The History of Egypt Podcast

Afleveringen

1. 246: Heirs of Sutech

   2 november 2026 · 27 min

   Afspelen
   Setnakht & Ramesses III, c.1201--1198 BCE. The 20th Dynasty began in conflict, and the new ruler Setnakht ("Sutech is Victorious") needed to reunite Egyptian society. Reconciliation, and recrimination, both followed his accession. Shortly after, Setnakht's son Ramesses III ascended the throne... Lees meer

   Music: "Thoth" by Siamun, used with permission.

   Support the show and get exclusive perks at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2. Love Songs & Poems of the New Kingdom

   26 oktober 2026 · 33 min

   Afspelen
   Compilation of previously released mini episodes (2015-2018). New Kingdom poems are a delightful genre, full of playful and evocative imagery. In this compilation we explore some love poems told from male & female perspectives, and the story of a scribe desperate for a holiday in the big city... Lees meer

   Guest voice: Anya Banerjee.

   Bibliography

   Foster, J. L. (1992). Echoes of Egyptian Voices: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Poetry. University of Oklahoma Press.

   Foster, J. L. (1995). Hymns, Prayers, and Songs: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Lyric Poetry (S. T. Hollis, Ed.). Scholars Press.

   Kitchen, K. A. (1999). Poetry of ancient Egypt. Paul Åströms Förlag.

   Landgráfová, R., & Navrátilová, H. (2009). Sex and the Golden Goddess I: Ancient Egyptian Love Songs in Context. Czech Institute of Egyptology.

   Parkinson, R. B. (1997). The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems (1940—1640 BC). Oxford University Press.

   Simpson, W. K. (2003). The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry (3rd ed.). Yale University Press.

   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3. Egyptology Today (with Ask Historians Podcast)

   12 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 6 min

   Afspelen
   In 2025 I did an interview with the AskHistorians podcast, a reddit-based show where specialists discuss history and major questions about their fields. Lees meer

   In this interview, we discuss the history of Egyptology, stories from ancient Egypt, the situation of the field today, and why Hollywood can't seem to make any stories about Egypt that don't involve Cleopatra.

   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4. 245: Revenge of the Seth (The 19th Dynasty Falls)

   5 oktober 2026 · 28 min

   Afspelen
   Siptah, Tausret, Setnakht. Between 1205--1202 BCE, the royal house of Ramesses II crumbled into illegitimacy. After Siptah, the queen Tausret declared herself pharaoh. Her reign leaves tantalising traces. But shortly after, a man named Set-Nakht ("Seth is Victorious") seized the throne and inaugurated the 20th Dynasty. Subsequently, he and his successors declared the late 19th Dynasty a period of "empty years," lacking legitimacy, with no true ruler. Lees meer

   What went wrong?

   Logo image: The "charioteer ostracon," depicting a female ruler charging against a male, both firing arrows (Daressy 1909).
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5. 244: B(a)y Your Command

   22 september 2026 · 24 min

   Afspelen
   Siptah & Chancellor Bay. The last years of Dynasty 19 are murky, with hints of disorder and violence. At the centre of affairs, the courtier Bay directed policy and controlled access to King Siptah. Pharaoh himself was sickly, possibly disabled. The power-shift culminated in a rather dramatic break... Lees meer

   Music: Keith Zizza and Luke Chaos.

   Logo image: Siptah, from his tomb KV47 (Davis 1908).

   Bibliography

   Bierbrier, M. (2011). Bye-Bye Bay. In M. Collier & S. Snape (Eds.), Ramesside studies in honour of K. A. Kitchen (pp. 19–21). Rutherford.

   Černý, J. (1966). A note on the chancellor Bay. Zeitschrift Für Ägyptische Sprache Und Altertumskunde, 93, 35--39.

   Cooney, K. M. (2022). The New Kingdom of Egypt Under the Ramesside Dynasty. In D. T. Potts, N. Moeller, & K. Radner (Eds.), The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East, Volume III: From the Hyksos to the Late Second Millennium BC (pp. 251--366). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190687601.003.0027

   Dodson, A. (2011). Fade to grey: The chancellor Bay, Éminence Grise of the late Nineteenth Dynasty. In M. Collier & S. Snape (Eds.), Ramesside Studies in Honour of K. A. Kitchen (pp. 145--158). Rutherford.

   Dodson, A. (2016). Poisoned Legacy: The Decline and Fall of the Nineteenth Egyptian Dynasty (Revised edn). American University in Cairo Press.

   Dodson, A. (2025). Siptah’s leg and other stories. In A. F. Morris & H. Vogel (Eds.), Disability in ancient Egypt and Egyptology: All our yesterdays (pp. 214--220). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003440369-17

   Drenkhahn, R. (1980). Die Elephantine-Stele des Sethnacht und ihr historischer Hintergrund. Harrassowitz.

   Galassi, F. M., Habicht, M. E., & Rühli, F. J. (2017). Poliomyelitis in ancient Egypt? Neurological Sciences, 38, 375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2720-9

   Goedicke, H. (1979). “Irsu, The Kharu” in Papyrus Harris. Wiener Zeitschrift Für Die Kunde Des Morgenlandes, 71, 1--17. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23858901

   Grandet, P. (2000). L’execu…

6. 243: Kingmakers & Criminals

   14 september 2026 · 38 min

   Afspelen
   Tausret, Siptah, Bay, and the case of Paneb. By 1210 BCE, the southern rebellion was dying down, but trouble was far from over. The courtier Bay appears on the scene, first as an agent of Sety II, then as a "kingmaker" in his own right. Tausret increases her power, becoming a regent figure (like Hatshepsut). The young ruler Siptah, physically enfeebled and of uncertain heritage, provides a veil of legitimacy for a new triumvirate. Lees meer

   Meanwhile, in Deir el-Medina, the foremen/chiefs Hay and Paneb deal with serious allegations... [WARNING: Starting at 23:01, episode contains content that may not be suitable for all listeners]

   Logo image: Winged Ma'at in KV47, tomb of Siptah, by E. Harold Jones 1910 (MMA).

