Ramses the Great's City of Per-Ramesses: Capital of an Empire

Ramses the Great's City of Per-Ramesses: Capital of an Empire

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the heart of Ramses the Great's empire: his magnificent capital city of Per-Ramesses, 'House of Ramses, Great of Victories.' Built on the site of the former Hyksos capital Avaris in the eastern Nile Delta, this sprawling metropolis was a showcase of imperial power, blending Egyptian tradition with foreign influences. We follow the city's construction from its founding early in Ramses' reign to its peak as a bustling hub of trade, diplomacy, and military might. Learn about its four great precincts dedicated to Amun, Re, Ptah, and Seth, its massive storehouses that fed the army and the gods, and its canals that turned the Delta into a thriving agricultural zone. We discuss the discovery of the site at modern Tell el-Dab'a and Qantir, the challenges of archaeology in the Delta, and the city's eventual decline after the 20th Dynasty. Along the way, we touch on the Hittite princess's arrival, the Sea Peoples' threat, and how Per-Ramesses served as both a political statement and a practical administrative center. #PerRamesses #RamsesTheGreat #AncientEgypt #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #Avaris #TellElDaba #Qantir #Seth #AmunRe #Ptah #NileDelta #EgyptianArchitecture #ImperialCapital #BronzeAge #Egyptology #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Stables: The War Horses of Per-Ramesses

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the vital role of the horse in Ramses II's military and ceremonial life. They visit the sprawling royal stables at Per-Ramesses, where thousands of horses were bred, trained, and prepared for war. Lucas explains the origins of the Egyptian chariot force — imported from the Hyksos and refined by the New Kingdom — and describes how Ramses personally named his favorite horses, like 'Victory in Thebes' and 'Mut is Content.' They discuss the training regimen, the logistics of feeding and watering thousands of horses in the desert, and the bond between charioteer and horse that could decide a battle. The conversation also touches on the Kikkuli text, a Hittite horse-training manual that may have influenced Egyptian practice, and the heartbreaking reality that many horses died in battle or were sacrificed after their master's death. No prior episodes have covered the equine dimension of Ramses's reign, making this a fresh and intimate look at the creatures that powered his war machine. #RamsesII #PerRamesses #EgyptianHorses #ChariotWarfare #NewKingdom #Kikkuli #HypostyleHall #Hyksos #VictoryInThebes #MutIsContent #RoyalStables #AncientEgypt #HorseTraining #WarHorses #FexingoHistory #History #19thDynasty #Kemet Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Divine Birth: The Luxor Temple Theogamy

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Theogamy relief at Luxor Temple, where Ramses the Great claimed divine birth from the god Amun-Re. They discuss how this propaganda mirrored Hatshepsut's earlier claims, the political context of the 19th Dynasty, and what it tells us about Egyptian kingship. The conversation also touches on the temple's architecture, the role of Queen Tuya, and how Ramses used religion to cement his authority. A brief, candid moment about listener support keeps the show ad-free. #RamsesII #LuxorTemple #Theogamy #DivineBirth #AmunRe #Hatshepsut #EgyptianKingship #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Propaganda #QueenTuya #Kemet #AncientEgypt #TempleReliefs #Pharaoh #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Food and Feast: Feeding an Empire

When you rule the ancient world's greatest superpower for 67 years, you need to feed millions. This episode explores the vast agricultural engine behind Ramses II's Egypt—the grains, cattle, and fish that sustained the might of Kemet. We follow the annual inundation of Hapi, the Nile's flood, which turned the desert green and filled the royal granaries. Lucas and Luna discuss the daily diet of a Deir el-Medina worker versus a Theban noble's banquet, with wine from the Delta, honey from the marshes, and the great baking industry at Per-Ramesses. They uncover how Ramses used grain as power—storing it against famine, paying his army of Sherden and Medjay, and hosting his Hittite allies with sumptuous feasts. The episode also looks at the role of the 'Scribe of the Fields' and the tax collectors who tracked every bushel. A surprising detail: the sacred Apis bulls were fattened on the best barley, and the royal kitchen at the Ramesseum employed hundreds. A conversation about the food that made an empire. #RamsesII #AncientEgypt #EgyptianFood #Nile #PerRamesses #DeirElMedina #EgyptianAgriculture #Hapi #Feasting #EgyptianBread #WineInEgypt #Ramesseum #ApisBull #Kemet #FexingoHistory #Podcast #History #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Royal Wives: Nefertari and Isisnofret

While Ramses the Great is famous for his monumental building projects and military campaigns, his personal life was equally complex. This episode delves into the lives of his two principal wives, Nefertari and Isisnofret, exploring their political roles, religious influence, and the power dynamics within the royal harem. We examine Nefertari's temple at Abu Simbel, her diplomatic correspondence with the Hittite queen Puduhepa, and her titles as 'Great Royal Wife' and 'God's Wife of Amun.' Isisnofret, often overshadowed, emerges as a key figure through her son Khaemwaset's religious reforms and her own monuments. We also touch on the lesser-known wives, including Ramses's Hittite princess Maathorneferure, and the children who shaped the succession. The episode considers archaeological evidence from the Valley of the Queens (QV66) and recent DNA studies that hint at family relationships. Listeners will gain a nuanced view of how royal women wielded soft power in New Kingdom Egypt, balancing religious duties, diplomacy, and dynastic ambitions. #Nefertari #Isisnofret #RamsesII #AbuSimbel #GreatRoyalWife #ValleyOfTheQueens #QV66 #Puduhepa #Maathorneferure #Khaemwaset #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #EgyptianQueens #RoyalHarem #AncientEgypt #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]