Ramses the Great's Temple Builders: The Workforce Behind Abu Simbel

Ramses the Great's Temple Builders: The Workforce Behind Abu Simbel

Episode 112 of Ramses the Great dives into the lives of the engineers, quarrymen, artists, and laborers who built the colossal monuments of Egypt's most prolific pharaoh. Lucas and Luna explore the workforce behind Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum, and Pi-Ramesses — not slaves but skilled artisans, conscripted farmers during the inundation, and state-organized crews working in rotating shifts. They discuss the role of the Vizier in overseeing projects, the use of copper chisels and stone hammers, the logistics of feeding thousands of workers, and the evidence from Deir el-Medina and papyri like Papyrus Anastasi IV. The episode also touches on the social status of builders, the religious ceremonies that sanctified construction, and the legacy of Ramses's building program in cementing his divine kingship. The conversation ends with a reflection on how these structures still shape our image of ancient Egypt. #RamsesII #AbuSimbel #Ramesseum #PiRamesses #AncientEgypt #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #DeirElMedina #PapyrusAnastasiIV #Vizier #StoneQuarry #CopperTools #MonumentBuilding #AncientEngineering #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #Workforce Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Royal Wives: Nefertari and Beyond

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked women in Ramses the Great's life — not just the famous Nefertari, but also Queen Tuya, Isetnofret, Maathorneferure, and the harem conspiracy. They discuss Nefertari's political influence, her temple at Abu Simbel, and her letters to the Hittite queen Puduhepa. They also examine Isetnofret's role as mother of the crown prince, the diplomatic marriage to a Hittite princess, and the little-known harem plot that threatened Ramses' succession. Along the way, they touch on how royal women wielded power through religion, diplomacy, and family ties in 19th Dynasty Egypt. This episode offers a fresh angle on Ramses' reign by focusing on the women who shaped it. #RamsesII #Nefertari #Isetnofret #Maathorneferure #QueenTuya #Puduhepa #AbuSimbel #HaremConspiracy #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #Kemet #PerRamesses #EgyptianQueens #AncientEgypt #History #FexingoHistory #WomenInHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Chariotry: The Shock Weapon of Kadesh

In episode 110, Lucas and Luna explore Ramses the Great's chariot corps — the elite weapon that turned the Battle of Kadesh from a near-disaster into a propaganda triumph. They discuss the two-man crew: the charioteer who steered the horse team and the archer who loosed composite arrows at full gallop. Lucas explains how Egyptian chariots were lighter and faster than Hittite models, built from wood, leather, and rawhide, with six-spoked wheels that held up on rough terrain. They also cover the training regimen at Per-Ramesses, the logistics of deploying thousands of chariots across the Orontes River, and the archers' tactic of shooting from the right side of the moving vehicle. The episode touches on Ramses's personal chariot — named 'Victory in Thebes' — and how he used his vehicle as a mobile command post. Luna asks about the role of the Sherden mercenaries who crewed some chariots, and Lucas explains how captured Hittite chariot designs influenced later Egyptian upgrades. The conversation ends by reflecting on how the chariot, as a symbol of pharaonic power, appears in temple reliefs and even in Ramses's own tomb KV7. A natural donation midpoint connects the value of careful craftsmanship — just as chariot builders relied on skilled hands, the show relies on listener support to keep ad-free. #RamsesII #Kadesh #EgyptianChariotry #ChariotArcher #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Hittites #OrontesRiver #Sherden #PerRamesses #CompositeBow #VictoryInThebes #LateBronzeAge #ChariotWarfare #KV7 #AncientEgypt #MilitaryHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Pi-Ramesses: The Lost Capital of Egypt's Golden Age

When Ramses II became pharaoh, he built a new capital from scratch on the Nile Delta: Per-Ramesses, the 'House of Ramses.' For centuries it was the glittering heart of Egyptian power, filled with temples, palaces, and workshops. Then it vanished. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the rise and fall of this lost city — from its foundation on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, to its role as a military and industrial hub, to the geological shift that doomed it. They explore the 2013 discovery of the colossal statue of Ramses II at Tell el-Dab'a, the city's connection to the biblical story of the Exodus, and how the shifting Nile turned a bustling metropolis into farmland. Along the way, they discuss the city's cosmopolitan population — including Canaanites, Hittites, and Sherden mercenaries — and the newly discovered military barracks that housed foreign troops. This episode offers a fresh angle on Ramses' reign through the lens of urban planning, archaeology, and environmental change. #PerRamesses #RamsesII #AncientEgypt #LostCity #BiblicalArchaeology #TellElDaba #NileDelta #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #EgyptianArchaeology #AncientCapital #Qantir #Exodus #Sherden #MilitaryHistory #UrbanPlanning #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Divine Kingship and the Sed Festival

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ramses the Great's use of the Sed festival (heb-sed) to reinforce his divine kingship and extend his 67-year reign. They discuss how Ramses built jubilee chapels at Per-Ramesses and elsewhere, performed ritual runs to demonstrate vitality, and co-opted the festival's ancient origins from earlier pharaohs like Djoser and Sneferu. The conversation touches on the symbolism of the dual throne, the role of the goddess Weret Hekau, and how Ramses used the Sed festival to legitimize his rule in the face of the Hittite threat and internal challenges. The episode also examines the archaeological evidence for these celebrations, including inscriptions at the Ramesseum and Abu Simbel. Finally, a brief sidebar connects the Sed festival's emphasis on renewal to listener support that keeps the show ad-free. #RamsesII #SedFestival #HebSed #AncientEgypt #Pharaoh #DivineKingship #PerRamesses #Ramesseum #AbuSimbel #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Kemet #Djoser #Sneferu #WeretHekau #JubileeChapel #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]