This episode explores the second month of the ancient Egyptian inundation season, known as the Month of Cloth. Guided by the goddess Neith, this month includes a series of festivals, rituals, and mythological events recorded in temple calendars and ancient texts. We walk through the month’s major observances and what they reveal about how the Egyptians understood creation, protection, and the structure of sacred time.
In this episode of Ancient Egyptian Literature, we are delving into the Battle of Kadesh, a monumental military action between Rameses the Great and the Hittites. Two versions of this story appear in ancient Egypt. The first, the official report, also called the bulletin, with seven copies found, and the second, dubbed the Poem of pntAwrt, with eight copies, are found inscribed, sometimes side by side, at the Ramesseum, Rameses’ funerary temple, the temple of Amun at Karnak, Abydos, and Abu Simbel.
The Battle of Kadesh was a significant military conflict between Rameses II (Rameses the Great) of Egypt and the Hittites, led by King Mutawallis, in 1275 BCE. It occurred near the fortified city of Kadesh in northern Syria, a strategic location contested by Egypt and Hatti for centuries due to its importance in controlling the Syrian plain.
Rameses II aimed to reclaim territories in the Levant that had been lost to the Hittites during earlier dynasties. He assembled a large army of 20,000 men, divided into four divisions (Amun, Ra, Ptah, and Seth), and marched northward. Aware of Rameses’ ambitions, the Hittites organized a massive army of allied states, numbering up to 37,000 infantry and 3,700 chariots.
Hittite spies misled Rameses into believing the enemy was far away in Aleppo, but the Hittite forces were concealed behind Kadesh. As Rameses camped with the Division of Amun, the Hittites launched a surprise attack on the Division of Ra, causing chaos and retreat. The Hittite chariots advanced toward Rameses’ camp, scattering the Division of Amun.
Despite being surrounded and abandoned by much of his army, Rameses rallied his elite chariotry and fought back, turning the tide of the battle. Reinforcements from the elite unit “nfrw” arrived and helped crush the Hittite forces. Mutawallis sent a second wave of troops, but were defeated as they attempted to plunder Rameses’ camp.
Ultimately, Rameses regrouped his forces and prepared for a counterattack, prompting Mutawallis to request an armistice. Rameses agreed and returned to Egypt, but the Hittites later retook the city of Amurru, undoing Egypt’s earlier gains.
The battle is notable for its detailed accounts left by Rameses, including the “Official Report” and the “Poem of Pentawer,” which glorify his role in the conflict. While the battle ended inconclusively, it demonstrated Rameses’ military prowess and marked a pivotal moment in Egyptian-Hittite relations.
Patreon patrons receive the full 54-minute episode, which includes a complete dramatic retelling of the texts and an accompanying discussion of Rameses’ armies, the battle, and surrounding events. They also receive a 26-page illustrated eBook with discussion, maps, a glossary, and access to peer-reviewed reference materials from the Par Madja’at—House of Ancient Egyptian Books.
The Book of Knowing the Creations of Ra is an ancient Egyptian creation myth that narrates the self-creation of Ra, the sun god, and his role in forming the universe. Ra, also known as Khepra (the scarab beetle of creation), describes his emergence during the sp tpy (First Occasion), the moment of creation. He creates his children, Shu (the lower sky/atmosphere) and Tefnut (sky moisture), through self-insemination and spitting them out. Ra’s bA spirit manifests as Heka (magic), the creative force of the universe, which is invoked in rituals but not inherently present in humans.
Ra continues to create primeval beings from the nnw (primeval waters) and plans further creations using his Eye, representing the physical sun. His children form the Great Ennead (nine deities worshipped at Heliopolis), including Geb (earth), Nut (sky), Osiris, Horus, Seth, Isis, and Nephthys, who further populate the world.
The text transitions into the ritual destruction of App (Apophis), a primeval serpent embodying uncreation and chaos (isft), which threatens the cosmic balance (mAat). Seth defeats App nightly, who spears him to protect Ra’s sun boat during its journey through the dwAt (netherworld). App is imprisoned by Akr, a deity of the horizon, and consumed by the Glorious Eye of Ra, which destroys his bA (spirit), Dt (body), Swyt (shadow), and Heka.
