro music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Outro music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

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62b: The Divine Birth of Hatshepsut

Tue, 12 Jul 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Amun Creates Hatshepsut. In a short break, we explore the tale Hatshepsut told about her origins. She ascribed her creation and birth to the King of the Gods, Amun-Ra himself. In this dramatic recount, we go through the whole story (as it survives).

Date c.1520 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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62: Holy of Holies

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Hatshepsut, King of Egypt. In 1488 BCE, Hatshepsut made her most daring move. She pushed her newphew (Thutmose III) to one side and proclaimed herself King of Upper and Lower Egypt. At a stroke, Egypt had two kings, ruling at once...

Date c.1488 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast

Select Bibliography:

Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would be King, 2014.
James H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. II, 1906.
Catherine A. Roehrig (editor), Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh, 2005.
Edouard Naville, The Temple of Deir el-Bahari, vols. V and VI, 1906.
Marta Sankiewicz, “The ‘co-regency’ of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III in light of iconography in the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari,” Current Research in Egyptology 2010, 2011. Read Online.
Betsy M. Bryan (editor), Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut, 2014.

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61: Hatshepsut, Queen-King of Egypt

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Hatshepsut (Part 1): Gathering Power. For the first five years of her rule, Hatshepsut was (officially) a caretaker for the throne. But power inevitably gathered around the powerful woman, and she knew it...

Date c.1495 - 1490 BCE
References and images at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would be King, 2014. Google Books.
Catherine A. Roehrig, Hatshepsut – From Queen to Pharaoh, 2005. Multiple articles. FREE Pdf from Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Betsy M. Bryan et al., Creativity and Innovation in the Reign of Hatshepsut, 2014. Multiple articles. FREE Pdf from the University of Chicago.
Ineni Biography, translated by Mark Jan Nederhof: Part I; Part II; Part III.
Officials, Appointees etc.
University College London website
Saint Louis University website
Maat-ka-re.de website

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60: Thutmosid Family Values

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Introducing Hatshepsut. For a decade or more, King Thutmose I ruled a stable kingdom. Unfortunately, this king gets overshadowed by his daughter, whom he may have groomed for power...

Dates c.1519 - 1505 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Nicolas Grimal, A History of Egypt, 1994.
Kara Cooney, The Woman Who Would Be King, 2014.
Catherine H. Roehrig, editor, Hatshepsut: Queen to Pharaoh, 2005. Free PDF from Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Betsy M. Bryan, “The 18th Dynasty Before the Amarna Period,” in Ian Shaw (editor), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000.
Ineni Biography, translated by Mark Jan Nederhof: Part I; Part II; Part III.

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59: The Song of Thutmose

Mon, 23 May 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Terrible deeds... and great. In his first few years King Thutmose I led campaigns, managed his household, and commissioned his royal tomb. He launched a campaign into Nubia, pursuing conquest and booty. Unfortunately, his methods were rather horrific...

Date c.1515 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Anthony Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000.
W. Vivian Davies, “The Tomb of Ahmose son-of-Ibana at Elkab: Documenting the Family and Other Observations,” 2009. Read online.
osiris.net
the tomb of Paheri
the tomb of Ahmose Ibana

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58: The Great Turnaround

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Conquering Syria. Around 1519 BCE a new King came to power. Thutmose I (Aa-kheper-ka-Re) immediately began securing his rule. He married a cousin (or sister) of his predecessor, then launched two military campaigns. In the process he travelled further than any ruler had done before...

Date c.1519 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Anthony Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004 and 2010.
James Breasted, A History of Egypt, 1905, 1909 and 1964.
James Breasted, Records of Ancient Egypt, Volume II, 1906.

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57: All Things Good and Pure

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 11:05:00 -0000

Amunhotep I and the Splendour of Thebes. The podcast returns from hiatus, following the death of a close family member. Around 1530 BCE, King Ahmose I died and Amunhotep I came to power. At this time, the city of Waset (Thebes) was beginning to gain wealth and prominence, thanks to the exploits of its military. Prosperity grew and non-royal tombs show a growing sense of vitality...

Date c.1530 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast

Select Bibliography:

Sjef Willockx, “Three Tombs, attributed to Amenhotep I“
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Nicolas Grimal. A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Anthony J. Spalinger. War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Ian J. Shaw (ed.) – The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000 (Google Books)
Leonard H. Lesko (ed.) – Pharaoh’s Workers: The Villagers of Deir el-Medina, 1994.
Emily Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt, 2011.
William Peck, The Material World of Ancient Egypt, 2013.
Reshafim.org – The Autobiography of Ahmose Ibana.
Reshafim.org – The Autobiography of Ahmose Pen-Nekhbet.
semataui.de – Amunhotep I (website)
ucl.ac.uk – Amunhotep I (website)
euler.slu.edu – Amunhotep I (website)

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Dancers for God

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 10:05:00 -0000

Interlude: Dance the Magic Dance!

Egyptians had many festivals, and they celebrated these with great energy. Whether it was dancing for a wealthy hostess, or leaping over charging bulls, or just getting totally drunk at a festival, the Egyptians did it all...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Adolf Erman, Life in Ancient Egypt, 1894 (1971 edition).
Barbara Mertz, Red Land Black Land:Daily Life in Ancient Egypt, 1966 (2009 edition).
Emily Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt, 2011.
William Kelly Simpson(editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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56c: A Royal Funeral

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 10:05:00 -0000

How to Bury a King. Around 1530 BCE, King Ahmose I died. With his death and burial, the Second Intermediate Period ended and the New Kingdom began. We explore the funeral of a truly great monarch...

Date c. 1530 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Emily Teeter. Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt. 2011.
Steven Snape. Ancient Egyptian Tombs: the Culture of Life and Death. 2011. Google Books.
Aidan Dodson. “The Burials of Ahmose I” in Studies in Honor of Kent R. Weeks. 2010.
Edward F. Wente. “Who Was Who Among the Royal Mummies.” 1995. Read for Free Here. Follow-up discussion by the same author here.
University College London website – The Opening of the Mouth.

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56b: Restoring Splendour

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 10:05:00 -0000

A Kingdom Resurgent. Around 1540 BCE, the warriors of Thebes (Waset) were chasing their enemies. King Ahmose I and his soldiers pursued the Hyksos, straining to reach that ultimate victory, and re-unify The Two Lands.

Date c. 1540 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Robert K. Ritner and Nadine Moeller. “The Ahmose ‘Tempest’ Stela, Thera and Comparative Chronology,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 2014. Read for Free at Academia.edu.
W. Vivian Davies, “The Tomb of Ahmose Son-of-Ibana at Elkab, Documenting the Family and Other Observations,” Elkab and Beyond: Studies in Honour of Luc Limme, 2009. Read for Free at Academia.edu.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Nicolas Grimal. A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Anthony J. Spalinger. War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.
Reshafim.org – The Autobiography of Ahmose Ibana.
Reshafim.org – The Autobiography of Ahmose Pen-Nekhbet.

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56: Return of the King (Dynasty 18 Begins)

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Warfare Along the Nile. Around 1550 BCE, the young King Ahmose I was pursuing battle against the enemy Hyksos. The King and his mother, Ahhotep, pummeled their foes mercilessly. But they also took time to raise friends to high places...

Date c.1550 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.

Select Bibliography:

Reshafim.org – The Autobiography of Ahmose son of Ibana.
Irene Forstner-Muller, “Avaris, its Harbours and the Peru-nefer Problem,” Egyptian Archaeology 45 (2014). Read for free online at Academia.edu.
W. Vivian Davies, “The Tomb of Ahmose Son-of-Ibana at Elkab, Documenting the Family and Other Observations,” Elkab and Beyond: Studies in Honour of Luc Limme, 2009. Read for free at Academia.edu.
Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
William Kelly Simpson (editor). The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Anthony J. Spalinger. War in Ancient Egypt, 2005.

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Introducing: The New Kingdom

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 08:05:00 -0000

Historical Phase number 3... We are now entering the New Kingdom. What does this mean? Well, that's kind of a big question.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Social media: www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

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55: Blood and Thunder (Kamose vs Hyksos)

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Second Intermediate Period (Part 4). In 1560 BCE, Seqenenre Tao / Ta'a was dead. Killed in battle, the king's body lay on the field, beaten and bloody. Now, the task of ruling the southern kingdom fell to his wife Ahhotep and his son Kamose. The latter would lead a campaign of reprisal, a bloody raid into the heart of enemy territory...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select bibliography:

Garry J. Shaw. “The Death of King Seqenenre Tao.” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt. 2009. Read online at JSTOR.
Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. 2010.
William Kelly Simpson (editor). The Literature of Ancient Egypt.
Anthony J. Spalinger. War in Ancient Egypt. 2005.
Reshafim.org – The Kamose Inscriptions.

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Battlefield Mummy: The Brutal Death of Seqenenre Ta'a

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 08:05:00 -0000

Around 1560 BCE the King of Southern Egypt, Seqen-en-re Ta’a died. His end was violent and bloody. The king was a victim of (anonymous) foes, who tied him up and executed him. The full circumstances of this event are coming to light with new research. Today, we dig into recent studies on the event and its larger context…

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com,
Music by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

Select Bibliography:

Manfred Bietak, “The Egyptian Community in Avaris During the Hyksos Period,” Egypt and the Levant 26 (2016), 263–74.
Manfred Bietak, “The Many Ethnicities of Avaris,” in J. Budka and J. Auenmüller (eds), From Microcosm to Macrocosm: Individual Households and Cities in Ancient Egypt and Nubia (2018): 73–92.
Andrew Curry, “The Rulers of Foreign Lands,” Archaeology 71 (2018), 28–33.
Aidan Dodson and Salima Ikram, The Mummy in Ancient Egypt (1998).
Uroš Matić, Body and Frames of War in New Kingdom Egypt (2019).
Sahar N. Saleem and Zahi Hawass, ‘Computed Tomography Study of the Mummy of King Seqenenre Taa II: New Insights Into His Violent Death’, Frontiers in Medicine 8 (2021), 1–10. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmed.2021.637527
Grafton Elliot Smith, Egyptian Mummies (1991 Edition).

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54: Three Kingdoms

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Second Intermediate Period (Part 3). Around 1560 BCE the Hyksos were supreme over Egypt. Along with their allies (the Nubians of Kerma), the Hyksos dominated half of the country. Down in the southern regions, the kings of Dynasty 16 struggled to hold their territory...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Anthony J. Spalinger, War in Ancient Egypt, 2005
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004 & 2010.
Lazlo Torok, Between Two Worlds: The Frontier Region Between Ancient Nubia and Egypt 3700 BC – AD 500, 2009.

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53: Rulers of Foreign Lands

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Second Intermediate Period (Part 2): Invaders!

Around 1650 BCE, the 13th Dynasty crumbled away. Foreigners moving into Egypt over previous centuries now consolidated their power. Or was it an invasion?

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Daphna Ben-Tor, “Can Scarabs Argue for the Origin of the Hyksos?” Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections, 1 (2009). FREE on Academia.edu.
Nadine Moeller, et al., “Discussion of Late Middle Kingdom and Early Second Intermediate Period History and Chronology in Relation to the Khayan Sealings From Edfu.” Egypt and the Levant, XXI (2011). FREE on Academia.edu.
Wolfram Grajetzki, “Notes on Administration in the Second Intermediate Period,” The Second Intermediate Period, 2010.
Charlotte Booth, The Hyksos Period in Egypt, 2008.

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52: Two Dynasties at Once

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 11:05:00 -0000

The Second Intermediate Period (Part 1). Around 1700 BCE, different regions of Egypt began to separate. Following a slow decay, a catastrophic famine and plague, and erosion of royal authority, people living in the north decided to find their own way in life.

Date: c. 1700 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Episode written in 2014. Edited but not rewritten in 2024.

