The History of Egypt Podcast

The rise of Ankhtyfy. In southern Egypt, a "Great Overlord" named Ankh-tyfy began to expand his power. From his home base at Nekhen (Hierakonpolis), he annexed neighbouring territories like Edfu. He did this with some elaborate justifications, and perhaps inspired by the example of ancestors. Alas, his rapid rise soon brought him into conflict with other regional lords and their soldiers... Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Logo image: Ankhtyfy’s archers, photo by Mutnedjmet. Photos of the tomb of Ankhtyfy by Merja Attia. Intro music by Ihab and Ancient Lyric www.bettinajoydeguzman.com. Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com. Select bibliography: M. Attia, ‘Tombs of Ankhtifi and Sobekhotep el-Moalla Egypt’, https://flickr.com/photos/130870_040871/albums/72157676972946976/. H. Goedicke, ‘’Ankhtyfy’s Fights’, Chronique d’Égypte 73 (1998), 29-41. N. Moeller, ‘The Origins of Two Provincial Capitals in Upper Egypt’, The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (2017). L. D. Morenz, ‘Power and Status. Ankhtifi the Hero, Founder of a New Residence?’, CRIPEL 28 (2009), 177-192. J. Vandier, Mo’alla: La Tombe d’Ankhtifi et la tombe de Sébekhotep (1950). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By 2100 BCE, Egypt’s royal house was in trouble. A line of kings, known as the pr-Hty (“House of Khety”) claimed authority over the whole Nile Valley. But archaeological and historical data paint a different picture: of a growing division between communities in the north and south of Egypt. The “Two Lands” were separating, and government was too weak to stop it… Logo image: A northern official named Ipi. From his tomb at the cemetery of Ihnaysa el-Medina (Photo Perez Die 2016). The History of Egypt Podcast: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t swim for at least 30 minutes after a banquet… Around 2150 BCE, so the story goes, the Queen-King Nitocris sought vengeance on those who had wronged her. This tale comes from Herodotos, and in 1928 a young Tennessee Williams published his own version of the gothic stroy. In this bonus episode, I read Williams’ work for a bit of spooky storytelling… Herodotos, Histories, Book II, via Perseus. Tennessee Williams ‘The Vengeance of Nitocris’ at Wikipedia and Wikisource. The Vengeance of Nitocris by Rejected Princesses. Music by Kevin Manthei, from Vampire: The Masquerade: Redemption (2000). I played this a lot as a child, and it seemed to fit the tone. Outro music, “Killer Queen – Medieval Rock Cover” by Medieval Rock. Less tonally consistent, but when the Queen gives an order... Logo image: "The Vengeance of Nitocris," from Weird Tales magazine. The History of Egypt Podcast: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between 2500—2200 BCE, Egypt witnessed a period of surprisingly high rainfall. While the Old Kingdom was much wetter than today, archaeologists have found strong evidence for huge downpours, sweeping across northern Egypt and flooding tombs, cities, and forcing the ancients to adapt… This episode is a brief epilogue to the Decline & Fall of the Old Kingdom series. Intro music: Michael Jackson – Stranger in Moscow (Instrumental Version). Outro music: Toto – Africa (Bardcore) by Stravitticus. Logo image: Rain spout/gutter at the pyramid complex of Niuserrra (c.2400 BCE). Photo by Kairoinfo4u. References used in this episode: K. W. Butzer, ‘When the Desert Was in Flood: Environmental History of the Giza Plateau’, AERAgram 5 (2001), 3—5. K. W. Butzer et al., ‘Urban Geoarchaeology and Environmental History at the Lost City of the Pyramids, Giza: Synthesis and Review’, Journal of Archaeological Science 40 (2013), 3340—3366. K. O. Kuraszkiewicz, ‘Architectural Innovations Influenced by Climatic Phenomena (4.2 KA Event) in the Late Old Kingdom (Saqqara, Egypt)’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 27—34. S. Rzepka et al., ‘Preliminary Report on Engineering Properties and Environmental Resistance of Ancient Mud Bricks from Tell el-Retaba Archaeological Site in the Nile Delta’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 47—56. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did it all go so wrong? We’ve explored the historical overview of Old Kingdom decline; but what was driving it? There are three major factors that caused this fall. Two originate in the climate, the third comes from the political structure of the kingdom and its society. From the deserts of Sahara to the depths of the Nile, we uncover the causes of decline… Note: An extended version of this episode is available at Patreon.com/egyptpodcast. The History of Egypt Podcast: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com. Logo image: The “Starving Bedouin” from the Pyramid of Unas. Photo by Sarah Murray. Select Bibliography: M. Bárta, Analyzing Collapse: The Rise and Fall of the Old Kingdom (2019). B. Bell, ‘The Oldest Records of the Nile Floods’, The Geographical Journal 136 (1970), 569—573. K. W. Butzer, ‘When the Desert Was in Flood: Environmental History of the Giza Plateau’, AERAgram 5 (2001), 3—5. K. W. Butzer, ‘Landscapes and Environmental History of the Nile Valley: A Critical Review and Prospectus’, in E. Bloxam and I. Shaw (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Egyptology (Oxford, 2020), 99—124. N. Kanawati and J. Swinton, Egypt in the Sixth Dynasty: Challenges and Responses (2018). K. O. Kuraszkiewicz, ‘Architectural Innovations Influenced by Climatic Phenomena (4.2 KA Event) in the Late Old Kingdom (Saqqara, Egypt)’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 27—34. M. van de Mieroop, A History of Ancient Egypt (2nd edn, 2021). N. Moeller, ‘The First Intermediate Period: A Time of Famine and Climate Change?’, Egypt and the Levant 15 (2005), 153—167. J. C. Moreno García, ‘Climatic Change or Sociopolitical Transformation? Reassessing Late 3rd Millennium BC in Egypt’, in J. C. Moreno García et al. (eds), 2200 BC - A Climatic Breakdown as a Cause for the Collapse of the Old World? 2 vols (2015), 79—94. S. Rzepka et al., ‘Preliminary Report on Engineering Properties and Environmental Resistance of Ancient Mud Bricks from Tell el-Retaba Archaeological Site in the Nile Delta’, Studia Quaternaria 33 (2016), 47—56. J.-D. Stanley et al., ‘Nile Flow Failure at the End of the Old Kingdom, Egypt: Strontium Isotopic and Petrologic Evidence’, Geoarchaeology 18 (2003), 395—402. P. Tallet and M. Lehner, The Red Sea Scrolls: How Ancient Papyri Reveal the Secrets of the Pyramids (2021). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did the Old Kingdom disappear? Was it an overnight "collapse," or something more long term? In this episode, and the next, we explore the question in overview. This chapter focusses on the historical sources including King Lists, Classical authors like Herodotos and Manetho, and the fragmentary evidence for some of the "shadow kings" of this period… Chronology and Historical Studies: Overview of all sources and scholarship at Pharaoh.se. M. Baud, ‘The Relative Chronology of Dynasties 6 and 8’, in E. Hornung et al. (eds), Ancient Egyptian Chronology (2006), 144—158. Available in pdf at Digital Giza. J. von Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999). W. Helck, ‘Anmerkungen zum Turiner Königspapyrus’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 19 (1992), 150–216. English translation available at Pharaoh.se. R. J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (2013). Available at Internet Archive. K. Ryholt, ‘The Turin King-List’, Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant 14 (2004), 135—155. The History of Egypt Podcast: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net. Logo image: The damaged visage of Pepy II from his pyramid at South Saqqara (Jéquier 1936). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frustrated with the break from New Kingdom material? I hear you, and I can promise a return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview. How does copper cut stone? Martin Odler specialises in ancient Egyptian technology. Specifically, the manufacture and use of metal in tools and industry. In this interview, Dr. Odler shares some of his research insights on the production and use of copper, at sites like the Giza pyramids during the Old Kingdom. We also explore the use of metal in weaponry and daily life, and how scientists can experiment with reconstructed tools to examine their value and