230: Khaemwaset & the Book of Thoth
The prince KHA-EM-WASET (lived c.1260 BCE) was a learned man, and an accomplished priest. Centuries after his death, storytellers remembered the prince as a sage and magician. They told tales…
229: The First Egyptologist? Khaemwaset & the Apis Bulls
In 1263 BCE, priests announced the death of the APIS BULL. Sacred to Ptah, the bull dwelled in the temple at Men-nefer (Memphis). Now, in year 30 of Ramesses II,…
228: Three Funerals and a Sed Festival
Loss and rejuvenation. Ramesses II's third decade in power was a time of death. The King's Great Wife Nefertari passed around year 25. Almost simultaneously, his mother Tuya, his second…
227: The One Where Iset Poisons Ra
Story: Iset and the Secret Name of Ra. Once upon a time, Ra ruled the earth directly. But the great goddess Iset/Isis desired to know his private name, the one…
226: Nefertari’s Tomb & Book of the Dead
The tomb of Queen Nefertari is one of the masterpieces of New Kingdom funerary monuments. The tomb is stunningly preserved, with an array of exquisite images, evocative texts (from the…
225: Nefertari Beloved-of-Mut
Around 1300 BCE, King Sety I selected a group of "beauties" for his son, to marry and produce children. One of these was Nefertari (Nefret-Iry, "She Has Become Beautiful"). A…
Abu Simbel: Temple of Nefertari and Ramesses’ Nubian Empire
Sections from a Livestream in November 2025, about the Small Temple of Nefertari (dedicated to Nefertari and Hat-Hor of Ibshek) and the larger political-religious context of these monuments. Part 1:…
Posted inGeneral Topics Mini Episodes
Dinosaurs of Egypt (2026 Revised Version)
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…
Posted inNews & Updates
News from the Field (Winter 2025-2026, Part 1)
The winter 2025/26 excavation season is underway, and lots of news is coming forth already. Let's explore the major finds! https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MQnoGst2vYBuDby0G6nCV?si=5cc5a9d72e70478e Chapters: The GEM is open 00:30. Scans at Menkaura's…
224: Ozymandias (or, Shadow of the Colossus)
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…