Select bibliography:

Manfred Bietak, “Egypt and Canaan During the Middle Bronze Age,” Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research, 1991.
Janine Bourriau, “The Second Intermediate Period” in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
Auaris.at – Official Website of the Austrian Expedition to Avaris (Tell el-Dabaa): General History of the Region; the Avaris Temple.
Irene Forstner-Muller, “Tombs and Burial Customs…” in The Second Intermediate Period: Current Research, Future Prospects, 2010.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Gregory D. Mumford, “Dynasties 13-17: The Second Intermediate Period,” Lecture Series.

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51: Everywhere and Nowhere (An Eloquent Peasant)

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 11:05:00 -0000

Dynasty 13: Invisible Kings. From 1770 to 1700, the 13th Dynasty produced a vast number of kings, but we know almost nothing about them, for reasons that remain challenging to understand. We also explore the Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, a wonderful story of wrongdoing and the search for justice.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
W.K. Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2006. PDF Copy at Archive.org.
Toby Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
W.K. Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2006. PDF Copy at Archive.org.

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50: Between Two Worlds (Sobekneferu / Neferusobek)

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 11:05:00 -0000

A Woman King. Around 1776 BCE, the 12th Dynasty was dwindled away. Before it vanished, it produced one last remarkable figure. Neferu-Sobek (or Sobek-Neferu) was Egypt's first recorded female king.

Additionally, we explore the Tale of the Man and his Ba, also known as The Man Who Was Tired of Life.

Date: c. 1776 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Wolfram Gratjetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Raymond O. Faulkner, “The Man Who Was Tired of Life,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (1956).

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49: From One Era to Another

Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:05:00 -0000

Foreign Settlements. King Amenemhat IV came to power around 1798 BCE. His reign was unremarkable, but big things were happening around Egypt. In this episode, we explore the growing evidence for Canaanite peoples coming to Egypt and settling in large numbers.

Date c.1798 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Florian Lippke, “The Southern Levant in context. A brief sketch of important figures considering the religious symbol system in the Bronze Ages,” in Egypt and the Near East – the Crossroads. Jana Mynárova, 2011.
Ian Shaw, “Amethyst Mining in the Eastern Desert: A Preliminary Survey at Wadi el-Hudi,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 79 (1993): 81-97.
Jacke Phillips, “Egyptian Amethyst in the Bronze Age Aegean,” Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 1.2 (2009): 9-25.

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48: A Last Flowering

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 11:05:00 -0000

King Amen-em-hat III (aka Ny-ma'at-Re) was the last "great" ruler of Dynasty 12. Over forty-six years in power, he would achieve significant things for his royal household. Unfortunately, cracks were beginning to appear in Egypt's kingdom...

Date: c. 1840 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994.
Gregory D. Mumford and Sarah Parcak, “Pharaonic Ventures into the South Sinai,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 89 (2003). JSTOR.
Alan B. Lloyd (editor), A Companion to Ancient Egypt, 2010. Google Books preview.
Kerry Muhlstein, “Levantine Thinking in Egypt,” Egypt, Canaan and Israel: History, Imperialism, Ideology and Literature, 2009. Google Books preview.
James P. Allen, “The Historical Inscription of Khnumhotep at Dahshur,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 352 (2008). JSTOR.
R. Neil Hewison, The Fayoum: History and Guide, 2008. Google Books preview.
University College London wesbite: Satire of the Trades; The Labyrinth of Hawara.
Chris Kirby‘s Reconstruction of Biahmu. Youtube.

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47: Strong Ruler(s)

Mon, 04 May 2015 11:05:00 -0000

Senuseret III (Part 5). Family matters. Around 1845 BCE, the Heka-nakht Papyri tell us of daily life and business in Middle Kingdom Egypt. Also, King Senuseret III reaches the end of his reign. His successor, Amenemhat, strikes up an uncommon balance of power, with his daughter Neferu-Ptah...

Date: c. 1845 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music: Keith Zizza.

Select Bibliography:

Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.
Josef Wegner, “A Group of Miniature Royal Sarcophagi from South Abydos,” in Millions of Jubilees: Studies in Honor of David P. Silverman, 2010 (Read online free at Academia.edu).
UCL Website – Amenemhat III.
SLU Website – Amenemhat III.

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46: Crushing Our Enemies

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 11:05:00 -0000

Kha-kau-re Senuseret III (Part 4): Decimations. Around 1864 BCE, King Senuseret III launched a new campaign into Nubia. Along the way, he built new fortresses and took many captives. Meanwhile, Egyptians begin practising a rather novel way of destroying their enemies...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Select Bibliography:

Lazlo Török, Between Two Worlds: The Frontier Region between Ancient Nubia and Egypt 3700 BC – AD 500, 2009.
Lyla Pinch Brock, Zahi Hawass, Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century: Archaeology, 2003 (Google Books).
Derek Welsby, “Hidden Treasures of Lake Nubia,” Sudan & Nubia volume 8 (2004).
Carola Vogel, The Fortifications of Ancient Egypt 3000-1780 BCE, 2010 (Google Books).

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45: The Book of Two Ways

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Kha-kau-re Senuseret III (Part 3): The Coffin Texts. Around 1867 BCE, the nobles were taking a greater share in the economy than ever before. This "flowering" of elite culture produced some wonderful works: ornately decorated coffins, painted with spells, hymns, and even stories connected with the underworld of Osiris...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

W.K. Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2006. PDF Copy at Archive.org.
Leonard H. Lesko, “Some Observations on the Composition of the Book of Two Ways,” Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 91 (1971). JSTOR link.
Harold M. Hays, “The Mutability of Tradition: The Old Kingdom Heritage and Middle Kingdom Significance of Coffin Texts Spell 343,” Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap “Ex Oriente Lux” Vol. 40 (2007). Read Online Free at Academia.edu.
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Egyptian Funerary Literature, website.
Osiris.net, The Tomb of Djehuty-hotep, website.
Margaret R. Buson, Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt – Revised Edition 2001. GoogleBooks Edition.

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44: The Shipwrecked Sailor

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Interlude: A Tale of the Sea. Sometime during the Twelfth Dynasty, a folk-tale was composed (or became popular) that would echo through the ages as one of Egypt’s most enduring tales...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

W.K. Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2006 (Archive.org Pdf Copy).Primary translation for this episode.
Peter der Manuelian, “Interpreting the Shipwrecked Sailor,” in Festschrift für Emmer Brunner-Traut (1992). Free Online Copy.
John Baines, “Interpreting the Story of the Shipwrecked Sailor,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology76 (1990). Online pdf.
Fordham University – The Shipwrecked Sailor, online article.
St. Andrews University – Hieroglyphic text, transliteration and translation.

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Mini Episode: Happy Valentines

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 08:05:00 -0000

Ancient Egyptian Love Songs.

Ancient Egyptian love songs are passionate (even erotic). This episode may not be suitable for children. But these poems are lively, full of excitement, and descriptive indeed...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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43: Dominion Over All

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Society and Death. Around 1872 BCE, King Senuseret III (Kha-Kau-Re) was powerful and secure. The wealthy nobles of the kingdom began to respond to this power...

Date c. 1880 - 1870 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Janet Richards, Society and Death in Ancient Egypt: Mortuary Landscapes of the Middle Kingdom, 2005 (Google Books Preview).
The History Blog, “Met Saves Treasures of Harageh from Auction Sale,” 2014 (Blog post). Original Auction.
A. Illin-Tomich, “A Twelfth Dynasty Stela Workshop Possibly from Saqqara,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology volume 97, 2011 (Academia.edu).
Reshafim.org: “The Ikher-nefret Stela,” and “The Loyalist Instruction of Sehetepibre” and “The Teaching of a Man for his Son.”
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
W.K. Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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42: Underworld

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:05:00 -0000

Senuseret III (Part 1): A Secret Tomb. Around 1880 BCE, one of Egypt's most successful rulers took the throne. Sen-Useret III was a mighty and influential King, who would enjoy a lasting legacy of power, justice, and splendour...

Date c.1880 - 1860 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Josef Wegner, “The Tomb of Senwosret III at Abydos: Considerations on the Origin and Development of the Royal Amduat-Tomb,” in Archaism and Innovation, 2009 (Free Download).
Josef Wegner and Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner, “Seat of Eternity” in Archaeology Magazine, July/August 2001 (JSTOR).
Vanessa E. Smith, “An Investigation of the Shena of Divine Offerings Adjacent to the Mortuary Temple of Senwosret III at Abydos, Egypt,” PhD. Dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 2010.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Penn Museum Website – Abydos.
Ancient Egypt Online – Senwosret III at Dahshur.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Website – Senwosret III’s Pyramid at Dahshur.

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41: The Oasis

Mon, 05 Jan 2015 10:05:00 -0000

The Lake Pyramid. Around 1892 BCE, a new ruler came to power. His name was Senuseret II, and while he did not rule long, this king had a big impact on his dynasty...

Date c. 1890 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Wolfram Grajetzki – The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal – A History of Egypt, 1994.
Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton – The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.

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40: Feasting, Laughing and Dancing

Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:05:00 -0000

Interlude: How the Egyptians Celebrated. From beer halls to temples to cemeteries, this episode explores Egyptian revelry. We focus on two major festivals: the raucous celebrations for Hathor, and the sombre re-enactment of the Osiris story...

Episode 40: Feasting, Laughing and Dancing – The History of Egypt Podcast (egyptianhistorypodcast.com).

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Vangelis.

Select Bibliography:

John C. Darnell, “The Opet Festival.” UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology.
LA Times interview with Prof. Betsy M. Bryan, Johns Hopkins University.
E.F. Morris, “Sacred and Obscene Laughter in the Contendings of Horus and Seth,” in Egyptian Stories, 2007.
Plutarch, Isis and Osiris (1st Century CE).
The Ikher-nefret Stela (12th Dynasty).
Additional Music by Vangelis – Alexander (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

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39: The Wealth of Asia

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:05:00 -0000

Amenemhat II (Part 2): Fabulous Wealth. From 1927 – 1910 BCE, Nub-Kau-Re Amenemhat II launches expeditions to lands outside Egypt. Trade missions to and from the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine) bring wealth and exotic goods into Egypt. Treasures even come from southern Turkey and the Aegean Sea, finding their way into the temples being built or renovated by the king.

Nubkaure’s reign is remarkable for the archaeological finds of al–Tod that give testament to the foreign wealth entering the kingdom. This wealth goes to fund a number of building projects…

Date c. 1920 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Wolfram Grajetzki – The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. 2006.
Nicolas Grimal – A History of Egypt. 1994.
Ezra S. Marcus – “Amenemhet II and the Sea: Maritime Aspects of the Mit Rahina (Memphis) Expedition.” Egypt and the Levant vol. 17 (2007) . Free Download (Academia.edu)
K.R. Maxwell-Hyslop – “A Note on the Anatolian Connections of the Tod Treasure” Anatolian Studies vol. 45 (1995) – Read Free Online (JSTOR)
Lawrence E. Stager – “Port Power in the Early and the Middle Bronze Age: The Organization of Maritime Trade and Hinterland Production.” Studies in the Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands in Memory of Douglas L. Esse. 2001. Free Download (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago)
Metropolitan Museum News – the Colossal Statue of Amenemhat II.
Reshafim.org – the biography of Thoth-Hotep.

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38: Burial Rites

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:05:00 -0000

Amenemhat II (Part 1): International Fame. Around 1927 BCE, King Nub-kau-Re Amenemhat II came to power. His reign was peaceful and prosperous, and many treasures emerge from this period...

Date c. 1927 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Jacques de Morgan, Fouilles a Dachour 1894-1895, 1903 (Free Download).
The New York Times, 1899 – Jacques de Morgan speaks to the American Archaeological and Numismatic Society on his discovery.
Reshafim.org – the Biography of Khnumhotep II, of Beni Hassan (Menat Khufu).
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.

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37: Imperial Projects

Mon, 20 Oct 2014 10:05:00 -0000

Senuseret I (Part 4): Money Money Honey. Gold drives empires today, and the ancient Egyptians were no different. Senuseret I sends warriors into Nubia, the Sinai Peninsula and the Eastern Desert. They go in search of precious metals, resources needed for the King's monuments...

Date c. 1960 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Henriette Hafsas-Talkos, “Between Kush and Egypt: the C-Group People of Lower Nubia,” in Between the Cataracts: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference for Nubian Studies, 2006.
Tourist blog in Sudan.

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36: The White Chapel

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 10:05:00 -0000

Senuseret I (Part 3): Creating Karnak Temple. The temple of Karnak is a wonder of the world; but its origins are mostly lost, beneath generations of re-modelling and re-building. Nevertheless, a few traces survive of the earliest days; among them, a magnificent monument of King Senuseret I...

Date c.1950 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
James H. Breasted, A History of Egypt, 1905 (1959 Edition).
UCLA Digital Karnak Project.

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35: From Father to Son

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Senuseret I (Part 2): Teachings from the Father. Around 1962 BCE, King Sen-Useret I came to power. His father was dead, assassinated by his own royal guards. Now, the new ruler had to figure things out. Fortunately, Senuseret had some "teachings" from his father. What a coincidence, right?

Date c.1962 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

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34: Night of the Long Knives (The Tale of Sinuhe)

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Senuseret I (Part 1): Sinuhe's Fear and Flight. Around 1962 BCE, conspirators broke into the royal bedchamber and attacked King Amenemhat in his bed. The result was panic. The king's son Senuseret was far from home, and the situation was incredibly perilous. In the midst of this, a minor official named Sinuhe got caught up in the storm, and decided to flee for his life. Thereby hangs a tale...

Date c. 1960 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Other podcasts:

The Tale of Sinuhe, discussed on BBC Radio 4 "In Our Time" with Melvyn Bragg. A nice (and very British) discussion of the tale. Enjoy!
A new reading! Barbara Ewing (actress) and Richard M. Parkinson (Professor of Egyptology, Oxford) have produced a new version of Sinuhe’s tale.

Select Bibliography:

Miriam Lichtheimm Ancient Egyptian Literature, 2006.
W.K. Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Reshafim.org – The Tale of Sinuhe.
Scott Morschauser, “What made Sinuhe run?” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 37 (2000).
Hans Goedicke, “Sinuhe’s Duel.” JARCE 21 (1984): 197-201.
Anthony Spalinger, “Orientations on Sinuhe,” Studien zur Altägypischen Kultur 25 (1998).

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33: Revivals and Regencies

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Amenemhat I (Part 2): Father and Son. Around 1985 BCE, King Amenemhat I ruled with skill and sense. His reign was a time of new developments, epitomised in the foundation of a new capital city. Strangely, the King decided to name his new capital "Seizing the Two Lands."

Date c. 1985 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold, “Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes,” Metropolitan Museum of Art Journal, 1991.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Wolfram Grajetzki. Court Officials of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom. 2009.
Gay Robins. The Art of Ancient Egypt. 2008.

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32: The Repeating of Births

Mon, 28 Jul 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Amenemhat I (Part 1): A Self-Made King. Around 1990 BCE, a new King took power. His name was Amun-em-Hat ("Amun in the Forefront"). First things first, he had to justify his unusual accession...

Date c.1990 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold, “Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes,” Metropolitan Museum of Art Journal, 1991.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Wolfram Grajetzki. Court Officials of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom. 2009.
Gay Robins. The Art of Ancient Egypt. 2008.

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31: Seven Empty Years

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Montuhotep IV: A Forgotten King. At the end of Dynasty 11, there is a "gap" in the royal king list. The Turin Canon records the seven years of Montuhotep IV as a time when "no king reigned." On top of this, no royal images or records survive from his reign. Who is this man, and why is he lost?...

Date c.1995 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold, “Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes,” Metropolitan Museum of Art Journal, 1991.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Egypt, 1994.

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30: Smooth Sailing on the Red Sea

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Montuhotep III: A short but successful reign. Around 2010 BCE the great king Montu-Hotep II died. His son and heir, Montuhotep III, now came to power. This new king only ruled a few years but he achieved some noteworthy things, including a return to Punt...

Date c. 2010 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Pierre Tallet, “Ayn Sukhna and Wadi al-Jarf: Two Newly Discovered Pharaonic Harbours on the Suez Gulf,” British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan, 2012.
Dorothea Arnold, “Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes,” Metropolitan Museum of Art Journal, 1991.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Egypt, 1994.

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29: The War God

Mon, 19 May 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Montuhotep II (Part 3): Victorious Lords. Around 2020 BCE, King Montuhotep II was secure in his power. He could now lead military campaigns in Wawat and Kush, the region historians call Nubia or Sudan. He also went east into the deserts, and north to Canaan, pushing Egyptian authority abroad...

Date c. 2020 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold, “Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes,” Metropolitan Museum of Art Journal, 1991.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Edouard Naville, The Eleventh Dynasty Temple at Deir el-Bahari, 1907.
Lazlo Török, Between Two Worlds, 2009.

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28: The King in the North

Mon, 05 May 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Montuhotep II (Part 2): A King and His Court. By 2020 BCE, Montu-Hotep II had established himself as King of Upper and Lower Egypt. But, would he be able to keep his power, in the wake of challenges?

Date c. 2020 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Herbert Winlock, “The Theban Necropolis in the Middle Kingdom,” American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, 1915 (JSTOR).
Dorothea Arnold, “Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes,” Metropolitan Museum of Art Journal, 1991.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Wolfram Grajetzki, Court Officials of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, 2009.
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 1997/2008.

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27: A Walk in the Desert

Mon, 21 Apr 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Montuhotep II (Part 1): Mighty in Thebes. Around 2040 BCE, a new King unified Egypt and brought the country some stability. His name was Neb-hepet-Re Montu-Hotep ("Montu is Satisfied"), and he would be a mighty ruler indeed. To celebrate his victory, the new ruler commissioned beautiful monuments, in the city of his ancestors...

Date c.2020 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Dorothea Arnold, “Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes,” Metropolitan Museum of Art Journal, 1991.
Darrell D. Baker: The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I – Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300–1069 BC, 2008.
Wolfram Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, 2006.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Egypt, 1994.
PETER JÁNOSI, “Montuhotep-Nebtawyre and Amenemhat I: Observations on the Early Twelfth Dynasty in Egypt.” Metropolitan Museum Journal 45 (2010): 7–20. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41558050.
Edouard Naville, The XIth Dynasty Temple at Deir el-Bahari, 3 vols, via Internet Archive (vol. 1), (vol. 2), (vol. 3).
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 1997/2008.
Ian Shaw (editor), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2004.

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Introducing: The Middle Kingdom

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 09:03:00 -0000

Historical Phase number 2... A quick primer for the Middle Kingdom, the period which saw prosperity return to Egypt and cultural achievements reach some amazing heights. Let me introduce the new phase, and what our story will involve...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

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Grave of the Unknown Soldiers: The First Intermediate Period (Epilogue)

Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:05:00 -0000

A tomb revisited. In 1923 CE, excavations at Luxor revealed the graves of ancient Egyptian soldiers. They bore scars of battle on their bones and flesh; and their story may belong to one of several major conflicts within the Nile Valley, around 2000—1900 BCE. In this episode, we revisit an old topic, and describe the tale anew…

Note: This episode has an extended version on Patreon (link below).

Dates: 1923—1926 CE (excavation); c. 2000—1900 BCE (ancient burial).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

Select Bibliography:

H. E. Winlock, The Slain Soldiers of Neb-Hepet-Re Mentu-Hotpe (1945). Available in Open Access via MMA.
C. Vogel, ‘Fallen Heroes? Winlock’s “Slain Soldiers” Reconsidered’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 89 (2003), 239—245. Access via Academia.edu and JSTOR.org.
P. Chudzik, ‘Middle Kingdom tombs in the North Asasif Necropolis: Field Seasons 2018/2019 and 2020’, Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (2020), 177—202. Open Access via Academia.edu.
Wikipedia, ‘MMA 507,’ https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MMA_507&oldid=1151562120.
J. Heath, ‘The Slain Soldiers of Tomb 507: An Egyptological Mystery’, Ancient Egypt: The History, People and Culture of the Nile Valley 118 (2020), 28-33. Note: I became aware of this article after publication of this episode, but I include it here as the author reaches similar conclusions to mine.

Artefacts from the tomb at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Archers’ wrist guard.
Folded linen with hieratic text of Sobekhotep Son-of-Imeny. Additional pieces at MMA Collections (objects dated .1961 – 1917 BC).
Skull fragment with arrow in eye (images restricted).
Model weapons of the early Middle Kingdom: shield, spear, quiver.
The tomb of Queen Neferu at Deir el-Bahari: Wikipedia, photos at Flickr.com.

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26d: The Age of Montu - The First Intermediate Period (Part 7, Finale)

Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

These violent delights have violent ends. Between 1992 BCE and 1941 BCE, King Montu-Hotep (“Montu is Content”) ruled the southern kingdom. And he led efforts to expand Theban power, and ultimately reunify the Two Lands…

Logo image: Montu, in a chapel of Ramesses III at Karnak (Kairoinfo4u).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

Montuhotep’s Expansion into Wawat / Nubia and the records of the wars:

Darnell, ‘The Route of the Eleventh Dynasty Expansion into Nubia: An Interpretation Based on the Rock Inscriptions of Tjehemau at Abisko’, Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde 131 (2004), 23—37. Available on Academia.edu.
Darnell, ‘The Eleventh Dynasty Royal Inscription from Deir el-Ballas’, Revue d’Égyptologie 59 (2008), 81—110. Available on Academia.edu.

Montuhotep’s Mahat Chapel at Abydos, discovered in 2014: Josef Wegner at Academia.edu and Damarany in Abydos: The Sacred Land (2019), JSTOR.

Scholarly debates on the timeline and events of the Reunification:

Brovarski, ‘The Hare and Oryx Nomes in the First Intermediate Period and Early Middle Kingdom’, in Egyptian Culture and Society: Studies in Honour of Naguib Kanawati, 1 (2010), 31—85. Available on Academia.edu. This was the study I followed in my reconstruction.
Willems, ‘The Nomarchs of the Hare Nome and Early Middle Kingdom History’, Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux 28 (1985), 80—102. Available at Researchgate.

Nubia – The Archaeology of Wawat and Kerma:

Kerma – Mission archéologique suisse à Kerma (Soudan)
C. Bonnet, ‘The Cities of Kerma and Pnubs-Dokki Gel’, in G. Emberling and B. B. Williams (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia (Oxford, 2021), 201—212.
H. Hafsaas, ‘The C-Group People in Lower Nubia: Cattle Pastoralists on the Frontier Between Egypt and Kush’, in B. B. Williams and G. Emberling (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia (Oxford, 2020), 157—177.
G. K. Meurer, ‘Nubians in Egypt from the Early Dynastic Period to the New Kingdom’, in B. B. Williams and G. Emberling (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia (Oxford, 2020), 289—308.
B. B. Williams, ‘Kush in the Wider World During the Kerma Period’, in G. Emberling and B. B. Williams (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia (Oxford, 2021), 179--200.

The Tomb of General Antef, with images of siege towers and naval forces:

B. Jaroš-Deckert, Grabung im Asasif. 1963-1970. Band 5: das Grab des Jnj-jtj.f. Die Wandmalereien der 11. Dynastie, 12 (1984).

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26c: A Legacy in Flames - The First Intermediate Period (Part 6)

Tue, 15 Apr 2014 11:04:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

Ta-Wer howled. Around 2000 BCE, the southern kingdom was rising quickly. But the north was not out of the fight. Not by a long shot…

Episode chapters

Prologue – A Royal Inspection (00:30).
The Fall of Tjeni / Thinis (07:25).
The Long Reign of Intef II (11:58).
Intef’s Dogs (20:58).
Khety Merykara (34:03).
Making Ta-Wer Howl (47:25).
Conclusion (01:06:37).
Epilogue – Intef’s Hymns for Ra and Hathor (01:08:30).

