The History of Egypt

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 PayPal payments. Episode logo: A statue, presumed to be Ay, in the Staatliche Museum, Berlin. Image upscaled, cropped, and edited. Music: "War Song," by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com. Used with permission. Music: "King Tut's Song," by Jeffrey Goodman www.jeffreygoodmanmusic.com. Used with permission. Sistrum sound effect by Hathor Systrum www.hathorsystrum.com. Used with permission. Additional music interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos. Select Bibliography: T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (New Edition, New York, 2005). T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009). T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105. J. Fraser, ‘Kadesh-on-the-Orontes’, in C. M. Furey et al. (eds.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, 14 (2017), 1203—1205. H. Güterbock, ‘The Deeds of Suppiluliuma as Told by His Son, Mursili II’, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 10 (1956), 41–68, 75–98, 107–30. G. T. Martin, Tutankhamun’s Regent: Scenes and Texts from the Memphite Tomb of Horemheb (EES Excavation Memoir 111; London, 2016). J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93. S. N. Morschauser, ‘The End of the Sḏf(ȝ)-Tr(yt) “Oath”’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 25 (1988), 93–103. W. J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I at Karnak (Chicago, 1985). W. J. Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Atlanta, 1995). W. J. Murnane, ‘Imperial Egypt and the Limits of Her Power’, in R. Cohen and R. Westbrook (eds.), Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations (Baltimore, 2000), 101–11. W. J. Murnane, ‘Kadesh’, in D. B. Redford (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2001). D. B. Redford, Akhenaten: The Heretic King (Princeton, 1984). D. B. Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (Princeton, 1992). I. Singer, Hittite Prayers (Atlanta, Ga., 2002). J. A. Wilson, ‘Egyptian Historical Texts’, in J. B. Pritchard (ed.), Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement (1978), 227–64.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105. N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005). K. P. von Kuhlmann, ‘Des Felstempel des Eje bei Achmim’, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 35 (1979), 165—188. B. Lurson, ‘Ay, Neferti, Nakhtmin and Ameny: Politics and Rhetoric at the End of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde 146 (2019), 164–208. P. E. Newberry, ‘King Ay, the Successor of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 18 (1932), 50–2. O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977). O. J. Schaden, ‘Clearance of the Tomb of King Ay (WV-23)’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 21 (1984), 39–64. A. R. Schulman, ‘The Berlin “Trauerrelief” (No. 12411) and Some Officials of Tutʿankhamūn and Ay’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 4 (1965), 55–68. K. C. Seele, ‘King Ay and the Close of the Amarna Age’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 14 (1955), 168–80.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017). M. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998). M. Gabolde, ‘L’ADN de la famille royale amarnienne et les sources égyptiennes’, Égypte nilotique et méditerranéenne 6 (2013), 177–203. M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015). Z. Hawass et al., ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’, JAMA 303 (2010), 638–47. N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005). J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93. P. E. Newberry, ‘King Ay, the Successor of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 18 (1932), 50–2. N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings (London, 1996). J. Romer, Valley of the Kings (London, 1981). O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977). A. R. Schulman, ‘The Berlin “Trauerrelief” (No. 12411) and Some Officials of Tutʿankhamūn and Ay’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 4 (1965), 55–68. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009). T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105. T. R. Bryce, Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History (Oxford, 2014). A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017). M. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998). M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015). H. Güterbock, ‘The Deeds of Suppiluliuma as Told by His Son, Mursili II’, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 10 (1956), 41–68, 75–98, 107–30. H. A. Hoffner Jr., ‘Deeds of Šuppiluliuma (1.74)’, in W. W. Hallo and K. L. Younger (eds.), The Context of Scripture (Leiden, 2003), 185—192. N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005). J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93. M. Sadowska, ‘Semenkhkare and Zananza’, Göttinger Miszellen 175 (2000), 73—77. O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977). M. Van de Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC (West Sussex, 2016). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 donation via PayPal payments.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.keithzizza.net/ Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.  Select Bibliography: H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989). H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, III (2000 Reprint edn, London, 1933). H. Carter, The Tomb of Tutankhamen (Century edn, London, 1983). J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965). M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016). Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013). Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018). T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978). T. G. H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (Tauris 2001 edn, New York, 1992). N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990). N. Reeves and J. H. Taylor, Howard Carter Before Tutankhamun (London, 1992). The Griffith Institute, ‘Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation’, The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, 2010), 27—41. H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979). H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989). H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, 3vols, 1927 – 1933. J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965). A. Dodson, ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 87–96. A. Dodson, ‘Canopics’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 260—274. M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016). J. R. Harris, ‘Akhenaten and Neferneferuaten in the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn’, in N. Reeves (ed.), After Tutankhamūn: Research and Excavation in the Royal Necropolis at Thebes (London, 1992), 55—72. Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013). Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018). N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990). K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Ragtime," purchased from Pond5.com. Music Interlude at 00:48:05: "Tomb Song," by Nora Keyes, public domain via Freemusicarchive.com. Outro music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/. Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos. See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.  Select Bibliography: H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989). J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965). Cox, ‘The Death of Lord Carnarvon’, The Lancet 361 (2003), 1994. Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013). T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978). T. G. H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (Tauris 2001 edn, New York, 1992). M. R. Nelson, ‘The Mummy’s Curse: Historical Cohort Study’, BMJ 325 (2002), 1482. N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990). N. Strudwick, Texts From the Pyramid Age (Atlanta, 2005). E. Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt (New York, 2011). The Griffith Institute, ‘Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation’, The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, <http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/> accessed . H. V. F. Winstone, Howard Carter and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (London, 1991). Websites: Rarenewspapers.com, valuable source for old clippings; Newspapers.com, source of various reportsl; Historyembalmed.org, a valuable summary of Tutankhamun’s tomb, media reports, and the Curse narratives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices