Podcast Episodes

Update: Autocrat interview and Vintage Egyptologist online classes

Howdy folks. In lieu of a narrative episode this week (while I recover from the quadruple-length Battle of Kadesh), I wanted to alert you to an interview I did for the Autocrat podcast (available on …

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

214: Ramesses II The Battle of Kadesh

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 enga…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

213: Ramesses II Seven Nation Army

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 car…

Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago

212: Ramesses II The Arsenal of Pharaohcracy

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…

Published on 3 months ago

Kadesh: The 200 Year Enemy with Prof. Peter Brand

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? …

Published on 3 months, 1 week ago

Ancient Egyptian Curse / Swear Words

We learn how to insult someone in ancient Egyptian, based on the surviving texts...

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Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Ramesses' Wild West with Prof. Steven Snape

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. …

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

NSFW Not Safe for Water (Did Pharaohs Masturbate into the Nile?)

Explicit content. There's a factoid floating around on the internet. It claims that, to ensure fertility and good harvest, pharaohs would annually masturbate into the River Nile. This claim is total …

Published on 4 months ago

Hapi Days (or, Ramesses in DeNile)

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 so…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago

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

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.

D…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago