The History of Egypt Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Hello everyone, it’s that time again! In March of 2026, we’re offering a new itinerary in the Nile Valley. This one is called the New Kingdom Cruise. It lasts for ten days, with a special focus on the south, the monuments of Elephantine (Aswan) and Lake Nasser. We ride a cruise boat, organised by Ancient World Tours, and visit monuments of Thutmose III, Sety I, Ramesses II, and even the Roman Emperors. For bookings follow this link and use the password KALABSHA https://www.ancient.co.uk/holiday/history-of-egypt-podcast-2026-the-nubian-cruise/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramesses II defends his borders. In the early years of his reign, Ramesses focussed on home defence. His army established new forts at remote locations along the western Delta and Mediterranean Coast (Marmarica). Traces of this work can be found at famous locations like el-Alamein, Mersa Matruh, and Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham, the latter of which has been the object of detailed excavation in recent decades. Apparently, Ramesses was fortifying his frontiers, guarding the western approaches to Egypt. Soon after, the pharaoh went forth on campaign. His target? The cities of Canaan and Amurru, in modern-day Lebanon. Along the way, he left inscriptions at Nahr el-Kalb, which started a surprisingly long-lived tradition... Music: "War" by Ancient Lyric (commissioned by The History of Egypt Podcast). Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU. We have merch! Browse our designs at Dashery by TeePublic https://egyptpodcast.dashery.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sety’s royal burial. Valley of the Kings tomb 17 (KV17) came to light in October 1817. Discovered by a team of Egyptian workers, employed by Giovanni Belzoni, the tomb is the most beautiful, and one of the largest, in the entire Valley. == Learn more about KV17: 3D Tour by Mused: https://mused.com/tours/926/tomb-of-seti-i-valley-of-the-kings/ Theban Mapping Project https://thebanmappingproject.com/tombs/kv-17-sety-i Photos: Kairoinfo4u via https://www.flickr.com/photos/manna4u/albums/72157687439529835/ KV17 at Wikimedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:KV17 == The History of Egypt Podcast: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BHC6MGDBC6SXU We have merch! Browse our designs at Dashery by TeePublic https://egyptpodcast.dashery.com/ 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, 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

Coffins, Masks, and a Mummy. Within his Burial Chamber, Tutankhamun slept amid gold, glass, wood, and precious stone. His mummy is an extraordinary find, covered with ornaments, amulets, ceremonial clothing, and even weapons. From the famous image of his mummy mask, to a dagger made of "sky rock," the King's body reveals many tantalising stories... Episode Chapters: Eight: In the House of Tutankhamun 00:00:10 Nine: The Face of the Pharaoh 00:31:15 Epilogue: A Curious Dagger 01:02:35 Episode details: Date: c. 1922 CE King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: Tutankhamun and the Royal Ka before Osiris. FactumArte. Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/ Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/ Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/ Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network Nicholas Reeves' discussions of the Mummy mask, and its possible ownership. Article 1, 2015, and Article 2, 2015. For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website. Select Bibliography: 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, II (London, 1927). D. Comelli et al., ‘The Meteoritic Origin of Tutankhamun’s Iron Dagger Blade’, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 51 (2016), 1301–9. M. Eaton-Krauss, The Sarcophagus in the Tomb of Tutankhamun (Oxford, 1993). M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016). K. El Mallakh and A. C. Brackman, The Gold of Tutankhamen (First English Language edn, New York, 1978). O. Goelet Jr. et al., The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth By Day (Revised edn, San Francisco, 2015). 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). N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990). N. Reeves, ‘The Gold Mask of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten’, Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 7 (2015), 77–9. N. Reeves, ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’, Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015), 511–26. A. Silotti, Guide to the Valley of the Kings and to the Theban Necropolises and Temples (Vercelli, 2000). 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. H. V. F. Winstone, Howard Carter and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (London, 1991). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices