Episodes
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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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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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Episodes manquant?
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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…
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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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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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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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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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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Following a complicated rise-to-power, King Men-kheper-Ra Djehuty-messu (aka Thutmose III) achieved great victories on the battlefield. His campaigns extended far to the north and south, bringing tribute and captives into Egypt. At home, Thutmose’s building projects were enormous and elaborate. And over fifty-four years of rule, the King’s followers established a legendary reputation…
Date: c.1495 - 1441 BCE.
Episode Chapters:
Part Five - Wives and Warriors: 00:01 - 01:26:22.
Part Six - Revisions to the Past: 01:26:22 - 02:38:29.
Part Seven - Fifty Four Years of Splendour, and the End: 02:38:29 - End.
Logo image: Decorated block of Thutmose III, Luxor Museum. Photo by Dominic Perry.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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At the height of the 18th Dynasty (c.1495 - 1441 BCE), King Men-kheper-Ra Djehuty-messu (aka Thutmose III) ruled Egypt. The start of his reign was unusual, with power wielded primarily by the Queen-King Hatshepsut. But following Hatshepsut's death, Thutmose would rise to the challenges of rule. In this episode, we explore the King's upbringing, his rise-to-power, and the famous Battle of Megiddo.
Compilation of previously released material.
Date: c.1495 - 1441 BCE.
Episode Chapters:
Part One - Little King Thutmose: 02:20 - 37:25.
Part Two - The Battle of Megiddo: 37:25 - 01:10:30.
Part Three - Campaigns of Victory (Thutmose at War): 01:10:30 - 01:50:05.
Part Four - Fighting and Festivals (War Stories and Heb Sed): 01:50:05 - End.
Logo image: Statue of Thutmose III, Luxor Museum. Photo by Dominic Perry.
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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In New Kingdom Egypt (c.1500 – 1150 BCE), the rulers and people of the Nile Valley communicated extensively with their eastern neighbours. Trade and diplomacy were far more common than outright conflict. And the Egyptian pharaohs were highly regarded in distant courts. These contacts survive in the archaeological record: detailed texts recording interactions; shipwrecks carrying cargo from the Egyptian court; and even tombs recording the high status of foreigners serving the pharaoh himself.
Compilation of previously released material.
Logo image: A wooden statue head from the tomb of Aper-el / Abdiel. Saqqara, Imhotep Museum, photo by Dominic Perry 2024.
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
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In New Kingdom Egypt (c.1500 - 1150 BCE), the pharaohs and their agents had many dealings with people of the Mediterranean. These include the ancient Cretans (the "Keftiu" or Minoans) and the Mycenaeans (the "Danae" or "Danaeans"). And from the time of Amunhotep III (c. 1400--1362 BCE), we have tentative evidence for Egyptian embassies visiting these islands. From Memphis to Mycenae, Karnak to Crete, we go in search of international relations.
Compilation of previously released material.
Logo image: Bull-leaper "taureadors" from an Egyptian palace, fresco fragments excavated at Tell el-Dab'a (ancient Avaris) in the Nile Delta. Image adapted from M. Bietak et al., Taureador Scenes in Tell El-Dab'a (Avaris) and Knossos (2007).
The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
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Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
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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.
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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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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 (maâat). Most kings navigated this relationship fairly easily. But then, most kings werenât 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 monumentsâŠDate: 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, âThe Father of Ramses I: OI 11456â, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 37 (1978), 237â244.E. Cruz-Uribe, âStáž« ê„êŁ páž„ty âSeth, God of Power and Mightââ, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 45 (2009), 201â26.A. el-Sawi, âSome Variations of Writing of the Names of Sety I at Abydosâ, Annales du Services des AntiquitĂ©s de lâEgypte 70 Supplement (1987), 53â63.J. G. Griffith, The Conflict of Horus and Seth from Egyptian and Classical Sources (1960).C. A. Hope, âReconstructing the Image of Seth, Lord of the Oasis, in his Temple at Mut el-Kharab in Dakhleh Oasisâ, Rich and Great: Studies in Honour of Anthony J. Spalinger on the Occasion of his 70th Feast of Thoth (2016), 123â145.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, âSeth, âFigure of Mysteryââ, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 45 (2009), 177â200.D. Stewart, âThe Myth of Osiris in the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Textsâ, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Monash University (2014).I. R. Taylor, âDeconstructing the Iconography of Sethâ, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Birmingham (2016).H. te Velde, âThe Egyptian God Seth as a Tricksterâ, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 7 (1968), 37â40.H. te Velde, Seth, God of Confusion (1967).H. te Velde, âSethâ, in D. B. Redford (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, 3 (2001), 269â271.P. J. Turner, âSeth â A Misrepresented God in the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon?â, 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).âStĂšle CintrĂ©e E26017â, MusĂ©e du Louvre, accessed 2.2.2024.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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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.
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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, ‘កwt jáž„(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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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.
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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.
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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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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, âImprisoned with the Pharaohs,â Weird Tales magazine at WikiSource.R. Emrys and A. M. Pillsworth, âHarry Houdini Versus Cosmic Horror: âUnder the Pyramidsââ, TOR.com, 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, âLovecraft and Egypt: A Closer Examinationâ, Lovecraft Annual (2016), 3â45.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Restoration, Recovery, Wreckage. 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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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.
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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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