

The History of Egypt Podcast
Dominic Perry
Ancient Egypt, from Creation to Cleopatra. This podcast tells the story of pharaonic Egypt "in their own words." Using archaeology, ancient texts, and up-to-date scholarship, we uncover the world of the Nile Valley and its people. Hosted on the Airwave Media Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 21, 2021 • 49min
155: The Queen's Gambit
A difficult decision. Events in this period are murky. But if Ankhesenamun was the "Daḫamunzu" of Hittite record, then her attempt to find a new husband (of royal blood) had failed. So, she would have to accept a "servant." Whom would she choose?Episode Details:
Chapter 2 begins 00:24:10
Date: c. 1334 BCE (debated).
King: none (hopefully just temporary).
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/.
Music: Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/.
Music interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
Music at 25:10, "Shine for the Show," via Pond5 (licensed).
Misc audio clips via YouTube users Sound Effects King and Saraschan Stienwongnusa.
Select Bibliography:
T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105.
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998).
M. Gabolde, ‘L’ADN de la famille royale amarnienne et les sources égyptiennes’, Égypte nilotique et méditerranéenne 6 (2013), 177–203.
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
Z. Hawass et al., ‘Ancestry and Pathology in King Tutankhamun’s Family’, JAMA 303 (2010), 638–47.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93.
P. E. Newberry, ‘King Ay, the Successor of Tut’ankhamūn’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 18 (1932), 50–2.
N. Reeves and R. H. Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings (London, 1996).
J. Romer, Valley of the Kings (London, 1981).
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
A. R. Schulman, ‘The Berlin “Trauerrelief” (No. 12411) and Some Officials of Tutʿankhamūn and Ay’, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 4 (1965), 55–68.
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Dec 14, 2021 • 47min
154: Daḫamunzu - Ankhesenamun & the Hittites
He said, she said. Around 1334 BCE (give or take), the King of Hatti received a curious message. While on campaign, King Suppiluliuma got word that Egypt's pharaoh (someone called "Nib-ḫuru-riya") had died. He had no son, and Egypt's ruling lady (daḫamunzu, or tA-ḥmt-nsw, the "King's Great Wife") needed assistance. The Queen sent a message: would Suppiluliuma help her, and Egypt? Strange events were about to unfold...
Date: c. 1334 BCE (debated).
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun (debated) deceased
King: Suppiluliuma, Great King of the Land of Hatti
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music: Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Sound interludes: Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Select Bibliography:
T. Bryce, The Kingdom of the Hittites (New Edition edn, New York, 2005).
T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the Fall of the Persian Empire (London, 2009).
T. R. Bryce, ‘The Death of Niphururiya and Its Aftermath’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 97–105.
T. R. Bryce, Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History (Oxford, 2014).
A. Dodson, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-Reformation (2nd edn, Cairo, 2017).
M. Gabolde, D’Akhenaton à Toutânkhamon (Paris, 1998).
M. Gabolde, Toutankhamon (Paris, 2015).
H. Güterbock, ‘The Deeds of Suppiluliuma as Told by His Son, Mursili II’, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 10 (1956), 41–68, 75–98, 107–30.
H. A. Hoffner Jr., ‘Deeds of Šuppiluliuma (1.74)’, in W. W. Hallo and K. L. Younger (eds.), The Context of Scripture (Leiden, 2003), 185—192.
N. Kawai, ‘Studies in the Reign of Tutankhamun’, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University (2005).
J. L. Miller, ‘Amarna Age Chronology and the Identity of Nibxururiya in the Light of a Newly Reconstructed Hittite Text’, Altorientalische Forschungen 34 (2007), 252–93.
