Voices of Ancient Egypt
Welcome to Voices of Ancient Egypt — the podcast for people who don’t just want to learn about ancient Egypt, but want to understand it at a deeper, more meaningful level.
Your podcast host, Melinda Nelson-Hurst, Ph.D., is an Egyptologist with years of experience teaching at the university level, working in Egypt, and training students around the world to read real ancient Egyptian texts. She’s spent decades studying this civilization in a traditional academic setting so you don’t have to — and so you can access knowledge that’s usually locked behind academic walls.
With a blend of solo deep-dives and conversations with experts and everyday Egyptophiles, this podcast brings ancient Egyptian history, beliefs, and language to life — and shows you how learning hieroglyphs is possible, no matter your age, background, or schedule.
Whether you want to read hieroglyphs in museums, on social media, or on your next trip to Egypt, you’ll find the tools, stories, and encouragement to make it real.
Let’s hear the voices of the ancient world — together.
Episodes
45 episodes
045: Hieroglyphs, Herons, & How to be Your Own Phoenix
In this inspiring episode of the Voices of Ancient Egypt podcast, a morning walk and a chance encounter with a Great Blue Heron spark a deeper connection between ancient Egyptian mythology, personal momentum, and reigniting long-held p...
044: The Ancient Egyptians Had a Word for This Season. Here's What They Knew About New Beginnings
It's the fourth quarter of the year. And if you're like most people who love ancient Egypt and have been thinking about learning hieroglyphs, there's a voice in your head that says wait until January. This episode is a direct, honest, ...
043: The "Matrix Moment" at the Met Museum: How this Lawyer Cracked the Hieroglyph Code in 30 Minutes a Day
In this inspiring episode of Voices of Ancient Egypt, Melinda welcomes her student John to share his journey from childhood Egyptology enthusiast to reading real museum hieroglyphs with confidence.After decades of struggling wit...
042: Co-Rule or Coup? The Truth Behind Hatshepsut & Thutmose III
In this episode, dive into the captivating life and reign of Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's rare female pharaohs.Trace her journey from a royal daughter and Great Royal Wife to stepping in as regent for her young stepson and n...
041: Master Scribes Open House Replay
In this episode, Melinda gives you a full behind-the-scenes breakdown of her next-level group program, Master Scribes. [Watch the replay for a...
040: Royal Propaganda or Ancient Romance? The Scarabs of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye
In this episode of the Voices of Ancient Egypt podcast, we explore how Pharaoh Amenhotep III used unique, large stone commemorative scarabs as a public medium to record historical events and honor his Chief Royal Wife, Queen Tiye.<...
039: The Espresso Method: the Secret to Consistently Learning Hieroglyphs
Have you ever said to yourself, "I love hieroglyphs and I want to learn them so badly, but I just can't stay consistent"? Perhaps you study hard for a few weeks, get busy, put it down for months, and then feel like you have to start all over ag...
038: Unmasking the Real Book of the Dead
Have you ever watched a Hollywood movie like the 1999 The Mummy and wondered if reading the Book of the Dead aloud could actually awaken a cursed spirit?In this episode, we separate cinematic myth from ancient reality. We take a...
037: Ancient Egypt’s Most Enigmatic Cliffhanger
What do you do when a high-stakes mission completely falls apart, and you’re terrified of facing the ultimate authority? In this episode of Voices of Ancient Egypt, we dive deep into one of the most famous, fascinating, and downright b...
036: A Window into the Ancient Egyptian Mind
Have you ever wondered what was truly important to the average ancient Egyptian?Beyond the grand pyramids of kings and the massive temples of the state, how did people commemorate their lives, express their deepest beliefs, and show love...
035: The Voice of the Heart & Ancient Egyptian Medicine
Have you ever wondered how the pyramid builders dealt with illness, injury, and disease? In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating, often misunderstood world of ancient Egyptian medicine.While modern minds often separate the ph...
034: Ancient “Recycling” (Or: Why My Son Hates Ramses II)
Have you ever looked at a statue of a famous Pharaoh and felt like something was just… off? In this episode, Egyptologist Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst takes us to the Grand Egyptian Museum to investigate a statue of Ramses II that isn't quit...
033: Egyptologists Feel Stupid
In this episode of Voices of Ancient Egypt, we pull back the curtain on the "highlight reel" of scholarship to reveal the messy, challenging, and often frustrating reality of deciphering ancient texts.Have you ever felt l...
032: Do Egyptologists Believe in Curses? (AMA)
In this first-ever Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, Egyptologist and host Melinda dives into the vault of listener questions to separate fact from fiction in the world of Egyptology.From the legendary "Mummy’s Curse" to the sacred creative...
031: The 50% Hieroglyphs Rule
Have you ever felt like you can’t move on to the next chapter or lesson until you’ve mastered every single hieroglyph in the current one? You aren’t alone, but you might be accidentally slowing down your own progress.In this episode, Dr....
030: The Ancient Egyptians in Their Own Words: What Their Writing Reveals About Who They Really Were
In this episode, we step beyond the cold stone of monuments to hear the intimate, living voices of the ancient Egyptians through their own letters, poetry, and songs.From a son "bribing" his deceased mother with memories of quail to ...
029: The Question Changes Everything
In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of questions and how they serve as the ultimate tool for mastering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.Whether you are a beginner struggling to identify a "funky" looking sign or an ...
028: The person who wrote those hieroglyphs had a name. And a lot of opinions.
In this episode of Voices of Ancient Egypt, we go behind the brush to discover the real people who recorded history. While we often marvel at the texts themselves, this deep dive explores the identity, training, and status of the ancient Egypti...
027: The Ancient Egyptians' Own Version of Their History
In this episode, we dive deep into the evolution of Egyptian timekeeping, revealing the stark differences between how the ancient Egyptians viewed their own history and the modern systems used in museums today.You will discover how the ...
026: How the Rosetta Stone Actually Works — And What It Really Took to Crack Hieroglyphs
After nearly 1,500 years of silence, how did we finally learn to read the "sacred carvings" of the Pharaohs? In this episode of the Voices of Ancient Egypt podcast, we dive into the high-stakes race to crack the code of Egyptian hierog...
025: Three Seasons, No Winter: How the Ancient Egyptian Calendar Divided the Year (And Why It Actually Makes Perfect Sense)
In this episode of Voices of Ancient Egypt, we dive into the rhythmic cycle of life along the Nile, exploring why the ancient Egyptians organized their world into three distinct seasons rather than the four we recognize today.
024: "I Almost Didn't Sign Up" — What Held Students Back and What Changed
In this episode of Voices of Ancient Egypt, Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst addresses the common doubts and hesitations that keep many people from pursuing their passion for hieroglyphs.Drawing on her decades of experience as an Egyptologist, she ...
023: Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Fast-Track: Class Replay
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Fast-Track: 4 Steps to Learning to Read in Museums or on Trips (WITHOUT overwhelm)[Watch the replay for a limited time: https://scribalsch...
022: Exactly How You’ll Learn Hieroglyphs in 10 Weeks
In this episode, Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst gives you a full, behind-the-scenes breakdown of her signature program, Scribal School. And she addresses the common question many Egyptophiles have: "How and what exactly can I learn to read in hierogl...