Ramses the Great's Builders: The Workers Behind the Monuments

The Apis Bull: Ramses the Great's Divine Earthly Companion

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of the Apis bull during the reign of Ramses the Great. They discuss how the living bull at Memphis was considered the ba of Ptah, an oracle, and a symbol of pharaonic power. Lucas explains the elaborate burial of Apis bulls in the Serapeum at Saqqara, a project Ramses likely expanded. The conversation also touches on the bull's connection to the Heb Sed festival, where Ramses ran beside the bull to renew his rule. Finally, they consider the political implications of controlling the bull cult, especially in relation to the priesthood of Ptah and Ramses's need to consolidate power in the north. #ApisBull #RamsesTheGreat #Serapeum #Saqqara #Ptah #HebSed #AncientEgypt #Memphis #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Ba #Pharaoh #Userrenputaanehktu #Kemet #DivineKingship #EgyptianReligion #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Horse-Drawn Chariotry at Kadesh

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the technological and tactical edge that Ramses II brought to the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE. They examine the evolution of Egyptian chariots from the Hyksos period, the design of light two-man chariots optimized for speed and archery, and the critical role of the Ne'arin mercenaries. The discussion covers the logistics of maintaining a chariot corps, the use of composite bows, and how Ramses' personal account in the Poem of Pentaur both glorifies and obscures the true effectiveness of his chariotry. They also touch on the archaeological evidence from the ancient city of Per-Ramesses, including chariot workshops and horse stables discovered by Manfred Bietak, and how Ramses' chariot force compared to that of the Hittites under Muwatalli II. #RamsesII #BattleOfKadesh #Chariotry #EgyptianMilitary #NewKingdom #PerRamesses #ManfredBietak #CompositeBow #Ne'arin #Hittites #MuwatalliII #Hyksos #PoemOfPentaur #BronzeAge #AncientEgypt #History #FexingoHistory #AncientWarfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses and the Libyan War: Defending Egypt's Western Frontier

In Episode 143, Lucas and Luna turn to a lesser-known but pivotal conflict of Ramses the Great's reign: the Libyan War. While the Battle of Kadesh often steals the spotlight, the campaigns against the Libyans (the Tjehenu and Tjemehu) were crucial for protecting Egypt's western border and securing its grain supplies. Lucas unpacks the geopolitical pressures of the 19th Dynasty, the archaeological evidence from texts like the Papyrus Harris I and reliefs at Karnak, and the role of Ramses's sons—especially Khaemwaset—in military command. They explore how Ramses handled the threat of nomadic incursions, the use of fortress towns along the western Delta, and the long-term consequences for the region. The episode also touches on the Libyans' eventual integration into Egyptian society, setting the stage for future Libyan rulers like Shoshenq I. A fresh angle on Ramses's military strategy beyond the Hittite peace. #RamsesII #LibyanWar #Tjehenu #Tjemehu #19thDynasty #PapyrusHarrisI #Karnak #Khaemwaset #WesternDelta #LibyanMercenaries #ShoshenqI #BattleOfKadesh #EgyptianMilitary #Fortresses #NorthAfrica #AncientEgypt #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Greats Divine Kingship Rituals at Abu Simbel

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the profound religious and political significance of Ramses II's temples at Abu Simbel, focusing on the biannual solar illumination phenomenon that aligns with his coronation and birthday. They discuss how Ramses used architecture to assert his divine status, aligning himself with Re-Horakhty and Ptah. The conversation delves into the precise engineering of the Great Temple's inner sanctuary, where the sun illuminates statues of Ramses, Amun-Re, and Re-Horakhty twice a year, leaving Ptah in darkness. They also examine the Small Temple dedicated to Nefertari and Hathor, and the broader implications of Ramses's self-deification as a political tool to consolidate power and project eternal rule. The episode provides a fresh angle on Ramses's legacy, focusing on his strategic use of sacred geography and monumental art to craft his own mythology, a practice that influenced subsequent pharaohs and left an enduring mark on Egyptian civilization. #AbuSimbel #RamsesII #SolarAlignment #DivineKingship #Nefertari #Hathor #ReHorakhty #Ptah #AmunRe #Nubia #AncientEgypt #19thDynasty #EgyptianArchitecture #SacredGeography #SelfDeification #History #FexingoHistory #Egyptology Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Abandoned City Per-Ramesses Rise and Fall

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise and fall of Per-Ramesses, Ramses the Great's magnificent capital city. Built on the site of Avaris in the eastern Delta, Per-Ramesses was a sprawling metropolis with canals, temples, and palaces that served as the administrative, military, and religious heart of Egypt for over a century. But within two hundred years, it was largely abandoned. Why? Lucas explains the geological and political factors: the shifting of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, which silted up and left the city high and dry; the rise of Tanis as a new power center during the 21st Dynasty; and the systematic dismantling of Per-Ramesses' monuments by later pharaohs who reused its stone. The episode also touches on the city's rediscovery at Qantir and the detective work by Austrian archaeologist Manfred Bietak. A story of ambition, decline, and the relentless flow of the Nile. #PerRamesses #PiRamesses #Qantir #RamsesII #AncientEgypt #19thDynasty #NileDelta #ManfredBietak #Avaris #Tanis #Egyptology #LostCities #BronzeAge #Archaeology #NewKingdom #Userrenputaanehktu #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]