Dendera excavations: Moeller and Marouard, The Development of Two Early Urban Centres - Edfu and Dendara (2018).

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.
Logo image: The "Dog Stela" of Intef II, from his tomb at El-Tarif (Mariette 1858).

Select Bibliography:

A. E. Demidchik, ‘The Reign of Merikare Khety’, Göttinger Miszellen 192 (2003), 25--36.
A. Dodson and D. Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (London, 2004).
C. Langer, ‘The Political Realism of the Egyptian Elite: A Comparison Between The Teaching for Merikare and Niccolò Machiavelli’s Il Principe’, Journal of Egyptian History 8 (2015), 49--79.
R. J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Wilson, 2013).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms (Los Angeles, 1973).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Autobiographies Chiefly of the Middle Kingdom: A Study and an Anthology (Freiburg, 1988).
J. Malek, ‘King Merykare and his Pyramid’, in C. Berger et al. (eds), Hommages à Jean Leclant, 4, 4 vols (Cairo, 1994), 203--214.
G. Maspero, ‘On the Name of An Egyptian Dog’, Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology V (1877), 127--128.
R. B. Parkinson, The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems (1940—1640 BC) (Oxford, 1997).
R. B. Parkinson, Poetry and Culture in Middle Kingdom Egypt: A Dark Side to Perfection (London, 2002).
D. Polz, Die Sogenannte Hundestele des Königs Wah-Anch Intef aus el-Târif: Eine Forschungsgeschichte (Wiesbaden, 2019).
D. Polz, ‘Dra’ Abu el-Naga, Ägypten: ein angeblicher Fund aus Dra’ Abu el-Naga. Die sog. Hundestele des Königs Wah-Anch Intef. Eine Forschungsgeschichte’, e-Forschungsberichte des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 2020 (2020), 12--16.
S. Quirke, Egyptian Literature 1800 BC: Questions and Readings (London, 2004).
D. B. Spanel, ‘The Herakleopolitan Tombs of Kheti I, Jt(.j)jb(.j), and Kheti II at Asyut’, Orientalia 58 (1989), 301--314.

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26b: Intef the Great, Part 2 - The First Intermediate Period (Part 5b)

Mon, 14 Apr 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

Intef the Great, Part 2. The war for Ta-Wer. The Thebans had seized the sacred city of Abdju (Abydos) in the district of Ta-Wer. The northern rulers, from the House of Khety, contested this violently. Inscriptions and art reveal the movements of armies, the clashes on field and river, and the sieging of major towns. Soon, things going downright apocalyptic. Also… dogs!

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodman.com.
Interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.
Logo image: Intef II, from a stela in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Intro: Saruman's Speech from The Two Towers (2002), adapted by Dominic Perry.
Fawlty Towers excerpts via Britbox Don't Mention the War | Fawlty Towers (youtube.com ).

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Partial Bibliography:

M. D. Adams, ‘Community and Society in Egypt in the First Intermediate Period: An Archaeological Investigation of the Abydos Settlement Site’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Michigan (2005).
D. Arnold, Gräber des Alten und Mittleren Reiches in El-Tarif (Mainz, 1976).
D. D. Baker, Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs Volume I: Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300 - 1069 BC (Cairo, 2008).
H. Brunner, Die Texte aus den Gräbern der Herakleopolitenzeit von Siut mit Übersetzung und Erläuterungen (Glückstadt, 1937).
J. J. Clère and J. Vandier, Textes de la Première Période Intermédiare et de la XIeme Dynastie (Brussels, 1948).
J. C. Darnell and D. Darnell, ‘New Inscriptions of the Late First Intermediate Period from the Theban Western Desert and the Beginnings of the Northern Expansion of the Eleventh Dynasty’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 56 (1997), 241--258.
W. Ejsmond, ‘The Nubian Mercenaries of Gebelein in Light of Recent Field Research’, Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 14 (2017), 11--13.
N. Fields, Soldier of the Pharaoh: Middle Kingdom Egypt 2055--1650 BC (2007).
H. G. Fischer, Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome: Dynasties VI-XI (Analecta orientalia 40; Rome, 1964).
H. G. Fischer, ‘Provincial Inscriptions of the Heracleopolitan Period’, Varia Nova, Egyptian Studies 3 (New York, 1996), 79--90.
G. P. Gilbert, Weapons, Warriors, and Warfare in Early Egypt (Oxford, 2004).
H. Goedicke, ‘The Inscription of Dmi’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 19 (1960), 288--291.
W. Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (London, 2006 & 2024).
R. Landgráfová, It Is My Good Name That You Should Remember: Egyptian Biographical Texts on Middle Kingdom Stelae (Prague, 2011).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms (Los Angeles, 1973).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Autobiographies Chiefly of the Middle Kingdom: A Study and an Anthology (Freiburg, 1988).
D. O’Connor, Abydos: Egypt’s First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris (London, 2009).
S. Seidlmayer, ‘The First Intermediate Period (c. 2160--2055 BC)’, in I. Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2000), 108--136.
I. Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare (Oxford, 2019).
J. Wegner, ‘The Stela of Idudju-Iker, Foremost-One of the Chiefs of Wawat: New Evidence on the Conquest of Thinis Under Wahankh Antef II’, Revue d’égyptologie 68 (2018), 153--209.
T. Wilkinson, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: The History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra (London, 2010).

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26a: Intef the Great, Part 1 - The First Intermediate Period (Part 5a)

Sun, 13 Apr 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

Intef the Great (c.2050—2000 BCE), Part 1. The reign of Intef II, ruler of Waset (Thebes) shows a sudden surge in expansion and conflict. Seeking absolute power over the south, Intef brought major districts like Abu (Elephantine) into his territory. He made alliances with the rulers of Wawat (Nubia). Then, he sent his armies north to seize a sacred city…

Episode details:

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodman.com.
Interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.
Logo image: Intef II, from a stela in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibligraphy:

M. D. Adams, ‘Community and Society in Egypt in the First Intermediate Period: An Archaeological Investigation of the Abydos Settlement Site’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Michigan (2005).
D. Arnold, Gräber des Alten und Mittleren Reiches in El-Tarif (Mainz, 1976).
D. D. Baker, Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs Volume I: Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300 - 1069 BC (Cairo, 2008).
H. Brunner, Die Texte aus den Gräbern der Herakleopolitenzeit von Siut mit Übersetzung und Erläuterungen (Glückstadt, 1937).
J. J. Clère and J. Vandier, Textes de la Première Période Intermédiare et de la XIeme Dynastie (Brussels, 1948).
J. C. Darnell and D. Darnell, ‘New Inscriptions of the Late First Intermediate Period from the Theban Western Desert and the Beginnings of the Northern Expansion of the Eleventh Dynasty’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 56 (1997), 241--258.
W. Ejsmond, ‘The Nubian Mercenaries of Gebelein in Light of Recent Field Research’, Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 14 (2017), 11--13.
N. Fields, Soldier of the Pharaoh: Middle Kingdom Egypt 2055--1650 BC (2007).
H. G. Fischer, Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome: Dynasties VI-XI (Analecta orientalia 40; Rome, 1964).
H. G. Fischer, ‘Provincial Inscriptions of the Heracleopolitan Period’, Varia Nova, Egyptian Studies 3 (New York, 1996), 79--90.
G. P. Gilbert, Weapons, Warriors, and Warfare in Early Egypt (Oxford, 2004).
H. Goedicke, ‘The Inscription of Dmi’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 19 (1960), 288--291.
W. Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (London, 2006 & 2024).
R. Landgráfová, It Is My Good Name That You Should Remember: Egyptian Biographical Texts on Middle Kingdom Stelae (Prague, 2011).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms (Los Angeles, 1973).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Autobiographies Chiefly of the Middle Kingdom: A Study and an Anthology (Freiburg, 1988).
D. O’Connor, Abydos: Egypt’s First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris (London, 2009).
S. Seidlmayer, ‘The First Intermediate Period (c. 2160--2055 BC)’, in I. Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2000), 108--136.
I. Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare (Oxford, 2019).
J. Wegner, ‘The Stela of Idudju-Iker, Foremost-One of the Chiefs of Wawat: New Evidence on the Conquest of Thinis Under Wahankh Antef II’, Revue d’égyptologie 68 (2018), 153--209.
T. Wilkinson, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: The History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra (London, 2010).

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25d: Self-Made King- The First Intermediate Period (Part 4)

Sat, 12 Apr 2014 11:05:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

The first phase is over, and the war is heating up. Around 2055 BCE, a lord of Waset/Thebes/Luxor named Intef I promoted himself far above the established norms. Sending representatives to treat with the other rulers, Intef nonetheless began to push his military power further afield. Soon, he began to isolate and attack the loyalist governors nearby…

Episode details:

The Qena Bend and locations referenced in this episode.
Logo image: Model soldiers from a First Intermediate Period tomb (Brooklyn MFA).
“Godfather” Walz theme by Andrea Giuffredi.
“Declare Independence” by Björk, instrumental version.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

D. D. Baker, Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs Volume I: Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300 - 1069 BC (2008).
E. Brovarski, ‘Overseers of Upper Egypt in the Old to Middle Kingdoms’, Zeitschrift für ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde 140 (2013), 91—111. Available online.
J. J. Clère and J. Vandier, Textes de la Première Période Intermédiare et de la XIeme Dynastie (1948).
J. C. Darnell, Theban Desert Road Survey in the Egyptian Western Desert, I: Gebel Tjauti Rock Inscriptions 1-45 and Wadi el-Hôl Rock Inscriptions 1-45 (2002).
J. C. Darnell and D. Darnell, ‘New Inscriptions of the Late First Intermediate Period from the Theban Western Desert and the Beginnings of the Northern Expansion of the Eleventh Dynasty’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 56 (1997), 241—258. JSTOR.
A. E. Demidchik, ‘The History of the Heracleopolitan Kings’ Domain’, in H.-W. Fischer-Elfert and R. B. Parkinson (eds), Studies on the Middle Kingdom in Memory of Detlef Franke (2013), 93—106. Online.
H. G. Fischer, Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome: Dynasties VI-XI (1964).
H. G. Fischer, Dendera in the Third Millennium BC Down to the Theban Domination of Upper Egypt (1968).
W. Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (2006 & 2024).
R. J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (2013).
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms (1973).
S. Seidlmayer, ‘The First Intermediate Period (c. 2160--2055 BC)’, in I. Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000), 108—136.
N. Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age (2005).
T. Wilkinson, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: The History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra (2010).
T. Wilkinson, Lives of the Ancient Egyptians (2019).
H. Willems, ‘The First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom’, in A. B. Lloyd (ed.), A Companion to Ancient Egypt, 1 (2010), 81—100.

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25c: Apophis Strikes - The First Intermediate Period (Part 3)

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:15:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

Famine and resilience. Around 2060 BCE, the Overlord Ankhtyfy was riding high. Then, a crisis hit southern Egypt. Drought, food shortages, and starvation swept through the region. From sites like Elephantine, Edfu, and historical texts, we get a picture of Egypt in difficulty. But also, a sense of communities perservering and rebuilding...

Logo image: Apophis from the tomb of Inerkhau at Deir el-Medina (Dynasty 19). Photo by Chris Ward.
The tomb of Ankhtyfy at el-Mo’alla by Merja Attia https://flickr.com/photos/130870_040871/albums/72157676972946976/.
Excavations at Edfu: Nadine Moeller and Gregory Marouard The Origins of Two Provincial Capitals in Upper Egypt (2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPUPQabHL04.
Intro music by Ihab.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Ankhtyfy's Autobiography (First Intermediate Period, Interlude)

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 22:06:00 -0000

The complete autobiography of Ankhtyfy (Ankhtifi) from his tomb at el-Mo'alla.

