Sometime in Ramesses II's reign, royal artisans dismantled the city of Akhet-Aten (Amarna). Carefully, methodically, they removed the talatat blocks and carted them away to the nearby town Hemenu (Hermopolis) for reuse in a temple. This demolition of the Horizon of Aten remains a matter of debate among scholars: why now, and what motivated it?
Meanwhile, Ramesses II has a problem. His sons keep dying. Between regnal years 25--55, at least twelve princes "passed to the west." We meet the designated heirs (and the spares), and see who finally got the top job...
The funerary mask (of Khaemwaset?) in the <a href="https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010018029">Louvre</a> and <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Khaemouaset_au_MD2A36b.jpg">Wikimedia</a>.
Extended version available at <a href="www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast">www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast</a>
Music: Keith Zizza and Luke Chaos.
Select References
Brand, P. J. (2023). Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh. 
Fisher, M. M. (2001). The Sons of Ramesses II (Vols. 1–2).
Hanke, R. (1978). Amarna-Reliefs aus Hermopolis: Neue Veröffentlichungen und Studien.
Iskander, S. (2002). The Reign of Merneptah [Unpublished PhD. Thesis].
Kemp, B. J. (2013). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People.
Kitchen, K. A. (1975). Ramesside Inscriptions Historical and Biographical (Vol. 2).
Kitchen, K. A. (1993a). Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments (Vol. 2).
Kitchen, K. A. (1993b). Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations (Vol. 2).
Reeves, N. (2019). Akhenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet (2nd edn). 
Roeder, G. (1959). Hermopolis 1929-1939.
Servajean, F. (2014). Mérenptah et la fin de la XIXe dynastie. .
Sourouzian, H. (1989). Les Monuments du roi Merenptah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

234: Destroying Amarna / Splitting Heirs

The History of Egypt Podcast

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews