Ramses the Great's Nubian Gold Mines: The Riches of Kush

Ramses the Great's Prince Khaemwaset: Scholar, Priest, Magician

He was Ramses II's fourth son, but instead of commanding armies or building monuments of his own, Khaemwaset chose the path of the priest and the scholar, becoming one of ancient Egypt's most intriguing figures. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Prince Khaemwaset served as High Priest of Ptah in Memphis, restored long-neglected pyramids and tombs of Old Kingdom pharaohs, and earned a reputation as a magician that persisted in Egyptian folklore for centuries. They discuss his library of medical and magical texts, his restoration of the Serapeum's Apis bull burials, and the famous 'Stories of Setne Khaemwaset' — Demotic tales that turned him into a legendary sorcerer. Along the way, they touch on his rivalry with his half-brother Merenptah, his role in Ramses's Sed festival, and how his careful preservation of Egypt's past shaped our own understanding of the ancient world. From the Apis bulls to the Pyramid Texts, from Memphis to Saqqara, this is the story of a prince who looked backward to save the future. #RamsesII #Khaemwaset #PrinceKhaemwaset #SetneKhaemwaset #HighPriestOfPtah #Memphis #Saqqara #Serapeum #ApisBull #AncientEgypt #Egyptology #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #PyramidTexts #Merenptah #DemoticLiterature #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses II's Homecoming: The Colossus of Tanis

In the waning years of his 67-year reign, Ramses II ordered the construction of a colossal statue of himself at Tanis, a city in the Nile Delta. This episode traces the journey of that 100-ton quartzite colossus from the quarry at Gebel el-Ahmar near modern Cairo to its final home at the temple of Amun-Re in Tanis. We follow the logistics—the sledges, the thousands of workers, the seasonal flooding that allowed transport along the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. We also explore why Tanis, a relatively minor settlement, became the pharaoh's second northern capital and the site of his most audacious monumental statement. Lucas and Luna discuss the political motives behind Ramses's northern push, the role of the goddess Mut, and how the colossus survived into the Third Intermediate Period as a symbol of enduring royal power. Along the way, we touch on the workmen's village at Deir el-Medina, the use of water channels to move stone, and the theological rivalry between the cults of Amun-Re and Seth. #RamsesII #Tanis #Colossus #GebelElAhmar #PelusiacBranch #AmunRe #EgyptianQuarrying #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #DeirElMedina #SledgeTransport #NileDelta #Mut #Seth #ThirdIntermediatePeriod #AncientEngineering #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Nubian Viceroy Setau The Power Behind the Throne

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable career of Setau, Ramses the Great's most trusted Viceroy of Kush. Setau wasn't just an administrator — he was a priest, a military commander, and the driving force behind Ramses's massive building projects in Nubia. We trace Setau's rise from a humble scribe to the second most powerful man in Egypt, overseeing gold mines, temples like Wadi es-Sebua, and the brutal suppression of a Kushite rebellion. Along the way, we uncover how Ramses rewarded Setau with unprecedented privileges, including a rock-cut temple and a tomb in the Valley of the Kings — honors normally reserved for pharaohs. Setau's story reveals the human machinery behind Ramses's golden age, and raises questions about loyalty, power, and the cost of empire. Join us for a deep dive into the life of a man who helped build an Egyptian superpower. #Setau #ViceroyOfKush #RamsesTheGreat #Nubia #WadiEsSebua #AbuSimbel #KushiteRebellion #GoldMines #EgyptianEmpire #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #ValleyOfTheKings #Kemet #AncientEgypt #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica #Pharaoh Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Hittite Peace Treaty The First in History

This episode explores one of the most remarkable diplomatic achievements of the ancient world: the peace treaty between Ramses II of Egypt and Hattusili III of the Hittite Empire, concluded around 1259 BCE. Lucas and Luna examine the brutal war of attrition that led to the treaty, the silver tablet on which the accord was inscribed, and the parallel copies found at Karnak and in the Hittite capital Hattusa. They discuss the treaty's terms—extradition clauses, mutual defense, and the promise of brotherhood—and how it reshaped the geopolitics of the Late Bronze Age. The conversation also touches on the treaty's surprising legacy: it is often called the first recorded peace treaty in history, a model for later diplomacy, and its text is even displayed at the United Nations. Lucas explains the role of Queen Puduhepa in the negotiations, the marriage alliance that sealed the deal, and how the treaty held for the rest of Ramses's reign. A fresh angle building on prior episodes about Kadesh, the Sea Peoples, and Ramses's wives. #RamsesII #HittitePeaceTreaty #HattusiliIII #Puduhepa #Kadesh #LateBronzeAge #AncientDiplomacy #Karnak #Hattusa #SilverTablet #Maathorneferure #Brotherhood #Extradition #MutualDefense #UnitedNations #FexingoHistory #History #AncientEgypt Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Desert Patrols Policing the Eastern Frontier

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked role of desert patrols in Ramses II's Egypt. They delve into the Shasu bedouin, the fortress of Tjaru, and the Ways of Horus military road. Discover how the Medjay police force and local commanders maintained order along the eastern frontier, protecting trade routes and border security. Learn about the strategic importance of the Sinai and the challenges of policing a vast desert landscape. #RamsesII #DesertPatrols #EasternFrontier #Shasu #Tjaru #WaysOfHorus #Medjay #Sinai #Kemet #AncientEgypt #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #BorderSecurity #TradeRoutes #MilitaryHistory #EgyptianArmy #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]