Sources:

J. Vandier, Mo’alla: La Tombe d’Ankhtifi et la tombe de Sébekhotep (1950). French translation of hieroglyphs.
Logo image: Ankhtyfy, from his tomb at Mo'alla (Wikimedia Public Domain).
The tomb of Ankhtyfy at Osirisnet. English translation of Vandier (1950).
Minor re-translations and edits of the text by Dominic Perry (2024).
Photos of Ankhtyfy's tomb by M. Attia, ‘Tombs of Ankhtifi and Sobekhotep el-Moalla Egypt’, https://flickr.com/photos/130870_040871/albums/72157676972946976/.

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25b: Operations of the Overlord - The First Intermediate Period (Part 2)

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 08:05:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

The rise of Ankhtyfy. In southern Egypt, a "Great Overlord" named Ankh-tyfy began to expand his power. From his home base at Nekhen (Hierakonpolis), he annexed neighbouring territories like Edfu. He did this with some elaborate justifications, and perhaps inspired by the example of ancestors. Alas, his rapid rise soon brought him into conflict with other regional lords and their soldiers...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Ankhtyfy’s archers, photo by Mutnedjmet.
Photos of the tomb of Ankhtyfy by Merja Attia.
Intro music by Ihab and Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

Select bibliography:

M. Attia, ‘Tombs of Ankhtifi and Sobekhotep el-Moalla Egypt’, https://flickr.com/photos/130870_040871/albums/72157676972946976/.
H. Goedicke, ‘’Ankhtyfy’s Fights’, Chronique d’Égypte 73 (1998), 29-41.
N. Moeller, ‘The Origins of Two Provincial Capitals in Upper Egypt’, The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (2017).
L. D. Morenz, ‘Power and Status. Ankhtifi the Hero, Founder of a New Residence?’, CRIPEL 28 (2009), 177-192.
J. Vandier, Mo’alla: La Tombe d’Ankhtifi et la tombe de Sébekhotep (1950).

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25a: Nile Divided - The First Intermediate Period (Part 1)

Tue, 08 Apr 2014 06:30:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated in 2024.

By 2100 BCE, Egypt’s royal house was in trouble. A line of kings, known as the pr-Hty (“House of Khety”) claimed authority over the whole Nile Valley. But archaeological and historical data paint a different picture: of a growing division between communities in the north and south of Egypt. The “Two Lands” were separating, and government was too weak to stop it…

Logo image: A northern official named Ipi. From his tomb at the cemetery of Ihnaysa el-Medina (Photo Perez Die 2016).

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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Old Kingdom Warfare (2024 Edition)

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 05:05:00 -0000

Newly researched and updated. Before the fall (c.2600 - 2200 BCE). Early Egyptians were fierce and active warriors. Our evidence for the Old Kingdom “army,” however, is scattered and fragmentary. Sifting through the pieces, we can reconstruct some elements of the early armed forces. In this episode, we explore royal texts that describe campaigns; pyramid art showing battles and soldiers training; and even images of siege warfare…

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music by Stephen Rippy from Age of Empires (1997).
Outro music and interludes by Keith Zizza.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos.

Episode Chapters:

Introduction 00:00
Dynasty IV Raids and Warriors 02:40
Army Organisation and Weapons 16:07
Battle Scenes of Unas and Ka-em-heset 25:58
Siege Scene of Inti 38:00

Notable artefacts (see Bibliography for full titles):

Archers from the reign of Khufu, MMA. See Goedicke 1971, MMA Open Access.
Sahura training scenes: Published in El Awady 2009.
Unas battle scene: First published by Selim Hassan 1938 (Archive.org).
Siege scene of Khaemheset: First published in Quibell and Hayter 1927. Archive.org.
Siege scene of Inti: See Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare, 2019 (Pen & Sword). First published Petrie 1894. See also Kanawati and McFarlane 1993.

Examples of pre-New Kingdom Egyptian weapons in museum collections:

Wooden bows: Louvre, MMA (FIP or early MK).
Arrows: MMA (FIP or early MK), Louvre (Pre-Dynastic), MFA (FIP or early MK), ROM (FIP).
Maces: ROM (4th Dyn., Khafra), ROM (Pre-Dynastic), MMA (FIP or MK).
Spearheads: Louvre (FIP), Louvre (12th Dyn.), MMA (MK).
Axes: Louvre, (OK), Louvre (FIP), Louvre (MK).

Select Bibliography (see website for full details):

L. Bestock, Violence and Power in Ancient Egypt: Image and Ideology Before the New Kingdom (2018).
T. El Awady, Sahure: The Pyramid Causeway: History and Decoration Program in the Old Kingdom (2009).
H. Goedicke, Re-Used Blocks from the Pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht (1971). MMA Open Access.
S. Hassan, ‘Excavations at Saqqara 1937--1938’, Annales du Services des Antiquités de l’Egypte 38 (1938), 503—514. Archive.org.
N. Kanawati and A. McFarlane, Deshasha: The Tombs of Inti, Shedu and Others (1993).
A. Labrousse and A. Moussa, La chaussée du complexe funéraire du roi Ounas, I (2002).
F. Monnier, ‘Les techniques de siège décrites dans la documentation pharaonique’, Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 15 (2022), 51—73. ENIM.fr.
A.-L. Mourad, ‘Siege Scenes of the Old Kingdom’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre of Egyptology 22 (2011), 135—158. Academia.edu.
J. E. Quibell and A. G. K. Hayter, Excavations at Saqqara: Teti Pyramid, North Side (1927). Archive.org.
I. Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare (2019).
N. Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age (2005).

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Story: The Vengeance of Nitocris

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 10:05:00 -0000

Don’t swim for at least 30 minutes after a banquet… Around 2150 BCE, so the story goes, the Queen-King Nitocris sought vengeance on those who had wronged her. This tale comes from Herodotos, and in 1928 a young Tennessee Williams published his own version of the gothic stroy. In this bonus episode, I read Williams’ work for a bit of spooky storytelling…

Herodotos, Histories, Book II, via Perseus.
Tennessee Williams ‘The Vengeance of Nitocris’ at Wikipedia and Wikisource.
The Vengeance of Nitocris by Rejected Princesses.
Music by Kevin Manthei, from Vampire: The Masquerade: Redemption (2000). I played this a lot as a child, and it seemed to fit the tone.
Outro music, “Killer Queen – Medieval Rock Cover” by Medieval Rock. Less tonally consistent, but when the Queen gives an order...
Logo image: "The Vengeance of Nitocris," from Weird Tales magazine.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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Mini: Rain Over The Pyramids (2024 Edition)

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:05:00 -0000

Updated with new research. Between 2500—2200 BCE, Egypt witnessed a period of surprisingly high rainfall. While the Old Kingdom was much wetter than today, archaeologists have found strong evidence for huge downpours, sweeping across northern Egypt and flooding tombs, cities, and forcing the ancients to adapt…

This episode is a brief epilogue to the Decline & Fall of the Old Kingdom series.

Intro music: Michael Jackson – Stranger in Moscow (Instrumental Version).
Outro music: Toto – Africa (Bardcore) by Stravitticus.
Logo image: Rain spout/gutter at the pyramid complex of Niuserrra (c.2400 BCE). Photo by Kairoinfo4u.

References used in this episode:

K. W. Butzer, ‘When the Desert Was in Flood: Environmental History of the Giza Plateau’, AERAgram 5 (2001), 3—5.
K. W. Butzer et al., ‘Urban Geoarchaeology and Environmental History at the Lost City of the Pyramids, Giza: Synthesis and Review’, Journal of Archaeological Science 40 (2013), 3340—3366.
K. O. Kuraszkiewicz, ‘Architectural Innovations Influenced by Climatic Phenomena (4.2 KA Event) in the Late Old Kingdom (Saqqara, Egypt)’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 27—34.
S. Rzepka et al., ‘Preliminary Report on Engineering Properties and Environmental Resistance of Ancient Mud Bricks from Tell el-Retaba Archaeological Site in the Nile Delta’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 47—56.

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24: Decline & Fall of the Old Kingdom (Part 2)

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:05:00 -0000

Why did it all go so wrong? We’ve explored the historical overview of Old Kingdom decline; but what was driving it? There are three major factors that caused this fall. Two originate in the climate, the third comes from the political structure of the kingdom and its society. From the deserts of Sahara to the depths of the Nile, we uncover the causes of decline…

Note: An extended version of this episode is available at Patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.
Logo image: The “Starving Bedouin” from the Pyramid of Unas. Photo by Sarah Murray.

Select Bibliography:

M. Bárta, Analyzing Collapse: The Rise and Fall of the Old Kingdom (2019).
B. Bell, ‘The Oldest Records of the Nile Floods’, The Geographical Journal 136 (1970), 569—573.
K. W. Butzer, ‘When the Desert Was in Flood: Environmental History of the Giza Plateau’, AERAgram 5 (2001), 3—5.
K. W. Butzer, ‘Landscapes and Environmental History of the Nile Valley: A Critical Review and Prospectus’, in E. Bloxam and I. Shaw (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Egyptology (Oxford, 2020), 99—124.
N. Kanawati and J. Swinton, Egypt in the Sixth Dynasty: Challenges and Responses (2018).
K. O. Kuraszkiewicz, ‘Architectural Innovations Influenced by Climatic Phenomena (4.2 KA Event) in the Late Old Kingdom (Saqqara, Egypt)’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 27—34.
M. van de Mieroop, A History of Ancient Egypt (2nd edn, 2021).
N. Moeller, ‘The First Intermediate Period: A Time of Famine and Climate Change?’, Egypt and the Levant 15 (2005), 153—167.
J. C. Moreno García, ‘Climatic Change or Sociopolitical Transformation? Reassessing Late 3rd Millennium BC in Egypt’, in J. C. Moreno García et al. (eds), 2200 BC - A Climatic Breakdown as a Cause for the Collapse of the Old World? 2 vols (2015), 79—94.
S. Rzepka et al., ‘Preliminary Report on Engineering Properties and Environmental Resistance of Ancient Mud Bricks from Tell el-Retaba Archaeological Site in the Nile Delta’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 47—56.
J.-D. Stanley et al., ‘Nile Flow Failure at the End of the Old Kingdom, Egypt: Strontium Isotopic and Petrologic Evidence’, Geoarchaeology 18 (2003), 395—402.
P. Tallet and M. Lehner, The Red Sea Scrolls: How Ancient Papyri Reveal the Secrets of the Pyramids (2021).

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24: Decline & Fall of the Old Kingdom (Part 1)

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:45:00 -0000

Why did the Old Kingdom disappear? Was it an overnight "collapse," or something more long term? In this episode, and the next, we explore the question in overview. This chapter focusses on the historical sources including King Lists, Classical authors like Herodotos and Manetho, and the fragmentary evidence for some of the "shadow kings" of this period…

Chronology and Historical Studies:

Overview of all sources and scholarship at Pharaoh.se.
M. Baud, ‘The Relative Chronology of Dynasties 6 and 8’, in E. Hornung et al. (eds), Ancient Egyptian Chronology (2006), 144—158. Available in pdf at Digital Giza.
J. von Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999).
W. Helck, ‘Anmerkungen zum Turiner Königspapyrus’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 19 (1992), 150–216. English translation available at Pharaoh.se.
R. J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (2013). Available at Internet Archive.
K. Ryholt, ‘The Turin King-List’, Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant 14 (2004), 135—155.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Logo image: The damaged visage of Pepy II from his pyramid at South Saqqara (Jéquier 1936).

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Episode 23: Children of Pepy

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 10:05:00 -0000

A Long, Long Reign. King Pepy ruled more than sixty years, by some estimates. In his later years, this long reign was becoming an issue. The aging monarch was losing influence, and his children were dying before he did...

