The Odyssey (2026) First Impressions

239: A Pyramid of Corpses

Merneptah vs the Libyans. In 1221 BCE, Egypt faced a crisis. Tribal coalitions from the west, and some "Peoples of the Sea" were marching on the Nile Valley. They came in their thousands, armed and ready to settle. Caught by surprise, King Merneptah and his warriors hastened to the defence... Support the show and get early releases, ad-free episodes, bonus video content, and pictures/videos of animals I meet in Egypt and travelling www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast [www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast] Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman; Luke Chaos; and Keith Zizza. Bibliography Cline, E. H. (2021). 1177 B.C. The Year Civilization Collapsed (Revised edn). Princeton University Press. D’Amato, R., & Salimbeti, Andrea. (2015). Sea Peoples of the Bronze Age Mediterranean c.1400 BC–1000 BC. Osprey. Darnell, J. C., & Manassa, C. M. (2007). Tutankhamun’s armies: Battle and conquest during ancient Egypt’s late eighteenth dynasty. John Wiley & Sons. Davies, B. G. (1997). Egyptian Historical Inscriptions of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Paul Aströms förlag. Dean, R. (2017). Warfare & Weaponry in Dynastic Egypt. Pen & Sword. Finné, M., Woodbridge, J., Labuhn, I., & Roberts, N. (2019). Holocene hydro-climatic variability in the Mediterranean: A synthetic multi-proxy reconstruction. The Holocene, 29, 847--863. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0959683619826634 [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0959683619826634] Heagren, B. (2010). The Art of War in Pharaonic Egypt [Unpublished PhD. Thesis, The University of Auckland]. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49463150_The_art_of_war_in_pharaonic_Egypt_an_analysis_of_the_tactical_logistic_and_operational_capabilities_of_the_Egyptian_army [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49463150_The_art_of_war_in_pharaonic_Egypt_an_analysis_of_the_tactical_logistic_and_operational_capabilities_of_the_Egyptian_army] Healy, M. (1992). New Kingdom Egypt. Osprey Publishing. Kaniewski, D., Campo, E. V., Guiot, J., Burel, S. L., Otto, T., & Baeteman, C. (2013). Environmental Roots of the Late Bronze Age Crisis. PLOS ONE, 8(8), e71004. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0071004 [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0071004] Kaniewski, D., Marriner, N., Bretschneider, J., Jans, G., Morhange, C., Cheddadi, R., Otto, T., Luce, F., & Van Campo, E. (2019). 300-year drought frames Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age transition in the Near East: New palaeoecological data from Cyprus and Syria. Regional Environmental Change, 19, 2287--2297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-018-01460-w [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-018-01460-w] Kitchen, K. A. (1975). Ramesside Inscriptions Historical and Biographical (Vols. 1–8). Blackwell. https://archive.org/details/KennethA.KitchenRamessideInscriptionsVol1 [https://archive.org/details/KennethA.KitchenRamessideInscriptionsVol1] Kitchen, K. A. (1993a). Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments (Vols. 1–2). Blackwell. Kitchen, K. A. (1993b). Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations (Vols. 1–7). Blackwell. Kopanias, K. (2017). Mercenaries or refugees? The evidence from the inscriptions of Merenptah on the “Sea Peoples.” Journal of Greek Archaeology, 2, 119--133. https://www.ancientportsantiques.com/wp-content/uploads/Documents/AUTHORS/SeaPeoples/SeaPeoples-Kopanias2017.pdf [https://www.ancientportsantiques.com/wp-content/uploads/Documents/AUTHORS/SeaPeoples/SeaPeoples-Kopanias2017.pdf] Manassa, C. (2003). The Great Karnak Inscription of Merneptah: Grand Strategy in the 13th Century BC. The Yale Egyptological Seminar. Pollastrini, A. M. (2024). Helmets and Body Armour in New Kingdom Egypt. Bloomsbury Academic. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350323520 [https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350323520] Sabbahy, L. (2013). Depictional Study of Chariot Use in New Kingdom Egypt. In A. Veldmeijer & S. Ikram (Eds.), Chasing Chariots: Proceedings of the First International Chariot Conference (Cairo 2012) (pp. 191--202). Sidestone Press. Shaw, G. J. (2017). War and Trade with the Pharaohs: An Archaeological Study of Ancient Egypt’s Foreign Relations. Pen & Sword. Shaw, I. (2019). Ancient Egyptian Warfare. Casemate. Snape, S. (2003a). The Emergence of Libya on the Horizon of Egypt. In D. O’Connor & S. Quirke (Eds.), Mysterious Lands (pp. 93--106). UCL Press. Snape, S. (2003b). Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham and Egyptian Foreign Trade in the Thirteenth Century BC. Sea Routes: Interconnections in the Mediterranean 16th-6th c. BC. https://www.academia.edu/107251529/Snape_ZUR_and_Egyptian_Foreign_Trade_Zawiyet_Umm_el_Rakham_and_Egyptian_foreign_trade_in_the_thirteenth_century_BC_ [https://www.academia.edu/107251529/Snape_ZUR_and_Egyptian_Foreign_Trade_Zawiyet_Umm_el_Rakham_and_Egyptian_foreign_trade_in_the_thirteenth_century_BC_] Snape, S. (2023). What was Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham for? Early Ramesside Strategy in the Libyan West. In F. Hoffmann & M. R. Abbas (Eds.), Perspectives on the Ramesside Military System (pp. 143--155). Zaphon. Spalinger, A. J. (2004). Review: Manassa, Colleen 2003. The Great Karnak inscription of Merneptah: Grand strategy in the 13th century BC. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 90(reviews supplement), 45--47. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3822286 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3822286] Zutterman, C. (2003). The bow in the Ancient Near East, a re-evaluation of archery from the late 2nd millennium to the end of the Achaemenid empire. IrAnt, 38, 119--165. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

238: Merneptah Seizes Canaan (feat. A Tribe Called Israel)

Merneptah started his reign aggressively, striking a belligerent tone in his royal names and launching an expedition to Canaan in the first few years. In the process, his troops captured Ashkelon, Gezer, and Yenoam, and dealt with a tribe called "Israel." Simultaneously, Merneptah achieved a great diplomatic coup when we brought Ugarit back into the Egyptian sphere. Music by Keith Zizza & Luke Chaos. Video version available at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast Merneptah General Dodson, A. (2016). Poisoned Legacy: The Decline and Fall of the Nineteenth Egyptian Dynasty (Revised edn). Iskander, S. (2002). The Reign of Merneptah [Unpublished PhD. Thesis]. Kitchen, K. A. (1987). The Titularies of the Ramesside Kings as Expression of their Ideal Kingship. Annales Du Service Des Antiquités de l’Égypte, 71, 131--141. Servajean, F. (2014). Mérenptah et la fin de la XIXe dynastie. Sourouzian, H. (1989). Les Monuments du roi Merenptah. Canaan, Ugarit, Proto-Israelites (Summary) Cline, E. H. (2021). 1177 B.C. The Year Civilization Collapsed (Revised edn). Dever, W. G. (2017). Beyond the texts: An archaeological portrait of ancient Israel and Judah. Hasel, M. G. (1998). Domination & Resistance: Egyptian Military Activity in the Southern Levant, ca. 1300-1185 BC. Higginbotham, C. R. (2000). Egyptianization and Elite Emulation in Ramesside Palestine: Governance and Accommodation on the Imperial Periphery. Kahn, D. (2024). The order of Merenptah’s reliefs at the Cour de la Cachette, Karnak and its implications. JSSEA, 51, 15-43 online [https://ssea2020.thessea.org/images/SSEA_assets/journals/JSSEA_51.pdf]. Killebrew, A. E. (2020). Early Israel’s Origins, Settlement, and Ethnogenesis. In B. E. Kelle & B. A. Strawn (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Historical Books of the Hebrew Bible (pp. 79--93). https://www.academia.edu/101675394/Early_Israels_Origins_Settlement_and_Ethnogenesis_by_Ann_E_Killebrew_2020 Kitchen, K. A. (2004). The Victories of Merenptah, and the Nature of their Record. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 28(3), 259--272. https://doi.org/10.1177/030908920402800301 Lackenbacher, S. (1995). Une Correspondence entre l’administration du pharaon Merneptah et le roi d’Ougarit. In Le pays d’Ougarit autour de 1200 av. J.-C.: Histoire et archéologie (pp. 77--84). https://www.mission-ougarit.fr/parutions/serie-ras-shamra-ougarit/ Maeir, A. M. (1988). Remarks on a Supposed “Egyptian Residency” at Gezer. Tel Aviv, 15, 65--67. https://doi.org/10.1179/tav.1988.1988.1.65 Morris, E. F. (2005). The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom. Morris, E. F. (2015). Egypt, Ugarit, the God Ba’al, and the Puzzle of a Royal Rebuff. In J. Mynářová, P. Onderka, & P. Pavúk (Eds.), There and Back Again—The Crossroads II (pp. 315--351). Charles University. https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8WW9154 Rainey, A. F. (2001). Israel in Merenptah’s Inscription and Reliefs. Israel Exploration Journal, 51(1), 57–75. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27926956 Singer, I. (1988). Merneptah’s Campaign to Canaan and the Egyptian Occupation of the Southern Coastal Plain of Palestine in the Ramesside Period. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 269, 1--10. https://doi.org/10.2307/1356946 Singer, I. (2011). The Calm Before the Storm: Selected Writings of Itamar Singer on the late Bronze Age in Anatolia and the Levant. Steiner, R. C. (2024). Merenptah’s Israel, His Shasu Militiamen, His Copper Caravan Route, and the Watering Stations Bearing His Name at Kadesh-Barnea and Me-Nephtoah: Part One. In B. P. Muhs & F. D. Scalf (Eds.), A Master of Secrets in the Chamber of Darkness: Egyptological Studies in Honor of Robert K. Ritner (pp. 329--402). https://www.academia.edu/123986155/Merenptahs_Israel_his_Shasu_militiamen_his_copper_caravan_route_and_the_watering_stations_bearing_his_name_at_Kadesh_barnea_and_Me_nephtoah_Part_One Yurco, F. J. (1986). Merenptah’s Canaanite Campaign. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 23, 189--215. https://doi.org/10.2307/40001099 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Odyssey (2026) First Impressions

A few slightly rambling thoughts (NOT A FULL REVIEW) Video version available free on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast/posts/odyssey-2026-164120678] and YouTube https://youtu.be/5GYyfqFq__E [https://youtu.be/5GYyfqFq__E] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Preserving Howard Carter & Tutankhamun (An Appeal from The Griffith Institute)

The Griffith Institute preserves thousands of documents, plate photographs, and records of Howard Carter's excavation in the tomb of Tutankhamun. But funding cuts are threatening their work to digitise and preserve this archive for future generations. Please consider supporting the Griffith Institute today Donate at https://tutankhamun.griffith.ox.ac.uk/support-us Explore the Tutankhamun Spatial Archive at https://tutankhamun.griffith.ox.ac.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

237: Drinking with Khonsu / The Dream Book

Ramessid Daily Life (Part 2). Why did a tomb-builder skip work for “drinking with Khonsu”? Why was Parahotep never invited to parties? And what did it mean if you dreamed about drinking wine? Records from Deir el-Medina, in the reign of Ramesses II, illuminate aspects of daily life and the concerns of ordinary folks. In this episode, we explore the Absentee List (Ostracon EA 5634 [https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA5634]) and the Dream Book of Qen-her-khopeshef (Papyrus Chester Beatty III [https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=EA&keyword=10683]). Support the show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast [www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast] to get extended episodes, bonus video content, and much more. Follow our YouTube channel @historyegyptpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@historyegyptpodcast] Episode References Černý, J. (2001). A Community of Workmen at Thebes in the Ramesside Period (2nd edn). Davies, B. G. (1999). Who’s Who at Deir el-Medina: A Prosopographic Study of the Royal Workmen’s Community. https://www.nino-leiden.nl/publication/whos-who-at-deir-el-medina Davies, B. G. (2018). Life Within the Five Walls: A Handbook to Deir el-Medina. Donker van Heel, K. (2016). Mrs. Naunakhte & Family: The Women of Ramesside Deir el-Medina. Edwards, I. E. S. (1968). Ḳenḥikhopshef’s Prophylactic Charm. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 54, 155--160. https://doi.org/10.2307/3855919 Gardiner, A. H. (1935). Hieratic Papyri in the British Museum, Third Series: Chester Beatty Gift (Vols. 1–2). Janssen, Jac. J. (1980). Absence from work by the necropolis workmen of Thebes. Studien Zur Altägyptischen Kultur, 8, 127--152. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/25150069.pdf Szpakowska, K. M. (2003). Behind Closed Eyes: Dreams and Nightmares in Ancient Egypt. Wente, E. F. (1990). Letters from Ancient Egypt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]