The winter 2025/26 excavation season is underway, and lots of news is coming forth already. Let's explore the major finds!

Chapters:

The GEM is open 00:30.

Scans at Menkaura's pyramid: 04:12.

Discovery at Tanis: 07:31.

Alexandria ship: 08:49.

Amarna Plague? 10:39.

Thera Tempest? 12:41.

Karnak Re-Dated: 14:43.

New Temple Discovery: 16:05.

Sources:

Menkaura pyramid scans: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096386952500012X

Tanis discovery: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/557221/Antiquities/Ancient-Egypt/-royal-ushabti-figurines-unearthed-in-Nile-Delta-T.aspx

Alexandria ship:

Amarna plague:

Thera Eruption and Tempest Stela:

Karnak re-dated:

Niuserra Valley Temple:

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A quick message to say thanks for listening in 2025, and what's coming up on the podcast...

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I recently did an interview with the Science Factory YouTube channel. This is a short preview of the conversation. Find the full video at the Science Factory on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K731D4bfMw and on their podcast

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Howdy folks, it's time for another Livestream lecture! This time, I want to take you on a tour of Abu Simbel. To explain the design, decoration, and history of the monument. Along the way, we'll introduce Nefertari and her special temple, and the myriad royal children whom Ramesses displayed on his monuments.

Livestream will be on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@dominicperryae

The lecture should last approx. 60 minutes, with time at the end for questions etc. Hope to see you there!

Timezone conversions:

Los Angeles, USA: Sat, 20 Dec 2025 at 11:30 PST

Chicago, USA: Sat, 20 Dec 2025 at 13:30 CST

New York, USA: Sat, 20 Dec 2025 at 14:30 EST

London, United Kingdom: Sat, 20 Dec 2025 at 19:30 GMT

Cairo, Egypt: Sat, 20 Dec 2025 at 21:30 EET

Seoul, South Korea: Sun, 21 Dec 2025 at 04:30 KST

Auckland, New Zealand: Sun, 21 Dec 2025 at 08:30 NZDT

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Divine intermediaries. Ramesses II commissioned many statues, some of which are among the largest ever quarried. From the halls of the Grand Egyptian Museum, to the bedrock of Aswan, we follow the King's development of a remarkable project. Colossal statues of the king, bearing distinct names and even their own priests, provided Ramesses' subjects with new intercessors between their world and the gods...

Logo: The statue "Ramesses, Beloved of Ptah," from the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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Egyptian-Hittite Diplomacy. In the aftermath of the Treaty, Ramesses II and Hattusili III got down to business establishing their brotherhood. From prospective summits in Canaan, to fabulous gift-exchanges by Nefertari and a prince, the Egyptian and Hittite courts negotiated their new bonds. Alas, things weren't always rosy, and the issue of Urhi-Teshub caused great friction between the two Kings. Finally, we meet the man who shuttled back-and-forth between these kingdoms, delivering the goods: the Egyptian royal messenger Netjerwymes aka Pirikhnawa gets a look in...

Logo image: Hititte drinking vessel in the shape of a fist. Silver, 15th--13th Centuries BCE. Boston Museum of Fine Arts https://collections.mfa.org/objects/322343/drinking-vessel-in-the-shape-of-a-fist

Music: Luke Chaos.

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In November of 2026, I’d like to take you on a tour I’m calling “Roaming with Ramesses.” Themed around the 19th Dynasty, and the days of the Ramessid pharaohs, we’ll explore multiple sites across northern and southern Egypt. The tour is organised by my long-time collaborators, Ancient World Tours. They’ve been in the business for over 30 years, and every tour we’ve run has been a marvel of smooth sailing and general delights. So, we're in good hands.

Tour costs, details, and sign-up form at https://www.ancient.co.uk/holiday/roaming-with-ramesses/

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The ultimate pharaoh makes the ultimate agreement. In this interview, Prof. Peter Brand offers us his insights on the cultures of Egypt and Hatti around the time of the Year 21 Treaty. From the background details of diplomatic correspondence, to the larger context of empires at war, we deep-dive the history of this important treaty.

Learn more about Prof. Peter Brand's work at https://memphis.academia.edu/PeterBrand.

Find Prof. Brand's book Ramesses II, Egypt's UIltimate Pharaoh via Lockwood Press and all good retailers.

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The Egyptian-Hittite Treaty. In regnal year 21 (c.1272 BCE), Ramesses II announced a treaty with Hattusili III. The two kings united in "peace and brotherhood, forever," and agreed to a raft of provisions regarding their territories, vassals, rules-of-succession, and more.

As the first (surviving) treaty between the two Great Powers, the year 21 agreement is a landmark in the history of diplomacy. We explore the text and its impact...

Music: Luke Chaos.

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The later wars of Ramesses II (Years 8 to 15). Following Kadesh, Ramesses led or despatched further campaigns into Canaan and Syria. These battles are documented on his temple walls, preserving some details of the geopolitical situation. From the death of a rival, to the plundering of Syria's heartland, we go in search of these "lost campaigns."

Music: Ancient Lyric and Luke Chaos.

Logo image: Ramesses II attacks Dapur (Wikimedia public domain).

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