The History of Egypt Podcast Dominic Perry

You know Cleopatra, but do you know all seven of them? Despite the fame of one name, the history of “Cleopatra” crosses three centuries and a long lineage of accomplished women. 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:

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, The Cleopatras, 2024. Available in hardback, paperback, ebook, and audiobook (read by the author). See Headline Publishing and all good retailers.

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones at Cardiff University and Academia.edu.

Rulers discussed in this episode:

Cleopatra I Syra: Wikipedia.

Cleopatra III: Wikipedia.

Cleopatra Thea of the Seleukid Empire: Wikipedia.

Cleopatra VI Tryphaena: Wikipedia.

Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator: Wikipedia.

The History of Egypt Podcast:

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

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

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.

Music by Michael Levy www.ancientlyre.com.


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What’s the deal? We explore the Pyramid Texts’ meaning, as well as their origins and scholarship.
The Osiris achieves his apotheosis. Having awakened from death and received his offerings (or taken them by force), Unas now prepares to enter the sky at last. We add more protections and defeat more enemies (including a dramatic appearance from the fearsome Mafdet). Then, Unas meets the oldest of primeval gods, sails the milky way, and hears the lamentations of his enemies’ women…
Episode topics:

Meaning 01:15.

Rituals 03:54

Afterlife geography 17:05.

Origins 20:16.

Arrangement / Structure 29:00.

Conclusion 37:25

Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

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

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. 

Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.

Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.


Select Bibliography:

Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.

J. P. Allen, The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (2nd edn, 2015). First edition (2005) available in Open Access via Archive.org.

J. P. Allen, A Grammar of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts Volume I: Unis (2017). Available via the publisher, and major online retailers.

R. Bertrand, Las Textes de la Pyramid d’Ounas (2004). Available via the publisher.

W. M. Davis, ‘The Ascension-Myth in the Pyramid Texts’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 36 (1977), 161—179. JSTOR.

J. Hellum, ‘The Presence of Myth in the Pyramid Texts’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Toronto (2001). Online.

J. Hellum, ‘Toward an Understanding of the Use of Myth in the Pyramid Texts’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 43 (2014), 123—142. Academia.edu.

H.-J. Klimkeit, ‘Spatial Orientation in Mythical Thinking as Exemplified in Ancient Egypt: Considerations toward a Geography of Religions’, History of Religions 14 (1975), 266—281. JSTOR.

A. J. Morales, ‘The Transmission of the Pyramid Texts into the Middle Kingdom: Philological Aspects of a Continuous Tradition in Egyptian Mortuary Literature’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania (2013). Academia.edu.

D. Stewart, ‘The Myth of Osiris in the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Monash University (2014). Online.


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The Osiris achieves his apotheosis. Having awakened from death and received his offerings (or taken them by force), Unas now prepares to enter the sky at last. We add more protections and defeat more enemies (including a dramatic appearance from the fearsome Mafdet). Then, Unas meets the oldest of primeval gods, sails the milky way, and hears the lamentations of his enemies’ women…
Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

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

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. 

Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.

Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.

Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.

The Pyramid Texts publications:

J. P. Allen, The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (2nd edn, 2015). First edition (2005) available in Open Access via Archive.org.

J. P. Allen, A Grammar of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts Volume I: Unis (2017). Available via the publisher, and major online retailers.

R. Bertrand, Las Textes de la Pyramid d’Ounas (2004). Available via the publisher.


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We leave the Duat and enter the horizon. On the walls of the antechamber, Unas’ Pyramid Texts describe the king’s entry to the sky. The ruler establishes and affirms his power. And, in a famous passage, Unas engages in some ritual cannibalism…
Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

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

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. 

Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.

Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.

Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.


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We travel deeper into the stars. Unas’ Pyramid Texts, on the walls of his burial chamber, lay out protections against serpents and dangers. They also introduce offerings, to sustain the King’s soul and nourish the gods.
Includes passages in English translation and ancient Egyptian.

Date: c.2320 BCE.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

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

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. 

Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.

Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.

Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile.


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Unas in the sky with deities. Around 2320 BCE, King Unas did something interesting. His pyramid, at Saqqraa, is the first (surviving) monument to feature the Pyramid Texts. These elaborate hieroglyph texts reveal the religious rituals, references, and philosophy of the Old Kingdom Egyptians. In this episode, we begin a journey deep into the night and up to the sky, as King Unas travels to his immortality…

Date: c.2320 BCE.

The History of Egypt Podcast Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.

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

Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments. 

Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html.

The "Imperishable " or Circumpolar Stars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Indestructibles.

The Egyptian gods family tree: https://veritablehokum.com/comic/the-egyptian-god-family-tree/.

Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II.

Interludes by Keith Zizza.


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