Afterlives of Ancient Egypt with Kara Cooney

What does sun worship mean? The sun is the giant ball of fire in the sky. It warms us, embraces us. It lights up the air all around us, and its absence creates coldness, an implicit threat of non-return, something we must placate with entreaties, offerings, brave deeds. The sun is the most powerful element in our sky, heroically returning to us every morning, helping us start our daily labors of f...

The concept of monotheism often hijacks the history of ancient Egyptian king Akhenaten because he funneled all his attention to one, previously little-known god, the Aten, the visible sun in the sky. Many scholars ask: Was Akhenaten, ancient Egypt’s so-called “heretic king,” the world’s first known monotheist? Did he say that other gods did not exist? Did he impose the belief that the Aten was sup...

This episode is a recording from our quarterly live event series where supporters are invited to chat with us live over Zoom and ask all their burning questions—if you would like to support our work, consider becoming a paid subscriber: Show Notes Thutmose II (?) Tomb Discovered?! * Live Science: Thutmose II tomb discovery raises new mysteries: Where is his mummy, and why wasn't he buried in the V...

Who should inherit the throne when the ancient Egyptian king is killed? The strong brother of the king or the younger son who needs serious time to mature? This was a vital question that the Egyptians solved through mythology. Egypt found itself in a power vacuum; it was the first political crisis the land had ever experienced. The primary god-king was dead, killed by his own brother. Who should b...

What, exactly, is the was scepter? Essentially, it’s a stick with the head of a long-snouted, big eared animal, held by divinities in their hands to demonstrate their power. This familiar symbol of power and dominion held by kings and deities, usually masculine, in artistic representations throughout ancient Egyptian history appears often in art motifs. Images of was scepters are even pictured hol...

In this episode of 'Afterlives of Ancient Egypt,' we answer this month’s supporter questions about the Old Kingdom, debating the logistical and artefactual impacts of Egypt's unification on surrounding regions, the linguistic continuity from the Old to the New Kingdom, and much more. Los Angeles Fire Relief * California Fire Foundation * Los Angeles Fire Foundation * American Red Cross * Wildfire...

For a limited time Kara’s online course, “Ancient Egyptian Cosmogony and Cosmology: Secrets of the Primordial Waters” is on sale— don’t miss it ! Scroll down to the bottom of the page, tick the “Have a coupon?” box in the bottom left corner and enter the coupon code CREATION10 (valid through January 29th) to save $10 at checkout. Time is of the essence so you can join Kara in a live Q&A Zoom event...

Journey into the Duat with Kara and Amber as they explore the collection of funerary spells known to Egyptologists as the Coffin Texts. They discuss their historical context, conception of the landscape of the underworld, and the religious-magical spells of transformation and protection that were meant to aid the deceased on their afterlife journey. Kara provides a Coffin Girl’s Guide to the Coffi...

In this episode of Afterlives of Ancient Egypt , we discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, and its impact on cultural heritage with our guest, Dr. Rennan Lemos. Dr. Lemos shares his personal experiences of being trapped in Khartoum during the conflict, witnessing destruction, and eventually being rescued. We delve into the historical context of colonialism in Sudan and Egypt, emphasizin...

Kara and Jordan answer supporters’ questions on the theme of “How do we study what we study?” Show Notes How do you study coffins? * Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Egyptian Royal Caches How do we understand historicity in a literary text, like The Tale of Setne? * Great overview article by The Past * Golverdingen, Joost 2009. Khaemwaset: Demotic legend or the world's fi...

Kara and Jordan talk with Professor Anne Austin (University of Missouri - St. Louis) about her book Healthmaking in Ancient Egypt: The Social Determinants of Health at Deir el-Medina , how she uses data from ancient Egyptian human remains to understand health care practices, disease, and illness in the past, and her work on tattooing in ancient Egypt. Introducing Prof. Anne Austin Dr. Anne Austin...

Kara and Amber take a deep dive into the so-called “Cannibal Hymn” (Utterances 273–274) of the Pyramid Texts, which date to the late Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period (ca. 2375–2055 BCE) and are the oldest funerary texts from ancient Egypt. They do some reading, some interpreting, and talk about the great power the ancient Egyptians believed these texts held, and how they're a part of the...

In month’s Q&A we have questions concerning kingship & the gods, turtles (!!), and the Book of the Dead. Kara also answers some frequently asked questions about her new online course on ancient Egyptian cosmogony and cosmology. Ancient Egyptian Cosmogony and Cosmology: Secrets of the Primordial Waters An eight-part lecture series by Dr. Kara Cooney SHOW NOTES Kingship & Religion * Overview of the...

