Ramses the Great's Nubian Gold Mines: Wealth Beneath the Sands

This episode explores the vast gold mining operations in Nubia that fueled Ramses II's monumental building projects and military campaigns. Lucas and Luna delve into the geography of the Eastern Desert, the organization of mining expeditions, the lives of workers at sites like the Wadi Hammamat and the gold mines of the Wadi el-Hudi, and the religious rituals performed to appease the gods of the desert. They discuss the Turin Papyrus Map—the oldest surviving geological map—and how it guided prospectors. The conversation also touches on the economic impact of Nubian gold, the role of the Kushite viceroy, and the eventual decline of production. A vivid picture emerges of the ingenuity, brutality, and spiritual significance behind Egypt's most precious resource. #RamsesII #NubianGold #WadiHammamat #TurinPapyrusMap #EasternDesert #EgyptianMining #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Kush #GoldMines #AmunRe #Hapi #WadiElHudi #Scribes #MiningExpeditions #AncientEgypt #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo