Ramses the Great's Embassies and the Birth of International Diplomacy

Ramses the Great and the Battle of Dapur

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore one of Ramses the Great's lesser-known but fiercely fought campaigns: the siege of Dapur in Syria. While the Battle of Kadesh dominates the popular imagination, Dapur was a crucial stronghold that Ramses personally captured, as recorded in vivid reliefs at the Ramesseum and Luxor Temple. We examine the tactics of Egyptian siege warfare—scaling ladders, battering rams, and archers covering infantry—and how Ramses used these victories to project power into Hittite territory. We also discuss the enigmatic 'Dapur People' and the geographical debate over whether Dapur was in Syria or Lebanon. Along the way, we touch on the logistics of campaign, the role of the army divisions named after gods like Amun and Ptah, and how Ramses's propaganda machine turned a tough siege into a symbol of divine favor. Fresh material that builds on prior episodes about Kadesh and Egyptian military organization. #RamsesTheGreat #BattleOfDapur #SiegeWarfare #EgyptianMilitary #Ramesseum #LuxorTemple #AncientWarfare #Syria #Hittite #NewKingdom #Kemet #DivineKingship #Propaganda #Archaeology #MilitaryHistory #AncientEgypt #NorthAfrica #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Mummy: The Secret of His Survival

In episode 160, Lucas and Luna examine the extraordinary story of Ramses the Great's mummy — from its discovery in a hidden cache at Deir el-Bahari in 1881 to the sophisticated embalming techniques that preserved his body for over 3,000 years. They explore the delicate process of mummification in the New Kingdom, the priests' use of resins, linen, and amulets, and the shocking moment in 1974 when the mummy was issued a passport for a trip to Paris to combat a fungal infection. Along the way, they touch on the work of Gaston Maspero, the controversy over the mummy's unwrapping, and what modern CT scans reveal about Ramses' health, including his likely cause of death. This episode offers a vivid, human portrait of the pharaoh's final journey — not to the afterlife, but through the hands of archaeologists, curators, and conservators who preserved his legacy. #RamsesTheGreat #EgyptianMummy #DeirElBahari #Mummification #NewKingdom #GastonMaspero #Egyptology #MummyCache #Pharaoh #Embalming #CTScan #FungalInfection #Paris #Afterlife #AncientEgypt #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Greats Supply Lines Feeding an Empire

In episode 159 of the Ramses the Great series, Lucas and Luna explore the logistical backbone of Ramses II's empire: the supply lines that fed his armies, workers, and cities. Drawing on the Papyrus Anastasi series and records from the fortress of Tjaru on the Way of Horus, they trace how grain, beer, and dried fish moved from the Nile Delta to garrisons in Canaan and Nubia. Lucas explains the role of the 'overseer of the fortress of the Great of Victories' and the system of granaries at Per-Ramesses, while Luna zeroes in on a specific text—Papyrus Anastasi V—which details a commander's complaint about missing supplies. The episode also touches on the logistical differences between the Egyptian and Hittite armies, the use of pack donkeys vs. river barges, and how supply breakdowns may have influenced the outcome of the Battle of Kadesh. A brief donation segment reminds listeners that the show remains ad-free thanks to listener support at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. #RamsesII #AncientEgypt #Logistics #PapyrusAnastasi #WayOfHorus #Tjaru #PerRamesses #Kadesh #Supplies #Granaries #NileDelta #Canaan #Nubia #Donkeys #RiverBarges #Kemet #FexingoHistory #MilitaryHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Queen Nefertari: Power, Diplomacy, and the Temple of Hathor

In episode 158, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Queen Nefertari, the Great Royal Wife of Ramses II. They discuss her political influence, her role in the Hittite peace treaty, and her divine status as a living goddess. The conversation delves into her temple at Abu Simbel, dedicated to Hathor, where she appears as tall as the pharaoh—a unique honor. They also examine her tomb in the Valley of the Queens, its exquisite wall paintings, and the mysterious 'she who must not be named' erased from history. Lucas highlights Nefertari's diplomatic correspondence with the Hittite queen Puduhepa and her possible role in the marriage of Ramses to a Hittite princess. The episode touches on her titles, including 'Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt,' and her identification with the goddess Hathor. Listeners learn about the discovery of her tomb in 1904 by Ernesto Schiaparelli and the ongoing conservation efforts by the Getty Conservation Institute. This episode offers a nuanced portrait of a queen who was both a political partner and a divine figure, whose legacy rivals that of her husband. #Nefertari #RamsesII #AbuSimbel #Hathor #ValleyOfTheQueens #Egyptology #AncientEgypt #GreatRoyalWife #Puduhepa #Hittites #PeaceTreaty #ErnestoSchiaparelli #GettyConservation #Pharaoh #Queen #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Vizier Paser The Power Behind the Throne

Lucas and Luna dive into the life and career of Paser, Ramses the Great's most trusted vizier. Paser served for over 30 years, overseeing the administration of Upper and Lower Egypt, managing the treasury, and supervising monumental building projects including the Ramesseum. Discover how Paser's inscriptions reveal the daily workings of pharaonic bureaucracy, his role in the judiciary, and his relationship with the king. Learn about the vizier's responsibilities, from tax collection to military logistics, and how Paser's tomb in Thebes provides a rare window into the lives of Egypt's elite administrators. This episode explores the complexities of power behind the throne, contrasting Paser's quiet influence with the more visible figures like the royal scribe Amenemope and viceroy Setau. #RamsesII #Paser #Vizier #AncientEgypt #EgyptianBureaucracy #Ramesseum #Thebes #Kemet #PharaonicAdministration #EgyptianHistory #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #NorthAfrica #FexingoHistory #History #AncientWorld #Egyptology #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]