The History Of Egypt Podcast

Inheritance and vengeance. King Ay had his own plans for the succession. He promoted his relative, Nakht-Min, to great power and prominence. But when Ay died, Nakhtmin found himself at odds with Egypt's mighty general, Horemheb. What would happen, to the feuding leaders? Episode details: Date: c.1330 BCE (approximate). Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music: Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Music interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos. Select Bibliography: A. Dodson, ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 87–96. A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017). M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015). N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005). N. Kawai, ‘Ay

Check out Casting Through Ancient Greece, a chronological deep dive on the world of the Aegean. From the earliest ages, through epic tales and archaeological discovery, Casting Greece takes you on a wonderful journey. Enjoy this teaser trailer, from a recent episode. And learn more at https://castingthroughancientgreece.com/ and https://twitter.com/CastingGreece Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

King Ay suffered badly in the afterlife. His funeral, in 1331 BCE, was poor; and a few decades/centuries later, vandals broke into his tomb. They ransacked the monument, attacked the King's images, and erased his names. The attack was brutal but methodical. Why did this happen? Episode Details Date c.1331 BCE and a few decades / centuries later. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: Erasures on the wrists of Nut, Lady of the Sky, as she offers nyny (welcome) to King Ay. Photo by Dominic Perry, 2022. Photos: See photos of the tomb of Ay (KV23) by Dominic Perry, available on Google Drive. Music: “The Mummy’s Tomb,” by Tabletop Audio. Used with permission. Music: Sistrum sound effect by Hathor Systrum www.hathorsystrum.com. Used with permission. Music: Interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.   Select Bibliography: B. G. Davies, Egyptian Historical Records of the La

When Ay Died. The elderly pharaoh, Kheper-kheperu-Ra Ay, probably died in his fourth or fifth year of power (c. 1331 / 1330 BCE). Officially, his reign was short. But in the big picture, Ay's influence lasted decades. As a courtier, under Akhenaten and Tutankhamun, Ay participated in government and royal affairs for many years. This means we have abundant records for the man and his career, and Ay contributed to Egyptian history in some noteworthy ways. In this episode, we explore the final years of Ay's reign, and consider his legacy as a pharaoh of ancient Egypt... Episode details: Date: c.1331 / 1330 BCE. Kings: Kheper-kheperu-Ra Ay, “Doer of Ma’at” and “True Ruler.” Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: The sarcophagus of Ay, artist’s reconstruction. Prisse D'Avennes, 1878. See photos of Ay’s tomb (WV23) by Kairoinfo4u on Flickr.com. See Ay’s tomb (WV23) by Curtis Ryan Woodside

Pharaoh's Nephew. A small statue, in the Brooklyn museum, tells a tale. Of a King's nephew (by marriage), and the paths to lucrative work and influence in Egyptian society. A young man, also named Ay, worked as a priest for Mut (the Mother Goddess) and Amun (the Hidden One). Along the way, this young man probably gained wealth and position. His tale gives us an opportunity to explore the "system" by which prominent families jostled for position, and promoted their sons... Episode details: Date: c.1331 BCE. King: Kheper-kheperu-Ra, the God's Father Ay. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: The statue of Ay, priest, in the Brooklyn Museum. Music: "Splendors of Egypt," by Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com  Additional music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos and Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Select Bibliography: B. V. Bothmer, ‘Private Sculpture of Dyna

Building Legacies. It is easy to overlook Ay, as a minor figure in the history of ancient Egypt. However, when we step back, and view his entire career (including pre-royal achievements), we can see things more clearly. As pharaoh, Ay continued many projects started under Tutankhamun. But since Ay had been a major advisor / courtier for that king, we can recognise these projects as part of a larger, longer trend. After the death of Akhenaten, the royal household radically reshaped many of its priorities. Since he first appeared on the scene, Ay was at the heart of those decisions… Episode details: Date: c.1331 BCE. Kings: Kheper-kheperu-Ra Ay, “Who Repels the ‘Asiatics.’” Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Episode logo: A colossal statue in Cairo Museum. Often attributed to Tutankhamun but excavated from the Memorial Temple of Ay. Music: “Lament of Isis and Nephythys on the Death of Osiris,”

Horemheb and Hatti. In the days of King Ay (and Tutankhamun before him) conflicts in Canaan and Syria remained a constant issue. In recent years, scholars have uncovered more information about these events and people. Horemheb, the Overseer of the Overseers of the Troops (aka the General of Generals) seems to have dealt, and fought, with Hittite forces. The records are fragmentary, but the clues are intriguing... Episode details: Date: c.1334 BCE (debated). Kings: Tutankhamun and Ay (debated). Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Episode logo: Foreigners praising the cartouche of Ay, from a piece of gold foil discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Image edited for clarity. Music: Ancient rendition of "The Eve of the War," adapted by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos. Music: "War Song of Horus and Sekhmet," by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com. Additional music interludes by

Keeping up with the Kadeshians. In the past, historians thought the Egyptian government was passive (or even "pacifist") in the days of Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, and Ay. However, newer research has proved this wrong. We now have a fragmentary, but fascinating picture of warfare and diplomacy, taking place through Canaan and Syria. The town of Kadesh, on the Orontes River, is prominent. Once a vassal to pharaoh, the city suffered an attack by Hittite forces. It then changed sides, paying tribute to Suppiluliuma, King of the Land of Hatti. In the later years of Tutankhamun, or the early reign of Ay, the Egyptians responded to Kadesh's treachery... Episode details: Date: c.1334 BCE (debated). Kings: Tutankhamun and Ay (debated). Battle scene of Tutankhamun: learn more in a free lecture by W. Raymond Johnson (YouTube). Battle reliefs discussion begins at 51:29. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPa

The servant ascends. Considering his background, it's not surprising that King Ay turned out to be quite "conservative." His early deeds continued the policies of Tutankhamun (a regime in which Ay had actively participated). The new pharaoh completed one of Tutankhamun's temples (the Ḥwt-Neb-kheperu-Ra in Waset/Thebes), and evoked Tutankhamun in his art. Ay also started his own monuments, at Akhmim / Akhmin (Khent-Menu). There, colossal statues and sanctuaries for Min would convey pharaoh's agenda... Date: c. 1334 BCE. King: Kheper-Kheperu-Ra, It-Netjer Ay ("Ra is Supreme of Manifestations, the God's Father Ay"). Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/. Music interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos. Select Bibliography: A. Ashmawy, ‘The Administration of Horse Stables in Ancient Egypt’, Egypt and the Levant 24 (2014), 121—139. T. R.

A difficult decision. Events in this period are murky. But if Ankhesenamun was the "Daḫamunzu" of Hittite record, then her attempt to find a new husband (of royal blood) had failed. So, she would have to accept a "servant." Whom would she choose? Episode Details: Chapter 2 begins 00:24:10 Date: c. 1334 BCE (debated). King: none (hopefully just temporary). Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/. Music: Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/. Music interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos. Music at 25:10, "Shine for the Show," via Pond5 (licensed). Misc audio clips via YouTube users Sound Effects King and Saraschan Stienwongnusa.   Select Bibliography: T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105. A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Hore

He said, she said. Around 1334 BCE (give or take), the King of Hatti received a curious message. While on campaign, King Suppiluliuma got word that Egypt's pharaoh (someone called "Nib-ḫuru-riya") had died. He had no son, and Egypt's ruling lady (daḫamunzu, or tA-ḥmt-nsw, the "King's Great Wife") needed assistance. The Queen sent a message: would Suppiluliuma help her, and Egypt? Strange events were about to unfold... Date: c. 1334 BCE (debated). King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun (debated) deceased King: Suppiluliuma, Great King of the Land of Hatti Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/ Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/ Sound interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos   Select Bibliography: T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (New Edition edn, New York, 2005). T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and P

Face-to-face with the legends. Christina Riggs is a Professor (History of Visual Culture) at Durham University. In 2021, her book Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century took a broader view of the tomb and its discovery than most books on the subject. Her discussion helps us review and revisit older myths or assumptions, and encourage new perspectives on Egyptology's most famous discovery. Prof. Christina Riggs at Durham University. Christina Riggs at Academia.edu. Christina Riggs' website including her blog and the article "Waterboys and Wishful Thinking." Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An enigmatic icon. Dr. Joyce Tyldesley returns for her second interview with The History of Egypt Podcast! We spoke about her recent book Tutankhamun: Pharaoh. Icon. Enigma. and the legacy of the discovery, including aspects of its excavation and significance. We also got into some random topics including Philomena Cunk, Scandinavian Noir shows, and Strictly Come Dancing. Enjoy! Dr. Joyce Tyldesley at The University of Manchester. Dr. Tyldesley's 2022 book Tutankhamun: Pharaoh. Icon. Enigma. at Headline Publishing.\ Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded 2022. Tutankhamun, Mummies, and Murder, oh my! I sat down with Dr. Bob Brier to discuss the Tomb of Tutankhamun, and the legacy of this important discovery. We also chatted about Dr. Brier's work in Egyptology, including his experiment in mummifying a human for scientific research. Finally, we touched on some older works including his "Murder of Tutankhamun" hypothesis and the Great Pyramid's construction (including the "internal ramp" hypothesis of Jean-Pierre Houdin). My thanks to Dr. Brier for coming on the show, and for allowing me to release the video version! Extra special thanks to Pat Remler for organising the conversation! Preorder Dr. Brier's book Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World from Oxford University Press. Read a report on Carter's thefts at The Guardian. Find Dr. Brier's hierogylphs lessons (and others) at The Great Courses. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donatio

