The History of Egypt Podcast

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A quick message to say thanks for listening in 2025, and what's coming up on the podcast... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I recently did an interview with the Science Factory YouTube channel. This is a short preview of the conversation. Find the full video at the Science Factory on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K731D4bfMw and on their podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November of 2026, I’d like to take you on a tour I’m calling “Roaming with Ramesses.” Themed around the 19th Dynasty, and the days of the Ramessid pharaohs, we’ll explore multiple sites across northern and southern Egypt. The tour is organised by my long-time collaborators, Ancient World Tours. They’ve been in the business for over 30 years, and every tour we’ve run has been a marvel of smooth sailing and general delights. So, we're in good hands. Tour costs, details, and sign-up form at https://www.ancient.co.uk/holiday/roaming-with-ramesses/ Password ROAMING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/ . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. We have merch! Browse our designs at Dashery by TeePublic https://egyptpodcast.dashery.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. We have merch! Browse our designs at Dashery by TeePublic https://egyptpodcast.dashery.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We learn how to insult someone in ancient Egyptian, based on the surviving texts... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explicit content. There's a factoid floating around on the internet. It claims that, to ensure fertility and good harvest, pharaohs would annually masturbate into the River Nile. This claim is total bubkis, but where did it come from? 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 [email protected]. Learn more about her reconstructions in the Ancient Egyptian Scent Kit. Follow Dora on Instagram @prof_dora Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're joining YouTube! After many years of on-off effort, I'm finally putting podcast episodes in video form up on my YouTube channel. Also, a quick update on the narrative as a I prepare the Battle of Kadesh... Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@ancientegypthist Massive thanks to Amr Saleh for taking on the editing duties. I hope you'll all join us on an exciting journey to bring more ancient Egypt to you(tube). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello everyone, it’s that time again! In March of 2026, we’re offering a new itinerary in the Nile Valley. This one is called the New Kingdom Cruise. It lasts for ten days, with a special focus on the south, the monuments of Elephantine (Aswan) and Lake Nasser. We ride a cruise boat, organised by Ancient World Tours, and visit monuments of Thutmose III, Sety I, Ramesses II, and even the Roman Emperors. For bookings follow this link and use the password KALABSHA https://www.ancient.co.uk/holiday/history-of-egypt-podcast-2026-the-nubian-cruise/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices