Livestream recording about the Abu Simbel Temples, with a particular focus on Nefertari's monument (Part 1) and the political-religious context of Ramesses' Nubian monuments (Part 2). We also have a fun epilogue about some Greek mercenaries...

Video versions available on the History of Egypt Podcast YouTube channel.

Part 1 (Nefertari) https://youtu.be/B5FLkAtPpdM

Part 2 (Religious/Political Context) https://youtu.be/D7ZTYFOtrA4

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In the Cretaceous Period (c.100 million years ago) Egypt and North Africa were radically different environments. With vast tidal flats and mangroves, and a shallow sea, the continent fostered numerous animal and plant species. Creatures like Paralititan (sauropods); the sprinting Deltadromeus; the infamous Spinosaurus; and the newcomer Tameryraptor. These have been preserved in the fossil record from Egypt and other countries in North Africa. Today, we meet some of the inhabitants of this ancient landscape…

Logo image: Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, by Paleogeeksquared, via Wikimedia.

Animals mentioned in this episode:

• Paralititan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralititan
• Deltadromeus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltadromeus
• Mawsonia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawsonia_(fish)
• Leptostomia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptostomia
• Spinosaurus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinosaurus
• Tameryraptor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tameryraptor

Select references:

Dal Sasso, C., Maganuco, S., & Iurino, D. (2014). Update on the internal structure of the snout of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. Second North African Vertebrate Palaeontology Congress, Ouarzazate.

Darwish, M. H., & Attia, Y. (2007). Plant impressions from the mangrove-dinosaur Unit of the Upper Cretaceous Bahariya Formation of Egypt. Taeckholmia, 27, 105--125.

Hone, D., & Holtz Jr, T. R. (2021). Evaluating the ecology of Spinosaurus: Shoreline generalist or aquatic pursuit specialist? Palaeontologia Electronica, 24(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.26879/1110

Hone, D., & Witton, M. P. (2025). Spinosaur Tales: The Biology and Ecology of the Spinosaurs.

Ibrahim, N., Sereno, P. C., Dal Sasso, C., Maganuco, S., Fabbri, M., Martill, D. M., Zouhri, S., Myhrvold, N., & Iurino, D. A. (2014). Semiaquatic adaptations in a giant predatory dinosaur. Science, 345(6204), 1613--1616. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1258750

Roach, J. (2001, May 31). “Tidal Giant” Roamed Coastal Swamps of Ancient Africa. National Geographic News. https://web.archive.org/web/20010605022420/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/0531_tidaldinosaur.html

Sereno, P. C., Myhrvold, N., Henderson, D. M., Fish, F. E., Vidal, D., Baumgart, S. L., Keillor, T. M., Formoso, K. K., & Conroy, L. L. (2022). Spinosaurus is not an aquatic dinosaur. eLife, 11, e80092. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.80092

Smith, J. B., Lamanna, M. C., Lacovara, K. J., Dodson, P., Smith, J. R., Poole, J. C., Giegengack, R., & Attia, Y. (2001). A Giant Sauropod Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Mangrove Deposit in Egypt. Science, 292(5522), 1704--1706. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1060561

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The New Kingdom "Book of Gates" explores Ra's journey through the Duat (Underworld). Passing the western horizon at sunset, Ra sails through the land of the dead. His journey is beset by dangerous creatures, and Ra himself experiences a kind of death at the darkest time of night. Fortunately, Heis not alone. Guided and assisted by friends, the lord of light journeys deep into the night. Hour by hour, he traverses the realm of Osiris, moving towards his own rebirth...

This is a compilation of previously released material (episodes 175 & 176).

First known appearance: KV57 the royal tomb of Horemheb (c.1305 BCE). 

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. 

Source: KV57, the tomb of Horemheb; KV17, tomb of Sety I, and others.

Music intro, interludes, and outro: Luke Chaos. Adapted from original compositions by Gorillaz, from the album "Demon Days." 

Modern Book of Gates Translations:

J. C. Darnell and C. Manassa Darnell, The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books (2018).

E. Hornung, The Egyptian Book of Gates, trans. T. Abt (2014).

DON'T use Budge. His version is over 100 years out-of-date on language and scholarly understanding of Egyptian religion.

