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25c: Apophis Strikes - The First Intermediate Period (Part 3)
Newly researched and updated in 2024.
Famine and resilience. Around 2060 BCE, the Overlord Ankhtyfy was riding high. Then, a crisis hit southern Egypt. Drought, food shortages, and starvation swept …
Published on 11 years, 8 months ago
Ankhtyfy's Autobiography (First Intermediate Period, Interlude)
The complete autobiography of Ankhtyfy (Ankhtifi) from his tomb at el-Mo'alla.
Sources:
J. Vandier, Mo’alla: La Tombe d’Ankhtifi et la tombe de Sébekhotep (1950). French translation of hieroglyphs. Lo…Published on 11 years, 8 months ago
25b: Operations of the Overlord - The First Intermediate Period (Part 2)
Newly researched and updated in 2024.
The rise of Ankhtyfy. In southern Egypt, a "Great Overlord" named Ankh-tyfy began to expand his power. From his home base at Nekhen (Hierakonpolis), he annexed n…
Published on 11 years, 8 months ago
25a: Nile Divided - The First Intermediate Period (Part 1)
Newly researched and updated in 2024.
By 2100 BCE, Egypt’s royal house was in trouble. A line of kings, known as the pr-Hty (“House of Khety”) claimed authority over the whole Nile Valley. But archae…
Published on 11 years, 8 months ago
Old Kingdom Warfare (2024 Edition)
Newly researched and updated. Before the fall (c.2600 - 2200 BCE). Early Egyptians were fierce and active warriors. Our evidence for the Old Kingdom “army,” however, is scattered and fragmentary. Sif…
Published on 11 years, 9 months ago
Story: The Vengeance of Nitocris
Don’t swim for at least 30 minutes after a banquet… Around 2150 BCE, so the story goes, the Queen-King Nitocris sought vengeance on those who had wronged her. This tale comes from Herodotos, and in 1…
Published on 11 years, 9 months ago
Mini: Rain Over The Pyramids (2024 Edition)
Updated with new research. Between 2500—2200 BCE, Egypt witnessed a period of surprisingly high rainfall. While the Old Kingdom was much wetter than today, archaeologists have found strong evidence f…
Published on 11 years, 9 months ago
Decline & Fall of the Old Kingdom (Part 2)
Why did it all go so wrong? We’ve explored the historical overview of Old Kingdom decline; but what was driving it? There are three major factors that caused this fall. Two originate in the climate, …
Published on 11 years, 9 months ago
Decline & Fall of the Old Kingdom (Part 1)
Why did the Old Kingdom disappear? Was it an overnight "collapse," or something more long term? In this episode, and the next, we explore the question in overview. This chapter focusses on the histor…
Published on 11 years, 9 months ago
Episode 23: Children of Pepy
A Long, Long Reign. King Pepy ruled more than sixty years, by some estimates. In his later years, this long reign was becoming an issue. The aging monarch was losing influence, and his children were …
Published on 11 years, 11 months ago