M. Sadowska, ‘Semenkhkare and Zananza’, Göttinger Miszellen 175 (2000), 73—77.
O. Schaden, ‘The God’s Father Ay’, PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota (1977).
M. Van de Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC (West Sussex, 2016).
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Nov 27, 2021 • 1h 23min
Tutankhamun Inc. with Prof. Christina Riggs
Face-to-face with the legends. Christina Riggs is a Professor (History of Visual Culture) at Durham University. In 2021, her book Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century took a broader view of the tomb and its discovery than most books on the subject. Her discussion helps us review and revisit older myths or assumptions, and encourage new perspectives on Egyptology's most famous discovery.
Prof. Christina Riggs at Durham University.
Christina Riggs at Academia.edu.
Christina Riggs' website including her blog and the article "Waterboys and Wishful Thinking."
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
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Nov 26, 2021 • 56min
Tutankhamun and Philomena Cunk with Dr. Joyce Tyldesley
An enigmatic icon. Dr. Joyce Tyldesley returns for her second interview with The History of Egypt Podcast! We spoke about her recent book Tutankhamun: Pharaoh. Icon. Enigma. and the legacy of the discovery, including aspects of its excavation and significance. We also got into some random topics including Philomena Cunk, Scandinavian Noir shows, and Strictly Come Dancing. Enjoy!
Dr. Joyce Tyldesley at The University of Manchester.
Dr. Tyldesley's 2022 book Tutankhamun: Pharaoh. Icon. Enigma. at Headline Publishing.\
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
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Nov 25, 2021 • 54min
Bob Brier & the Mysteries of Tutankhamun (and the Great Pyramid)
Recorded 2022. Tutankhamun, Mummies, and Murder, oh my! I sat down with Dr. Bob Brier to discuss the Tomb of Tutankhamun, and the legacy of this important discovery. We also chatted about Dr. Brier's work in Egyptology, including his experiment in mummifying a human for scientific research. Finally, we touched on some older works including his "Murder of Tutankhamun" hypothesis and the Great Pyramid's construction (including the "internal ramp" hypothesis of Jean-Pierre Houdin).
My thanks to Dr. Brier for coming on the show, and for allowing me to release the video version! Extra special thanks to Pat Remler for organising the conversation!
Preorder Dr. Brier's book Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World from Oxford University Press.
Read a report on Carter's thefts at The Guardian.
Find Dr. Brier's hierogylphs lessons (and others) at The Great Courses.
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.
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Nov 23, 2021 • 1h 11min
153f: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 6, Final)
The Annexe and End of Excavation. Howard Carter uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in November 1922. He would continue labouring in the monument until 1927, and the final conservation of objects would finish in 1932. Over these ten years of work, Carter tackled many challenges, some of which proved insurmountable. In the end, his labour, and the story of Tutankhamun's burial, stand as a testament to human effort and long legacies.Episode Chapters:
Chapter 15: The Scouring of the Tomb 00:00:15
Chapter 16: The End of Excavations 00:31:50
Series Conclusion: 00:52:30
Episode Links:
For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website.
Date: 1922 CE - 1932 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: A ceremonial shield belonging to the King. Wikimedia.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
Select Bibliography:
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, III (2000 Reprint edn, London, 1933).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tutankhamen (Century edn, London, 1983).
J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
T. G. H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (Tauris 2001 edn, New York, 1992).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
N. Reeves and J. H. Taylor, Howard Carter Before Tutankhamun (London, 1992).
The Griffith Institute, ‘Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation’, The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/.
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Nov 16, 2021 • 57min
153e: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 5)
Treasured Heirlooms. East of the Burial Chamber, in Tutankhamun's tomb, the per hedj ("Treasury") contained a smorgasbord of beautiful objects. Some of these were sacred, like the canopic vessels for Tutankhamun's organs. Others were symbolic, connecting the pharaoh with great gods like Osiris. And still others were curious, including some "heirlooms" from earlier rulers and generations... Episode Chapters:
Chapter 13: Anubis and the King 00:00:13
Chapter 14: The Heirlooms of Akhenaten 00:24:30
Episode Links:
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Music by Keith Zizza www.keithzizza.net
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
Select Bibliography:
J. P. Allen, ‘The Original Owner of Tutankhamun’s Canopic Coffins’, in Z. Hawass and J. H. Wegner (eds.), Millions of Jubilees: Studies in Honor of David P. Silverman (Cairo, 2010), 27—41.
