Ancient Egypt's Royal Secrets Revealed | Lost Treasures of Egypt | MEGA EPISODE | Nat Geo

Key Concepts

• Ramses the Great (Ramses II): A powerful and successful pharaoh of ancient Egypt, known for his military victories, extensive building projects, and diplomatic achievements.
• Karnak Temple: A vast temple complex in Luxor, Egypt, showcasing the contributions of numerous pharaohs, but heavily imprinted with Ramses II's name and accomplishments.
• Hypostyle Hall: A massive, column-filled hall within Karnak Temple, significantly expanded by Ramses II.
• Treaty of Kadesh: The world's first known peace treaty, signed between Ramses II and the Hittite Empire, ending a prolonged conflict.
• Asasif Necropolis: A sprawling tomb complex in Luxor's Deir El-Bahari, where Ramses II's nobles were buried.
• Saqqara Necropolis: A vast burial ground near Cairo, containing tombs of Ramses II's generals and other important figures.
• Iwrkhy: A senior general in Ramses II's army, possibly of Syrian origin, whose tomb is being excavated.
• Ushabtis: Small funerary figurines believed to come to life and serve the deceased in the afterlife.
• Propaganda: The strategic use of images, inscriptions, and monuments to promote a particular image or message, often employed by Ramses II.
• Statue Re-carving: Ramses II's practice of modifying older statues of previous pharaohs to resemble himself, asserting his power and connection to illustrious ancestors.
• Beautiful Festival of the Valley: An annual festival in Luxor, involving processions, offerings, and feasts at tombs.
• Canopic Jars: Jars used to store the mummified organs of the deceased.
• Abu Simbel: A temple complex in southern Egypt (ancient Nubia), featuring colossal statues of Ramses II and dedicated to his deified self.
• Hatshepsut: A female pharaoh who ruled Egypt, portraying herself as a male king.
• Setibor: The wife of King Djedkare, who had a large pyramid built for her.
• Nefertari: The wife of Ramses the Second, who was honored as a goddess.
• Mummification: The process of preserving a dead body with oils and linen wrapping to avoid decay.
• Tutankhamun: An Egyptian pharaoh who became Egypt's pharaoh at just nine years old.

Ramses the Great: Rise to Power and Legacy

Karnak Temple: A Monument to Ramses' Ego

• Ramses II heavily inscribed his name and stories on the columns of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple, ensuring his association with this iconic structure.
• The temple walls depict Ramses II as a warrior pharaoh, showcasing his military victories and dominance over foreign lands.
• Example: Scenes of Ramses in his chariot, defeating enemies and presenting captives to the god Amun.

Military Prowess and Expansion

• Ramses II personally led his army into battle, earning a reputation as a fearsome warrior king.
• He expanded Egypt's borders, extending control over territories in Syria and other regions.
• Example: Depictions of Ramses pulling an enemy off a chariot and piercing him with a spear outside a Syrian city.

Diplomacy and the Treaty of Kadesh

• Ramses II signed the Treaty of Kadesh with the Hittite Empire, establishing peace and alliance between the two powers.
• The treaty is inscribed on the walls of Karnak Temple, highlighting Ramses' role as a diplomat and peacemaker.
• The treaty guaranteed stability and prosperity for Egypt, allowing Ramses to focus on building projects and accumulating wealth.

Rewarding Loyalty: Tombs of Nobles and Generals

• Excavations at the Asasif Necropolis reveal that Ramses II's nobles were buried in a specific location on the valley floor, likely due to its proximity to the Beautiful Festival of the Valley route.
• The location allowed families to easily visit and make offerings at the tombs during the festival.
• The tomb of General Iwrkhy at Saqqara contains alabaster jars and other funerary items, indicating that Ramses II generously rewarded those who served him.
• The discovery of a canopic jar head in Iwrkhy's tomb further supports the idea of a luxurious burial.

Propaganda and Statue Re-carving

• Ramses II strategically placed thousands of statues across Egypt to project his power and presence.
• He modified older statues of previous pharaohs to resemble himself, asserting his connection to illustrious ancestors.
• Example: A statue originally from the 12th Dynasty was re-carved with Ramses II's features, including the eyes and cobra on the crown.
• This practice allowed Ramses II to quickly establish his image and authority throughout the kingdom.

Deification and Legacy

• Ramses II built temples, such as Abu Simbel, to be worshipped as a god, securing his legacy for generations to come.
• The temple at Abu Simbel features colossal statues of Ramses II and inscriptions depicting his military victories and divine status.
• By deifying himself, Ramses II ensured that his name would be repeated and remembered for millennia.

Conclusion

Ramses the Great's rise to power was a result of his military prowess, diplomatic skills, strategic use of propaganda, and generous rewards to loyal subjects. He left a lasting legacy through his extensive building projects, including Karnak Temple and Abu Simbel, and his efforts to deify himself, ensuring his name would be remembered for thousands of years.

Queens of Egypt: Power and Influence

Hatshepsut: The Female Pharaoh

• Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh, ruled Egypt by portraying herself as a male king, wearing a divine beard and holding royal symbols.
• She claimed divine birth, asserting that she was the daughter of the god Amun, to legitimize her rule.
• Hatshepsut's temple at Deir El-Bahari is a testament to her power and success, featuring colossal monuments and scenes depicting her divine birth and military achievements.
• She built her temple on top of a hidden tomb, which was used in the cult worship of Hathor.

Setibor: The Influential Royal Wife

• Setibor, the wife of King Djedkare, had a large pyramid and funerary temple built for her, indicating her importance and influence.
• Her funerary temple was the biggest funerary temple built for a queen in the Old Kingdom.
• She used granite, which was only used for kings, not for queens.
• She may have been the link between those kings and Djedkare himself.

Nefertari: The Diplomatic Queen

• Nefertari, the wife of Ramses II, was honored as a goddess and played a significant role in diplomacy between Egypt and the Hittite Empire.
• She helped broker the Treaty of Kadesh, maintaining peace between the two great empires for 40 years.
• Ramses II acknowledged Nefertari's importance on the walls of her temple, portraying her as having virtually equal power to himself.

Conclusion

Ancient Egyptian queens wielded authority in various ways, whether by ruling as pharaohs like Hatshepsut, exercising diplomatic influence like Nefertari, or holding significant power as royal wives like Setibor. Their contributions shaped the course of Egyptian history and left a lasting legacy.

Mummification: Rise and Fall

Origins of Mummification

• The practice of mummification may have evolved from accidental preservation of bodies in the hot, dry desert sand.
• The Gebelein Man, a 5,400-year-old mummy, was naturally preserved by the desert environment, inspiring the idea of intentional mummification.
• The myth of Osiris, who was resurrected after being mummified, further fueled the desire to preserve bodies for the afterlife.

Mummification in the Old Kingdom

• The mummy found in the tomb of Khuwy, an Old Kingdom noble, may be one of the oldest intentionally mummified bodies ever found.
• The mummy was wrapped in high-quality linen and bathed in expensive resins, indicating advanced mummification techniques in the Pyramid Age.
• The discovery of Old Kingdom canopic jars alongside the mummy further supports its age and status.

Mummification in the Late Period

• In Aswan, archaeologists discovered tombs containing poorly preserved mummies of ordinary Ancient Egyptians.
• These mummies were often badly embalmed, wrapped in ragged bandages, and looted for valuables.
• The discovery of a baby mummy with a stick inserted in the body suggests that the poor were often mummified too late, after decomposition had already begun.

Mummification Under Greek Rule

• In Philadelphia, archaeologists discovered a rare Greek burial containing a coffin with a small skeleton and a Greek terracotta statue.
• The skeleton showed clear evidence of mummification, indicating that the Greeks adopted Egyptian burial practices after conquering Egypt.