effectiveness. Today, Dr. Odler shares his methodical and wide-ranging interests. Personally, I learned a lot from speaking with him. Logo image: A copper mirror of Reni-Seneb (c.1800 BCE), Metropolitan Museum of Art. Martin Odler at Newcastle University. Research papers by Martin Odler at Academia.edu. Book: Copper in Ancient Egypt Before, During, and After the Pyramid Age (c.4000—1600 BC) (2023), published by Brill. Book: Old Kingdom Copper Tools and Model Tools (2016), published by Archaeopress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the fall (c.2600 - 2200 BCE). Early Egyptians were fierce and active warriors. Our evidence for the Old Kingdom “army,” however, is scattered and fragmentary. Sifting through the pieces, we can reconstruct some elements of the early armed forces. In this episode, we explore royal texts that describe campaigns; pyramid art showing battles and soldiers training; and even images of siege warfare… The History of Egypt Podcast: Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com. Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. Intro music by Stephen Rippy from Age of Empires (1997). Outro music and interludes by Keith Zizza. Music and interludes by Luke Chaos. Episode Chapters: Introduction 00:00 Dynasty IV Raids and Warriors 02:40 Army Organisation and Weapons 16:07 Battle Scenes of Unas and Ka-em-heset 25:58 Siege Scene of Inti 38:00 Notable artefacts (see Bibliography for full titles): Archers from the reign of Khufu, MMA. See Goedicke 1971, MMA Open Access. Sahura training scenes: Published in El Awady 2009. Unas battle scene: First published by Selim Hassan 1938 (Archive.org). Siege scene of Khaemheset: First published in Quibell and Hayter 1927. Archive.org. Siege scene of Inti: See Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare, 2019 (Pen & Sword). First published Petrie 1894. See also Kanawati and McFarlane 1993. Examples of pre-New Kingdom Egyptian weapons in museum collections: Wooden bows: Louvre, MMA (FIP or early MK). Arrows: MMA (FIP or early MK), Louvre (Pre-Dynastic), MFA (FIP or early MK), ROM (FIP). Maces: ROM (4th Dyn., Khafra), ROM (Pre-Dynastic), MMA (FIP or MK). Spearheads: Louvre (FIP), Louvre (12th Dyn.), MMA (MK). Axes: Louvre, (OK), Louvre (FIP), Louvre (MK). Select Bibliography (see website for full details): L. Bestock, Violence and Power in Ancient Egypt: Image and Ideology Before the New Kingdom (2018). T. El Awady, Sahure: The Pyramid Causeway: History and Decoration Program in the Old Kingdom (2009). H. Goedicke, Re-Used Blocks from the Pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht (1971). MMA Open Access. S. Hassan, ‘Excavations at Saqqara 1937--1938’, Annales du Services des Antiquités de l’Egypte 38 (1938), 503—514. Archive.org. N. Kanawati and A. McFarlane, Deshasha: The Tombs of Inti, Shedu and Others (1993). A. Labrousse and A. Moussa, La chaussée du complexe funéraire du roi Ounas, I (2002). F. Monnier, ‘Les techniques de siège décrites dans la documentation pharaonique’, Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 15 (2022), 51—73. ENIM.fr. A.-L. Mourad, ‘Siege Scenes of the Old Kingdom’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre of Egyptology 22 (2011), 135—158. Academia.edu. J. E. Quibell and A. G. K. Hayter, Excavations at Saqqara: Teti Pyramid, North Side (1927). Archive.org. I. Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare (2019). N. Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age (2005). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new tour for February 2025 is now ready to announce and book. The tour includes a return to Amarna (Akhet-Aten), to explore the city of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. We visit some new sites, not seen on previous tours. And we have special permits for the tomb of Senuseret III at Abydos, and the tombs of Thutmose III and Horemheb in the Valley of the Kings. It's a great itinerary with a mix of famous favourites and new adventures. If you'd like to visit Egypt, come along in 2025! Website with itinerary and cost breakdown: The History of Egypt Podcast 2025 — Ancient World Tours. Questions about history/sites - [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices