The new royal tomb, and how two 18th Dynasty rulers defined the "New Kingdom" as we know it. Prof. Aidan Dodson is a dedicated and prolific scholar, whose research covers many facets of ancient Egyptian history (and even WW1 warships!) His latest book, Thutmose III & Hatshepsut: Pharaohs of Egypt - Their Lives and Afterlives looks at how these two monarchs, and their followers, defined many of the aspects of "pharaonic culture" as we imagine it. Along the way, we also discuss the new royal tomb, its significance, and its connection to these famous figures.

Prof. Aidan Dodson at Academia.edu and the University of Bristol.

Book: Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, Pharaohs of Egypt at AUC Press.

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News from the Field 2025, Part 1. In February 2025, the breaking news was the discovery of a royal tomb. An archaeological mission working in Luxor are confident they have located the grave of King Thutmose II. The tomb itself was discovered in late 2022, and the team announced it publicly in 2023. I reported on that initial find in the news roundup for that year. Now, another season has passed, and the team’s work has come to fruition...

I am also joined by Dr. Chris Naunton, former Director of the Egypt Exploration Society, who was discussed the new find on his blog, and joins us to share some wider context and speculation.

Music interludes by Keith Zizza and Luke Chaos.

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Recorded May 2024. A name more famous than its owners. The Cleopatras of Egypt (all seven of them) were remarkably influential women and rulers. Frequently taking up power and responsibilities far beyond their more famous husbands (the Ptolemies), the seven Cleopatras of Egypt (and even more in the wider Hellenistic world) are worthy of greater attention and respect. In this interview, Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones of Cardiff University introduces these figures and his new book The Cleopatras: Forgotten Queens of Egypt.

Author details:

Rulers discussed in this episode:

The History of Egypt Podcast:

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In 1881, a remarkable discovery took place in Luxor, Egypt. In the hills of Deir el-Bahari, a secret tomb held the reburied mummies of Egypt’s famous pharaohs. Figures like Sety I, Ramesses II, Thutmose III, and Amunhotep I lay in rest, in carefully hidden coffins. However, the caskets themselves hold many secrets, which today’s guest has spent years exploring.

VIDEO VERSION available on YouTube.

Interview guest:

The Deir el-Bahari cache and the royal coffins & mummies: 

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The coffin of Sety I (now in the NMEC) was probably reworked from an earlier piece, during the reburials in DB320 (the royal cache). But how can we tell? Dr. Peter Lacovara explains.

Dr. Lacovara's website https://peterlacovara.com/

Video version available at Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast

Video version available on YouTube https://youtu.be/6e1fauj4qPA

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Elizabeth Frood is Associate Professor of Egyptology and Director of the Griffith Institute at the University of Oxford, UK. In a lively discussion, Dr. Frood shares her insights into ancient lives and how people living in the non-royal sphere approached their immortality. Statues, texts and graffiti show us the minds of these people and how they depicted their concerns, beliefs and ideas. It's a great conversation and I think you'll really enjoy it!

Prof. Frood's book: Biographical Texts from Ramessid Egypt, 2007.

Academic pages:

Prof. Frood's story:

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Sety’s royal burial. Valley of the Kings tomb 17 (KV17) came to light in October 1817. Discovered by a team of Egyptian workers, employed by Giovanni Belzoni, the tomb is the most beautiful, and one of the largest, in the entire Valley.

Learn more about KV17:

3D Tour by Mused: https://mused.com/tours/926/tomb-of-seti-i-valley-of-the-kings/

Theban Mapping Project https://thebanmappingproject.com/tombs/kv-17-sety-i

Photos: Kairoinfo4u via https://www.flickr.com/photos/manna4u/albums/72157687439529835/

KV17 at Wikimedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:KV17

==

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com

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It's time to visit Egypt again. In November 2025, we are doing a 9-day visit to Luxor for the "Glories of Thebes!" Starting in Cairo (with the GEM) we head south to visit the Valley of the Kings, Memorial Temples, Deir el-Medina, Abydos, Karnak, and so much more.

Note: Future tour groups will be smaller than previous years (because I don't have to travel so far, from NZ, anymore). Places are limited, so get in touch!

If you're interested and want to add extra days in Cairo for pyramids, Saqqara, etc, let AWT know in your contact email. Things can always be arranged!

Logo image: Scene from the tomb of Thutmose III, which we visit on a special permit.

The November tour is now sold out. Please stay tuned for future trips!

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After a reign of approximately eleven years, the Horus Men-Ma’at-Ra (Sety I) passed to the west. He died in reasonably good health, and studies of his mummy reveal a tall, physically robust individual. So, what killed him? We explore these questions, and the history of his Memorial Temple, where the King’s body lay in state ready for burial…

Music by Bettina Joy de Guzman www.bettinajoydeguzman.com.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

Additional music “Sety’s Funeral” by Ihab Mahna https://www.instagram.com/imahna/.

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Paser, servant of Sety I and Ramesses II (c.1300--1270 BCE). In the later years of his reign, King Sety promoted one of his servants to the highest political/government office. Paser, the Vizier, enters our story...

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Music and interludes by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net.

Music and interludes by Luke Chaos www.chaosmusick.com.

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