H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979).
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, 3vols, 1927 – 1933.
J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965).
A. Dodson, ‘Crown Prince Djhutmose and the Royal Sons of the Eighteenth Dynasty’, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 76 (1990), 87–96.
A. Dodson, ‘Canopics’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 260—274.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
J. R. Harris, ‘Akhenaten and Neferneferuaten in the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn’, in N. Reeves (ed.), After Tutankhamūn: Research and Excavation in the Royal Necropolis at Thebes (London, 1992), 55—72.
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117.
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Nov 9, 2021 • 1h 15min
153d: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 4)
Curses and Controversies. From the moment they announced their discovery, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon were faced with overwhelming attention. How they responded, and how they chose to approach the excavation, would have a major impact on public perception of the tomb. And, when events took a tragic turn, the media were happy to capitalise on the issue...Episode Chapters:
Chapter 10: The Choices of Lord Carnarvon 00:05:10.
Chapter 11: Journey to the Crossroads 00:25:30
Chapter 12: Of Bricks and Lost Portraits 00:48:48
Episode Links:
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
The "curse" brick, with text from Book of the Dead, Chapter 151: http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/carter/263.html
Music Opening: "She Gypped Egypt on the Nile," midi rendition by SheetMusicSinger.com. Used with permission (audio editing: added vinyl crackling sound effects).
Music Interlude at 00:24:34: "Vintage Ragtime," purchased from Pond5.com.
Music Interlude at 00:48:05: "Tomb Song," by Nora Keyes, public domain via Freemusicarchive.com.
Outro music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/.
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
Select Bibliography:
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
J. Černý, Hieratic Inscriptions from the Tomb of Tut’ankhamūn (Oxford, 1965).
Cox, ‘The Death of Lord Carnarvon’, The Lancet 361 (2003), 1994.
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
T. G. H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (Tauris 2001 edn, New York, 1992).
M. R. Nelson, ‘The Mummy’s Curse: Historical Cohort Study’, BMJ 325 (2002), 1482.
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
N. Strudwick, Texts From the Pyramid Age (Atlanta, 2005).
E. Teeter, Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt (New York, 2011).
The Griffith Institute, ‘Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation’, The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, <http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/> accessed .
H. V. F. Winstone, Howard Carter and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (London, 1991).
Websites: Rarenewspapers.com, valuable source for old clippings; Newspapers.com, source of various reportsl; Historyembalmed.org, a valuable summary of Tutankhamun’s tomb, media reports, and the Curse narratives.
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Nov 2, 2021 • 1h 14min
153c: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 3)
Coffins, Masks, and a Mummy. Within his Burial Chamber, Tutankhamun slept amid gold, glass, wood, and precious stone. His mummy is an extraordinary find, covered with ornaments, amulets, ceremonial clothing, and even weapons. From the famous image of his mummy mask, to a dagger made of "sky rock," the King's body reveals many tantalising stories...Episode Chapters:
Eight: In the House of Tutankhamun 00:00:10
Nine: The Face of the Pharaoh 00:31:15
Epilogue: A Curious Dagger 01:02:35
Episode details:
Date: c. 1922 CE
King: Neb-kheperu-Ra Tut-ankh-Amun
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Tutankhamun and the Royal Ka before Osiris. FactumArte.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music: Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network
Nicholas Reeves' discussions of the Mummy mask, and its possible ownership. Article 1, 2015, and Article 2, 2015.
For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website.
Select Bibliography:
H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979).
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, II (London, 1927).
D. Comelli et al., ‘The Meteoritic Origin of Tutankhamun’s Iron Dagger Blade’, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 51 (2016), 1301–9.
