New Kingdom, Part 4 (160 – 200)

Livestream recording. The village of the tomb-builders first arose in the 18th Dynasty (c.1550—1310 BCE), but the historical records really multiply in the 19th and 20th Dynasties (c.1310—1070 BCE). In…

Deir el-Medina’s Golden Age (Part 1). In the age of Sety I, the village of the tomb-builders expanded significantly. Likewise, our evidence for daily life, families, households, and business begins…

Sety in the Valley of the Kings (Part 1): The Tomb-Builders. Archaeological work in the Valley of the Kings, and the translation of ancient texts from Deir el-Medina, reveals a…

Recycling for death.In 1881, a remarkable discovery took place in Luxor, Egypt. In the hills of Deir el-Bahari, a secret tomb held the reburied mummies of Egypt’s famous pharaohs. Figures…

The plan of an honest ruler.Around 1300 BCE, as today, gold was big business. King Sety I personally led an expedition into the eastern desert, to establish a new mining…

Sety in the Desert.Sety in the Desert. Around 1300 BCE, King Sety led an expedition into the Red Sea hills. His purpose? Gold. The King brought soldiers and charioteers out…

Ramesses Rising.Traditionally, Egyptian princes are almost invisible. The pharaohs downplayed the presence of their sons, to reduce political competition and maintain religious order. Sety I (c.1300 BCE) changed this habit.…

Slaying the Bull of Seth (Ramesses’ First Rodeo)In the Temple of Sety I at Abydos, an out-of-the-way corridor preserves a unique image. The King of Egypt, and his eldest son,…

Identity Crisis.Seth (aka Sutekh / Setekh / Suty) is a complicated deity. A master of storms, winds, deserts and seas, Seth dominates foreigners and the world outside Egypt. However, he…

How the west was won.Around 1298 BCE, King Sety I (Men-ma’at-Ra) led a campaign west. He attacked the peoples of modern-day Libya and, in a supposedly swift victory, took many…