1362 – 1346 BCE: Amunhotep IV / Akhenaten (18th Dynasty, Part 7)

A Short-Lived Ruler. In 1349 BCE, Egypt had two kings. But not for long. The young ruler, Smenkhkare, was destined to die early. In this episode, we explore the strange…

Stress, Diet, and Death in Akhet-Aten.By 1349 BCE (regnal year 14), Akhenaten's new city had grown rapidly. Twenty to thirty thousand people now called the city home, and these people…

Royal Tombs, Amarna, and Egyptology in 2020.My guest today is Professor Aidan Dodson. To those interested in ancient Egypt, Prof. Dodson needs no introduction. He is the Honorary Professor of Egyptology…

DNA, CSI... etc.The Confounding Coffin. In this episode, we visit a historical crime scene: the mysterious sepulchre of KV55. Discovered in 1907, this grave is easily the most debated, analysed…

Two Funerals and a Wedding, Part 2.In 1350 BCE the royal house was in crisis. Tiye was dead, and soon after, one of pharaoh’s daughters also traveled to the West.…

Two Funerals and a Wedding, Part 1. Two Funerals and a Wedding, Part 1. Around year 12 of Akhenaten, the Queen Mother Tiye died. She journeyed to the West at…

A Guided Tour.Today, we visit two monuments belonging to Meritaten, eldest daughter of pharaoh. The Maru Aten (south) and North Palace (north) provide glimpses at the luxurious life of royalty in…

A Princess of Egypt.In 1351 BCE, princess Meritaten was approximately ten years old. The king’s eldest daughter, Meritaten was the foremost child of the royal family, front and centre of…

A New Generation of Rebels.Around 1350 BCE, approximately, a new generation of Amurrites began to cause trouble for the empire. The sons of Abdi-Ashirta inherited his power and soon began…

Abdi-Ashirta and the Rise of Amurru.In the later years of Amunhotep III (father of Akhenaten) and the early years of Akhenaten himself, events in the north began to trouble the…