The History of Egypt Podcast

242: The Year of Two Pharaohs (Sety II vs Amenmesse)

Between 1215 and 1211 BCE, Egypt was divided. A rebellion in the south, launched by Amen-messe "Born of Amun" disrupted the succession of Sety II, son of Merneptah. Recor

The Egyptian Crusade with Dr. Thomas Smith

From 1217 to 1221 CE, Egypt faced an invasion in the Delta. A bizarre tale of D-Day-esque beach landings, improvised nun-chucks, and the vengeance of Hapi ensued. Today's

241: Annihilation of the Wicked

Merneptah's Nubian War, the Book of Caverns, and his Legacy. The later years of Merneptah's reign were eventful. Just as the Libu war wound down, another conflict started

240: Merneptah vs the Sea Peoples (and Odysseus, and the Hittites)

As the Libu war wound down, Merneptah's troops took captives and plundered the bodies of fallen warriors. Along the way, we also hear of "foreign peoples of the Sea," who

239: A Pyramid of Corpses

Merneptah vs the Libyans. In 1221 BCE, Egypt faced a crisis. Tribal coalitions from the west, and some "Peoples of the Sea" were marching on the Nile Valley. They came in

238: Merneptah Seizes Canaan (feat. A Tribe Called Israel)

Merneptah started his reign aggressively, striking a belligerent tone in his royal names and launching an expedition to Canaan in the first few years. In the process, his

The Odyssey (2026) First Impressions

A few slightly rambling thoughts (NOT A FULL REVIEW) Video version available free on Patreon and YouTube https://youtu.be/5GYyfqFq__E Learn more about your ad choices.

Preserving Howard Carter & Tutankhamun (An Appeal from The Griffith Institute)

The Griffith Institute preserves thousands of documents, plate photographs, and records of Howard Carter's excavation in the tomb of Tutankhamun. But funding cuts are thr

237: Drinking with Khonsu / The Dream Book

Ramessid Daily Life (Part 2). Why did a tomb-builder skip work for “drinking with Khonsu”? Why was Parahotep never invited to parties? And what did it mean if you dreamed

Was Pharaoh literally a god? Listener Questions 1

Bonus episode. I took some listener questions in a livestream, and here they are. We cover topics like: Was pharaoh literally a god? How common was tattooing? Was there a

Ramesses Eternal with Prof. Peter Brand

Prof. Peter Brand joins us for one final conversation about Ramesses II: Egypt's "Ultimate Pharaoh." If you haven't read it, I highly recommend Peter's book Ramesses II

236: Legends of Ramesses "the Great"

How does Ramesses II stack up to his predecessors? Why did ancient writers connect him with the Trojan War? In this episode we explore tales of Ramesses, told in antiquit

235: Ramesses the Great God

In 1226 BCE, his sixty-seventh year of rule, the long life of Ramesses II finally ended. We explore his final decades, the difficult life revealed by his mummy, his ascen

234: Destroying Amarna / Splitting Heirs

Sometime in Ramesses II's reign, royal artisans dismantled the city of Akhet-Aten (Amarna). Carefully, methodically, they removed the talatat blocks and carted them away

233: Friendship in Dark Times (The Bronze Age Collapse Begins?)

Ramesses and Hattusili (Part 2). After the marriage to a Hittite princess in Year 34, Ramesses II had much to offer his northern family. A visit from the King of Hatti's

The 100 Children of Ramesses II with Prof. Peter Brand

Ramesses is famous for fathering 100+ children. But what did all these princes and princesses do? Prof. Peter Brand joins us once more to explain the lives and roles of t

Come visit the Great Pyramid! Tour to Egypt 2027 January Announcement

It’s time, once again, to think about visiting Egypt. I just returned from a tour in March, taking a group through the Nile Valley, and we had a great time. Egypt is quit

232: Real Housewives of Per-Ramesses (feat. Prof. Peter Brand)

Hybrid episode (narrative & interivew). The Hittite Queen, Maat-Hor-Neferura, may have been surprised to find she wasn't the only King's Great Wife. In fact, Ramesses had

231: The Hittite Queen of Egypt

Married before first sight. In regnal year 34 (1259 BCE) Ramesses welcomed a princess of Hatti. Sent by her father Hattusili and mother Puduhepa, the (anonymous) princess

Introducing Voices of Ancient Egypt with Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst

New Egyptology podcast! Voices of Ancient Egypt is "the podcast for people who don’t just want to learn about ancient Egypt, but want to understand it at a deeper, more m