The History of Egypt Podcast

After a long life and successful reign, Ma'at-Ka-Re Hatshepsut died. We wrap up her story, review her legacy, and review some standout events. Plus, we dig into the mystery of her tomb. Do we have Hatshepsut's mummy? There are many questions... Date c.1473 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal pa...

What does the word Pharaoh actually mean? In this mini episode we explore the origins of the term, how it evolved in the New Kingdom, and why I've rarely used it in the podcast (until now). Further reading: Shaw & Nicholson, The British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt (1995), p. 222. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-t...

Kara (Kathlyn) Cooney is professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). In this interview, we discuss her book The Woman Who Would be King, and her research into the reign and legacy of King Hatshepsut. Episode image: a statue of Hatshepsut, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Kara Cooney's website http://karacooney.squarespace.com/ and Face...

The Punt Expedition and the Speos Artemidos. We take a short break from the narrative, to explore two important texts from Hatshepsut's reign. These are the records of the Punt Expedition, and a propaganda text from the Speos Artemidos, a temple in middle Egypt. "Voice of Hatshepsut" by Anya Banerjee https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/AnyaBanerjee Date c.1480 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast...

A Sed-Festival. By 1485 BCE, Hatshepsut's subjects were bustling to prepare her grand jubilee. The sed-festival, held in year 16, celebrated an anniversary. But, an anniversary of what, exactly? Date c.1485 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Follow us on social media www.facebook.co...

Hatshepsut's Trusted Advisor. As Hatshepsut's power grew, so did that of Senenmut. A royal courtier, Senenmut found his career accelerating in tandem with the new King. In this episode, we follow Senenmut from his early upbringing to the corridors of power, and his victory over his rivals... Date c.1495-1485 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com...

In 1488 BCE, King Hatshepsut launched her most famous project. A fleet of ships sailed down the Red Sea coast, in order to visit the land of Punt. There, they gathered trade goods, and met some truly fascinating locals... Date c.1488 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Follow us on s...

Amun Creates Hatshepsut. In a short break, we explore the tale Hatshepsut told about her origins. She ascribed her creation and birth to the King of the Gods, Amun-Ra himself. In this dramatic recount, we go through the whole story (as it survives). Date c.1520 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayP...

In 1488 BCE, Hatshepsut made her most daring move. She pushed her newphew (Thutmose III) to one side and proclaimed herself King of Upper and Lower Egypt. At a stroke, Egypt had two kings, ruling at once... Date c.1488 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Follow us on social media www...

Hatshepsut (Part 1): Gathering Power. For the first five years of her rule, Hatshepsut was (officially) a caretaker for the throne. But power inevitably gathered around the powerful woman, and she knew it... Date c.1495 - 1490 BCE References and images at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Select...

Introducing Hatshepsut. For a decade or more, King Thutmose I ruled a stable kingdom. Unfortunately, this king gets overshadowed by his daughter, whom he may have groomed for power... Dates c.1519 - 1505 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Follow us on social media www.facebook.com/e...

Terrible deeds... and great. In his first few years King Thutmose I led campaigns, managed his household, and commissioned his royal tomb. He launched a campaign into Nubia, pursuing conquest and booty. Unfortunately, his methods were rather horrific... Date c.1515 BCE Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via P...

Conquering Syria. Around 1519 BCE a new King came to power. Thutmose I (Aa-kheper-ka-Re) immediately began securing his rule. He married a cousin (or sister) of his predecessor, then launched two military campaigns. In the process he travelled further than any ruler had done before... Date c.1519 BCE Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast...

Amunhotep I and the Splendour of Thebes. The podcast returns from hiatus, following the death of a close family member. Around 1530 BCE, King Ahmose I died and Amunhotep I came to power. At this time, the city of Waset (Thebes) was beginning to gain wealth and prominence, thanks to the exploits of its military. Prosperity grew and non-royal tombs show a growing sense of vitality... Date c.1530 BCE...

Interlude: Dance the Magic Dance! Egyptians had many festivals, and they celebrated these with great energy. Whether it was dancing for a wealthy hostess, or leaping over charging bulls, or just getting totally drunk at a festival, the Egyptians did it all... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal paym...

Warfare Along the Nile. Around 1550 BCE, King Ahmose I reunified Egypt and expelled the Hyksos lords. Historically, the Second Intermediate Period ends and the New Kingdom begins. Chapter 1: On land and river the Thebans attack the Hyksos, pushing them northward towards their capital. King Ahmose I and his mother Queen Ahhotep pummeled their foes, while raising up their friends. We meet two of the...

In 1560 BCE, Seqenenre Tao / Ta'a was dead. Killed in battle, the king's body lay on the field, beaten and bloody. Now, the task of ruling the southern kingdom fell to his wife Ahhotep and his son Kamose. The latter would lead a campaign of reprisal, a bloody raid into the heart of enemy territory... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast...

Around 1560 BCE the King of Southern Egypt, Seqen-en-re Ta’a died. His end was violent and bloody. The king was a victim of (anonymous) foes, who tied him up and executed him. The full circumstances of this event are coming to light with new research. Today, we dig into recent studies on the event and its larger context… Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.pat...

Around 1560 BCE the Hyksos were supreme. Along with their allies (the Nubians of Kerma), the Hyksos dominated half of the country. Down in the southern regions, the kings of Dynasty 16 struggled to hold their territory... Website: ⁠www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com⁠. Support the show via Patreon ⁠www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast⁠. Make a one-time donation via ⁠PayPal payments⁠.  Select Bibliography: Nico...

Second Intermediate Period (Part 2). How did the Hyksos take power? Around 1650 BCE, the 13th Dynasty crumbled away. Foreigners moving into Egypt over previous centuries now consolidated their authority over the north. Or was it an invasion, as classical histories describe? Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation...

The Second Intermediate Period (Part 1). Around 1700 BCE, different regions of Egypt began to separate. Following a slow decay, a catastrophic famine and plague, and erosion of royal authority, people living in the north decided to find their own way in life. Date: c. 1700 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donat...

Dynasty 13: Invisible Kings. From 1770 to 1700, the 13th Dynasty produced a vast number of kings, but we know almost nothing about them, for reasons that remain challenging to understand. We also explore the Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, a wonderful story of wrongdoing and the search for justice. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Ma...

A Woman King. Around 1776 BCE, the 12th Dynasty was dwindled away. Before it vanished, it produced one last remarkable figure. Neferu-Sobek (or Sobek-Neferu) was Egypt's first recorded female king. Additionally, we explore the Tale of the Man and his Ba, also known as The Man Who Was Tired of Life. Date: c. 1776 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon...

Foreign Settlements. King Amenemhat IV came to power around 1798 BCE. His reign was unremarkable, but big things were happening around Egypt. In this episode, we explore the growing evidence for Canaanite peoples coming to Egypt and settling in large numbers. Date c.1798 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donatio...

King Amen-em-hat III (aka Ny-ma'at-Re) was the last "great" ruler of Dynasty 12. Over forty-six years in power, he would achieve significant things for his royal household. Unfortunately, cracks were beginning to appear in Egypt's kingdom... Date: c. 1840 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal pay...