   Bibliography

   Aldred, C. (1963a). The Parentage of King Siptaḥ. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 49, 41–48. https://doi.org/10.2307/3855698

   Aldred, C. (1963b). Valley Tomb No. 56 at Thebes. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 49, 176–178. https://doi.org/10.2307/3855714

   Altenmüller, H. (1989). Untersuchungen zum Grab des Bai (KV13) im Tal der Könige von Theben. Göttinger Miszellen, 107, 43--54.

   Bartos, F. (2023). The Official Titles wb3 nswt ‘royal wb3’ and wdpw nswt ‘royal wdpw’ and the Function of their Holders in the New Kingdom.

   Beckerath, J. von. (1962). Queen Twosre as guardian of Siptaḥ. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 48, 70--74.

   Bierbrier, M. L. (2000). Paneb Rehabilitated? In R. J. Demarée & A. Egberts (Eds.), Deir el-Medina in the Third Millennium AD: A Tribute to Jac. J. Janssen (pp. 51--54).

   Černý, J. (1966). A note on the chancellor Bay. Zeitschrift Für Ägyptische Sprache Und Altertumskunde, 93, 35--39.

   Cooney, K. M. (2022). The New Kingdom of Egypt Under the Ramesside Dynasty. In D. T. Potts, N. Moeller, & K. Radner (Eds.), The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East, Volume III: From the Hyksos to the Late Second Millennium BC (pp. 251--366). https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190687601.003.0027

   Davies, B. G. (1997). Egyptian Historical In…

7. 242: The Year of Two Pharaohs (Sety II vs Amenmesse)

   7 september 2026 · 32 min

   Afspelen
   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. Records from this shadowy period hint at violence and corruption in Waset/Luxor, as the usurper took control and established a new regime. The impact of this conflict would have long-lasting ramifications for the 19th Dynasty... Lees meer

   Music: Luke Chaos.

   Logo: An unnamed statue head from Karnak, probably depicting Sety II or Amenmesse (Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain).

   Was Amenmesse the Viceroy Messuy?

   Below are scenes from Amada in Nubia, where Messuy carved scenes of himself before royal cartouches. Prof. Aidan Dodson suggests that the Viceroy has cobra/uraei on his forehead, though other scholars suggest this is mere weathering. What do you think?
   Photos (high-res) https://www.flickr.com/photos/184518985@N04/

   Bibliography

   Brand, P. J. (2009). Usurped Cartouches of Merenptah at Karnak and Luxor. In P. J. Brand & L. Cooper (Eds.), Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane (pp. 29–48). Brill. http://history.memphis.edu/murnane/Brand.pdf

   Caminos, R. A. (1974). The new-kingdom temples of Buhen. Egypt Exploration Society.

   Černý, J. (1929). Papyrus Salt 124 (Brit. Mus. 10055). The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 15(3/4), 243–258. https://doi.org/10.2307/3854120

   Cooney, K. M. (2022). The New Kingdom of Egypt Under the Ramesside Dynasty. In D. T. Potts, N. Moeller, & K. Radner (Eds.), The Oxford History of the Ancient Near East, Volume III: From the Hyksos to the Late Second Millennium BC (pp. 251--366). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190687601.003.0027

   Dodson, A. (2016). Poisoned Legacy: The Decline and Fall of the Nineteenth Egyptian Dynasty (Revised edn). American University in Cairo Press.

   Hopper, R. W. (2010). The Monuments of Amenmesse and Seti II: A Historical Inquiry [Unpublished PhD. Thesis]. The Univer…

8. The Egyptian Crusade with Dr. Thomas Smith

   31 augustus 2026 · 52 min

   Afspelen
   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 guest Dr. Thomas Smith explains the story and introduces his new book The Fifth Crusade: A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt. Lees meer

   The Fifth Crusade (2026) available from Yale University Press and all good retailers.

   Dr. Thomas Smith's website: https://thomaswsmith.co.uk/

   Music by Luke Chaos.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9. 241: Annihilation of the Wicked

   24 augustus 2026 · 31 min

   Afspelen
   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 in Nubia. Shortly after, there may have been some disruptions or reshuffling in the government. We also get a new religious text known as the "Book of Caverns." Finally, we follow Merneptah's passing and his legacy. Lees meer

   Video lecture about Merneptah's Memphite palace: Cahail, K. (2020, December 3). The Palace of Pharaoh Merenptah: Examining an Archaeological “Cold Case.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhDB98ZH2-k

   Extended version (49m) available on Patreon.

   Music: Keith Zizza, Luke Chaos.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10. 240: Merneptah vs the Sea Peoples (and Odysseus, and the Hittites)

    17 augustus 2026 · 38 min

    Afspelen
    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 were involved in these events. Merneptah mentions Sherden, Lukka, Tursha, Ekwesh, and Shekelesh. Who were these "Sea Peoples" and why were they coming to Egypt? Lees meer

    Music: Keith Zizza, Luke Chaos.

    We're on YouTube! Ancient history media @dominicperryae and the podcast (plus bonus lectures) @historyegyptpodcast

    Support the show and get bonus content at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast

    Transcript and references at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alle 377 afleveringen →