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The winter 2025/26 excavation season is underway, and lots of news is coming forth already. Let's explore the major finds!

Chapters:

The GEM is open 00:30.

Scans at Menkaura's pyramid: 04:12.

Discovery at Tanis: 07:31.

Alexandria ship: 08:49.

Amarna Plague? 10:39.

Thera Tempest? 12:41.

Karnak Re-Dated: 14:43.

New Temple Discovery: 16:05.

Sources:

Menkaura pyramid scans: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096386952500012X

Tanis discovery: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/557221/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/-royal-ushabti-figurines-unearthed-in-Nile-Delta-T.aspx

Alexandria ship: https://www.franckgoddio.org/shipwreck-k1/⁠

Amarna plague: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/736705⁠

Thera Eruption and Tempest Stela: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0330702⁠

Karnak re-dated: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/conceptual-origins-and-geomorphic-evolution-of-the-temple-of-amunra-at-karnak-luxor-egypt/12B8A406D84C46F89CDDD7A3DCDF297D⁠

Niuserra Valley Temple: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/558520.aspx⁠

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A quick message to say thanks for listening in 2025, and what's coming up on the podcast...

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I recently did an interview with the Science Factory YouTube channel. This is a short preview of the conversation. Find the full video at the Science Factory on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K731D4bfMw and on their podcast

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Divine intermediaries. Ramesses II commissioned many statues, some of which are among the largest ever quarried. From the halls of the Grand Egyptian Museum, to the bedrock of Aswan, we follow the King's development of a remarkable project. Colossal statues of the king, bearing distinct names and even their own priests, provided Ramesses' subjects with new intercessors between their world and the gods...

Logo: The statue "Ramesses, Beloved of Ptah," from the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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Egyptian-Hittite Diplomacy. In the aftermath of the Treaty, Ramesses II and Hattusili III got down to business establishing their brotherhood. From prospective summits in Canaan, to fabulous gift-exchanges by Nefertari and a prince, the Egyptian and Hittite courts negotiated their new bonds. Alas, things weren't always rosy, and the issue of Urhi-Teshub caused great friction between the two Kings. Finally, we meet the man who shuttled back-and-forth between these kingdoms, delivering the goods: the Egyptian royal messenger Netjerwymes aka Pirikhnawa gets a look in...

Logo image: Hititte drinking vessel in the shape of a fist. Silver, 15th--13th Centuries BCE. Boston Museum of Fine Arts https://collections.mfa.org/objects/322343/drinking-vessel-in-the-shape-of-a-fist

Music: Luke Chaos.

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In November of 2026, I’d like to take you on a tour I’m calling “Roaming with Ramesses.” Themed around the 19th Dynasty, and the days of the Ramessid pharaohs, we’ll explore multiple sites across northern and southern Egypt. The tour is organised by my long-time collaborators, Ancient World Tours. They’ve been in the business for over 30 years, and every tour we’ve run has been a marvel of smooth sailing and general delights. So, we're in good hands.

Tour costs, details, and sign-up form at https://www.ancient.co.uk/holiday/roaming-with-ramesses/ Password ROAMING

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The ultimate pharaoh makes the ultimate agreement. In this interview, Prof. Peter Brand offers us his insights on the cultures of Egypt and Hatti around the time of the Year 21 Treaty. From the background details of diplomatic correspondence, to the larger context of empires at war, we deep-dive the history of this important treaty.

Learn more about Prof. Peter Brand's work at https://memphis.academia.edu/PeterBrand.

Find Prof. Brand's book Ramesses II, Egypt's UIltimate Pharaoh via Lockwood Press and all good retailers.

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The Egyptian-Hittite Treaty. In regnal year 21 (c.1272 BCE), Ramesses II announced a treaty with Hattusili III. The two kings united in "peace and brotherhood, forever," and agreed to a raft of provisions regarding their territories, vassals, rules-of-succession, and more.

As the first (surviving) treaty between the two Great Powers, the year 21 agreement is a landmark in the history of diplomacy. We explore the text and its impact...

Music: Luke Chaos.

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