Podcasts · History · Society & Culture

The History of Egypt Podcast

Dominic Perry

300 episodes

Ancient Egypt, from Creation to Cleopatra. This podcast tells the story of pharaonic Egypt "in their own words." Using archaeology, ancient texts, and up-to-date scholarship, we uncover the world of the Nile Valley and its people. Hosted on the Airwave Media Network.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Love Songs & Poems of the New Kingdom

    · 33 min

    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…

  2. Egyptology Today (with Ask Historians Podcast)

    · 1 h 06 min

    In 2025 I did an interview with the AskHistorians podcast, a reddit-based show where specialists discuss history and major questions about their fields. In this interview, we discuss the history of Egyptology, stories…

  3. 245: Revenge of the Seth (The 19th Dynasty Falls)

    · 28 min

    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…

  4. 244: B(a)y Your Command

    · 24 min

    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…

  5. 243: Kingmakers & Criminals

    · 38 min · Explicit

    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"…

  6. 242: The Year of Two Pharaohs (Sety II vs Amenmesse)

    · 32 min

    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…

  7. The Egyptian Crusade with Dr. Thomas Smith

    · 52 min

    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…

  8. 241: Annihilation of the Wicked

    · 31 min

    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…

  9. 240: Merneptah vs the Sea Peoples (and Odysseus, and the Hittites)

    · 38 min

    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…

  10. 239: A Pyramid of Corpses

    · 47 min

    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 their thousands, armed and ready to settle.…

  11. 238: Merneptah Seizes Canaan (feat. A Tribe Called Israel)

    · 35 min

    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 troops captured Ashkelon, Gezer, and Yenoam,…

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

    · 9:45

    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 threatening their work to digitise and preserve…

  13. 237: Drinking with Khonsu / The Dream Book

    · 26 min

    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 about drinking wine? Records from Deir…

  14. Was Pharaoh literally a god? Listener Questions 1

    · 52 min

    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 an ancient canal between the Nile and Red Sea?…

  15. Ramesses Eternal with Prof. Peter Brand

    · 19 min

    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: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh (2023). It covers…

  16. 236: Legends of Ramesses "the Great"

    · 31 min

    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 antiquity, and consider his legacy in the modern world.…

  17. 235: Ramesses the Great God

    · 31 min

    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 ascent to status of "living god," and the aftermath…

  18. 234: Destroying Amarna / Splitting Heirs

    · 28 min

    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 to the nearby town Hemenu (Hermopolis) for reuse…

  19. 233: Friendship in Dark Times (The Bronze Age Collapse Begins?)

    · 35 min

    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 son, seeking food supplies, may relate to…

  20. The 100 Children of Ramesses II with Prof. Peter Brand

    · 43 min

    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 these children, how we know about them (or…

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

    · 9:26

    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 quite safe, and the sites are ready to receive you.…

  22. 232: Real Housewives of Per-Ramesses (feat. Prof. Peter Brand)

    · 1 h 26 min

    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 already turned to other women to be his Queens.…

  23. 231: The Hittite Queen of Egypt

    · 45 min

    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 came to Egypt and took up the rank of King's…

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

    · 27 min

    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 meaningful level. With a blend of solo deep-dives…

  25. Khaemwaset Forever with Dr. Campbell Price

    · 57 min

    Campbell Price is Curator of Egypt & Sudan at Manchester Museum. Enthusiasts will know him from the books Ancient Egypt in 50 Discoveries and Golden Mummies of Egypt. Interpreting Identities from the Graeco-Roman…

  26. 230: Khaemwaset & the Book of Thoth

    · 35 min

    The prince Kha-em-Waset (lived c.1260 BCE) was a learned man, and an accomplished priest. Centuries after his death, storytellers remembered the prince as a sage and magician. They told tales of his adventures,…

  27. 229: The First Egyptologist? Khaemwaset & the Apis Bulls

    · 24 min

    In 1263 BCE, priests announced the death of the APIS BULL. Sacred to Ptah, the bull dwelled in the temple at Men-nefer (Memphis). Now, in year 30 of Ramesses II, the King's son KHA-EM-WASET would lead the funerary…

  28. 228: Three Funerals & a Sed Festival

    · 31 min

    Loss and rejuvenation. Ramesses third decade in power was a time of death. The King's Great Wife Nefertari passed around year 25. Almost simultaneously, his mother Tuya, his second wife Iset-Nofret, and his eldest son…

  29. 227: The One Where Iset Poisons Ra

    · 34 min

    What is the true name of god? Once upon a time, Ra ruled the earth directly. But the great goddess Iset/Isis desired to know his private name, the one hidden from all outsiders. A name that, if known, would grant the…

  30. 226: Nefertari's Tomb and Book of the Dead

    · 28 min

    The tomb of Queen Nefertari is one of the masterpieces of New Kingdom funerary monuments. The tomb is stunningly preserved, with an array of exquisite images, evocative texts (from the Book of the Dead), and traces of…

  31. 225: Nefertari, Queen of Egypt

    · 50 min

    The rise and reign of Nefertari (Nefret-Iry, "She Has Become Beautiful"). A girl of unknown origins (but some tantalising possibilites) who would rise to the rank of King's Chief/Great Wife. Nefertari is world-famous,…