Kara’s latest book, Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches , is now available! In this episode UCLA PhD candidate Kylie Thomsen joins the Afterlives crew to talk about the years of research and preparation behind the publication of this meticulous study of the social, economic, and religious significance of coffin reuse and development during the Ramesside a...

In this episode Kara and Jordan talk to Egyptologist Melinda Nelson-Hurst about her online Egyptology platform, Voices of Ancient Egypt, which teaches you how to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that you’ll see in museums, online, and on your next trip to Egypt – in less time and without the overwhelm. About our Guest: Melinda Nelson-Hurst is an Egyptologist (Ph. D., University of Pennsylvani...

Many of you asked for it, and it’s finally here— an new online course from Kara is now available . Kara and Amber take a behind-the-scenes look at how her new course on ancient Egyptian cosmogony and cosmology came together and what is covered in this eight-part lecture series. Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

Journey into the afterlife with Kara and Amber as they take a look at the Book of the Dead (more properly known as The Book of Going Forth by Day), a well-known collection of spells from ancient Egypt meant to aid the dead in their transition into the afterlife. Kara provides a Coffin Girl’s Guide to the Book of the Dead, focusing on spells that are most associated with New Kingdom sarcophagi, cof...

Show Notes Religion of the Masses * Kemp BJ. How Religious were the Ancient Egyptians? Cambridge Archaeological Journal . 1995;5(1):25-54. doi:10.1017/S0959774300001177 * UEE Encyclopedia- Votive Practice/Personal Religion Continuity of Ancient Egyptian Religion * Abu el-Haggag Festival: The Modern-Day Opet * Moulid Festival of Abu'l Hajjaj Entertainment in the Egyptian Court * Autobiography of Ha...

In this episode Kara and Amber discuss the builders and destroyers of Karnak. Who could create and who could destroy? If we look at the ancient living temple space of Karnak as social document, what can it tell us? Evolution of a Temple (Elizabeth Blyth) More info on Karnak University of Santa Cruz Digital Karnak UCSC Maps of Karnak Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscri...

In this episode Kara and Jordan sit down with Prof. Solange Ashby (Assistant Professor, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, UCLA) to discuss her academic journey and her research on Nubian women. Solange Ashby received her Ph. D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. Dr. Ashby’s expertise in ancient languages, including Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic, and Meroitic, underpins her research i...

Episode Notes Parasites and other diseases * Mitchell, Piers D. 2024. Chapter two - parasites in ancient Egypt and Nubia: malaria, schistosomiasis and the pharaohs. Advances in Parasitology 123, 23-49. DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2023.12.003 * Metwaly AM, Ghoneim MM, Eissa IH, Elsehemy IA, Mostafa AE, Hegazy MM, Afifi WM, Dou D. Traditional ancient Egyptian medicine: A review. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021 Oct;...

Show Notes Evolution of Temple Architecture * Digital Karnak * Blyth, E. (2006) Karnak : evolution of a temple  / Elizabeth Blyth. New York, NY: Routledge. * Wilkinson, R. H. (2000) The complete temples of ancient Egypt . Thames & Hudson. * For Pre-formal → Formal temples see, Kemp, B. J. (2018) Ancient Egypt : anatomy of a civilization : pbk . 3rd ed. Routledge. Rekhyt Bird Meaning * Griffin, Ken...

In this episode Kara and Jordan discuss animals in ancient Egyptian society. What does the archaeological evidence tell us about the ancient Egyptians’ attitudes and practices towards non-human members of their society? Show notes Herodotus Book II, 65-66 There are many household animals; and there would be many more, were it not for what happens to the cats. When the females have kittened they wi...

During the process of recommodification and reburial by 21st Dynasty elites, several royal mummies in the Deir el Bahri 320 (also known as TT 320) burial cache were badly damaged. In this episode, Kara and Amber discuss the evidence we have for the ritual repair of these mummies carried out during their reburial, including the term rdit Wsir , “to make an Osiris.” Ritner, Robert, 2009, The Libyan...

In this episode Kara and Jordan answer listener questions from April. To submit a question for the monthly Q&A podcast, become a paid subscriber on Substack or join our Patreon ! A few photos from Kara’s Egypt trip Show Notes: Female Genitalia Lexicography * Bednarski, Andrew 2000. Hysteria revisited. Women's public health in ancient Egypt. In McDonald, Angela and Christina Riggs (eds), Current re...