
Death is Only the Beginning: The Pyramid Texts of Unas (Part 1)
Unas in the sky with deities. Around 2320 BCE, King Unas did something interesting. His pyramid, at Saqqraa, is the first (surviving) monument to feature the Pyramid Texts. These elaborate hieroglyph ...
6 Aug 201344min

16: A Cannibal Hymn (The Pyramid Texts of Unas, Short Version)
The Pyramid Texts of Unas (c.2400 BCE) are ancient Egypt's earliest well-preserved work of religious literature. The texts are fascinating, a mix of arcane mysteries, mythological references, and roya...
5 Aug 201335min

15: Djedkare, The Enduring Ka
Dynasty 6 and new ideas. Around 2440 BCE, a new king came to power. King Djed-ka-Re ("The Spirit of Re Endures") was an effective ruler, who reformed the government and left a rich artistic and writte...
22 Juli 201329min

14: The Joy of Re's Heart
An Uphill Battle. The reign of King Ny-user-Re was not a bed of lotuses. After a rocky start, the young ruler worked to make his household and kingdom prosperous. We see this trend in a flowering of a...
8 Juli 201332min

13: When Hairdressers Ruled
I Got You, Fam. After a series of short reigns, King Ny-User-Re came to power and brought some much-needed stability. In his long reign, Niuserre strengthened the power of his government and household...
24 Juni 201338min

12: I Make the Soul Beautiful
Quick Successions. After the death of Sahure, multiple kings came and went in a short span of time. In this episode, we follow the reigns of Nefer-ir-ka-Re ("Making the Soul of Re Beautiful") and Ra-n...
10 Juni 201328min

11: Sahura & the First Egyptian Expeditions to Punt
The Great Fleet. Around 2485 BCE, King Userkaf died and passed the throne to his son, Sahure ("One Who is Close to Re"). At this point, Egyptians launched the first (recorded) expedition to Punt. This...
29 Apr 201333min

10: Userkaf & the Sun Temples
New Dynasty, New Me. Around 2490 BCE, a new lineage held royal power. Khentykaus I and her son, Userkaf, had established a new household. Now, the next generations of rulers had some interesting innov...
15 Apr 201333min






















