Interlude: Royal Children On the Rise.

From 1385 to 1380, the prince of Egypt Thutmose was climbing up the ranks. From a lowly sem-priest to the chief of a great temple, Thutmose was a quickly rising star. His sister, Sit-Amun, also leaves a tantalizing trace of her life. We explore a non-royal funeral, the cult of the Apis Bull, and see how a prince of Egypt left some wonderful personal records, including those of his pet.

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An interview with composer Jeffrey Goodman.Jeff Goodman has composed some wonderful pieces evoking the world of ancient Egypt. Taking inspiration from mythology, art and literature, he crafts lovely songs with a focus on authenticity in instrumentation. As part of the larger investigation of music, I invited him onto the show for a discussion about composition, ancient musicality, and how to evoke the past when we have no written notation left. This is the first time I've interviewed someone; it was an interesting experience!

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Instruments, Musicians, and Songs.

In this mini episode, we explore the traces of ancient Egyptian songs and music. Although the melodies and rhythms are lost, we still have lyrics, instruments and artwork detailing some of these arts. From this, we can understand how certain instruments were played, and what different artists tried to achieve. Plus, modern reconstructions can give us a hint at the soundscape of ancient Egypt.

Musical Interludes (by permission):

This is Part One; a second part (including an interview with composer Jeffrey Goodman) will follow soon.

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Interlude: Queen Tiy's Lucky Family.

The family of Queen Tiy came from an interesting place, and led a fascinating life. Her mother and father - Tjuyu and Yuya - and her brother Anen enjoyed great privileges thanks to their family connections. In life, and in death, they left an enduring legacy...

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Amunhotep III (Part 8): Hunting, Wedding, Building.

From 1392 to 1390 BCE, Amunhotep III experienced an interesting few years. He hunted his 100th lion, and welcomed a new bride to his court. The princess Gilu-khepa came from Mitanni, for a diplomatic marriage to the king. Then, Amunhotep commissioned an artificial lake, built for the glory of his main wife, Tiy. Interesting times, all round...

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Three Poems of Love from 18th Dynasty Egypt.

Around 1400 BCE, scribes and composers put together delightful works exploring themes of love, longing, lust and courtship. They told tales from both male and female perspectives, describing the emotions and sensations of their desires and affections. In this mini episode, we explore three short poems.

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Amunhotep III (Part 7): Everything Bigger Than Everything Else.

For 2000+ years, the Colossi of Memnon have dazzled visitors to Thebes. What are the statues doing there? In this episode, we explore the lost Mortuary Temple of Amunhotep III, in particular the immense statues which are his enduring legacy. From the work of Egyptian builders to the heroes of Greek myth, the Colossi of Memnon have a unique and unusual story...

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Amunhotep III (Part 6): City of a Hundred Pylons.

In 1397 BCE, King Amunhotep III began a massive series of building projects in Thebes. At Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the new "Maru" viewing place, the King inaugurated sanctuaries and gardens for the god Amun. We explore these monuments, and how they created a reputation that still resonated in the sagas of Greek myth...

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A Scribe yearns for a holiday, and goes in search of peace.

Two texts, written between 1400 and 1300 BCE, tell of the exhausted scribe's yearning for a holiday. Sick of work, he struggles to focus on tasks, and finds his heart wandering off to more pleasant places. The city of Memphis, Men-nefer (or Ineb-Hedj) looms large in his fantasies.

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Amunhotep III (Part 5): Exploring the Southlands. In late 1397 BCE, King Amunhotep III took a band of warriors deep into Nubia (Sudan). They traversed deserts, explored hidden pools, and came to mysterious lands. It was a trip into strange new places...

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