234: Destroying Amarna / Splitting Heirs

2026-05-25

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Sometime in Ramesses II's reign, royal artisans dismantled the city of Akhet-Aten (Amarna). Carefully, methodically, they removed the talatat blocks and carted them away to the nearby town Hemenu (Hermopolis) for reuse in a temple. This demolition of the Horizon of Aten remains a matter of debate among scholars: why now, and what motivated it? Meanwhile, Ramesses II has a problem. His sons keep dying. Between regnal years 25--55, at least twelve princes "passed to the west." We meet the designated heirs (and the spares),...

Sometime in Ramesses II's reign, royal artisans dismantled the city of Akhet-Aten (Amarna). Carefully, methodically, they removed the talatat blocks and carted them away to the nearby town Hemenu (Hermopolis) for reuse in a temple. This demolition of the Horizon of Aten remains a matter of debate among scholars: why now, and what motivated it?

Meanwhile, Ramesses II has a problem. His sons keep dying. Between regnal years 25--55, at least twelve princes "passed to the west." We meet the designated heirs (and the spares), and see who finally got the top job...

The funerary mask (of Khaemwaset?) in the Louvre and Wikimedia.

Extended version available at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast

Music: Keith Zizza and Luke Chaos.

Select References

Brand, P. J. (2023). Ramesses II: Egypt’s Ultimate Pharaoh.

Fisher, M. M. (2001). The Sons of Ramesses II (Vols. 1–2).

Hanke, R. (1978). Amarna-Reliefs aus Hermopolis: Neue Veröffentlichungen und Studien.

Iskander, S. (2002). The Reign of Merneptah [Unpublished PhD. Thesis].

Kemp, B. J. (2013). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People.

Kitchen, K. A. (1975). Ramesside Inscriptions Historical and Biographical (Vol. 2).

Kitchen, K. A. (1993a). Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Notes and Comments (Vol. 2).

Kitchen, K. A. (1993b). Ramesside Inscriptions Translated and Annotated: Translations (Vol. 2).