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Buried deep underground,
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an ancient Egyptian
tomb from the time of
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Ramses the Great.
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This bricked up entrance
has been undisturbed for
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nearly 3,000 years, until now.
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OLA Are we going
to be able to get in, yes?
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Oh, my god.
It is dark.
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It looks very, very deep.
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What's revealed
is a surprise to even
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the most experienced
archaeologist.
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Oh, la, la. Yes.
Ooh, beautiful. My god.
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Ramses the Second,
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known as Ramses the Great
was one of the most
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powerful and successful
rulers of the ancient world.
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He reigned for 66 years,
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expanded Egypt's borders
and built more monuments and
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temples than
any other Pharaoh.
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How did he become
such a mighty king,
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and build a legacy that
has lasted three millennia?
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Today across Egypt,
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archaeologists are digging up
evidence from his life,
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and those that served him,
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as they attempt to uncover
the secrets of Ramses
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rise to power.
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Most ancient
Egyptians never saw
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Ramses the Great
in the flesh,
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but his image
was everywhere.
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To investigate how
Ramses made his presence
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felt across his Empire,
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American hieroglyphs expert
and vintage clothes collector,
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Colleen Darnell,
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ventures to one of his
most impressive achievements,
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Karnak Temple.
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The sheer
scale of this temple
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is just overwhelming.
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This is one of the
most impressive spaces
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in the world.
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You can read all the numbers,
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how high the columns are,
how many there are,
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and I especially love
the color on the ceilings.
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You have to stand here
in order to appreciate
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its magnificence.
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When Ramses came to power,
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Karnak was already a
temple complex the size of
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75 football fields,
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and held a sacred
lake larger than seven
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Olympic swimming pools.
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One temple, called
the Temple of Amun-Re,
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was big enough to hold
ten Gothic cathedrals
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within its walls,
but Ramses wanted more,
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so he completed a masterpiece
begun by his father:
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a vast building whose
roof rests on pillars,
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a great Hypostyle hall.
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It's one of the largest
religious rooms ever built.
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So what can this sacred
temple reveal about what made
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Ramses such a powerful
and memorable leader?
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Around 30 different
Pharaohs helped build Karnak,
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making modifications over one
and a half thousand years.
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But the writing on the temple
walls tells a different story.
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There's one name
I see more than any other,
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and that is Ramses.
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This is the cartouche
of Ramses II.
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We see it again all
around this column.
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We see it on this column,
pretty confidently nearly
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every column in this side
of the Hypo-style Hall has
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multiple examples of
the name of Ramses II.
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134 sandstone
columns tower up to
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66 feet high.
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Recent analysis shows every
single one is inscribed with
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00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,040
Ramses name and
stories of his life.
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He didn't just help build the
most iconic room in the temple,
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he made sure
everybody knew it.
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But many of Egypt's kings
built big monuments.
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00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:20,880
Colleen wants to see what
else Ramses did to make
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his reign so special.
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Clues to his epic
achievements are carved
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into the temple walls.
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This wall's just amazing.
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It's filled with the military
victories of Ramses II.
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We have him fighting
in a chariot,
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then he's bringing his
captives in and presenting
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them to the god Amun, the
god here at Karnak temple.
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And over here he's
smiting foes from the
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four corners of the world.
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He truly wanted to be
known as a warrior Pharaoh.
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As a young Prince,
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Ramses accompanied his
father Seti the First
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on military campaigns,
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gaining experience
of leadership and war.
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He became king while
still a teenager,
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and took command of
the Egyptian military,
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an army of 100,000 men.
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He personally led them onto
the battlefield against the
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Hittite Empire of Kadesh,
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and returned home
proclaiming victory.
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But his campaigns
continued throughout
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his long reign,
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as he expanded and
strengthened Egypt's control,
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earning a fearsome
reputation as a
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mighty warrior king.
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COLLEEN
This is an incredible scene.
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We see Ramses in his chariot
and he's pulling an enemy off
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of his own chariot,
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and is about to pierce
him with a spear.
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And all this is taking place
outside of the Syrian city,
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so this shows Ramses extending
the boundaries of Egypt.
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Ramses, like other Pharaohs,
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put his military
victories on temple walls,
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because it was a way of
showing the triumph of Egypt,
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the triumph of order over
chaos represented by foreigners.
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These scenes,
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together with other
ancient evidence,
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suggest Ramses really did
fight alongside his men,
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unlike many Pharaohs
who made similar boasts,
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but never actually
fought themselves.
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His bravery and tactical
skill were central
to his rise to power,
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but is there
more to Ramses rule than
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just military might?
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In Luxor's Deir El-Bahari,
where Ramses buried many of
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his nobles at the sprawling
tomb complex of Asasif,
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Egyptian archaeologist
Fathi Yaseen leads a team
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excavating deep below
the desert sand.
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Fathi wants to find out why
they chose this specific
location for their necropolis,
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and what it can reveal
about Ramses long reign.
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We have here a lot
of temples, thousand of tombs.
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Fathi doesn't just run this dig,
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he oversees every antiquity
site on Luxor's west bank,
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and has done for 30 years.
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Born and bred just north of
Luxor, it was his childhood
dream to work in Egyptology.
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My job is very busy, but
for us it is exciting work.
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Why? Because maybe
what we find here...
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adds for Egyptology
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more information
for the ancient history.
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The location of
these burials is very
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unusual and mysterious.
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On Luxor's west bank,
ancient Egyptian elites mostly
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buried their dead high
up on hillsides,
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so people would
look up to them,
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even in death.
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But here at As-Asif, the tombs
are right on the valley floor.
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Why choose this area?
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Why choose to locate
the tombs in this area?
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What's importance
of this area?
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Last season,
Fathi and his team discovered
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the beautifully decorated
cartinage of an elite.
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He thinks it's the
tip of the iceberg,
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and means there's an important
undiscovered tomb nearby.
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It could contain priceless
treasure and inscriptions
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with information about
the tomb owner that might
help explain the tomb's
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strange location.
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Starting from a simple mud
brick wall in the sand,
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Fathi's excavations reveal
the outline of a huge tomb.
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Now Fathi and his
team need to find the
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tomb's underground doorway.
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It is very exciting for
us to see this entrance
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but what's behind this entrance?
We don't know yet.
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Workers painstakingly remove debris
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from the tomb's mud-brick
outline on ground level.
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We are working under
nearly 40 degrees. It is hot.
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Despite the 104
degree Fahrenheit conditions,
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they work quickly to reveal
a 65-foot long corridor,
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but have no idea
how deep it is.
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It could take weeks to
reach bedrock and the tomb's
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underground entrance.
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Our concentration
now is to recognize what
is behind the debris.
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It is very exciting
moment for us.
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Fathi and his team
have many tons of sand to shift,
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but they keep an eye out for
any clues hidden in the dust.
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Part of a ushabti.
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It's a very good indication
because it means
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we are working in the
right position to find the
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entrance of the tomb.
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At the Saqqara
Necropolis on the outskirts
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of Cairo, in front of
the world's oldest pyramid,
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Egyptian archaeologist
Ola El Aguizy,
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is exploring the tombs
of Ramses generals.
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I love my work I'm doing.
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I really love it.
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To rule
an expanding empire,
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you need loyal soldiers and
Ola hopes to find out how
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Ramses rewarded those who
supported his rise to power.
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OLA
This is a family burial,
the whole area.
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It's clear that
they're all related.
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It's just a real puzzle.
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Grandmother Ola came to archaeology
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50 years ago through
her love of hieroglyphics.
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She spent the last 15 years
exploring these ancient tombs,
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mostly with the same
trusty team of workers.
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Every day we come
here we have a surprise.
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We have something new to find.
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This season
Ola's excavating an
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impressive temple tomb.
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It belongs to a senior
general called Iwrkhy.
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Iwrkhy was known to
be a very important general
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in the army of Ramses II.
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00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,640
That's why I'm very
keen on this excavation of
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this tomb this year.
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Archaeologists believe Iwrkhy and
his family came from Syria,
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00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:20,000
traveling to
Egypt for a better life.
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00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,320
Iwrkhy was quickly accepted
into Egyptian society,
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00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:30,040
serving as a general to
Ramses father Seti the First,
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00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,600
then later as right-hand
man to Ramses himself,
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fighting at the Pharaoh's
side and leading the army.
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When Iwrkhy died, he was
buried in a large tomb of
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00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,400
classically Egyptian design.