  32. Dinosaurs of Egypt (2026 Revised Edition)

    · 31 min

    In the Cretaceous Period (c.100 million years ago) Egypt and North Africa were radically different environments. With vast tidal flats and mangroves, and a shallow sea, the continent fostered numerous animal and plant…

  33. The Grand Egyptian Museum is Open! Now what?

    · 17 min

    In this mini episode, I explain the history and significance of the new complex (why does Egypt need a billion-dollar museum?) and discuss what will happen to Cairo's other major institutions. We also have an episode…

  34. Egyptology News: The GEM is Open (and New Discoveries)

    · 20 min

    The winter 2025/26 excavation season is underway, and lots of news is coming forth already. Let's explore the major finds! Chapters: The GEM is open 00:30. Scans at Menkaura's pyramid: 04:12. Discovery at Tanis:…

  35. 224: Ozymandias (or, Shadow of the Colossus)

    · 37 min

    Divine intermediaries. Ramesses II commissioned many statues, some of which are among the largest ever quarried. From the halls of the Grand Egyptian Museum, to the bedrock of Aswan, we follow the King's development of…

  36. 223: Ramesses & Hattusili Best Friends Forever

    · 35 min

    Egyptian-Hittite Diplomacy. In the aftermath of the Treaty, Ramesses II and Hattusili III got down to business establishing their brotherhood. From prospective summits in Canaan, to fabulous gift-exchanges by Nefertari…

  37. Ramesses II War and Peace with Prof. Peter Brand

    · 52 min

    The ultimate pharaoh makes the ultimate agreement. In this interview, Prof. Peter Brand offers us his insights on the cultures of Egypt and Hatti around the time of the Year 21 Treaty. From the background details of…

  38. 222: Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? The Egyptian-Hittite Treaty

    · 36 min

    The Egyptian-Hittite Treaty. In regnal year 21 (c.1272 BCE), Ramesses II announced a treaty with Hattusili III. The two kings united in "peace and brotherhood, forever," and agreed to a raft of provisions regarding…

  39. 221: Ramesses II Raiders of Syria

    · 27 min

    The later wars of Ramesses II (Years 8 to 15). Following Kadesh, Ramesses led or despatched further campaigns into Canaan and Syria. These battles are documented on his temple walls, preserving some details of the…

  40. 220: Ramesses II Dead Sea to Galilee

    · 25 min

    Moves and counter-moves. In the aftermath of Kadesh, Muwattalli (King of Hatti) seems to consoldiated hold over Syria. Border territories like Amurru fell to Hittite influence. At home, Ramesses spent at least one year…

  41. 219: Abu Simbel, Ramesses' Great Temple

    · 46 min

    Holy mountain. Around 1286 BCE, builders started work at Abu Simbel. Sacred to a local form of Horus, this sandstone mountain would become one of the most famous monuments in the Nile Valley. It was called the “House…

  42. 218: Give Me Back My Donkey! and Other Tales

    · 30 min

    Daily Life in Ramessid Egypt (Part 1). Starting around 1300 BCE, the (surviving) corpus of written documents from Egypt begins to increase dramatically. It's not clear why, but papyrus and ostraca are far more abundant…

  43. 217: The Art of Kadesh

    · 1 h 14 min

    Our final part of the Kadesh story is Ramesses' art. Wall carvings, on major temples, present the pharaohs' summary of Kadesh and the conflict. They include many fun details, including enemy combatants, and comparing…

  44. Ancient Historical Fiction with Dr. Colleen Darnell

    · 1 h 02 min

    My guest today is Dr. Colleen Darnell, who will speak to us about New Kingdom literature (featuring rulers like Ramesses, Thutmose III, Seqenenra, and more). It’s a fun discussion, ranging from the calamitous death of…

  45. Kadesh, the 80's Rock Musical

    · 3:38

    Heavy Metal Hittites. This is a preview of my "rock musical" version of Kadesh. Full version available at patreon.com/c/egyptpodcast. Song produced by Hermanubis (aka Luke Chaos https://chaosmusick.bandcamp.com/).…

  46. 216:The Kadesh Poem

    · 36 min

    The war of the words. Following his strategic defeat at Kadesh, Ramesses set about putting his version of the story into wide circulation. Today, art and texts of this conflict survive at the temples of Abu Simbel,…

  47. Kadesh: What Was It Good For? with Prof. Peter Brand

    · 1 h 36 min

    Why is the Battle of Kadesh so famous, compared to other ancient conflicts? What can we take away from Ramesses' account in terms of "truth" vs "rhetoric." And what did it all up to, really? Prof. Peter Brand returns…

  48. 215: Ramesses II Battlefield Surgery

    · 46 min

    Who won? In the aftermath of battle, Ramesses and Muwattalli withdrew from Kadesh. We discuss the short- and long-term fallout and consider the "score card" for the respective armies. Then, we spend time with the…

  49. 214: The Battle of Kadesh, Ramesses II vs the Hittites

    · 2 h 04 min

    In June of 1287 BCE (approximately), one of antiquity’s great conflicts unfolded in southern Syria. Meeting near Kadesh (Qidsha), the armies of Egypt and Hatti fought each other in a spectacular engagement. The events…

  50. 213: Ramesses II Seven Nation Army

    · 50 min

    Ramesses, Muwattalli, and the Trojans(?). In June of 1287 BCE, the Great Kings of Hatti and Egypt were on the verge of a major confrontation. Ramesses, marching across Sinai and into Canaan, made careful preparations…

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