The History of Egypt Podcast

Thutmose IV (Part 2): The Entire Reign at Once. For ten years, maybe more, Thutmose IV ruled Egypt. It was a successful reign and the treasures that emerge from this period are testament to a prosperous realm. The royal court is more visible than ever, with intriguing tales to tell... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-tim...

Thutmose IV (Part 1): Old Enemies Become New Friends. 1418 - 1416 BCE. The new pharaoh spends his first two years involved in political reprisals and military actions. He removes rivals, but also makes friends with some longstanding enemies... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music by K...

A Clash of Princes. In 1418 BCE, Egypt momentarily lacks a pharaoh. Two sons of the crown go head to head, in a duel to be the next ruler. Who wins? Only the Sphinx knows... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com. Select Bibliography: Bryan, B. M. (1991...

Around 1440 BCE, Egyptians were carving the burial monument of Amunhotep II in the Valley of the Kings. In 1898 CE, a group of excavators were uncovering the edifice once more. In a dual narrative, we explore the design, construction and discovery of a most remarkable tomb... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donatio...

Amunhotep II (Part 6): Finding an Heir. Around 1420 BCE, Amunhotep II comes to the end of his days. We explore his family life, what we know about the man himself, and try to get a handle on his legacy... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.com. Select...

Amunhotep II (Part 5): How to Make Friends and Rule the Nile Valley. The pharaoh Amunhotep II has a reputation for cronyism: he put his childhood friends into positions of power, and removed trusted officials from office at a whim. Does he deserve this reputation? We go in search of an answer, exploring the lives of some noteworthy men who rose to prominence in this time... See photos of the tomb...

Interlude: A Royal Journey Through the Underworld. Rulers of the 18th Dynasty decorated their tombs with lavish images of the underworld, which we know as the Duat. These scenes, and texts, reveal a complex story of Re's journey beneath the western horizon, through the nether, and ultimately into a cosmic re-birth. Along the way he crossed waters and deserts, faced demons and monsters, and even me...

The Book of the Dead might be the most famous piece of writing from ancient Egypt. It is also one of the most misunderstood... This episode is as an introduction to the Book of the Dead. As we move forward through the centuries, we will revisit the text to see new developments and additions. NOTE: When searching for the "Book of the Dead" you may often come across the version by E. Wallis Budge. T...

Amunhotep II (Part 4): Servant of Great Gods. Before he became king, Amunhotep II made a promise to embellish and restore monuments on the Giza Plateau. Once Pharaoh, he fulfilled his promise beautifully. As he did so, he introduced a new chapter in Egypt's religious history... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donat...

Amunhotep II (Part 3): Slavery and the Bible. In 1435 BCE, King Amunhotep II led a devastating war in Syria. He took thousands of captives and transported them to Egypt by force. Once there, they became captive workers of the Egyptian elite. Was this the historical inspiration for the Biblical "Captivity"? We go in search of answers... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via...

Amunhotep II (Part 2): The Pharaoh's Aide. In 1440 BCE, a servant of Pharaoh inscribed his tomb with a remarkable text detailing every aspect of his job. What was life like, for one of Egypt's most important officials? Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Select Bibliography: G.P.F. van den...

Amunhotep II (Part 1): The Sportsman King. From 1459 to 1440 BCE, the prince Amunhotep II enjoyed a privileged upbringing. Once he ascended to power, he displayed his prowess to all and sundry. From the battlefield to the sports field, Amunhotep set out to make his name... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation v...

Thutmose III (Part 10): The End of a Mighty Reign. From 1450 to 1441, Thutmose lived out the last nine years of his reign. He commanded one last expedition; oversaw building projects, and brought his tomb to completion. Finally, he had to prepare for the succession, and his own inevitable death... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. M...

Thutmose III (Part 9): Home and Propaganda. From 1455-1450 BCE, Thutmose spent much of his time involved in domestic affairs. Unfortunately, this involved some very harsh policies towards his immediate predecessor... Update (2023): Thutmose III probably reburied some of his immediate successors. In 2023, archaeologists may have found a tomb associated with one of these rulers. More information in...

Thutmose III (Part 8): The Final Campaigns. After 20+ years of near-annual campaigning, Thutmose III finally came to the end of his military career. We explore the last ten years of this process in one sweep: successes (and failures) abound... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Select Bib...

Thutmose III (Part 7): Diplomatic Marriage. After the brilliant campaign of year 33, Thutmose enjoys a period of peace and plenty. Foreign powers seek accommodation with the Egyptians, and this manifests in a series of remarkable diplomatic engagements... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments...

Personal correspondence is an exciting find for Egyptologists. It's even more wonderful when the letters come together to form a cohesive group, all related to one person. Come meet Ahmose, a letter writer from ancient Egypt... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Select Bibliography: Edwa...

Thutmose III (Part 6): The Sed-Festival. Three years before the Mitanni Campaign (Episode 70), Thutmose celebrated his first jubilee. To do that, he needed a new monument, a few gods, and the ancient equivalent of a baseball bat... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Select Bibliography:...

New Year Festivities. Welcome to a new series detailing the Egyptians' religious year, the major events and the gods they celebrated. Month number one was called "Tekh," and it heralded several important rituals. There were festivals of the Nile Flood (Hapi), festivals of the blessed dead (Wagy-and-Thoth), and the beginning of a multi-month re-enactment of the legends of the god Osiris. The Egypti...

Thutmose's Greatest Campaign. In 1462 BCE, approximately, King Men-kheperu-Re Thutmose III led his most daring campaign. He travelled far from Egypt to attack the heartland of Egypt's enemy, the Mitanni. What followed was one of the standout moves in ancient military history... Date c.1462 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make...

Interlude: During the reign of Thutmose III, evidence for Mediterranean peoples becomes much more visible. Visitors from Crete (Keftiu), Cyprus (Alashiya), and Byblos (Kupna / Gubla) made significant contributions to their world. We meet some of them. Oh, and there's a goofy poem at the end... Date. 1465 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egy...

In the reign of Thutmose III, the Egyptian general Djehuty led a siege at Joppa (Yappho / Yafa, in modern Tel Aviv). The enemy were resisting all attempts to break in. Until Djehuty had a cunning plan... Date c. 1465 BCE. 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.ancie...

Submissions and Settlements. After his victory at Megiddo, King Thutmose III began to organise his new conquests. The lands of Canaan and Syria were transformed, as the Egyptians built a network of garrisons, supply depots, and fortresses. Step-by-step, they built their military capability and their empire... Date c.1470 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon ww...

A royal drama. In this episode, we replay the "official account" of Thutmose III's great victory at Megiddo. Drawing on the King's own proclamations, and using the voices of some other podcasters, we bring the story to life... Date c.1473 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Dramatic...

Armageddon. Around 1473 BCE, Thutmose III faced a rebellion, when enemies in Canaan gathered to oppose him. The King of Egypt had a choice: destroy his foes, or risk losing the empire. Battle, chaos, and Monty Python ensued... Date c. 1473 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Music by...