Date c. 2240 - 2220 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Toby H. Wilkinson, The Egyptian World, 2007.
Fekri A. Hassan, “Droughts, Famine and the Collapse of the Old Kingdom: Re-reading Ipuwer,” in The Archaeology of Ancient Egypt – Essays in Honor of David B. O’Connor, 2007.
Juan Carlos Moreno García (editor), Ancient Egyptian Administration, 2013 (Sample Article).
The University of Chicago – Tell Edfu Project.
Saqqara.nl – The Pyramid of Pepy II.
Swiss Archaeological Mission, Sudan – Kerma.

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Episode 22: Pepy Lives

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Ruling the World. King Pepy ruled long and his authority reached far and wide. To understand Egyptian society in this period, we must meet the important families (nobility) who served Pepy, and see how their actions shape our understanding of history...

Date c.2260 - 2240 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Logo image: Miniature Brewing Vat, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/543893.

Select Bibliography:

Deborah Vischak, Community and Identity in Ancient Egypt: The Old Kingdom Cemetery at Qubbet el-Hawa, 2014 (Google Books): 225-238.
Ancient Egypt Online – Pepy II
William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Egypt, 1994.

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21: The Excited Child

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:05:00 -0000

The Child King. Around 2285 BCE, a new ruler came to power. King Pepy II was a little boy, just six years old. His reign would be one of the longest, and most impactful, in the Old Kingdom...

Date c.2285 - 2260 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Ian Shaw (editor), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Egypt, 1994.
Ancient Egypt Online – Pepy II.
National Geographic – Pyramid of Pepy II.

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Old Kingdom Technology with Dr. Martin Odler

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 01:00:00 -0000

Interview recorded 2024. How does copper cut stone? Martin Odler specialises in ancient Egyptian technology. Specifically, the manufacture and use of metal in tools and industry. In this interview, Dr. Odler shares some of his research insights on the production and use of copper, at sites like the Giza pyramids during the Old Kingdom. We also explore the use of metal in weaponry and daily life, and how scientists can experiment with reconstructed tools to examine their value and effectiveness. Today, Dr. Odler shares his methodical and wide-ranging interests. Personally, I learned a lot from speaking with him.

Logo image: A copper mirror of Reni-Seneb (c.1800 BCE), Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Martin Odler at Newcastle University.
Research papers by Martin Odler at Academia.edu.
Book: Copper in Ancient Egypt Before, During, and After the Pyramid Age (c.4000—1600 BC) (2023), published by Brill.
Book: Old Kingdom Copper Tools and Model Tools (2016), published by Archaeopress.

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20: Expeditions and Explorers

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 10:05:00 -0000

The Great Explorer. Around 2300 BCE, King Pepy I died. His successor was a man named Mer-en-Re ("Beloved of Re"). In this period, the explorer Weni the Elder continued his travels, now going far south into Sudan on missions for the King...

Date c.2300 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Kelsey Museum Newsletter – Abydos and the Tomb of Weni the Elder.
Renée Friedman, Egypt and Nubia: Gifts of the Desert, 2002.
William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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19: The Beloved of Re, Pepy

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:05:00 -0000

Pepy and Weni the Elder (Part 1). Around 2355 BCE, King Pepy I came to power. The new king had trouble establishing his authority, and he had to deal with the effects of his predecessor Teti's murder. Along the way, Pepy even had to deal with a conspiracy against himself...

Date c. 2550 - 2540 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Naguib Kanawati, Conspiracies in the Egyptian Palace, 2011.
Nigel Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age, 2005 (Google Books).
William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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18: The Guards Themselves

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:05:00 -0000

Assassins! Around 2355 BCE, King Teti died. Legend tells us that the king was murdered by members of his own family. If this is true, it is the first time in Egyptian history that we hear about royal assassination. Of course, there are many questions about what happened...

Date c.2350 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Nicolas Grimal, A History of Egypt, 1994.
Naguib Kanawati, Conspiracies in the Egyptian Palace, 2011.

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17: A New Era

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:05:00 -0000

The Sixth Dynasty, and its wisdom. Around 2380 BCE, King Teti inaugurated the Sixth Dynasty of Egyptian rulers. Teti married into the royal family and began a new (male) bloodline. This period was creatively fertile, producing famous works like the Wisdom Texts of Ptah-Hotep and Kagemni...

Date c.2380 - 2360 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
The Teaching of Ptah-Hotep in English translation and Egyptian transliteration at UCL.ac.uk.
The Teaching of Kagemni, translated by Miriam Lichtheim, at Academia.edu. Egyptian hieroglyphs at Rutgers.edu.
Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Naguib Kanawait (et al.) The Teti Cemetery at Saqqara, Multiple Volumes.
Naguib Kanawati, Conspiracies in the Egyptian Palace, 2011.
Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms, 1973 (2006 paperback edition).
Nigel Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age, 2005 (Google Books).
William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.

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Beer and Economics in Ancient Egypt with Prof. Leslie Anne Warden

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 09:05:00 -0000

Beer, Bread and Pharaoh's Power. Recorded 2019. My guest today is Prof. Leslie Anne Warden, Associate Professor of art history and archaeology at Roanoke College in Virginia, USA. An insightful scholar, Prof. Warden is here to share her investigations into the world of ancient economics, particularly how beer and bread can reveal the inner-workings of Egyptian society. From ceramics to experiments in brewing, Prof. Warden provides a detailed and thoughtful view on the world of the Nile Valley. Look: Pottery and Economy in Old Kingdom Egypt, 2013; University profile, Academia.edu.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

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The Pyramid Texts Explained

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 11:05:00 -0000

What’s the deal? We explore the Pyramid Texts’ meaning, as well as their origins and scholarship.

The Osiris achieves his apotheosis. Having awakened from death and received his offerings (or taken them by force), Unas now prepares to enter the sky at last. We add more protections and defeat more enemies (including a dramatic appearance from the fearsome Mafdet). Then, Unas meets the oldest of primeval gods, sails the milky way, and hears the lamentations of his enemies’ women…

Episode topics:

Meaning 01:15.
Rituals 03:54
Afterlife geography 17:05.
Origins 20:16.
Arrangement / Structure 29:00.
Conclusion 37:25

Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.
Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.

Select Bibliography:

Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.
J. P. Allen, The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (2nd edn, 2015). First edition (2005) available in Open Access via Archive.org.
J. P. Allen, A Grammar of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts Volume I: Unis (2017). Available via the publisher, and major online retailers.
R. Bertrand, Las Textes de la Pyramid d’Ounas (2004). Available via the publisher.
W. M. Davis, ‘The Ascension-Myth in the Pyramid Texts’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 36 (1977), 161—179. JSTOR.
J. Hellum, ‘The Presence of Myth in the Pyramid Texts’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (2001). Online.
J. Hellum, ‘Toward an Understanding of the Use of Myth in the Pyramid Texts’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 43 (2014), 123—142. Academia.edu.
H.-J. Klimkeit, ‘Spatial Orientation in Mythical Thinking as Exemplified in Ancient Egypt: Considerations toward a Geography of Religions’, History of Religions 14 (1975), 266—281. JSTOR.
A. J. Morales, ‘The Transmission of the Pyramid Texts into the Middle Kingdom: Philological Aspects of a Continuous Tradition in Egyptian Mortuary Literature’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania (2013). Academia.edu.
D. Stewart, ‘The Myth of Osiris in the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Monash University (2014). Online.

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Unas the Skywalker: The Pyramid Texts of Unas (Part 4)

Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:05:00 -0000

Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.
Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.
Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.

The Pyramid Texts publications:

J. P. Allen, The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (2nd edn, 2015). First edition (2005) available in Open Access via Archive.org.
J. P. Allen, A Grammar of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts Volume I: Unis (2017). Available via the publisher, and major online retailers.
R. Bertrand, Las Textes de la Pyramid d’Ounas (2004). Available via the publisher.

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Divine Young Cannibals: The Pyramid Texts of Unas (Part 3)

Thu, 08 Aug 2013 11:05:00 -0000

We leave the Duat and enter the horizon. On the walls of the antechamber, Unas’ Pyramid Texts describe the king’s entry to the sky. The ruler establishes and affirms his power. And, in a famous passage, Unas engages in some ritual cannibalism…

Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.
Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.
Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.

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Buffet of the Gods: The Pyramid Texts of Unas (Part 2)

Wed, 07 Aug 2013 11:05:00 -0000

We travel deeper into the stars. Unas’ Pyramid Texts, on the walls of his burial chamber, lay out protections against serpents and dangers. They also introduce offerings, to sustain the King’s soul and nourish the gods.

Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.
Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.
Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.

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Death is Only the Beginning: The Pyramid Texts of Unas (Part 1)

Tue, 06 Aug 2013 11:05:00 -0000

Unas in the sky with deities. Around 2320 BCE, King Unas did something interesting. His pyramid, at Saqqraa, is the first (surviving) monument to feature the Pyramid Texts. These elaborate hieroglyph texts reveal the religious rituals, references, and philosophy of the Old Kingdom Egyptians. In this episode, we begin a journey deep into the night and up to the sky, as King Unas travels to his immortality…

Date: c.2320 BCE.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.
The "Imperishable " or Circumpolar Stars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Indestructibles.
The Egyptian gods family tree: https://veritablehokum.com/comic/the-egyptian-god-family-tree/.
Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.
Interludes by Keith Zizza.

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16: A Cannibal Hymn (The Pyramid Texts of Unas, Short Version)

Mon, 05 Aug 2013 11:05:00 -0000

The Pyramid Texts appear. Around 2410 BCE, a new trend began in royal pyramid building. King Unas initiated something unusual when he introduced hieroglyph texts to the burial chamber of his pyramid. These "Pyramid Texts" are a vast and fascinating body of work. In this episode, we dip our toes into this material, and even see evidence for divine cannibalism...

The Cannibal Hymn: Spoken reconstruction by Orlando Mezzabotta on YouTube.
The Pyramid Texts of Unas in English translation and hieroglyph transcription via Pyramid Texts Online.
Date c.2410 - 2380 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms, 1973 (2006 paperback edition).
Nigel Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age, 2005 (Google Books).
Vincent Brown – Pyramid Texts Online.
Gaston Maspero, The History of Egypt (Gutenberg.org).
Ancient Egypt Online – Unas.

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Ancient Technology with Dr. Martin Odler

Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:05:00 -0000

Interview recorded 2021. Dr. Martin Odler is a researcher at the Czech Institute of Egyptology, at Charles University in Prague. He studies the tools and objects that Egyptians used to build their famous monuments. Martin has worked on many excavations, and his research has added greatly to our knowledge of technology. He sat down with me to discuss this work, and the insights we can gain from ancient tools and metals.

Learn more about Dr. Odler on Academia.edu, on Twitter, and buy his book Old Kingdom Copper Tools and Model Tools (2016) available from Archaeopress and all good booksellers.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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15: The Enduring Ka

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 11:05:00 -0000

Dynasty 6 and new ideas. Around 2440 BCE, a new king came to power. King Djed-ka-Re ("The Spirit of Re Endures") was an effective ruler, who reformed the government and left a rich artistic and written record...

Date c. 2440 - 2410 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Logo: the caroutche of Djed-ka-Re, by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin via Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0.

Select Bibliography:

Nigel Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age, 2005 (Google Books).
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008.
Ancient Egypt Online – Djedkare Izezi.

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14: The Joy of Re's Heart

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 11:55:00 -0000

An Uphill Battle. The reign of King Ny-user-Re was not a bed of lotuses. After a rocky start, the young ruler worked to make his household and kingdom prosperous. We see this trend in a flowering of artistic and written culture...

Date c.2445 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
Logo image: The pyramid of Niuserre, by Neithsabes CC-BY 3.0 via Wikimedia.

Select Bibliography:

Miroslav Verner, The Pyramids, 2002.
Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms, 1973 (2006 paperback edition).
Harold M. Hays, “The Death of the Democratization of the Afterlife” in Old Kingdom, New Perspectives, 2011 (Free Download).

