Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History

Ramses the Great Queen Nefertari Her Temple at Abu Simbel

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the smaller but equally magnificent temple at Abu Simbel that Ramses II built for his Great Royal Wife, Nefertari. Dedicated to the goddess Hathor and to Nefertari herself, the temple is a unique monument to a queen's divine status. They discuss the temple's facade with its six colossal statues, the inner chambers where Nefertari appears as a priestess before Hathor and Mut, and the significance of the temple's location on the Nile at the southern gateway to Egypt. Lucas explains how Nefertari, whose name means 'Beautiful Companion,' was not just a royal consort but a diplomatic partner, as seen in her correspondence with the Hittite queen Puduhepa. The episode also touches on the rediscovery of Abu Simbel by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1813 and the incredible UNESCO relocation project in the 1960s that saved both temples from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Finally, Lucas and Luna reflect on what Nefertari's temple tells us about her role and Ramses' enduring love, which he immortalized in stone. #Nefertari #AbuSimbel #RamsesII #Hathor #AncientEgypt #Egyptology #QueenNefertari #GreatRoyalWife #UNESCO #LakeNasser #Nubia #Temple #Hieroglyphs #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Wadi Hammamat Expedition

In 1200 BCE, Pharaoh Ramses II launched a massive quarrying expedition into the Eastern Desert of Egypt, targeting the graywacke stone of Wadi Hammamat. This episode follows the logistics of that journey: over 8,000 men, including soldiers, scribes, and stonecutters, marching through a barren landscape with donkeys carrying water. We explore the stela left behind by Ramses's overseer, which records the success of the mission and the discovery of a well. Join Lucas and Luna as they discuss the practical realities of Egyptian stone procurement, the role of the Medjay as desert scouts, and how the extracted stone became statues and temple blocks across Kemet. This episode also touches on the spiritual significance of Wadi Hammamat as a sacred site to the god Min and the risks of sandstorms and scorpions. A vivid look at the industrial might behind the monuments. #RamsesII #WadiHammamat #EasternDesert #AncientEgypt #Egyptology #Quarrying #Graywacke #Medjay #Min #Stela #Expedition #Logistics #Kemet #NewKingdom #NineteenthDynasty #StoneProcurement #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Dazzling Temple at Abu Simbel

In episode 60 of our Fexingo History series on Ramses the Great, we dive into the breathtaking rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel, carved into the cliffs of southern Egypt in the 13th century BC. Lucas and Luna explore the temple's colossal statues of Ramses and his queen Nefertari, the intricate alignment with the sun twice a year, and the hidden chambers dedicated to gods like Ptah, Amun-Re, Ra-Harakhty, and the deified Ramses himself. They discuss the temple's purpose as a statement of power and piety on the Nubian border, the engineering marvel of its construction, and its rediscovery and relocation in the 1960s to save it from Lake Nasser. This episode also touches on the relationship between Ramses and his beloved queen Nefertari, the temple's decorative reliefs showing the Battle of Kadesh, and the daily rituals performed by priests. A perfect companion for anyone fascinated by ancient Egyptian monuments, pharaonic propaganda, and the artistry of the New Kingdom. #AbuSimbel #RamsesTheGreat #Nefertari #AncientEgypt #Egyptology #NewKingdom #RockCutTemple #Colossi #SolarAlignment #Kadesh #Ptah #AmunRe #RaHarakhty #UNESCO #LakeNasser #Nubia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Dazzling Temple at Abu Simbel

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the magnificent rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses the Great in Nubia. They discuss the temple's dramatic relocation in the 1960s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the colossal statues of Ramses, and the smaller temple dedicated to his queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. The conversation covers the temple's alignment so that twice a year sunlight illuminates the inner sanctuary, the ancient symbolism of the facade showing Ramses as a god among gods, and the modern rescue operation that involved cutting the temple into blocks and reassembling it 200 feet higher. Listeners will learn about the four colossal statues of Ramses, the smaller figures of his family, the hieroglyphic inscriptions celebrating his victory at Kadesh, and the temple's role in projecting Egyptian power into Nubia. The episode also touches on the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, a remarkable feat of engineering and international cooperation. #AbuSimbel #RamsesTheGreat #Nefertari #Nubia #LakeNasser #AncientEgypt #TempleRelocation #RockCutTemple #Hathor #Kadesh #Colossi #Hieroglyphs #UNESCO #Egyptology #Pharaoh #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Smiting Scenes: The Art of Pharaoh as Warrior

When Ramses II carved his victories into temple walls, he wasn't just recording history — he was projecting divine power. In Episode 58, Lucas and Luna explore the iconic 'smiting scenes' that appear on nearly every Ramessid monument, from Abu Simbel to Karnak to the Ramesseum. Why did Ramses have himself depicted gripping enemies by the hair, raising a mace to strike them down, over and over again? These images were not mere propaganda; they were ritual statements of ma'at — cosmic order — triumphing over chaos. The episode examines the artistic conventions of the smiting pose (tracing it back to the Narmer Palette 1,500 years earlier), the specific enemies depicted (Libyans, Nubians, Hittites, and the mysterious Sea Peoples), and the hieroglyphic labels that sometimes name individuals like the Libyan chief Mesher or the Hittite prince. Lucas unpacks how these scenes functioned as 'execration texts' — magical acts that ensured the pharaoh's dominance in the afterlife. The conversation also touches on the controversial 'Battle of Kadesh' reliefs at the Ramesseum, where Ramses rewrote a near-defeat as a personal victory gifted by Amun. Finally, they consider what the smiting scenes reveal about Ramses's personality: a king who needed the world to see him as the invincible guardian of Egypt's borders, even when the reality was messier. A tight, visual dive into one of pharaonic art's most enduring motifs. #RamsesII #SmitingScenes #AbuSimbel #Karnak #Ramesseum #NarmerPalette #Ma'at #AncientEgypt #PharaonicArt #Kadesh #Libyans #Nubians #SeaPeoples #Hieroglyphs #ExecrationTexts #Propaganda #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]