The History of Egypt Podcast

The King's Great Wife. Queen Ankh-es-en-Amun (“She Lives for Amun”) was slightly older than her husband. Having grown up in the court, Ankhesenamun was established in power and experienced in royal life. However, she is far less prominent than her famous predecessors (Nefertiti and Tiye). Why? In this episode, we explore some of the traces of Ankhesenamun’s life, and her role as the King’s Great W...

Amun, Mut, Khonsu, and the King. Once a year, the city of Waset (Thebes / Luxor) hosted an enormous celebration. The Beautiful Festival of Opet honoured the great gods Amun-Ra, Mut, and Khonsu. The deities would emerge from their secret shrines, and ride in procession through the city and on the river. King Tut'ankhamun would lead these events, renewing the power of the gods and his right to rule....

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Shrines, Temples, Sanctuaries. Dr. Briana Jackson is a specialist in the worship of Aten. The sanctuaries, shrines, temples, and monuments of Akhenaten appear throughout Egypt, Wawat, and Kush. In this interview, Dr. Jackson discusses the Aten temples, as well as her work on YouTube. Learn more about Dr. Briana Jackson on her website, Academia.edu, Twitter, YouTube, and many more (Linktree). Websi...

Reconstructing Music. Michael Levy is a renowned composer for ancient instruments and music. Using replicas of artefacts, and taking inspiration from texts and art, Michael creates wonderful songs based in the ancient styles. Michael sat down with the podcast to discuss his recent works, including his wonderful albums of ancient Egyptian compositions... Find Michael Levy at his website, on Spotify...

Gold in them hills. Tut'ankhamun is famous for his gold. But where did it come from? And how did the pharaoh pay for his costly Restoration project? In this episode, we briefly explore some records for Tut’ankhamun’s gold miners and how they obtained that precious yellow metal… Date: c. 1336 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Ma...

Living Images. King Tut’ankhamun is famous for the Restoration of traditional temples. But what did that involve? Records from the King’s reign give us insight to the practical business. We see the repairs of Karnak and Luxor Temples, royal decrees for new statues, and we meet the man who made the gods’ holy images… Date: c. 1336 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via P...

Caregiver and Tutor. Young Tut’ankhamun had multiple caregivers. We have already met Maia, the menat of the King. Now, we meet Sen-nedjem, the menay. From his large (but overlooked) tomb, Sen-nedjem left a record of his work, family, and beliefs. We explore this monument and get a sense of his world… Date: c. 1353 – 1340 BCE Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www...

One who nourished the god. Tut’ankhamun never refers to his birth mother. And until 1996, historians had little idea of the person who raised this young pharaoh. That changed with the discovery of Maia, the royal menat (wet-nurse and teacher). The opening of her tomb, at Saqqara, dramatically expanded our understanding of Tut’ankhamun’s early life. Today, we dive deep into Maia’s career and place...

When archaeologists opened the tomb King Tut'ankhamun, they found many of his childhood possessions inside. Today, we can get a sense of his life by looking at his games, toys, and clothes. Date: c. 1353 – 1340 BCE. 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. Music by Ancient...

From baby to boy. For all his fame and glamour, the life of Tut'ankhamun was more difficult than it seems. The young king dealt with physical challenges and a social environment that treated him as an "idea," more than a person. Today, studies of his mummy give us clues at his early life... Date c.1353 – 1343 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.co...

Interlude: The greatest treachery. By the end of Akhenaten's reign, events in Syria had developed their own momentum. Rulers like Aziru, prince of Amurru, were causing trouble. Akhenaten had to deal with Aziru as best he could. But the death of Akhenaten interrupted any reconciliation. Soon after, Aziru was looking to other opportunities... Date c.1345 – 1340 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodca...

Interlude: Warlords and Adventurers. In the second millennium BCE, a new power rose to the north of Egypt. The Kingdom of Hatti (aka the land of the Hittites) emerged as a significant political, economic, and military force. In this episode, we introduce the Hittite state and its early deeds before the reign of Tut'ankhamun. Date c.1790 – 1350 BCE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support...

Egypt on the offensive. King Tutankhamun's government had to deal with major threats in the north. Instability and regional warfare had spread through Syria and Canaan. To tackle these, pharaoh despatched his most prominent general. Horemheb, representative of the King, led the soldiers of Egypt into battle... Date c.1340 BCE Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon ww...

In April 2021, Egyptologists working in Luxor announced a major discovery. A new “lost” city, associated with Amunhotep III (and probably Akhenaten as well). In this brief roundup, we discuss the details, the context, and the significance of the find. Date c.1350 BCE and 2021 CE. Music by Keith Zizza. Music by Ancient Lyric. Photo links: Site location by Vicky Jensen on Egyptology Forum (image). E...

Splendour and Ceremony. On April 3rd, 2021, Egypt hosted a magnificent celebration. Royal mummies, including Kings and Queens, departed their old home and made for a new one. In future, these rulers will reside in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Moving the royal mummies was a complex, grandiose event. I report on the parade, and the historical background of these famous mummies… Reco...

A complicated career. In the reigns of Akhenaten and Tut'ankhamun, one of Egypt's top religious officials was Mery-Neith ("Beloved of Neith"). This man served in the temples, first as a Steward, then as the High Priest of Aten in Amarna. Along the way, Meryneith had to navigate the difficult political waters. To survive in Akhenaten's court, he even had to change his name... Date c.1360 – 1340 BCE...

I'm bringing ma'at back. One of Tutankhamun's famous projects is the Restoration, a country-wide program of repairs and gifts for major temples. After the excesses of Akhenaten, the boy king and his government invested massive amounts of resources. Their goal? Renew the temples, replenish the priesthood, and curry favour with both the gods and the elites of Egyptian society...   Date c.1341 BCE. W...

Tut-Ankh-Amun. Early in his reign, the young pharaoh Tut-ankh-Aten changed his name to Tut-ankh-Amun. Why did he do this? What did it mean? And how much control did this young ruler have over his own identity? 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 https://www.keithzizza....

A famous reign. Following the death of Nefer-neferu-aten, a new ruler came to the throne. Tut-ankh-Aten was young, perhaps nine years old. He inherited power at a tumultuous point in history... Date c. 1343 BCE. 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. Additional music by...

What does a mummy smell like? Prof. Ann Rosalie David is a pioneering researcher in mummies and ancient pathology. Having led many studies on Egyptian bodies, Prof. David helps reconstruct the lifestyles of the past. In this interview, she helpfully answers questions about ancient diseases, the Amarna royal mummies, and some left-field topics as well. Learn more about Ann Rosalie David and her wor...

Powerful, but vanished. Following the death of Akhenaten, several prominent women disappear from history. Meritaten, the King’s Eldest Daughter; Kiya, one of his wives; and two mysterious daughters, the “Tasherits” present unresolved questions. What happened to them? We explore this question… Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a...

A Hidden Monument? In recent years, the public has thrilled to reports that hidden chambers, in the tomb of Tutankhamun, might contain the burial of Nefertiti. But the question of Nefertiti's tomb is complicated. In fact, it's possible she never even received a kingly/royal burial. In this episode, we explore the results of many studies... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show...

A Short-Lived Reign. By 1344 BCE, Nefer-neferu-Aten (Nefertiti) was in her mid-thirties. She did not have long to live. In her third regnal year, the King of Egypt died. Her death is mysterious: was it natural, an accident, or murder? Studying Nefertiti's last years, and the mummy that might belong to her, we go in search of answers. How did Nefertiti die? Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com....

Nefer-neferu-Aten. Following the death of Akhenaten, Queen Nefertiti may have become a King. Modern research suggests that, following her husband's death, Nefertiti became the new pharaoh. Her reign, and policies, are a shadowy but fascinating chapter in the royal history... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation...