232: Real Housewives of Per-Ramesses with Prof. Peter Brand

This episode of The History of Egypt Podcast explores the complex and often misunderstood royal household of Ramesses II, focusing on the women who shaped his court in the 13th century BCE. The first half examines the arrival of the Hittite princess Ma'at-Khor Neferu Ra, known as Nefertari, and the surprising reality that she was not the only 'great wife' in the king's life. The episode reveals that Ramesses elevated several of his daughters—including Bint Anat, Merit Amun, and Genut Tawi—to the role of great royal wife, not necessarily for romantic or sexual reasons, but as ceremonial and religious figures representing goddesses like Hathor and Isis. These women served as ritual leaders, temple priestesses, and political symbols, embodying the divine feminine aspect of kingship. The narrative also highlights the overlooked figure of Princess Tia, the king’s sister, a musician and high-ranking official whose tomb at Saqqara offers rare insight into royal family life. The second half features Professor Peter Brand, who dismantles the myth of the 'pharaonic harem' as a sexualized, confined space. Instead, he explains that the royal household was a structured, ritualistic institution—centered on the Ipet Nesu (royal apartments) and the Per Henner (household of musicians)—where elite women played vital roles in religious ceremonies, palace life, and political diplomacy. Brand emphasizes that these women were not concubines or prisoners, but powerful figures with status, agency, and public visibility. The episode concludes with a reflection on how modern misconceptions, rooted in Eurocentric fantasies of the 'Oriental harem,' have distorted our understanding of ancient Egyptian royal life.