In this episode of Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh, Lucas and Luna explore Ramses II's transformative renovation of the Great Sphinx at Giza. They uncover how the pharaoh's builders restored the ancient monument, added a new beard and headdress, and inscribed a dream stela between its paws. Along the way, they discuss the Sphinx's original construction under Khafre, the mystery of its missing nose, and the surprising evidence linking it to Ramses' son Khaemwaset, who led restoration efforts. The conversation also touches on the significance of the Sphinx in Egyptian religion, the solar worship revived by Ramses, and how these renovations helped legitimize his rule. Tune in for a fresh look at one of the world's most iconic structures and the pharaoh who gave it new life.

#GreatSphinx #Giza #RamsesII #Khaemwaset #Egyptology #AncientEgypt #Restoration #Khafre #Horus #Kemet #Pharaoh #NorthAfrica #Archaeology #History #FexingoHistory #Monuments #NewKingdom #SolarCult

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Ramses the Great is famous for Kadesh, but what about his lesser-known Syrian campaign and the siege of Dapur? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the military might of Egypt's most celebrated pharaoh beyond the famous chariot charge. They discuss the strategic importance of Amurru, the defection of Benteshina, the use of the 'Sons of Ramses' as elite troops, and the dramatic siege depicted on the walls of the Ramesseum. They also consider the Hittite perspective, the role of the Sherden mercenaries, and how Ramses' propaganda machine turned a near-defeat at Kadesh into a triumph, shaping his legacy as a warrior king. Join them for a deep dive into a lesser-known chapter of Ramesside military history.

#RamsesII #BattleOfDapur #AncientEgypt #Hittites #Amurru #Kadesh #Ramesseum #Sherden #MilitaryHistory #Syria #Pharaoh #Benteshina #SonsOfRamses #SiegeWarfare #NewKingdom #Egyptology #History #FexingoHistory

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Battle of Kadesh, the largest chariot battle ever fought, and how Ramses II turned a near-disaster into a propaganda triumph. They examine the strategies, the challenges from the Hittite king Muwatalli II, and the controversial outcome that led to the first recorded peace treaty in history. The episode unravels the layers of the Kadesh inscriptions—where the pharaoh's claims clash with Hittite records—and considers how Ramses used the 'victory' to solidify his divine image. The conversation also touches on the daily realities of the Egyptian soldier, the role of the Ne'arin troops who saved the day, and the long-term consequences that reshaped the Near East. Listeners will gain a nuanced view of one of antiquity's most iconic conflicts and its legacy in diplomacy.

#RamsesII #BattleOfKadesh #Hittites #MuwatalliII #ChariotWarfare #AncientEgypt #BronzeAge #KadeshInscriptions #PeaceTreaty #Ne'arin #AmunRe #Hatti #Kemet #Pharaoh #History #FexingoHistory #AncientNearEast #MilitaryHistory

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most surprising twists in Ramses the Great's reign: his diplomatic marriage to a Hittite princess, negotiated with the very enemy he fought at Kadesh. They uncover the political maneuvering behind the alliance, the incredible journey of the princess to Egypt, and the symbolic wedding inscription at Abu Simbel. Along the way, they touch on the role of Queen Puduhepa, the Hittite queen who helped broker the deal, and the broader context of Bronze Age diplomacy. The episode offers a fresh perspective on Ramses II as a pragmatist who used marriage as a tool of statecraft, and reflects on what this union meant for the Egyptian and Hittite empires.

#RamsesII #HittitePrincess #DiplomaticMarriage #Kadesh #Puduhepa #HattusiliIII #AbuSimbel #BronzeAge #AncientEgypt #HittiteEmpire #MarriageStela #Maathorneferure #Kemet #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #AncientHistory

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the lives and influence of Ramses the Great's principal wives—Nefertari, Isetnofret, and Maathorneferure—and the complex web of royal women who shaped Egypt's 19th Dynasty. They uncover Nefertari's diplomatic correspondence with the Hittite queen Puduhepa, her temple at Abu Simbel, and her untimely death. They discuss Isetnofret's quieter but crucial role, her son Merenptah becoming pharaoh, and the political marriages that cemented alliances with the Hittites. The conversation touches on the status of royal women, their titles like 'Great Royal Wife' and 'God's Wife of Amun', and how they wielded influence through religion, diplomacy, and family. They also reflect on how Ramses' monumental building projects celebrated these women, and what their tombs and inscriptions reveal about their power. This episode offers a nuanced look at the women who stood beside the most powerful pharaoh of Egypt.

#RamsesII #Nefertari #Isetnofret #Maathorneferure #Puduhepa #GreatRoyalWife #AbuSimbel #QV66 #HittiteAlliance #EgyptianQueens #19thDynasty #Kemet #Amun #Hathor #RoyalWomen #History #AncientEgypt #FexingoHistory

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In this episode of Ramses the Great, Lucas and Luna explore the vital role of the viceroys of Kush — the officials who governed Egypt's southern frontier and managed its most precious resource: gold. Discover how these men, from the legendary Setau to the obscure Nehesy, balanced military command, tribute collection, and diplomacy with the local Nubian chiefs. Learn about the challenges of ruling a vast territory, the risks of rebellion, and the precarious balance between loyalty to the pharaoh and personal ambition. The episode also touches on the broader Egyptian strategy of cultural assimilation, the construction of frontier temples, and the economic engine that funded Ramses' monumental building projects. With a focus on the human stories behind the titles, this discussion illuminates the administrative brilliance that sustained the empire for decades.

#RamsesII #AncientEgypt #Nubia #Kush #Viceroy #Setau #Nehesy #Gold #Kemet #AmunRe #Pharaoh #EgyptianEmpire #NorthAfrica #AncientHistory #HistoryPodcast #Egyptology #FexingoHistory #History

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Ramses the Great is remembered as a master builder and diplomat, but his empire was secured by the ordinary soldiers who marched, fought, and died for him. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Egyptian army of the Nineteenth Dynasty: the conscripts and the professional core, the divisions named for gods, the infantry and chariotry, the logistics of feeding tens of thousands on campaign, and the fate of those who served. We meet the sherden mercenaries who became Pharaoh's elite guard, and Panehesy, a soldier who rose from the ranks to serve as Ramses' right hand in Kush. Drawing on stelae, letters, and artwork from the Ramesseum and Abu Simbel, we piece together what it meant to be a soldier in the world's greatest military machine—from the archers and spearmen to the quartermasters and engineers who kept the army moving. And we take a close look at the battle of Kadesh, not as a hero's tale, but as a day when thousands of ordinary men held the line. If you've ever wondered who really built Egypt's power, this is the story of the hands that held the spears.

#RamsesII #EgyptianArmy #NineteenthDynasty #Kadesh #Sherden #Panehesy #Infantry #Chariotry #AmunDivision #RaDivision #PtahDivision #SethDivision #MilitaryLogistics #AncientEgypt #Kemet #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica

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In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna dig into the economic engine that made Ramses the Great's Egypt possible: the gold mines of Nubia. From the arid wadis east of the Nile to the temple at Abu Simbel, they trace how gold flowed from the southern frontier into the pharaoh's treasury, funding colossal building projects and diplomatic marriages. They discuss the logistics of mining, the brutal conditions for the miners, the role of the viceroy of Kush, and the strategic importance of the Nubian fortresses. Along the way, they explore the legend of the gold of Wawat, the role of the Amun priesthood in managing wealth, and how gold literally oiled the wheels of empire. With a nod to earlier episodes on Abu Simbel and Nubian temples, this conversation reveals the material basis of Ramses' golden age, and how the pursuit of gold shaped Egypt's foreign policy and internal power structures. A must-listen for anyone curious about the economics behind the monuments.

#RamsesII #Nubia #AncientGold #Kush #ViceroyOfKush #AbuSimbel #Wawat #Amun #EgyptianEconomy #MiningHistory #AncientEgypt #NorthAfrica #FexingoHistory #History #Archaeology #Pharaoh #GoldMining #RiverNile

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When Ramses II ruled Egypt, toothache was a fact of life. But for the pharaoh and his court, there was a class of healers devoted to the mouth: the swanw, or dentists. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore what dental care looked like in ancient Kemet—from the gritty bread that wore down molars to the herbal rinses and bronze tools used to extract aching teeth. They delve into the Ebers and Hearst papyri, where remedies for loose teeth and gum disease were written in hieratic, and examine the evidence from mummies like Ramses himself, whose own jaw shows the abscesses that may have plagued his final years. The episode also visits Deir el-Medina, where workers' records reveal dental complaints, and considers the role of the rekh-chet, the common healer, versus the specialized swanw. With reverence for the medical knowledge of the time, Lucas and Luna separate fact from myth, showing how the Egyptians approached oral health with pragmatism and a touch of magic, and how their methods resonate even today.

#RamsesII #AncientEgypt #DentistryHistory #Swanw #EbersPapyrus #HearstPapyrus #MummyResearch #Kemet #DeirElMedina #AncientMedicine #Hieratic #ToothExtraction #Egyptology #NorthAfrica #Pharaoh #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory #History

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Ramses II is famous for his monuments, battles, and colossal ego, but behind the throne stood a network of powerful women. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the lives of the women who shaped his reign: his mother Tuya, who held the title of King's Mother and may have wielded real influence; his chief wives Nefertari and Isetnofret, whose diplomatic and ceremonial roles were crucial; his daughters who became queens, like Bintanath and Meritamen; and the mysterious Maathorneferure, the Hittite princess he married for peace. We trace their titles, their tombs, and their traces in the historical record, from the temple at Abu Simbel to the colossi at the Ramesseum. We also examine the quiet power of women in Egyptian court life, how they managed estates, performed religious rituals, and navigated a polygamous royal household. What did it mean to be a queen in Ramses' Egypt, and how much agency did they really have? Tune in for a fresh angle on the great pharaoh, through the eyes of the women who stood beside him.

#RamsesII #Nefertari #Tuya #Isetnofret #Maathorneferure #Bintanath #Meritamen #AncientEgypt #EgyptianQueens #AbuSimbel #Ramesseum #HittitePrincess #Kemet #Pharaoh #WomenInHistory #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica

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