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13: The Hairdressers Cometh

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 11:05:00 -0000

I Got You, Fam. After a series of short reigns, King Ny-User-Re came to power and brought some much-needed stability. In his long reign, Niuserre strengthened the power of his government and household. Many records survive from this period, like fascinating tales of the King's hairdressers Nyankhkhnum and Khnumhotep. These two men might be the earliest recorded homosexual couple in ancient Egyptian history...

Ny-Ankh-Khnum and Khnum-Hotep:

Photos of the tomb by Chris Irie and Kairoinfo4u.

Episode details:

Date c.2455 - 2440 BCE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Linda Evans and Alexandra Woods, “Further Evidence that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were Twins,” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (2016).
Greg Reeder, ‘Queer Egyptologies of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep‘ (2008).
Vera Vasiljevic, ‘Embracing his double: Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 37 (2008).

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12: I Make the Soul Beautiful

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:05:00 -0000

Quick Successions. After the death of Sahure, multiple kings came and went in a short span of time. In this episode, we follow the reigns of Nefer-ir-ka-Re ("Making the Soul of Re Beautiful") and Ra-nefer-ef. This period is murky, but we will get through it. Oh, and another powerful queen shows up to manage affairs...

Date c.2570 - 2555 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Miroslav Verner, Abusir III: the Pyramid Complex of Khentkaus, 2001.
Paule Posener-Kriéger, Les Archives du Temple Funéraire de Neferirkare Kakai – Les Papyrous d’Abousir, 1976.

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11: Off To Punt We Go

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:05:00 -0000

The Great Fleet. Around 2485 BCE, King Userkaf died and passed the throne to his son, Sahure ("One Who is Close to Re"). At this point, Egyptians launched the first (recorded) expedition to Punt. This mysterious land, somewhere near Ethiopia, Somalia or Yemen, was a major destination for trade. Sahure commemorated the event lavishly...

Date c.2480 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Tarek el-Awady, Abusir XVI: Sahure – the Pyramid Causeway, 2009.
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008.

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10: The Sun Temple (Userkaf)

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:05:00 -0000

New Dynasty, New Me. Around 2490 BCE, a new lineage held royal power. Khentykaus I and her son, Userkaf, had established a new household. Now, the next generations of rulers had some interesting innovations in religion and monuments...

Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Website at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Miroslav Verner, Abusir: Realm of Osiris, 2004.
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008.
Ian Shaw (editor), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008.

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09: She Is Foremost (Khenty-kaus, Queen of Egypt)

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Khenty-kaus, the Lady Ruler. Around 2500 BCE, Menkaure died without an heir. His sister Khenty-Kau-es ("She is Foremost") stepped into the vacuum and governed the state on behalf of her young sons. This was an interesting period, with a lasting impact on royal power...

Date c. 2500 - 2490 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Vivienne Gae Callender, In Hathor’s Image: the Wives and Mothers of Egyptian Kings from Dynasties I-VI, 2012 (Amazon).
Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010 (Amazon).
Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994 (Amazon).
Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Barry Kemp, Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization, 2005 (Amazon).
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008 (Amazon).
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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Mini: Houdini Beneath the Pyramids (Lovecraft Short Story)

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Updated in 2024. A tale of terror and tombs. In 1924, Weird Tales magazine published "Imprisoned with the Pharaohs" (aka "Under the Pyramids"). A short story in which Harry Houdini, world-famous escape-artist, illusionist, and advocate of rationalism, came face-to-face with horrors beyond his comprehension. The tale is work of horror, ghost-written by H.P. Lovecraft. It is a fun story, worthy of the genre.

Logo image: The statue of Khafra / Khephren in Cairo's old museum (Photo Dominic Perry).

Timecodes:

Story Part One: 00:01:40.
Story Part Two: 00:38:39.
Commentary: 01:18:50.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

H.P. Lovecraft, “Imprisoned with the Pharaohs,” Weird Tales magazine at WikiSource.
R. Emrys and A. M. Pillsworth, ‘Harry Houdini Versus Cosmic Horror: “Under the Pyramids”’, TOR.com, <https://www.tor.com/2015/02/24/harry-houdini-versus-cosmic-horror-under-the-pyramids/> accessed 12.27.2023.
D. Harms, Cthulu Mythos Encyclopedia: A Guide to the Horrors Created and Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft (3rd edn, Chelsea, 2012).
S. T. Joshi and D. E. Schultz, An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia (2001).
H. P. (Howard P. Lovecraft, The New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft (2014).
D. Norris, ‘Lovecraft and Egypt: A Closer Examination’, Lovecraft Annual (2016), 3–45.

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Mini: The Lost & Found of Menkaura

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Updated in 2024. Around 2520 BCE, King Men-kau-ra (or Menkaure) ruled Egypt. In his time, royal artists produced high-quality sculpture, and builders constructed another pyramid at Giza. But Menkaura has a complicated legacy. Although his pyramid is the smallest of the three "Great Pyramids of Giza," this King's legacy proved far more positive than his predecessors. Likewise his treasures, including his beautiful sarcophagus, have gone through a difficult journey over the past 4500 years...

Further information:

Photos of Menkaure’s pyramid by Aidan McRae Thomson on Flickr.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music and interludes by Luke Chaos.

Select Bibliography:

M. Baud, Famille royale et pouvoir sous l’Ancien Empire égyptien (1999).
P. Boughton, ‘The Lost Sarcophagus’, Egyptology News Network, https://egyptologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/01/lost-sarcophagus.html.
P. Boughton, ‘Who Owns Menkaure’s Sarcophagus?’, Nile Magazine (2016), 60—66.
Digital Giza, ‘Menkaure Pyramid’, http://giza.fas.harvard.edu/sites/2796/full/.
D. Gibbins, ‘PHARAOH: The Sarcophagus of Menkaure and the Wreck of the Beatrice’, http://davidgibbins.com/journal/2013/8/28/pharaoh-the-sarcophagus-of-menkaure-and-the-wreck-of-the-beatrice.
R. Gundacker, ‘Die Inschrift an der Nordseite der Mykerinospyramide’, Sokar 19 (2009), 18—25.
J. Leclant, ‘Fouilles et travaux en Égypte et au Soudan 1967—1968,’ Orientalia 38 (1969), 240—307.
M. Lehner and Z. A. Hawass, Giza and the Pyramids (2017).
É. Prisse d’Avennes, Histoire de l’art égyptien: d’après les monuments; depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à la domination romaine, 2 vols (1879).
U. C. Ringuer, ‘The Story of the Lost Sarcophage’, Archaeology Mysteries, https://archaeologymysteries.com/2019/02/09/the-lost-sarcophage/.
A. M. D. Roveri, I sarcofagi egizi dalle origini alla fine dell’antico regno (1969).
J. Thompson, Wonderful Things, A History of Egyptology, I: From Antiquity to 1881 (2015).
M. Verner, The Pyramids: The Archaeology and History of Egypt’s Iconic Monuments (Updated edn, 2020).
H. Vyse, Operations Carried on at the Pyramids of Gizeh in 1837: With an Account of a Voyage into Upper Egypt and an Appendix, 2 (1840).

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08: Menkaura, That Which I Own

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:05:00 -0000

The Third Giza Pyramid. Around 2520 BCE, King Khaf-Re died and his son Men-Kau-Re took power. Menkaure ("The Spirit of Re Endures") oversaw a more modest phase of pyramid building. His monument at Giza was the smallest pyramid yet. Were all of these pyramids straining the economy? We investigate a social structure very different from our own...

Date c.2520 - 2500 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994 (Amazon).
Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Barry Kemp, Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization, 2005 (Amazon).
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008 (Amazon).
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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07: Khafra, He Appears Like the Sun

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:05:00 -0000

A forgotten heir; a Great Sphinx. Following the death of King Khufu, the throne passed to one of his sons, Djed-ef-Ra. Then, it passed to Khafra ("He Appears Like Ra"). These kings are important, but only Khafra is remembered thanks to his enormous pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza...

Date c.2550 - 2520 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994 (Amazon).
Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008 (Amazon).
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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The Mystery Treasures of Queen Hetepheres

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:35:00 -0000

A crime scene with no crime? In 1925, archaeologists working at Giza uncovered a remarkable monument. The tomb chamber of Queen Hetep-Heres (c.2630-2580 BCE) contained a wealth of beautiful, high-quality items. But the monument itself was strange, the excavation was a serious challenge, and the results were baffling in many ways. In this episode, we explore the discovery, revelation, the life, and the legacy of Queen Hetep-Heres I...

Updated in 2024. Extended version of this episode and digital booklet available at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

The Tomb of Queen Hetep-Heres:

Digital Giza http://giza.fas.harvard.edu/sites/1509/full/.
G. A. Reisner and W. S. Smith, A History of the Giza Necropolis Volume II: The Tomb of Hetep-Heres the Mother of Cheops (1955). Available online.
M. Lehner, The Pyramid Tomb of Hetep-Heres and the Satellite Pyramid of Khufu (1985). Available online.

The treasures of Hetep-Heres:

Ancient objects at Digital Giza.
Furniture of Hetep-Heres in the Cairo Museum at Wikimedia.
Exact replicas at Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Modern reconstruction and replica of a throne at Harvard University.
The bracelets of Hetep-Heres – Aegean silver? SCIMEX, ‘Queen Hetepheres’ bracelets reveal new information on trade networks in Old Kingdom Egypt, c 2600 BC’, Scimex, Available online. See also K. Sowada et al., ‘Analyses of Queen Hetepheres’ bracelets from her celebrated tomb in Giza reveals new information on silver, metallurgy and trade in Old Kingdom Egypt, c. 2600 BC’, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 49 (2023), 1—9. Available online.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

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Mini: 30 Years of Khufu? New Evidence from the Great Pyramid

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Updated in 2024. How archaeology can increase your life expectancy by 40%! For centuries, popular perceptions of the Great Pyramid’s construction have hinged on Herodotos reference to “twenty years.” While historians have debated that, hard evidence on the reign of Khufu (and its length) has always been fragmentary. In the past ten years, though, things have changed substantially. We now have strong evidence that Khufu reigned much longer than the “twenty years” story. This fundamentally changes our understanding of the period, and the Great Pyramid project…

More information:

Episode image: Khufu, small ivory statuette from Abydos (Egyptian Exploration Society archives).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

The Memorial/Mortuary Temple of Khufu at Wikimedia Commons.
Digital Giza, ‘Khufu Pyramid’, http://giza.fas.harvard.edu/sites/1782/full/.
H. Goedicke, Re-Used Blocks from the Pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht, 20 (1971) free download.
Z. A. Hawass et al., ‘The Great Pyramid Temple Project’, AERAGram 21 (2020), 10—17 (free download).
J.-P. Lauer, Note Complémentaire sur le Temple Funéraire de Khéops (1949).
M. Lehner and Z. A. Hawass, Giza and the Pyramids (2017).
F. Monnier and D. Lightbody, The Great Pyramid 2590 BC Onwards: Operations Manual (2019).
K. Ryholt, ‘The Turin King-List’, Egypt and the Levant 14 (2004), 135—55.
K. Ryholt, ‘The Turin King-List or So-Called Turin Canon (TC) as a Source for Chronology’, in E. Hornung et al. (eds), Ancient Egyptian Chronology (2006), 26—32.
P. Tallet, Les Papyrus de la Mer Rouge I: Le ‘Journal de Merer’ (Papyrus Jarf A et B) (2017).
P. Tallet and M. Lehner, The Red Sea Scrolls: How Ancient Papyri Reveal the Secrets of the Pyramids (2021).
M. Verner, The Pyramids: The Archaeology and History of Egypt’s Iconic Monuments (Updated edn, 2020).
Waseda University Institute of Egyptology, ‘Khufu’s Second Boat’, https://www.egyptpro.sci.waseda.ac.jp/e-khufu.html.

