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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 2 of 6

  1. 212: Ramesses II The Arsenal of Pharaohcracy

    · 33 min

    Preparing for Kadesh. In 1287 BCE (late in his fifth regnal year) King Ramesses II departed Egypt on campaign. His target? The city of Kadesh / Qidsha in southern Syria. The Kadesh campaign is famous, as one of…

  2. Kadesh: The 200 Year Enemy with Prof. Peter Brand

    · 50 min

    Leading up to the Battle of Kadesh (c.1287 BCE) betwen Ramesses II of Egypt and Muwatalli II of Hatti, we need to understand the background. Why was this city the epicentre of such a major conflict? How did the rulers…

  3. Ancient Egyptian Curse / Swear Words

    · 15 min · Explicit

    We learn how to insult someone in ancient Egyptian, based on the surviving texts... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Ramesses' Wild West with Prof. Steven Snape

    · 1 h 08 min

    Heart of Darkness at Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham. Far from the Nile Valley, on Egypt’s northern coastline, Ramessid soldiers and civilians constructed a significant fortress to control the maritime roads. This remote…

  5. Not Safe for Water (Did Pharaohs Do THAT in the Nile?)

    · 15 min · Explicit

    Explicit content. There's a factoid floating around on the internet. It claims that, to ensure fertility and good harvest, pharaohs would ejaculate into the River Nile. Where did this idea originate? Which deities and…

  6. Hapi Days (or, Ramesses in DeNile)

    · 20 min

    Hapi was Egypt. The life-giving waters of the annual flood (inundation) were his work; and thanks to these waters, Egypt flourished, its people were fed, the gods received their offerings, and the social order was…

  7. Scent of a Mummy: Smells and Pleasure in ancient Egypt, with Dora Goldsmith

    · 41 min

    What did ancient Egyptians like to smell? Did they use any narcotics in their day to day lives? And what do mummified bodies smell like? Today, I'm pleased to welcome Dora Goldsmith to the podcast. Dora Goldsmith is a…

  8. 211: Ramesses II The First Campaign of Victory

    · 30 min

    Ramesses II defends his borders. In the early years of his reign, Ramesses focussed on home defence. His army established new forts at remote locations along the western Delta and Mediterranean Coast (Marmarica).…

  9. 210: Ramesses II The Eyes of Ra, The House of Life

    · 30 min

    Ramesses goes back to school. Luxor Temple is a magnificent monument, in a city full of them. The sanctuary you visit today is, in large part, the work of Ramesses' early reign. New pylons, colossal statues, obelisks,…

  10. 209: Ramesses II vs the Sea Peoples

    · 25 min

    Delta raiders. Decades before their famous migrations, the "Sea Peoples" were already active and visible in the eastern Mediterranean; and Ramesses II had his own dealings with these groups. In year 2 of his reign,…

  11. 208: Ramesses II The Oracle & The Sphinx

    · 29 min

    A death at Karnak, and a lion amongst men. In regnal year 1 (c.1292 BCE), Ramesses II was at Abdju / Abydos. While there, he appointed a new First Priest of Amun (Hem Netjer Tepy en Imen). He chose his candidate by…

  12. 207: Ramesses II Shadow of Two Fathers

    · 43 min

    Ramesses had a lot to plan for, in his first year of rule (c.1292 BCE). Staying in Waset / Luxor, the new pharaoh began building work on his tomb (KV7) and his memorial temple (The Ramesseum). Archaeological records…

  13. 206: Ramesses II Usir-Ma'at-Ra

    · 47 min

    In the annals of Egyptian history there is no one quite like Ramesses II. He is arguably the most famous, or infamous, of Egypt’s pharaohs. His reign would be long (67 years!) and his influence would be incalculable.…

  14. Introducing The Ancient World - Ages

    · 53 min

    Fellow podcaster Scott Chesworth, from The Ancient World has a new season. I’m excited to introduce “The Ancient World – Ages”, a series covering the Early Bronze Age Collapse (c. 2200 BC) and the remaking of Southwest…

  15. Scan Technology Reveals Hidden Chambers at Giza?

    · 10 min

    Approach with caution. In March 2025, a group calling itself the “Khafre Research Project” posted visual information online about the pyramid of Khafra at Giza. The group claims that Synthetic Aperture Radar (or SAR)…

  16. Egyptology News: Another Royal Tomb (at Abydos)!

    · 37 min

    News from the Field (2025) Part 2. The past excavation season has been extraordinarily productive. Beyond the new royal tomb of Thutmose II we also have a SECOND royal tomb, at Abydos! The Grand Egyptian Museum is…

  17. Thutmose III & Hatshepsut: The New Kingdom Defined with Prof. Aidan Dodson

    · 1 h 31 min

    The new royal tomb, and how two 18th Dynasty rulers defined the "New Kingdom" as we know it. Prof. Aidan Dodson is a dedicated and prolific scholar, whose research covers many facets of ancient Egyptian history (and…

