The Complete Pyramid Texts
Unas the Skywalker.The Pyramid Texts are Egypt’s oldest surviving corpus of religious literature. Appearing c.2350 BCE, in the monument of King Unas, the texts describe the King’s journey to the…
Interview: Alcohol and Economics with Prof. Leslie Warden
with Dr. Leslie Anne Warden. Beer, Bread and Pharaoh's Power. My guest today is Dr. Leslie Anne Warden, associate professor of art history and archaeology at Roanoke College in Virginia,…
Posted in2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty
Episode 16: An Indestructible Spirit
Djedkare Izezi (Part II) & Unas: the Cannibal HymnThe reign of Djedkare comes to an end after nearly forty years of rule. His successor, Unas, oversees some important theological and artistic…
Posted in2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty
Episode 15: The Enduring Ka
Djedkare (Part I): the Philosophy of Rule(c. 2414 BCE) A shift in social relationships between royalty and elite families is well underway: the Viziers are now born not of royalty, but…
Posted in2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty
Episode 14: The Joy of Re's Heart
Niuserre (Part II): Hasty Burials, and Elite CultureComing to the throne after the premature death of his brother, Niuserre Ini must rapidly complete his predecessor's burial. He must also complete the pyramid…
Posted in2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty
Episode 13: The Hairdressers Cometh
Niuserre and the Up-and-Comers.The new ruler Niuserre, son of Neferirkare, has taken the crown after the passing of his uncle Raneferef. And the times they are a-changing, with an interesting new…
Posted in2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty
Episode 12: I Make the Soul Beautiful
Neferirkare and Khentykaus IIThe reign of Sahure draws to a close, and soon the throne passes to his mature son Neferirkare Kakai ("I make beautiful the soul of Re"). The great wife…
Posted in2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty
Episode 11: Off To Punt We Go
Off to punt we goUserkaf passes the throne to his son, Sahure ("One Who is Close to Re"). For the first time in recorded history, a royal fleet is dispatched from Egypt's…
Posted in2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty
Episode 10: A Temple to the Sun
The Fifth Dynasty AscendsShepseskaf ends the Fourth Dynasty, and his brother Userkaf begins a new one. How do we define the end of one “period” and the beginning of another? In this case,…
