219: Abu Simbel, Ramesses’ Great Temple
Around 1286 BCE, builders started work at Abu Simbel. Sacred to a local form of Horus, this sandstone mountain would become one of the most famous monuments in the Nile…
218: Give Me Back my Donkey! and Other Tales
Daily Life in Ramessid Egypt, Part 1. Starting around 1300 BCE, the (surviving) corpus of written documents from Egypt begins to increase dramatically. It's not clear why, but papyrus and…
217: The Art of Kadesh
Livestream recording. Exploring Kadesh through visual storytelling. In this episode, we discuss the temple art, commissioned by Ramesses, to record the conflict in Syria. There are many vibrant details amid…
Posted in1292 BCE - 1226 BCE: Ramesses II New Kingdom, Part 4 (160 – 200) New Kingdom, Part 5 (206 - 250)
Kadesh: What Was it Good For? with Prof. Peter Brand
Why is the Battle of Kadesh so famous, compared to other ancient conflicts? What did it really change in the strategic situation? Why is the Battle of Kadesh so famous,…
216b: Kadesh, the Rock Musical! (Preview)
Heavy metal Hittites. An alternate version of "Kadesh, the Musical" done in a modern metal/rock style. Music by Luke Chaos https://chaosmusick.bandcamp.com/ Full version available to paid subscribers on my Patreon…
216: Kadesh, the Musical!
Tale of a "warrior hero." Following his strategic defeat at Kadesh, Ramesses set about putting his version of the story into wide circulation. Today, art and texts of this conflict…
215: Taking Hands, Healing Wounds
Who won? In the aftermath of battle, Ramesses and Muwattalli withdrew from Kadesh. We discuss the short- and long-term fallout and consider the "score card" for the respective armies. Then,…
214: The Battle of Kadesh
Ramesses vs Muwattalli. Listen on In June of 1287 BCE (approximately), one of antiquity’s great conflicts unfolded in southern Syria. Meeting near Kadesh (Qidsha), the armies of Egypt and Hatti…
212: The Arsenal of Pharaohcracy
War Ensemble. Listen on In 1287 BCE (late in his fifth regnal year) King Ramesses II departed Egypt on campaign. His target? The city of Kadesh / Qidsha in southern…
Posted inNews & Updates
2026 Tour, “New Kingdom Cruise”
SOLD OUT, STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE TOURS Hello everyone, it’s that time again. Time for a tour to Egypt. In March of 2026, we’re offering a new itinerary in the…
