Ramses the Great's Army: Soldiers and Strategy in the New Kingdom

Ramses the Great's Tomb KV7: The First Royal Tomb in the Valley of the Kings

In this special 100th episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the fascinating story of Ramses the Great's own tomb, KV7, in the Valley of the Kings. Unlike the more famous tomb of Tutankhamun, KV7 is one of the largest and most elaborate royal tombs ever built in Egypt, yet it remains largely unknown to the public. Lucas reveals how Ramses deliberately broke with tradition by being the first pharaoh to construct his tomb in a new location—the Valley of the Kings—setting a precedent for all subsequent New Kingdom rulers. The episode dives into the tomb's innovative architecture, its stunning decorations, and the challenges faced by modern archaeologists, including flooding and looting. Lucas also discusses the discovery of Ramses's mummy in the Deir el-Bahri cache, the ongoing conservation efforts, and the mysteries that still surround the tomb, such as the missing sarcophagus lid. Luna's curious questions guide the conversation, making this a perfect entry point for listeners new to the topic. The episode ends on a reflective note about the fragility of even the greatest monuments. #RamsesII #KV7 #ValleyOfTheKings #AncientEgypt #Pharaoh #Tomb #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #Archaeology #Egyptology #Thebes #DeirElBahri #RoyalCache #Sarcophagus #Looting #Conservation #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Bowmen: Masters of the Composite Bow

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the crucial role of archery in Ramses II's military campaigns, focusing on the composite bow — a weapon of advanced design that gave Egypt a strategic edge. They discuss the types of wood and sinew used, the training of specialized bowmen, and the tactical deployment of archers in chariot warfare, as depicted at the Battle of Kadesh. The conversation also touches on the symbolic importance of the bow in Egyptian culture, from hunting scenes in tombs to the pharaoh's own prowess as an archer. Listeners will learn about the production of arrows, the role of Nubian and Sherden archers in Ramses' army, and how this technology compared with that of Hittite and Sea Peoples adversaries. The episode draws on evidence from the Medinet Habu reliefs and the Kadesh inscriptions to reconstruct the reality of archery in the New Kingdom. #RamsesII #CompositeBow #EgyptianArchery #BattleOfKadesh #MedinetHabu #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #NubianArchers #Sherden #MilitaryHistory #ChariotWarfare #AncientWeapons #Hittites #SeaPeoples #Arrows #SinewBow #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Libyan War: The Forgotten Campaign

For decades, Ramses the Great's military campaigns have been overshadowed by the Battle of Kadesh. But in his later years, Egypt faced a different threat: waves of Libyan tribes pressing into the Nile Delta. This episode explores Ramses' Libyan war—a brutal, strategically complex conflict that reshaped Egypt's western frontier. We trace the origins of the Libyan incursions, the tribes involved (Meshwesh, Libu), and Ramses' decisive counterattacks. Drawing on reliefs at Medinet Habu and inscriptions from Per-Ramesses, we examine the tactics, the fortifications, and the aftermath: Libyan prisoners resettled as soldiers, a pattern that would later destabilize Egypt. We also consider the environmental and economic pressures driving the Libyans west—drought, population shift—and how Ramses' response set a precedent for his successors. The episode closes by linking these campaigns to the later Libyan takeover of Egypt under the 22nd Dynasty, showing how Ramses' solutions sowed the seeds of future change. #RamsesII #LibyanWar #Egyptology #NewKingdom #Meshwesh #Libu #MedinetHabu #PerRamesses #AncientEgypt #NorthAfrica #LateBronzeAge #MilitaryHistory #19thDynasty #FrontierDefense #PrisonersOfWar #DesertWarfare #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Mummy and the Secret of the Royal Cache

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the extraordinary story of Ramses the Great's mummy — from his death around 1213 BCE to the desperate measures priests took to protect his body from tomb robbers. They trace the mummy's journey from the Valley of the Kings to the Deir el-Bahri royal cache, where it lay hidden for nearly 3,000 years alongside other New Kingdom pharaohs. The conversation covers the mummy's discovery in 1881, its unwrapping in Cairo in 1886, and the surprising scientific findings about Ramses' health, including his arthritis and dental problems. They also discuss the mummy's modern travels, including its 1976 visit to Paris for conservation, where scientists discovered the pharaoh had red hair. The episode touches on the ethical debates around displaying royal mummies and the 2021 National Museum of Egyptian Civilization parade. Finally, Lucas and Luna reflect on what Ramses' mummy reveals about Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife and the lengths taken to ensure eternal preservation. #RamsesII #Mummy #EgyptianMummies #ValleyOfTheKings #DeirElBahri #RoyalCache #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Mummification #TombRobbers #Egyptology #NationalMuseumOfEgyptianCivilization #ParisConservation #RedHair #Afterlife #History #FexingoHistory #AncientEgypt Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Gold: Egypt's Economic Powerhouse

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the economic engine behind Ramses the Great's monumental building projects and military campaigns: gold. They travel to the mines of the Eastern Desert and Nubia, discussing the logistics of extraction, the role of the state, and how gold from places like the Wadi Hammamat and the mines of Kush financed an empire. They touch on the Turin Papyrus Map, the oldest surviving topographical map, which guided expeditions to gold deposits. The conversation also covers the tribute system from vassal states and the diplomatic role of gold in the Late Bronze Age world, including gifts to Hittite royalty. Ramses' control of gold was key to his power, but it also created dependencies and vulnerabilities. This episode offers a fresh angle on the economic history of New Kingdom Egypt, revealing how the pharaoh's wealth was both a source of strength and a strategic challenge. #RamsesTheGreat #AncientEgypt #GoldMining #NubianGold #TurinPapyrusMap #EasternDesert #WadiHammamat #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Kemet #Kush #EconomicHistory #LateBronzeAge #PharaonicWealth #MiningTechnology #TributeSystem #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]