
Podcast

Interlude: Dance the Magic Dance! Egyptians had many festivals, and they celebrated these with great energy. Whether it was dancing for a wealthy hostess, or leaping over charging…

Warfare Along the Nile. Around 1550 BCE, King Ahmose I reunified Egypt and expelled the Hyksos lords. Historically, the Second Intermediate Period ends and the New Kingdom begins.…

In 1560 BCE, Seqenenre Tao / Ta'a was dead. Killed in battle, the king's body lay on the field, beaten and bloody. Now, the task of ruling the southern kingdom fell to his wife Ahh…

Around 1560 BCE the King of Southern Egypt, Seqen-en-re Ta’a died. His end was violent and bloody. The king was a victim of (anonymous) foes, who tied him up and executed him. The…

Around 1560 BCE the Hyksos were supreme. Along with their allies (the Nubians of Kerma), the Hyksos dominated half of the country. Down in the southern regions, the kings of Dynast…

Second Intermediate Period (Part 2). How did the Hyksos take power? Around 1650 BCE, the 13th Dynasty crumbled away. Foreigners moving into Egypt over previous centuries now consol…

The Second Intermediate Period (Part 1). Around 1700 BCE, different regions of Egypt began to separate. Following a slow decay, a catastrophic famine and plague, and erosion of roy…

Dynasty 13: Invisible Kings. From 1770 to 1700, the 13th Dynasty produced a vast number of kings, but we know almost nothing about them, for reasons that remain challenging to unde…

A Woman King. Around 1776 BCE, the 12th Dynasty was dwindled away. Before it vanished, it produced one last remarkable figure. Neferu-Sobek (or Sobek-Neferu) was Egypt's first reco…

Foreign Settlements. King Amenemhat IV came to power around 1798 BCE. His reign was unremarkable, but big things were happening around Egypt. In this episode, we explore the growin…

King Amen-em-hat III (aka Ny-ma'at-Re) was the last "great" ruler of Dynasty 12. Over forty-six years in power, he would achieve significant things for his royal household. Unfortu…

Senuseret III (Part 5). Family matters. Around 1845 BCE, the Heka-nakht Papyri tell us of daily life and business in Middle Kingdom Egypt. Also, King Senuseret III reaches the end…

Kha-kau-re Senuseret III (Part 4): Decimations. Around 1864 BCE, King Senuseret III launched a new campaign into Nubia. Along the way, he built new fortresses and took many captive…

Kha-kau-re Senuseret III (Part 3): The Coffin Texts. Around 1867 BCE, the nobles were taking a greater share in the economy than ever before. This "flowering" of elite culture prod…

A Story of the Sea. Sometime during the Twelfth Dynasty, a folk-tale was composed (or became popular) that would echo through the ages as one of Egypt’s most enduring tales... Webs…

Society and Death. Around 1872 BCE, King Senuseret III (Kha-Kau-Re) was powerful and secure. The wealthy nobles of the kingdom began to respond to this power... Date c. 1880 - 1870…

Senuseret III (Part 1): A Secret Tomb. Around 1880 BCE, one of Egypt's most successful rulers took the throne. Sen-Useret III was a mighty and influential King, who would enjoy a l…

The Lake Pyramid. Around 1892 BCE, a new ruler came to power. His name was Senuseret II, and while he did not rule long, this king had a big impact on his dynasty... Date c. 1890 B…

Interlude: How the Egyptians Celebrated. From beer halls to temples to cemeteries, this episode explores Egyptian revelry. We focus on two major festivals: the raucous celebrations…

Amenemhat II (Part 2): Fabulous Wealth. From 1927 – 1910 BCE, Nub-Kau-Re Amenemhat II launches expeditions to lands outside Egypt. Trade missions to and from the Levant bring wealt…