Conclusion

The practice of mummification evolved over thousands of years, from accidental preservation in the desert to elaborate rituals involving expensive materials and skilled embalmers. While the wealthy could afford high-quality mummification, the poor often received less effective treatments. The myth and magic of the mummy were potent enough to enchant even the invading Greeks, who eventually adopted Egyptian burial practices.

Tutankhamun: Last Mystery

The Enigma of Tutankhamun's Tomb

• Tutankhamun's tomb is small and poorly decorated compared to other pharaohs' tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
• The tomb's walls were painted on wet plaster, indicating a rushed burial.
• The tomb was likely not originally intended for a pharaoh, but was quickly adapted for Tutankhamun's burial.

The Role of Ay

• Ay, a trusted advisor to Tutankhamun, is depicted performing the sacred ritual of opening the mouth on the walls of Tutankhamun's tomb.
• Ay's tomb is similar in style to Tutankhamun's, but much larger and more elaborate.
• It is believed that Ay seized the opportunity after Tutankhamun's premature death to bury him in a smaller tomb and claim the larger tomb for himself.

The Amarna Revolution and its Aftermath

• Tutankhamun's father, Akhenaten, led a religious revolution, abandoning the old gods and establishing the worship of a single sun god, the Aten.
• Tutankhamun reversed his father's revolution, restoring the old gods and rebuilding Egypt's temples.
• The discovery of Djed pillars and inscriptions to Osiris and Ptah in the tomb of Ta Mwiyah, a military aide who lived 50 years after Tutankhamun, confirms the return to traditional religious beliefs.

Conclusion

Tutankhamun's unimpressive tomb is likely due to his premature death and the power struggle that followed. Ay, a trusted advisor, seized the opportunity to bury Tutankhamun in a smaller tomb and claim the larger tomb for himself. Despite his short reign, Tutankhamun played a significant role in restoring Egypt to greatness after his father's religious revolution.

Pyramid Kings: Power and Legacy

The Great Pyramid of Khufu

• The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest and most iconic pyramid ever built, a testament to Khufu's power and authority.
• The pyramid was designed as a fortress to protect the pharaoh's tomb, with elaborate blocking systems and secret passages.
• Khufu aligned his pyramid with the stars, believing that his soul would rise to the heavens and become a god.

The Sphinx and the Legacy of the Pyramid Kings

• The Sphinx at Giza, believed to have the face of Khufu's son, Khafre, is a giant symbol of supremacy and power.
• Later pharaohs, such as Amenhotep III, carved sphinxes and inscribed monuments with statements of divine power, connecting themselves to the legacy of the Pyramid Kings.

The Sun Temples and the Cult of the Living God

• The pharaoh Nyuserra built a Sun Temple at Abu Ghurab, dedicated to the sun god, to be worshipped as a god while he was still alive.
• The Sun Temple was aligned with the path of the sun, with priests performing elaborate rituals to purify offerings and bless the rising sun.
• The discovery of a mudbrick structure beneath Nyuserra's Sun Temple suggests that other kings of the Pyramid Age also built Sun Temples to claim the power of a living god.

The Role of Officials in Maintaining Power

• The discovery of the tomb of Ka-Irsu, a wiseman and advisor to one of the later Pyramid Kings, reveals the importance of officials in promoting loyalty to the pharaoh.
• Ka-Irsu's teachings of loyalty to the pharaoh lasted 1,000 years, influencing later pharaohs and their courts.

Conclusion

The Pyramid Kings of Egypt, led by Khufu, built extraordinary monuments to assert their power and ensure their resurrection to the afterlife. While the later Pyramid Kings may not have had Khufu's wealth, they masterminded ways to bolster their fragile power, using officials to promote loyalty and casting themselves as living gods. Their legacy inspired pharaohs 1,000 years later, who carved sphinxes and inscribed monuments with statements of divine power, connecting themselves to the traditions of the Pyramid Age.