  18. Egyptology News: The Tomb of Thutmose II Discovered, with Dr. Chris Naunton

    · 41 min

    News from the Field 2025, Part 1. In February 2025, the breaking news was the discovery of a royal tomb. An archaeological mission working in Luxor are confident they have located the grave of King Thutmose II. The…

  19. Cleopatra (All Seven of Them) with Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

    · 1 h 09 min

    Recorded May 2024. A name more famous than its owners. The Cleopatras of Egypt (all seven of them) were remarkably influential women and rulers. Frequently taking up power and responsibilities far beyond their more…

  20. Kara Cooney: Coffins of the Pharaohs

    · 1 h 47 min

    In 1881, a remarkable discovery took place in Luxor, Egypt. In the hills of Deir el-Bahari, a secret tomb held the reburied mummies of Egypt’s famous pharaohs. Figures like Sety I, Ramesses II, Thutmose III, and…

  21. Sety's Borrowed Coffin with Dr. Peter Lacovara

    · 12 min

    The coffin of Sety I (now in the NMEC) was probably reworked from an earlier piece, during the reburials in DB320 (the royal cache). But how can we tell? Dr. Peter Lacovara explains. Dr. Lacovara's website…

  22. Ramessid Biographies with Prof. Elizabeth Frood

    · 38 min

    Elizabeth Frood is Associate Professor of Egyptology and Director of the Griffith Institute at the University of Oxford, UK. In a lively discussion, Dr. Frood shares her insights into ancient lives and how people…

  23. 205: Sety I The Finest Tomb

    · 1 h 33 min

    Sety’s royal burial. Valley of the Kings tomb 17 (KV17) came to light in October 1817. Discovered by a team of Egyptian workers, employed by Giovanni Belzoni, the tomb is the most beautiful, and one of the largest, in…

  24. 204: Sety's Last Journey

    · 39 min

    After a reign of approximately eleven years, the Horus Men-Ma’at-Ra (Sety I) passed to the west. He died in reasonably good health, and studies of his mummy reveal a tall, physically robust individual. So, what killed…

  25. 203: Rise of a Vizier

    · 27 min

    Paser, servant of Sety I and Ramesses II (c.1300--1270 BCE). In the later years of his reign, King Sety promoted one of his servants to the highest political/government office. Paser, the Vizier, enters our story...…

  26. 202: A Valley of the Queens & The Womb of Hathor

    · 37 min

    The Place of Beauties (Ta-Set-Neferu). In the reigns of Ramesses I and Sety I (c.1304—1292 BCE), the Valley of the Queens finally earned its moniker. Having been a burial ground for royal children and courtiers, the…

  27. A Memory of Gods with Dr. Tamara Siuda

    · 1 h 35 min

    Understanding the deities requires us to move beyond inherited preconceptions and prejudices. Fortunately, there are many gods worthy of the effort. From the deified Sphinx Horemakhet, to the meme-lord Medjed, to the…

  28. 201: When Hathor Destroyed the World (The Book of the Sky Cow)

    · 52 min

    The Book of the Sky Cow. In the waning years of the 18th Dynasty (the reign of Tut’ankhamun) royal artisans began decorating tombs and funerary equipment with a new text. Sometimes known as “The Destruction of…

  29. Dendera: Temple of Time with José M. Barrera

    · 1 h 13 min

    Hathor's temple at Dendera is one of the best in Egypt. Constructed in the late 1st Millennium BCE (but with roots stretching back to the Old Kingdom), Hathor’s house preserves amazing art, hieroglyphs, and secrets. It…

  30. 200: Deir el Medina - How to Make Your Own Tomb

    · 1 h 30 min

    Livestream recording. The tombs of Deir el-Medina are some of the most vibrant and beautiful in Waset (Thebes). How did they build them, which artists decorated them, and how did folk like Sennedjem pay for the…

  31. 199: The Winter War

    · 36 min

    Sety’s final campaign. In winter of year 8 (approx. December 1296 BCE), the King of Egypt Sety I received news: rebellion in the south. In a land called Irem, now in modern Sudan, locals were resisting Egypt’s monarch.…

  32. 198: Village of the Tomb Builders (Deir el Medina in the Age of Sety I)

    · 44 min

    Around 1300 BCE, Deir el-Medina expanded significantly. As a result, our evidence for daily life, families, households, and business begins to proliferate. Historians can identify individuals from tombs and connect…

  33. 197: How to Make a Pharaoh's Tomb

    · 32 min

    Sety I in the Valley of the Kings (Part 1). Archaeological remains and ancient texts reveal a great deal about tomb-building in the 19th and 20th Dynasties (c.1303—1070 BCE). Records, artefacts, and art all combine to…

