Ramses the Great's Royal Wives: Nefertari and the Politics of Love

Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History · May 7, 2026 · 8m · transcript

This episode explores the lives and political significance of Ramses the Great's chief wives, focusing on the beloved Nefertari and the lesser-known Isetnofret. We visit Nefertari's spectacular tomb in the Valley of the Queens, deciphered from the Book of the Dead passages that adorn its walls. Lucas explains how royal marriages were diplomatic tools, especially Ramses's later Hittite bride Maathorneferure, and how the queen's role in religious ceremonies, like the Opet Festival, bolstered pharaonic legitimacy. The episode also touches on the queen's title…