The Annexe and End of Excavation. Howard Carter uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in November 1922. He would continue labouring in the monument until 1927, and the final conservation of objects would finish in 1932. Over these ten years of work, Carter tackled many challenges, some of which proved insurmountable. In the end, his labour, and the story of Tutankhamun's burial, stand as a testament to human effort and long legacies. Episode Chapters: Chapter 15: The Scouring of the Tomb 00:00:15 Chapter 16: The End of Excavations 00:31:50 Series Conclusion: 00:52:30 Episode Links: For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website. Date: 1922 CE - 1932 CE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: A ceremonial shield belonging to the King. Wikimedia. Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizz

Treasured Heirlooms. East of the Burial Chamber, in Tutankhamun's tomb, the per hedj ("Treasury") contained a smorgasbord of beautiful objects. Some of these were sacred, like the canopic vessels for Tutankhamun's organs. Others were symbolic, connecting the pharaoh with great gods like Osiris. And still others were curious, including some "heirlooms" from earlier rulers and generations...  Episode Chapters: Chapter 13: Anubis and the King 00:00:13 Chapter 14: The Heirlooms of Akhenaten 00:24:30 Episode Links: 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 www.keithzizza.net  Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos. See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.   Select Bibliography: J. P. Allen, ‘The Original Owner of Tutankhamun’s Canopic Coffins’, in Z. Hawass and J. H. Wegner (eds.), Millions of Jubilees: Studies in Honor of David P. Silverman (Cairo

Curses and Controversies. From the moment they announced their discovery, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon were faced with overwhelming attention. How they responded, and how they chose to approach the excavation, would have a major impact on public perception of the tomb. And, when events took a tragic turn, the media were happy to capitalise on the issue... Episode Chapters: Chapter 10: The Choices of Lord Carnarvon 00:05:10. Chapter 11: Journey to the Crossroads 00:25:30 Chapter 12: Of Bricks and Lost Portraits 00:48:48 Episode Links: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. The "curse" brick, with text from Book of the Dead, Chapter 151: http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/carter/263.html Music Opening: "She Gypped Egypt on the Nile," midi rendition by SheetMusicSinger.com. Used with permission (audio editing: added vinyl crackling sound effects). Music Interlude at 00:24:34: "Vintage Ragtim

Coffins, Masks, and a Mummy. Within his Burial Chamber, Tutankhamun slept amid gold, glass, wood, and precious stone. His mummy is an extraordinary find, covered with ornaments, amulets, ceremonial clothing, and even weapons. From the famous image of his mummy mask, to a dagger made of "sky rock," the King's body reveals many tantalising stories... Episode Chapters: Eight: In the House of Tutankhamun 00:00:10 Nine: The Face of the Pharaoh 00:31:15 Epilogue: A Curious Dagger 01:02:35 Episode details: Date: c. 1922 CE King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: Tutankhamun and the Royal Ka before Osiris. FactumArte. Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/ Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/ Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/ Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos Audio mixing/e

Shrines and Painting. Tutankhamun's Burial Chamber is a beautiful space. The decorations, though "simple," convey a meaningful series of events. The King's ascent to the sky, his entry to Osiris' kingdom, and his meeting with various gods, forms a beautiful journey in the afterlife. Also, the King's shrines (wood and gold) are decorated with complex and fascinating texts. In these chapters, we explore the first set of Tutankhamun's burial equipment... Episode Chapters Chapter 6: The King of the Golden Hall Chapter 7: The Portraits in the West Episode Links Alexandre Piankoff, The Shrines of Tut-Ankh-Amon (1995) on Archive.org. For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website. Date: 1922 CE. Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: Tutankhamun and the Royal Ka before Osiris. FactumArte. Music

Seek and Discover. In this episode, we begin the tale of the most famous tomb in history. KV62, a small monument, in the lower reaches of the Valley of the Kings. Overlooked for three thousand years, the tomb finally emerged thanks to a persistent excavator and a stroke of good fortune. However, the Tomb of Tutankhamun has built up its own mythology. In this episode, we begin to explore the tomb, and its discovery, including some lesser-known questions...  Episode Chapters Chapter 1: A Long-Expected Pharaoh 04:15 Chapter 2: The Stairway to the Past 27:36 Chapter 3: The Door Goes West 46:51 Chapter 4: Candles in the Dark 1:08:40 Chapter 5: The Antechamber Unmasked 1:22:52 Conclusion: 1:38:55 Episode Links Howard Carter and George Herbert (Lord Carnarvon), Five Years' Exploration at Thebes: A Record of Work Done 1907-1911 by The Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, 1912. Available at Project Gutenberg and Archive.org. Christina Riggs, "Waterboys and Wishful Thinking," https://photographing-tutankhamu