  34. 196: The Golden Path

    · 52 min

    The plan of an honest ruler. Around 1300 BCE, as today, gold was big business. King Sety I personally led an expedition into the eastern desert, to establish a new mining operation. Back in the Nile Valley,…

  35. 195: A Quest for Gold

    · 37 min

    Sety in the Desert. Around 1300 BCE, King Sety led an expedition into the Red Sea hills. His purpose? Gold. The King brought soldiers and charioteers out to mine precious metals for his treasuries. The journey was…

  36. 194: Ramesses, Prince of Egypt (feat. Prof. Peter Brand)

    · 1 h 10 min

    Ramesses Rising. Traditionally, Egyptian princes are almost invisible. The pharaohs downplayed the presence of their sons, to reduce political competition and maintain religious order. Sety I (c.1300 BCE) changed this…

  37. 193: Slaying the Bull of Seth (Ramesses’ First Rodeo)

    · 45 min

    In the Temple of Sety I at Abydos, an out-of-the-way corridor preserves a unique image. The King of Egypt, and his eldest son, wrangle and subdue a bull. This scene appears simple, at first glance. But it has a wealth…

  38. A Musical Book of the Dead (with Nemuer and Dr. Christian de Vartavan)

    · 1 h 04 min

    Remember “Going Forth by Day”? It’s back! In song form. Many creative projects have explored themes around the Egyptian underworld. But in 2023, the Czech band Nemuer has taken a novel approach. Their album, Book of…

  39. 192b: The Lore of Seth, Disruptor God

    · 1 h 19 min

    Warrior, protector, murderer. By 1300 BCE, the Egyptian god Seth had become a complex and multi-faceted deity. Chaotic and destructive, but not "evil," Seth played an important role in the gods' realm and our own. This…

  40. 192: The Trouble With Seth

    · 41 min

    Identity crisis. Seth (aka Sutekh / Setekh / Suty) is a complicated deity. A master of storms, winds, deserts and seas, Seth dominates foreigners and the world outside Egypt. However, he is also treacherous, violent,…

  41. Egyptology News: The Sword of Ramesses

    · 20 min

    Blade of Frontiers (not Wyll). In September 2024, the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities announced new discoveries including a sword inscribed with the names of Ramesses II, King of Egypt. In this episode, we discuss…

  42. Egyptology News: A New Royal Tomb?

    · 52 min

    A new year dawns, and it’s time to look back. Egyptology and archaeology had a great year in 2023, with numerous major discoveries, studies, and conservation projects reaching fruition. Here is a sample selection of…

  43. Napoleon in Egypt (with Grey History Podcast)

    · 1 h 46 min

    In 1798, an army of soldiers and scientists invaded Egypt. At their head, the young general Napoleon Bonaparte. The French Expedition had an enormous impact on Egypt's political history, and Egyptology as a field of…

  44. Total War Pharaoh - History & Leader Guide

    · 3 h 08 min

    I've wanted a game like Total War: Pharaoh since childhood. Now it's here! Thanks to Creative Assembly, I've had the opportunity to explore the game and prepare some introductions to the history and major leaders. This…

  45. 191: Sety I, Libya Minus One

    · 55 min

    How the west was won. Around 1298 BCE, King Sety I (Men-ma’at-Ra) attacked the peoples of modern-day Libya and, in a supposedly swift victory, took many captives back to Egypt. The relationship between Libyans and…

  46. 190: Omm Sety, Guardian of Abydos

    · 1 h 37 min

    Dorothy Eady, Bulbul Abd el-Meguid, Omm Sety… A woman of three names, multiple lives, and a lifelong devotion to Egyptology. From the 1950s to 1981, Omm Sety was a resident of Abydos, and a regular worshipper at the…

  47. 189: Sety I, Honouring the Ancestors

    · 50 min

    Sety at Abydos (Part 4). Finishing our tour of Sety’s Great Temple at Abydos, we explore a few more sanctuaries and facilities. Then, we discuss the monument overall. Sety invested huge resources into his building…

  48. 188: The Osireion of Sety I

    · 2 h 35 min

    Sety at Abydos (Part 3). The Osireion is an intriguing monument, one that attracts a huge amount of debate, discussion, and speculation. Its discovery was unexpected, its excavation was an enormous undertaking, and…

  49. 187: The Abydos King List

    · 46 min

    Sety in Abydos (Part 2). Having toured the first part of Sety’s Temple at Abydos, we continue our exploration. Today, we discuss one of the monument’s most famous features: a King List, presenting a (supposedly)…

  50. 186: Egypt's Best Temple? Sety I in Abydos

    · 53 min

    Part 1. In the ancient city and necropolis of Abydos (Egyptian Abdju), pharaoh Sety I commissioned a magnificent temple. Today, this monument is one of the finest in the country, a highlight of any trip. Sety’s work is…

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