Episodes
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Join Megan and Lexie for a wrap up of season two!
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In the season finale of The Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive deep into the final chapters of "Desert God" by Wilbur Smith. They discuss the inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and unsatisfying conclusions in the book, questioning the choices made by the author. Despite the captivating writing style and beautiful descriptions, they express disappointment in the lack of resolution and the abrupt ending. Join them as they analyze the plot, characters, and historical inaccuracies, offer a critical review of "Desert God”, and explore the complexities of blending mythology and history in fiction.
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the world of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as they discuss the book "Desert God" by Wilbur Smith. Join them as they dissect the historical inaccuracies, character developments, and plot twists in this fifth installment of the Egyptian series. From the over-sexualization of characters to the questionable lore inconsistencies, Megan and Lexie provide a critical yet engaging analysis of the book.
Grab your favorite beverage and snacks as they spill the tea on the adventures of Taita, Mem, and the princesses in this epic journey through ancient lands. Tune in to explore the themes of misogyny, racism, and fantastical elements in this historical fantasy novel.
If you're a fan of ancient history, fantasy, or just enjoy a good book discussion, this episode is a must-listen. Join Megan and Lexie on their adventure through the pages of "Desert God" and get ready for some intriguing insights and lively commentary on this captivating tale.
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In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, hosts Megan and Lexie are joined by Dr. Roselyn A. Campbell to discuss the animated movie "The Prince of Egypt" set in ancient Egypt. Dr. Campbell, a subject matter expert, shares insights and expertise on bioarchaeology, the historical/cultural aspects of the film, and provides a captivating exploration of ancient Egyptian stories. Tune in for a lively discussion filled with tea-spilling and historical analysis on this engaging episode!
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Join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they unpack the fast-paced plot and questionable historical accuracy of the book Pharaoh by Wilbur Smith on today’s episode of The Reading Party Podcast!
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Today on the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie discuss the 2014 movie "Exodus: Gods and Kings" starring Christian Bale. Egyptologist Dr. Christian Casey, a postdoc at the Freie Universität Berlin working on the Zodiac Project, joins them to talk about ancient zodiacal terms and the development of horoscopes in Mesopotamia. Dr. Casey also shares insights on popular representations of ancient Egypt, focusing on accuracy and educating audiences about the reality of ancient Egyptian culture.
Dr. Casey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osarnachthis/
Website: https://www.caseyegyptologist.com/
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Grab your tea and snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, today as they talk about the 2000 animated movie Joseph, King of Dreams with special guest Dr. Joshua Bowen, who shares his expertise as an honorary Hebrew Bible scholar to analyze the biblical context of the film!
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On today’s episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie are joined by Egyptologist Kara Cooney, to discuss Egypt during Cleopatra's reign.
Cleopatra's identity and heritage have been a subject of debate, with various theories suggesting different aspects of her ancestry. The episode discusses the possibility that Cleopatra may have had Egyptian ancestry, despite being part of the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty. One key piece of evidence supporting this theory is Cleopatra's ability to speak and read Egyptian, a language that was not commonly known among the ruling class of the Ptolemaic dynasty. This linguistic skill indicates a deeper connection to Egyptian culture and society than what was typical for a Ptolemaic ruler.
The podcast also touches on the cultural representations in the film, such as the depiction of Egyptian and African individuals in stereotypical roles. The use of blackface and racial stereotypes in the film's portrayal of Egyptian and African characters reflects the problematic racial attitudes prevalent in the entertainment industry at the time. These portrayals perpetuated harmful stereotypes and reinforced colonialist narratives about race and identity.
Ultimately, the complex relationship between Egypt and Rome, as explored in the podcast episode, highlights the power dynamics and political intricacies that shaped the interactions between these two ancient civilizations. Egypt's role as a provider of wealth and resources to Rome, coupled with Cleopatra's strategic maneuvers to maintain her rule, exemplifies the intricate web of alliances and conflicts that ultimately led to Egypt's absorption into the Roman Empire and the demise of its independent status.
Join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians as they delve into ancient history and the legacy of Egyptian queens!
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Today on The Reading Party Podcast, join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they shed light on the inaccuracies in costumes and historical context present in the 1963 movie Cleopatra, prompting discussions about the creative liberties taken in portraying ancient Egypt and Roman culture on screen.
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Your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, are back this week to delve into their changing perspective on Wilbur Smith's novel The Quest, a mystical high fantasy novel set in ancient Egypt. They explore problematic themes of race essentialism, exoticism, and strange relationships within the story. The discussion highlights uncomfortable elements like magical rituals involving sex for knowledge transfer and the villain who steals magic from others. While critical, you don't want to miss this discussion examining the book's flaws and contradictions, offering a nuanced take on its content!
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Today, Megan and Lexie are joined by Egyptologist Dr. Jill Waller, to discuss the 2017 movie "The Mummy". Definitely not cut from the same cloth as the original movies with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, Megan, Lexie, and Jill explore how the film deviates from actual Egyptian history and culture, resulting in a portrayal that is far from accurate.
One key point raised by the hosts is the misrepresentation of Egyptian hieroglyphs and language in the movie. They note that the language used in the film, while aiming to sound ancient and mystical, does not align with historical accuracy. Not only that, but the characters in the movie casually read inscriptions and decipher ancient texts without the necessary research and expertise required in real archaeological work.
The portrayal of ancient Egyptian royalty and succession in the film is also highly selective at best. Megan, Lexie, and Jill explore the unrealistic depiction of a princess next in line to the throne resorting to murder to secure power, which goes against historical norms and practices in ancient Egypt.
Finally, they touch upon the use of cultural artifacts and the treatment of archaeological sites in the movie. They discuss how the movie portrays looting and destruction of ancient sites without addressing the ethical and legal implications of such actions.
To get your tickets for Hitpoints & History head over to https://HitpointsandHistory.eventbrite.com and use code “leapyear” for 29% off through the end of February! Find out more about Hitpoints & History at hitpointscon.com!
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Grab your tea and your snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians, Megan and Lexie, as they talk with Dr. Christian Casey about how Assassin's Creed Origins incorporates elements of ancient Egyptian culture and history to enhance the gameplay experience. They focus on the significance of the feather of Ma'at in the game, a symbol of truth and justice in ancient Egyptian mythology associated with the weighing of the heart ceremony in the afterlife. Players engage in conversations with defeated characters in the underworld, using the feather of Ma'at for judgment.
They discuss how the game integrates this cultural symbol, providing players with insight into ancient Egyptian beliefs and rituals. This inclusion provides players with insight into ancient Egyptian beliefs and rituals, adding authenticity and immersion to the gaming experience and allowing players to interact meaningfully with the mythology and symbolism of ancient Egypt.
Overall, incorporating these cultural and historical elements enriches gameplay and educates players about ancient Egypt's heritage, effectively blending entertainment with education.
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*Content warning below* Today Megan and Lexie discuss part two of Wilbur Smith's novel, Warlock, which includes a pursuit, a trick, a dust storm, and a change in plans. How many things are we frustrated with in this episode? Too many to count. Gratuitous and poorly written sex scenes, racist and misogynistic elements, and the problematic portrayal of women, particularly African women, in the book, with descriptions that perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Grab your tea, your snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians for all of this, plus the many historical inaccuracies!
CONTENT WARNING: The end of the book contains explicit scenes of sexual assault. Please listen (and read) with caution.
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*Content warning below* In this episode of the Reading Party Podcast, Megan and Lexie dive into the first part of the book "Warlock", from the “Egyptian Series” by Wilbur Smith. They discuss their initial thoughts and share their feelings of familiarity with the plot. Despite some disappointments, they appreciate the well-written descriptions and the immersive atmosphere of the story, though the villain could have done with some more work! Grab your tea, your snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians as they analyze and enjoy another ancient Egypt-inspired story!
Content warning: "Warlock" contains scenes of graphic sexual assault and rape, and we do touch on those in this episode and the next. Please listen with caution!
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In this episode, Megan and Lexie discuss the 2016 movie "Gods of Egypt" with special guest Dr. Marissa Stevens, an Egyptologist at UCLA. They delve into the themes and cultural influences of the film, as well as the intersection between Egypt and Ancient Persia. Marissa shares her expertise on funerary papyri and the significance of the 21st dynasty. Grab your tea, your snacks, and join your friendly neighborhood Ancient Historians as they explore the connections between ancient civilizations and the impact on religious practices.
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This week, Dr. Briana Jackson joins us again to tackle part 2 of Wilbur Smith’s novel, “River God”! What do we think of the novel’s ending? Who exactly were the Hyksos? Is the relationship between Taita and Lostris as weird as we all think? All this and more, on this episode of The Reading Party Podcast!
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Megan and Lexie are joined by guest host, Dr. Brianna Jackson, to talk about Wilbur Smith's 1993 novel, River God.
You can find Brianna online here:
https://www.brianacjackson.com/about
https://twitter.com/Baladria
https://www.youtube.com/user/Baladria
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Join Megan and Lexie for a special, bonus episode on Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, a fantastic new video game heavily inspired by Greek mythology!
Join our Patreon for more bonus content: patreon.com/readingpartypod
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Join us for this final episode of the Reading Party Podcast's inaugural season! What were our favourite adaptations? Did we find a Helen and Paris we could love? Who was our favourite Achilles, and just why does Lexie continue to love "Odysseus, Voyage to the Underworld" quite so much?
All this and more!
SEASON 2 RELEASES EARLY 2024!
Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you!
Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcast
Twitter @ReadingPartyPod
Instagram @TheReadingPartyPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1Q
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypod
Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds.
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We finish up looking at a very unexpected book - how does this Odysseus compare to the others we seen? What about Penelope? Does Telemachus follow in his father's footsteps and become a mighty warrior king? How many tangents do we go off on this time? All this and more!
Want to drop us a question, comment, or opinion? Then please send us an email at [email protected]! We look forward to hearing from you!
Follow us on Facebook @TheReadingPartyPodcast
Twitter @ReadingPartyPod
Instagram @TheReadingPartyPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHB1bZ-N9nWMayVsoMEU1Q
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/readingpartypod
Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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