The Past Macabre

In this episode of The Past Macabre , step into the chaotic period of the Late Bronze Age Collapse to investigate one of history's oldest recorded high-profile murder cases. Egypt was already struggling from years of crop failures, famine, and the world's first recorded labor strike when a highly coordinated network of conspirators chose to exploit the chaos of a sacred celebration to assassinate...

Three discoveries, one shifting landscape: a mysterious buried structure beneath the ancient city of Buto, the newly identified tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II near the Valley of the Kings, and the remains of a massive Coptic monastery at Al-Qalaye. We dig into what the finds reveal about Egypt’s long arc—from dynastic power to Christian communities—a nd how modern tools are changing what archaeologis...

In 1976 near the ruins of the ancient capital Yin, archaeologists rediscovered the tomb of Fu Hao and it transformed our understanding of the Shang Dynasty. Most royal tombs were ravaged by looters, but the final resting place of Fu Hao remained perfectly preserved. Now we know in addition to her duties as queen, she was also a military general, priestess, and she managed lands of her own. For Wom...

In celebration of Women's History Month, this episode is about four lesser-known goddesses of the ancient Egyptian afterlife whose primary roles were to protect, nourish, and occasionally punish those within the city of the dead. While famous deities often dominate pop culture, these four goddesses offer a unique window into how the Egyptians viewed the natural world and the social roles of mortal...

In this episode, step inside Deir el-Medina, the remarkably well-preserved village of the artisans who built the royal tombs of ancient Egypt. Known in antiquity as Pa Demi or “the village”, this desert settlement near Thebes (modern Luxor) was home to the skilled workers of the Set Maat, the “Place of Truth,” where pharaohs like Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, Nefertari, and Hatshepsut were laid to res...

In the first part of this two-episode series on the tombs of the tomb builders, host Stephanie Rice journeys beyond the iconic monuments of the Giza Plateau to explore the long-overlooked settlement of the pyramid workers. Often overshadowed by the Great Pyramids themselves, the massive wall known as Heit el-Ghurab, aka the “Wall of the Crow”, once concealed the remains of a thriving community. On...

In this episode, host Stephanie Rice shares information about the origins of Ancient Egyptian kingship during the Predynastic period. Discover the real archaeological evidence of two different rulers known as King Scorpion that inspired the Scorpion King from The Mummy franchise. But unlike the cinematic portrayal, the real kings didn't amass and sustain their power through military conquest. Expl...

In this continuation of The Past Macabre’s exploration of fossils and myth, host Stephanie Rice examines how ancient cultures interpreted fossil discoveries and connected them to tales of monsters, heroes, and gods. Through oral traditions, archaeological finds, and texts from the Mexica (Aztecs) and Maya of Mesoamerica, the Hopi, Zuni, and Dine (Navajo) of the American Southwest, pre-Christian Ir...

As the APN takes a break this holiday season we’re taking this opportunity to bring you episodes of other network shows you may not be aware of. Please enjoy this episode of the Heritage Voices Podcast! Heritage Voices: Nunalleq Digital Museum - Ep 98 For this episode of Heritage Voices, Jessica Yaquinto speaks with Charlotta Hillerdal (University of Aberdeen), Jaqueline Nalikutaar Cleveland (Nati...

The APN is taking a holiday break. In the mean time, enjoy this special episode from one of our other great podcasts. Rock Art Podcast: Kimberly Rock Art wth Dr. Damien Finch - Episode 144 PROMO: In this episode, Dr. Alan Garfinkel speaks with Dr Damien Finch from the University of Melbourne about Kimberly Rock Art and his work on the application of radiocarbon dating to determine the age of rock...

Throughout history, people have uncovered fossils and tried to explain them using the knowledge and stories of their time. In this episode of The Past Macabre, host Stephanie Rice explores how ancient discoveries of prehistoric bones may have inspired some of humanity’s most enduring myths about dragons and other legendary creatures. From China’s loong, whose image appeared in tombs thousands of y...

After two decades of anticipation, the Grand Egyptian Museum has finally opened and it is wonderful in every sense of the word! In this episode of The Past Macabre , host Stephanie Rice explores how the world’s largest archaeological museum breathes new life into ancient funerary traditions. Join her on a journey through three extraordinary exhibits that reimagine Egypt’s afterlife: the digital re...

In this episode, Stephanie is joined by special guest Virginia Lucas, curator and archaeologist of the Lost City Museum for a look at the history of The Lost City , also known as Pueblo Grande de Nevada . It was an Ancestral Puebloan settlement in southern Nevada and once thrived as a major agricultural exporter and trade hub along the Muddy River. The city was abandoned around 1250 CE after a shi...

Around the world and throughout our entire written history, humanity has believed that the dead can return to the land of the living, even if only for a short time. Through ancient texts and archaeological research, we can trace how people long ago understood hauntings, feared the unburied, and tried to keep the dead at rest. In this Halloween special, discover just a few of the stories of ghosts,...

In this episode, we’ll explore the rediscovery and legacy of Thonis-Heracleion, a sacred port city that was lost beneath the Mediterranean Sea for over 1200 years. During its peak, the city stood as both a major checkpoint for foreign merchants entering Egypt and a spiritual center tied to the worship of Amun, Khonsu, Osiris, Aphrodite, and many more Egyptian and Greek deities. Rituals connected t...

There’s so much info to share about Canopus that it needed a second episode! In this episode, we take a look at some of the myths and deities associated with Canopus as well as earlier finds that have provided us with important details about the city. According to myth, the city began a the site where a Homeric hero met a gruesome end. It grew to become the main trade hub connecting Mediterranean...

At the end of August, archaeologists announced extraordinary new finds from the sunken city of Canopus, located off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. For the first time in 25 years, artifacts were raised from the seabed, including a sphinx inscribed with Ramses II’s name, statues from the Ptolemaic and Roman eras, and shipwreck remains. In this episode, we'll explore both these latest underwater dis...

Many different cultures from China and Southeast Asia honor the dead on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month during the Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhongyuan in Daoism and Yulanpen or Ullambana in Mahayana Buddhism. In this episode, we’ll trace the origins of ancestor worship to ancient Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones, or “Dragon Bones,” which were used to inscribe petitions to ancestral sp...

The Wag Festival is one of the oldest named celebrations in Ancient Egypt, a summertime rite honoring both the death of Osiris and the memory of departed loved ones. Each year, the living gathered to share feasts with the dead with offerings of bread, beer, and beef to sustain them in the afterlife. In this episode, we’ll explore the festival’s connection to the Osiris Myth and uncover its traces...

Dr. Murray Cook is an archaeologist, author, co-founder and co-director of a field school, and Honorable Research Fellow at Stirling University. His research focuses on the area around Stirling, Scotland and its expansive history. There are Neolithic stone circles, Bronze Age burials, late Iron Age sites that offer a glimpse of life just before the Romans arrived, and artifacts that mark the Roman...

In the second part of a two-episode series, The Past Macabre continues the story of one of history’s most iconic figures of resistance: Boudica. After decades of uneasy alliances and Roman expansion, the fragile peace in Britain shattered—leading to one of the most famous rebellions the Roman Empire ever faced. In this episode, we'll look at archaeological clues that bring us closer to the truth b...

In this first of a two-part series, The Past Macabre travels back to Late Iron Age Britain before the Roman conquest to explore the world that shaped one of history’s most famous warrior queens: Boudica. Her story has been told many times for nearly two millennia, but what is the truth behind the Celtic warrior queen who stood against Rome? Uncover the archaeology of her tribe the Iceni, from sacr...

This episode is a special preview of the Kingdom of Pylos exhibit at the Getty Villa ahead of the livestream on June 27. Step into the Late Bronze Age with special guest Claire Lyons, curator of antiquities at the Getty. She provides insight on the exhibit, from the collaborative efforts that went into putting it together to details about some of the fascinating Mycenaean artifacts that will be on...

In this episode of The Past Macabre , we explore the fascinating world of funerary food—from bread buried with Egyptian pharaohs to tamales sealed in Mayan tombs. Discover how ancient meals, cookware, and food offerings reveal powerful beliefs about the afterlife, social status, and the rituals of mourning. Links See photos related to episode topics on Instagram Loving the macabre lore? Treat your...

For centuries, the story of the Nile has been dominated by Egypt but just beyond its borders, another great empire thrived. The Kingdom of Kush, rising in what is now Sudan, was a formidable force that conquered Egypt, commanded vital trade routes, and even stood against the mighty Roman Empire. But what truly set Kush apart was that its queens were warriors, monument builders, and sometimes they...