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 ..read more

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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/eg ..read more

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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/eg ..read more

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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II. Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of ..read more

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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II. Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of the Nile. Learn more ab ..read more

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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. The "Imperishable " or Circ ..read more

Remember “Going Forth by Day”? It’s back! In song form. Many creative projects have explored themes around the Egyptian underworld. But in 2023, the Czech band Nemuer has taken a novel approach. Their album, Book of Going Forth by Day is based on original funerary papyri; and for the pronunciation of the Egyptian language, they consulted with Egyptologist Dr. Christian de Vartavan. This gives us an opportunity to explore excerpts from the Book of the Dead from a new perspective and connect more deeply with the ancient language. The podcast has covered the Book of the Dead previously, but it ma ..read more

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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II. Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of ..read more

This is your offering. 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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. Intro music by Jeffrey Goodman, “Lament of Isis and Nephthys,” Ancient Egyptian Music II. Interludes by Keith Zizza, Children of t ..read more

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. Pyramid Texts in translation: https://pyramidtextsonline.com/translation.html. Additional images and references at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast. The "Imperishable " or Circ ..read more