Ramses the Great's Priesthood: Power Behind the Throne

Ramses the Greats Libyans: Migrants, Mercenaries, and the War for the Delta

Lucas and Luna explore Ramses the Great's long-running campaign against the Libyans, a threat that haunted Egypt's western border for decades. In this episode, they uncover who the Tjehenu and Tjemehu peoples really were — not a single nation, but a shifting coalition of tribes driven by drought and ambition. Lucas explains how Ramses turned the delta into a military zone, building a chain of forts and watchtowers that stretched from the Mediterranean to the Fayum. They discuss the Great Libyan War, a massive invasion that nearly broke through in Ramses's later years, and how the pharaoh's response — deportations, resettlement, and the creation of a Libyan mercenary corps — changed Egypt forever. Along the way, they touch on the archaeological evidence: the vivid battle reliefs at Medinet Habu, the inscribed 'year 11' stelae, and the surprising role of the Sherden sea peoples as Egyptian allies against the Libyans. This episode offers a fresh look at a frontier war that shaped the fate of the New Kingdom and foreshadowed the 'Sea Peoples' invasions yet to come. #RamsesII #LibyanWar #Tjehenu #Tjemehu #MedinetHabu #AncientEgypt #NorthAfrica #NewKingdom #Merenptah #Sherden #DeltaFortresses #LibyanTribes #BattleReliefs #Pharaoh #Warfare #History #FexingoHistory #AncientWarfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Priesthood: Power Behind the Throne

Lucas and Luna explore the immense political and economic power wielded by the high priests of Amun-Re during Ramses the Great's reign. They delve into the career of Bekenkhons, who served as High Priest of Amun for over 27 years, and his predecessor Nebwenenef. The conversation covers the priesthood's control over vast temple estates, their role as power brokers in Thebes, and how Ramses managed this influential institution through strategic appointments and by elevating other cults like that of Ptah. Listeners will learn about the daily rituals performed in Karnak, the temple's role as an economic engine, and the delicate balance between pharaoh and clergy that shaped Ramses's rule. #RamsesTheGreat #AncientEgypt #HighPriest #AmunRe #Bekenkhons #Nebwenenef #Karnak #Thebes #TempleEconomy #Priesthood #Pharaoh #EgyptianReligion #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Ptah #PerRamesses #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Hittite Peace Treaty: The World's First

In Episode 170, Lucas and Luna explore the diplomatic masterpiece that ended decades of war between Egypt and the Hittite Empire: the Treaty of Kadesh, often called the world's first surviving peace treaty. They walk through the crumbling political landscape after the famous battle—neither side had won decisively, and both empires were exhausted. Lucas unpacks the years of back-channel negotiations, the exchange of letters in Akkadian cuneiform, and the key players: Hattusili III, who seized the Hittite throne, and Ramses, who saw a chance for stability. They discuss the treaty's terms—extradition clauses, mutual defense pacts, and the marriage alliance that sealed it—all inscribed on silver tablets and copied onto temple walls at Karnak and Ramesseum. Luna wonders about enforcement, and Lucas explains how the treaty was reinforced by the arrival of a Hittite princess, Maathorneferure, who became Ramses's queen. They also touch on the treaty's legacy: a copy hangs in the United Nations today. The episode ends with a reflection on what peace meant for two ancient superpowers—and what it cost. #RamsesTheGreat #TreatyOfKadesh #HittiteEmpire #HattusiliIII #Maathorneferure #Karnak #Ramesseum #Akkadian #EgyptianHittitePeace #AncientDiplomacy #WorldsFirstPeaceTreaty #SilverTablet #Puduhepa #Kemet #BronzeAge #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Nubian Viceroy Setau: Governor of Gold

From the gold mines of Nubia to the temples of Abu Simbel, Ramses the Great's reign depended on one man: Setau, the Viceroy of Kush. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how this former military officer became the second-most powerful figure in Egypt, overseeing the extraction of Nubian gold that financed Ramses's building projects and diplomatic outreach. They discuss Setau's rise under the shadow of earlier viceroys like Amenemope, his role in constructing the temples of Gerf Hussein and Wadi es-Sebua, and how he navigated the tension between Egyptian pharaohs and Nubian chiefs. The conversation also touches on the hieroglyphic inscriptions Setau left behind, the logistics of gold mining, and the legacy of Nubian gold in Egyptian history—including the economic pressures that ultimately destabilized the empire. A deep dive into a figure who managed the wealth of an empire. #Setau #ViceroyOfKush #NubianGold #RamsesTheGreat #AbuSimbel #GerfHussein #WadiEsSebua #Kush #EgyptianGoldMines #Amenemope #LowerNubia #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #AncientEgypt #NorthAfrica #FexingoHistory #History #AncientHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Brewers: Beer and Power in Ancient Kemet

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the overlooked role of beer in Ramses the Great's Egypt. Beer was more than a daily staple—it was a currency, a religious offering, and a tool of state control. Lucas explains how brewers produced tens of thousands of gallons annually for temple rituals, worker rations, and diplomatic gifts. He discusses the ingredients—emmer wheat, dates, and flavorings like coriander—and the brewing process, which included a unique 'sweet' style for festivals. The conversation touches on the economic scale at Per-Ramesses, the political symbolism of beer in the Kadesh treaty, and archaeological evidence from Deir el-Medina and the Ramesseum. Luna asks about the role of women brewers and the link to divinities like Hathor and Sekhmet. A donation segment asks listeners to support ad-free history at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. The episode ends with a reflection on how everyday commodities shaped empire. #RamsesTheGreat #AncientEgypt #BeerHistory #Kemet #PerRamesses #DeirElMedina #Hathor #Sekhmet #KadeshTreaty #Brewing #EmmerWheat #WorkerRations #TempleEconomy #FexingoHistory #History #NorthAfrica #NewKingdom #AncientBrewing Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]