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Sarcophagus in the Tomb of Tutankhamun (Oxford, 1993).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
K. El Mallakh and A. C. Brackman, The Gold of Tutankhamen (First English Language edn, New York, 1978).
O. Goelet Jr. et al., The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth By Day (Revised edn, San Francisco, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
N. Reeves, ‘The Gold Mask of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten’, Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 7 (2015), 77–9.
N. Reeves, ‘Tutankhamun’s Mask Reconsidered’, Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar: The Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt: Studies in Honor of Dorothea Arnold 19 (2015), 511–26.
A. Silotti, Guide to the Valley of the Kings and to the Theban Necropolises and Temples (Vercelli, 2000).
K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117.
H. V. F. Winstone, Howard Carter and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (London, 1991).
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Oct 26, 2021 • 55min
153b: The Tomb of Tutankhamun (Part 2)
Shrines and Painting. Tutankhamun's Burial Chamber is a beautiful space. The decorations, though "simple," convey a meaningful series of events. The King's ascent to the sky, his entry to Osiris' kingdom, and his meeting with various gods, forms a beautiful journey in the afterlife. Also, the King's shrines (wood and gold) are decorated with complex and fascinating texts. In these chapters, we explore the first set of Tutankhamun's burial equipment...Episode Chapters
Chapter 6: The King of the Golden Hall
Chapter 7: The Portraits in the West
Episode Links
Alexandre Piankoff, The Shrines of Tut-Ankh-Amon (1995) on Archive.org.
For the full archive of Harry Burton’s photographs, showing the tomb of Tutankhamun in its original state, see the Griffith Institute website.
Date: 1922 CE.
Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
Logo image: Tutankhamun and the Royal Ka before Osiris. FactumArte.
Music by Keith Zizza https://www.keithzizza.net/
Music by Michael Levy http://www.ancientlyre.com/
Music by Ancient Lyric http://www.bettinajoydeguzman.com/
Sound interludes by Luke Chaos https://twitter.com/Luke_Chaos
Audio mixing/editing by Vincent Cavanagh.
See other shows from the Agora Podcast Network.
Select Bibliography:
H. Assaad and D. Kolos, The Name of the Dead: Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of the Treasures of Tutankhamun Translated (Missisauga, 1979).
H. Beinlich, ‘Zwischen Tod und Grab: Tutanchamun und das Begräbnisritual’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 34 (2006), 17–31.
H. Beinlich and M. Saleh, Corpus der Hieroglyphischen Inschriften aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun (Oxford, 1989).
H. Carter, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, 3vols, (London, 1927—1933).
J. C. Darnell, The Enigmatic Netherworld Books of the Solar-Osirian Unity: Cryptographic Compositions in the Tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI and Ramesses IX (Academic Press, 2004).
J. C. Darnell and C. Manassa, The Ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books (Atlanta, 2018).
M. Eaton-Krauss, The Unknown Tutankhamun (London, 2016).
K. El Mallakh and A. C. Brackman, The Gold of Tutankhamen (First English Language edn, New York, 1978).
O. Goelet Jr. et al., The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth By Day (Revised edn, San Francisco, 2015).
Z. Hawass, Discovering Tutankhamun: From Howard Carter to DNA (Cairo, 2013).
Z. Hawass and S. Vannini, Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Tomb (London, 2018).
T. Hoving, Tutankhamun: The Untold Story (New York, 1978).
A. Piankoff, The Shrines of Tut-Ankh-Amon (New York, 1955). Available free online at Archive.org.
N. Reeves, The Complete Tutankhamun (Cairo, 1990).
D. P. Silverman, ‘Cryptographic Writing in the Tomb of Tutankhamun’, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 8 (1980), 233–6.
K. R. Weeks, ‘The Component Parts of KV Royal Tombs’, in R. H. Wilkinson and K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings (New York, 2014), 98—117.
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