The myth emphasizes the constant battle between creation and uncreation, the interconnected spirits (bA, kA, Dt), and the importance of maintaining cosmic balance (mAat). The text is part of the Bremner Rhind Papyrus, dated 312-311 BCE, and includes other rituals and hymns. It reflects the rich mythology and spiritual beliefs of ancient Egypt.
In this episode, we look at the hrw Hryw rnpt, the “Days Above the Year” in the ancient Egyptian calendar. These five added days — created through the wisdom of Thoth — made room for the births of the children of Nut and Geb. They sit outside the normal 360‑day year and mark one of the most important mythological moments in Egyptian timekeeping.
Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt: The Reckoning of the Mounds of Primeval Time is a dramatic retelling of the creation myth associated with the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The story explores the cosmogeny of ancient Egypt, focusing on the primeval mounds that emerged from the waters of chaos at the dawn of time. It highlights the role of Ra, Horus, and other deities in shaping the world and establishing order. The myth is deeply tied to Behdet, an ancient name for Edfu, and reflects Egyptian beliefs about divine rulership and cosmic balance. You can find more details here.
The Judgment of Horus and Seth, also known as the Contendings of Horus and Seth, is an ancient Egyptian myth that recounts the story of the gods’ struggle for the throne of Egypt following the death of Osiris. The conflict between Horus, Osiris’ son, and Seth, Osiris’ brother, lasted for decades and involved numerous trials and contests to determine who was the rightful ruler.
This myth was significant in Egyptian culture because it reinforced the idea of divine kingship, legitimizing the rule of pharaohs as descendants of Horus. It also symbolized the eternal struggle between order (Ma’at) and chaos, with Horus representing stability and Seth embodying disorder.
The Book of Thoth refers to various ancient Egyptian texts attributed to Thoth, the god of writing, wisdom, and magic. It is often described as containing all knowledge of laws, magic, nature, and the afterlife.
The Book of Thoth is a figure in Egyptian mythology, particularly in a story about Prince Neferkaptah, who stole the book from its hidden location at the bottom of the Nile near Coptos. The book was locked inside a series of boxes guarded by serpents. After retrieving it, Neferkaptah suffered divine punishment—his wife and son were killed, and he eventually took his own life.
The Book of Thoth remains a fascinating part of Egyptian mythology, symbolizing hidden wisdom and the dangers of seeking forbidden knowledge.
Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful and celebrated pharaohs. He ruled during the 19th Dynasty from 1279 to 1213 BCE. His reign lasted 66 years, making it one of the longest in Egyptian history.
Ramesses II’s legacy endures through his monumental architecture and inscriptions, which can be found throughout Egypt. His mummy is now displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. He was so revered that later Egyptians referred to him as the “Great Ancestor”.
The document provides an extensive overview of Ra, the ancient Egyptian sun god, highlighting his significance, mythology, and worship. Ra is described as a transcendent deity often syncretized with other gods, such as Atum, Khnum, Amun, and Horus, representing different aspects of creation and the sun’s cycle (morning, midday, and evening). His mythos includes his role as the creator, his struggles against adversaries like Apep in the underworld, and his interactions with other gods, such as Isis, who gained his secret name to save him from venom. Ra’s worship dates back to the Second Dynasty and peaked during the Old Kingdom, where rulers were considered “Sons of Ra” and temples with obelisks symbolized his power.
Ra’s myths include the Bennu bird, akin to the phoenix, symbolizing creation and renewal. He is depicted as a falcon-headed man with a sun disc and cobra headdress, traveling in his night boat through the underworld. His eye, represented by Hathor and Sekhmet, is a powerful force used to punish humanity. Ra’s daily journey across the sky and his role in creation are celebrated in hymns, emphasizing his perfection, radiance, and eternal labor.
