Ramses the Great's Arctic Monkeys: The Gebel Barkal Stela

Ramses the Great's Arctic Monkeys: The Gebel Barkal Stela

In episode 131 of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna journey south of Kemet's border to Gebel Barkal — a sacred mountain in Nubia that the Egyptians called the 'Throne of the Two Lands.' Ramses the Great carved a monumental stela there, a 26-foot granite proclamation boasting of his conquests and divine favor. But this wasn't just propaganda — it was a deliberate act of cultural integration, equating the Nubian god Amun of Napata with the Egyptian Amun-Re. The stela also records Ramses's campaign against the 'wretched Kush,' a phrase that masks a more complex relationship of tribute, intermarriage, and military occupation. We explore the stela's text, its location at the mysterious Gebel Barkal — a flat-topped mesa that the Egyptians believed was the birthplace of Amun — and its role in anchoring Egyptian control over Nubia's gold routes. Along the way, we touch on the viceroy Setau, the temple of Amun at Napata, and the later Kushite pharaohs who would reverse the dynamic. A story of empire, stone, and the enduring power of sacred geography. #RamsesII #GebelBarkal #Nubia #Kush #AmunRe #Napata #Setau #EgyptianPropaganda #AncientEgypt #19thDynasty #Kemet #Hieroglyphs #Stela #GoldRoutes #SacredMountain #Colonialism #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Mortuary Temple Medinet Habu Legacy

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ramses the Great's grandest architectural statement—his mortuary temple, Medinet Habu. Though often overshadowed by Abu Simbel, Medinet Habu was a sprawling complex on the west bank of Thebes that served as both a temple to Amun-Re and a fortified administrative center. Lucas walks Luna through the temple's unique design, including its massive pylons, the 'Window of Appearances' where the pharaoh addressed the people, and the vivid reliefs depicting Ramses' battles against the Sea Peoples. They discuss the temple's role in the Beautiful Feast of the Valley, when the god Amun-Re would visit from Karnak, and how the complex housed Ramses' mortuary cult long after his death. Lucas also touches on the controversy over whether Ramses truly built Medinet Habu or simply usurped an earlier structure, and how the temple later became a Coptic settlement. The episode ends with a reflection on how monuments outlive their builders, carrying stories across millennia. #MedinetHabu #RamsesII #MortuaryTemple #AncientEgypt #Kemet #Thebes #AmunRe #SeaPeoples #BeautifulFeastOfTheValley #WindowOfAppearances #Coptic #Pharaoh #19thDynasty #Luxor #Egyptology #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Greats Sea Peoples Invasion The Great Collapse

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna examine the Sea Peoples invasion during the reign of Ramses II, a pivotal threat that nearly toppled Egypt's New Kingdom. They explore the identity of these mysterious raiders—including the Sherden, Lukka, Peleset, Tjekker, Shekelesh, Denyen, Teresh, and Weshesh—using evidence from the Medinet Habu reliefs and the Papyrus Harris I. The conversation covers Ramses' defensive strategy, the Battle of the Delta in year 8 of his reign, and the geopolitical chaos of the Late Bronze Age Collapse. They also discuss the economic and social strains that Ramses faced, the role of his navy and chariot forces, and the long-term consequences for Egypt, including the eventual decline into the Third Intermediate Period. This episode offers a fresh perspective on a civilization under siege and the forces that reshaped the ancient world. #SeaPeoples #RamsesII #EgyptianHistory #LateBronzeAgeCollapse #MedinetHabu #Sherden #Peleset #Lukka #Tjekker #Shekelesh #Denyen #Teresh #Weshesh #BattleOfTheDelta #PapyrusHarrisI #NewKingdom #NorthAfrica #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Nubian Gold Mines The Wealth of Kush

This episode dives into the gold mines of Nubia that fueled Ramses II's empire. We explore the logistical network behind extracting gold from the Eastern Desert, the role of convict labor and skilled miners at sites like Wadi Hammamat and the gold mines of Kush, and the economic impact on Egypt's 19th Dynasty. Lucas and Luna discuss the harsh realities of mining, the religious rituals performed to ensure safe operations, and how this wealth financed the colossal monuments at Abu Simbel and the Ramesseum. We also look at the administration of the mines under Viceroy Setau and the diplomatic power gold gave Egypt in the Bronze Age world. #AncientEgypt #RamsesII #Nubia #GoldMines #Kush #19thDynasty #WadiHammamat #Setau #AbuSimbel #Ramesseum #NewKingdom #Mining #GebelelSilsila #DeirelMedina #Gold #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Irrigation Revolution Feeding an Empire

Ramses II ruled for 66 years, built colossal temples, and fathered over 100 children. But none of that was possible without water. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the massive irrigation projects that transformed Egypt's agricultural landscape during the 19th Dynasty. From the Bahr Yussef canal connecting the Nile to the Fayyum Oasis, to the shaduf—a simple but revolutionary water-lifting device—they uncover how Ramses's engineers managed the annual flood and extended farmland into the desert. They discuss Mery, the king's chief water engineer, and the network of basins and canals that doubled crop yields, feeding a growing population and funding the pharaoh's building spree. The conversation also touches on the political power of grain storage, how the temples controlled distribution, and the role of the mysterious nilometer priests who predicted the inundation. Along the way, they visit the ancient nilometer at Elephantine and the remains of a massive dam at Sadd el-Kafara. This is the infrastructure story behind the golden age of Egypt's most famous pharaoh. #RamsesII #AncientEgypt #Irrigation #Nile #Fayyum #Shaduf #Nilometer #BahrYussef #SaddElKafara #Agriculture #19thDynasty #WaterEngineering #Kemet #Elephantine #Mery #History #FexingoHistory #Pharaoh Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]