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

Ramses the Great's Builders: The Workers Behind the Monuments

We often marvel at Ramses II's colossal statues and temples, but who actually cut the stone, hauled the blocks, and carved the hieroglyphs? This episode turns the spotlight away from the pharaoh and onto the army of craftsmen, laborers, and slaves who built his monuments. We examine the organization of work crews at the Ramesseum and Abu Simbel, the specialized roles of quarrymen and sculptors at Aswan and Gebel el-Silsila, the supply chain that fed and housed thousands, and the evidence we have of their daily lives—from graffiti left by work gangs to the workers' village at Deir el-Medina, which predated Ramses but set the pattern. We also discuss the use of prisoners of war and foreign labor, including Sherden and Libyans, and what the Turin Papyrus and other records reveal about compensation, discipline, and even strikes for overdue rations. This is the story of the hands that made Ramses's vision real—a side of his reign that is less glamorous but no less essential to understanding Egypt's greatest builder. #RamsesII #AncientEgypt #DeirElMedina #Workers #Ramesseum #AbuSimbel #Aswan #GebelElSilsila #Sherden #TurinPapyrus #BuildingTheMonuments #Labor #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Kemet #History #FexingoHistory #Egyptology Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Scribe and the Battle of Kadesh Propaganda

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the pivotal role of royal scribes in Ramses the Great's propaganda machine, focusing on the scribe Pentaur and the famous 'Poem of Pentaur' that immortalized the Battle of Kadesh as a glorious victory. They discuss how Egyptian scribes were trained, the political necessity of crafting a heroic narrative after a near-disastrous battle, and the archaeological evidence that reveals the truth behind the propaganda. The conversation also delves into the 'Bulletin' text at temples, the role of the god Amun-Re in divine justification, and how this propaganda shaped Ramses' legacy for millennia. Specific details include the locations of the inscriptions at the Ramesseum, Luxor Temple, and Abu Simbel, and the contrast between the official account and Hittite records from Hattusa. The episode also touches on the scribal tool kit—palettes, reed pens, black and red ink—and the education system that produced elite scribes like Pentaur. #Ramses #Pentaur #Kadesh #EgyptianScribes #Propaganda #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #AmunRe #Ramesseum #AbuSimbel #LuxorTemple #Hittites #Hattusa #AncientEgypt #Hieroglyphs #PoemOfPentaur #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

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]