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Mini Episode: Tales of Wonder

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Magic and Prophecy. In this mini episode, we recount stories that the Egyptians told. Stories set in the reign of Khufu and his father Sneferu.

Date c.2620 - 2550 BCE
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Facebook www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast
Twitter www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

Select Bibliography:

Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994 (Amazon).
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Toby Wilkinson, Writings from Ancient Egypt, 2015 (Amazon).

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06b: The Diary of Merer

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:40:00 -0000

Building the Giza monuments. In the last years of Khufu’s reign, work on the Great Pyramid was nearing completion. From this period, the Diary of Merer provides unexpected testimony: a record of workers contributing to the Giza project…

Episode Details

Date: c. 2600 BCE.
The Diary of Merer: English translation and commentary by Prof. Pierre Tallet available in Open Access.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.
Music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Audio editing and processing by yourpodcastpal.com.

Select Bibliography:

M. Lehner and Z. Hawass, Giza and the Pyramids (London, 2017).
F. Monnier and D. Lightbody, The Great Pyramid 2590 BC Onwards (Sparkford, 2019).
P. Tallet, Les Papyrus de la Mer Rouge I: Le ‘Journal de Merer’ (Papyrus Jarf A et B) (Cairo, 2017).
P. Tallet and M. Lehner, The Red Sea Scrolls: How Ancient Papyri Reveal the Secrets of the Pyramids (London, 2021).
M. Verner, The Pyramids: The Archaeology and History of Egypt’s Iconic Monuments (Cairo, 2020).

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06: Khufu's Great Pyramid

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Khufu and the Great Pyramid. Around 2580 BCE, King Khnum-Khufu ("Khnum Protects Me") came to power. His reign lasted more than 25 years, and over this quarter century, Egyptians would build the largest pyramid in history...

Date c. 2580 - 2550 BCE, www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994 (Amazon).
Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008 (Amazon).
Gay Robins, The Art of Ancient Egypt, 2008 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Toby Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, 2001 (Amazon).
David Wengrow, The Archaeology of Early Egypt, 2006 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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05b: Sneferu's Beauties

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Magical mystery cruise. King Sneferu was a legendary ruler. His three pyramids at Meidum and Dahshur mark the transition from Step Pyramids to True Pyramids. But his legacy is more than stone. The King left other records and hints of his personality. We go in search of the ruler who loved beauty...

Episode details:

Recorded 2022.
Date: c. 2650 BCE.
Texts: The Westcar Papyrus (translation by Mark-Jan Nederhof).
Pyramids: The Meidum Pyramid, Bent Pyramid, and Red Pyramid (see all at wikimedia).
Logo image: Sneferu's pyramid at Meidum via Wikimedia.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Audio editing and processing by yourpodcastpal.com.

Select Bibliography:

N. Alexanian and F. Arnold, ‘The Complex of the Bent Pyramid as a Landscape Design Project’, in M. Ullmann (ed.), 10. Ägyptologische Tempeltagung (2016), 1—16. Online.
N. Alexanian et al., ‘Untersuchungen am unteren Aufweg der Knickpyramide in Dahschur’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 68 (2012), 1—30.
F. Arnold, ‘A Ceremonial Building of King Snofru at Dahshur’, in M. Bietak and S. Prell (eds.), Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Palaces (2018), 113—124. Online.
G. Dormion and J.-Y. Verd’hurt, La chambre de Meidoum : analyse architecturale. 1, Texte (2013).
F. Monnier, ‘New Light on the Architecture of the Bent Pyramid’, Nile Magazine 20 (2019), 44—50. Online.
F. Monnier, ‘A New Survey of the Upper Chambers of Snefru’s Pyramids at Dahshur’, Journal of Ancient Egyptian Architecture 4 (2020), 1—17. Online.
M-J. Nederhof, “The Westcar Papyrus,” translation online.
L. Parys, Le récit du Papyrus Westcar : texte, traduction, interprétation (2017).
C. Reader, ‘The Meidum Pyramid’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt (2015), 203—224. Online.
D. Rosenow, ‘Dahschur, Ägypten. Die Arbeiten der Herbstkampagne 2019 und Frühjahrskampagne 2020’, Elektronische Publikationen Desdeutschen Archäologischen Instituts 2 (2020), 8—15. Online.
M. Verner, The Pyramids: The Archaeology and History of Egypt’s Iconic Monuments (2020).

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05: One Who Makes Beautiful Things

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:05:00 -0000

The wondrous monuments of King Sneferu. Around 2650 BCE, Egypt's Fouth Dynasty began. King Sneferu kick-started a golden age of pyramid building. Over thirty-plus years, the King's architects and labourers designed three magnificent monuments, eventually culminating in the first "true" pyramid.

Date c.2620 - 2580 BCE www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, 1994 (Amazon).
Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Toby Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, 2001 (Amazon).
David Wengrow, The Archaeology of Early Egypt, 2006 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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04b: Buried Pyramids

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Ambitious failures. Following the reign of Netjerykhet Djoser, the next generation would attempt to surpass his monuments. King Sekhem-khet tried, but failed, to achieve this. In this episode, we fill a lesser-known gap in the history of ancient Egypt's pyramids. At the same time, we tell the tale of a renowned archaeologist, Mohamed Zakariah Goneim, whose work and influence deserve greater recognition...

Episode details:

Episode written 2019/2020. Released to Patreon subscribers 2021. Released to public 2022.
Date: c. 2670 — 2630 BCE
Kings: Netjerykhet (Djoser); Sekhem-khet; Kha-ba.
Logo: The entrance to Sekhemkhet's pyramid at Saqqara. See more at wikimedia.
Music: Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.
Support the show via Patreon at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
References and images at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Video: See modern stoneworkers reproducing ancient vessels, at Scientists Against Myths https://youtu.be/dC3Z_DBnCp8

Select Bibliography:

Andrzej Ćwiek, “Date and Function of the So-Called Minor Step Pyramids,” Göttingen Miszellen 162 (1998): 39–52.
Raphael Giveon, "A Second Relief of Sekhemkhet in Sinai," Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 216 (1974): 17-20.
M. Zakaria Goneim, The Buried Pyramid, 1956.
M. Zakaria Goneim, Horus Sekhem-khet: The Unfinished Step Pyramid at Saqqara, 1957.
Jean-Philippe Lauer, "Le Complexe Funéraire De L'horus Sekhem-Khet Et La Seconde Pyramide A Degrés De Saqqarah," Revue Archéologique 2 (1959): 89-95.
Ronald J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, 2013.
Stephan J. Seidlmayer, "The Relative Chronology of Dynasty 3," in E. Hornung, R. Krauss, and D. Warburton (eds), Ancient Egyptian Chronology, 2006: 116-23.

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04: Djoser's Step Pyramid

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:05:00 -0000

As Egypt's "Third Dynasty" began, a new monument took shape. King Netjerykhet Djoser and his architect, Imhotep, created something unusual. The Step Pyramid rose on the western horizon, ushering in a new era of monument building...

Time Period: circa 2700 – 2650 BCE
Kings: Netjerykhet (Djoser)
Notable sites: Saqqara, Iunu (Heliopolis)
Episode Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
The History of Egypt Podcast website www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.com.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 2008 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Toby Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, 2001 (Amazon).
David Wengrow, The Archaeology of Early Egypt, 2006 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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Interlude: Infinite Waters

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:30:00 -0000

Atum Creates the Universe. The stories of how ancient Egypt (and the world) came into existence are beautiful. In this episode, we explore three Creation myths: the tale of Atum and the primeval Ocean; the tale of Ptah and the divine word; and the story of the Ogdoad, the Council of Eight Gods. Each tale gives its own spin on the origins of life, the universe, and everything...

Date c.4.5 billion years ago - 10,000 BCE
Website: https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com
Support the Show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Follow the show on social media www.facebook.com/egyptpodcast and www.twitter.com/egyptianpodcast
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com

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03: Horus vs Seth

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Warring gods, divided dynasties. Following the First Dynasty of rulers, the Egyptian royal family seems to divide. Shadowy records hint at civil conflicts, and archaeological information reveals climate change and economic decay. These troubles shattered royal unity, but they may have had a larger legacy: inspiring tales of the gods Horus and Seth, who waged a decades-long battle for the kingship of Egypt...

Time period: 2850 – 2700 BCE.
Kings: Peribsen, Khasekhemwy.
Notable sites: Saqqara, Abydos.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
The History of Egypt Podcast website www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.com.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Toby Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, 2001 (Amazon).
David Wengrow, The Archaeology of Early Egypt, 2006 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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02: Horus Takes Flight

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Egypt's earliest monarchs are a curious bunch. Powerful figures like Aha and Merneith left their mark on this "First Dynasty," with lavish tombs and extensive records. Egyptians led campaigns and trading expeditions to foreign lands. Along the way, they achieved a form of immortality...

Time period: circa 3000-2900 BCE
Kings: Aha, Djer, Wadjet, Mer-Neith, Den.
Notable sites: Abdju (Abydos), Nekhen (Hierakonpolis), Saqqara (necropolis of Memphis).
Gods: Horus, Neith
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.
The History of Egypt Podcast website www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.com.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Select Bibliography:

Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: the One and the Many, 1996 (Amazon).
John Romer, A History of Egypt: from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013 (Amazon).
Toby Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, 2001 (Amazon).
David Wengrow, The Archaeology of Early Egypt, 2006 (Amazon).
Robert Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State, 2009 (Amazon).

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01: The Two Lands (Egypt's Unification)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 10:05:00 -0000

Five thousand years ago, a kingdom emerged on the banks of the Nile. The "Two Lands" of Southern and Northern Egypt slowly unified, and rulers like Narmer established their authority. The origins of the kingdom are murky, but archaeology can uncover secrets. In this episode, we meet the first ruler of the land, get a sense of Egypt and its people, and introduce the podcast as a whole. Welcome!

Date: circa 3050 – 3000 BCE.
Kings: Narmer, Scorpion (epilogue).
The History of Egypt Podcast website.
Support the show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Episode Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com.

Select Bibliography:

Kathryn A. Bard, An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, 2nd edition, 2015.
Eugenia D’Atanasio et al., “The Peopling of the Last Green Sahara Revealed by High-Coverage Resequencing of Trans-Saharan Patrilineages,” Genome Biology 19.20 (2018): 1–15.
Gunter Dreyer, “Tomb U-j: A Royal Burial of Dynasty 0 at Abydos,” in Emily Teeter (ed.) Before the Pyramids: The Origins of Egyptian Civilization, 2011: 127-36.
A.J. Spencer, Early Egypt: The Rise of Civilization in the Nile Valley, 1993.
Barry J. Kemp, Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization, 3rd edition, 2018.
David O’Connor, Abydos: Egypt’s First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris, 2011.
John Romer, A History of Ancient Egypt from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013.
Alice Stevenson, “Material Culture of the Predynastic Period,” in Emily Teeter (ed.) Before the Pyramids: The Origins of Egyptian Civilization, 2011: 65-74.
David Wengrow, “Landscapes of Knowledge, Idioms of Power: The African Foundations of Ancient Egyptian Civilization Reconsidered,” in David O’Connor and Andrew Reid (eds) Ancient Egypt in Africa, 2003: 121-36.
David Wengrow, The Archaeology of Early Egypt: Social Transformations in North-East Africa, 10,000 to 2650 BC, 2006.
Robert J. Wenke, The Ancient Egyptian State: The Origins of Egyptian Culture (c. 8000 – 2000 BC), 2009.
Toby A.H. Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, 1999.
Bruce B. Williams, “Relations Between Egypt and Nubia in the Predynastic Period,” in Emily Teeter (ed.) Before the Pyramids: The Origins of Egyptian Civilization, 2011: 83-92.

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The History of Egypt, Trailer

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the show! If you are wondering whether to start the story, this introduction will give you the gist. Learn more on our website or the Patreon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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