DominicPerry

Episode 13: The Hairdressers Cometh

Niuserre and the Up-and-Comers.The new ruler Niuserre, son of Neferirkare, has taken the crown after the passing of his uncle Raneferef. And the times they are a-changing, with an interesting new…

Pyramids of Nyuserre Ini and Neferirkare

2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty

Episode 12: I Make the Soul Beautiful

Neferirkare and Khentykaus IIThe reign of Sahure draws to a close, and soon the throne passes to his mature son Neferirkare Kakai ("I make beautiful the soul of Re"). The great wife…

Ships of Sahure (5th Dynasty), perhaps similar to those used by Weni.

2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty

Episode 11: Off To Punt We Go

Off to punt we go Userkaf passes the throne to his son, Sahure ("One Who is Close to Re"). For the first time in recorded history, a royal fleet is dispatched from…

2500 – 2350 BCE: The Fifth Dynasty

Episode 10: A Temple to the Sun

The Fifth Dynasty Ascends Shepseskaf ends the Fourth Dynasty, and his brother Userkaf begins a new one. How do we define the end of one “period” and the beginning of another? In this…

2700 – 2500 BCE: The Third and Fourth Dynasties

Episode 9: She Is Foremost

Powerful Women of the Fourth DynastyAround 2500 BCE, the Fourth Dynasty is ending. Menakaure (ep. 8) passes without heir, and the throne is unstable. So, a royal woman steps into the…

An alabaster head of Menkaure, discovered in his Valley Temple at Giza

2700 – 2500 BCE: The Third and Fourth Dynasties

Episode 8: That Which I Own

Menkaure and the Third Giza Pyramid.The furious work at Giza continues, as Khafre's son Menkaure takes the throne. Opting for a smaller - but more exquisitely constructed - monument, the new…

2700 – 2500 BCE: The Third and Fourth Dynasties

Episode 7: He Appears Like Re

Khafre and the Second Giza Pyramid.Around 2565 BCE, the great Khufu passes into legend; now the throne comes to a new generation. His son Djed-ef-Re takes power (for a short…

2700 – 2500 BCE: The Third and Fourth Dynasties General Topics Mini Episodes

Mini Episode: Tales of Wonder

In a short break from the narrative, we explore three tales set in the reigns of Sneferu and Khufu (4th Dynasty, c.2480 BCE). Listen on BibliographyNicolas Grimal, A History of…

2700 – 2500 BCE: The Third and Fourth Dynasties

Episode 6: The Ram-God Protects Him

Khufu and the Great PyramidBy 2590 BCE, the Fourth Dynasty is in full swing. Sneferu's son, Khnum-Khufu now comes to power; like his father, he decides to surpass his predecessor…

2700 – 2500 BCE: The Third and Fourth Dynasties

Episode 5: He Who Makes Beautiful Things

The Great King SneferuBy 2620 BCE a new ruler controlled the thrones of Egypt. Neb-maat Sneferu, first ruler of the Fourth Dynasty, was an ambitious and successful monarch. In his…