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So how did Ramses reward
those who contributed most
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to his success?
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To find out, Ola's team
searches an area on the south
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00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,640
of the site in the hope of
uncovering more about Ramses
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00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,360
generals and the
mysterious foreigner Iwrkhy,
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00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:12,280
who Ramses trusted enough
to let him lead his army.
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00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,160
On the dig, Ola's hard
work eventually pays off.
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00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,200
As the team
excavates Iwrkhy's tomb,
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00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:30,280
they discover a shaft carved
26-feet deep into the rocks.
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00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,800
It leads to a small
antechamber from which another
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00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,240
shaft drops 39-feet
down to what must be
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00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,080
Iwrkhy's burial chamber.
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00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,680
The team finds it empty,
no sign of grave goods,
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00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:47,400
coffins or mummies.
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00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,520
But then, they
discover something extremely
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00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,600
promising higher up.
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00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,520
The wall of the first
antechamber looks like it's
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00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,120
been ripped up
in ancient times.
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What could lie
hidden behind it?
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00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,600
I need to
know every part of the tomb
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00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:14,120
and if there are later
burials also, I need to know.
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00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,480
Today, Ola will
go inside the antechamber
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00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:19,120
for the first time.
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00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,240
But to get there, she
must descend a perilous
26-foot deep shaft,
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00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,120
the old fashioned way,
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00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,560
with a wooden winch
operated by hand.
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00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:29,960
See how strong they are?
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00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,560
The workers
must carefully lower her down
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00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:37,160
in a bucket.
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00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,280
I'm, I'm used
to that and I like it.
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00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:46,760
Oh la la.
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00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:58,120
Ola descends down
the long dark shaft into a
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00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,520
partly unexplored tomb.
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00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:06,120
If anything goes
wrong with the hand winch
supporting the bucket,
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00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:08,200
the fall could kill her.
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00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,040
Oh la la.
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00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:15,480
Fantastic.
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00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:21,440
The tomb
belongs to one of
Ramses most senior generals,
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00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,360
a man named Iwrkhy.
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00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,240
Ola wants to investigate
how this foreigner became
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00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,520
Ramses' head general.
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00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:32,400
She thinks this could reveal
how the generals helped Ramses
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00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,320
to become the most
powerful Pharaoh of all time,
249
00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,800
and how Ramses
rewarded them in return.
250
00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,440
Today, she hopes to enter
a new part of the tomb
251
00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,040
for the first time in
nearly three millennia,
252
00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,680
but its entrance
is blocked up.
253
00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:53,280
Ola believes ancient workers
left the loose bricks simply
254
00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,040
to hold up the
fragile ceiling.
255
00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,360
Her team must remove
the blocks carefully.
256
00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,240
The ancient ceiling above
them could easily collapse.
257
00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,320
OLA Are we going
to be able to get in, yes?
258
00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:09,560
With a
small space clear,
259
00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,840
Ola can finally look inside.
260
00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,160
Oh, my God.
261
00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:18,840
Oh la la.
262
00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,800
There are lots and lots
of other galleries inside.
263
00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,600
It's a maze.
264
00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,400
It looks very, very deep.
265
00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:30,760
Behind the wall is a tomb.
266
00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,080
It's much bigger than
they first thought,
267
00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,200
and it's full of debris.
268
00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,320
It's a potential treasure
trove of items that could
269
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,880
reveal vital information
about General Iwrkhy.
270
00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,440
OLA With my
tabs on burials hidden inside,
271
00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,680
I'm optimistic I will
find lots of things.
272
00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,520
No, no, no!
273
00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,880
But, it's pitch
black and dangerous shafts
274
00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,960
could lie hidden
below the sand.
275
00:15:57,840 --> 00:15:59,000
OLA
They are getting the lamp,
276
00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,200
which is in the other
shaft so that we can take
277
00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:02,920
it with us inside.
278
00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,920
That's Nadar my assistant.
279
00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,920
He's just checking to see
because this the first time.
280
00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,960
He, he wants to be sure
that we can go in safely.
281
00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,240
Okay?
282
00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,880
It is, it is
safe, yeah, Nadar?
283
00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:25,920
Okay.
284
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,320
So, I am going to enter now.
285
00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,160
Once inside,
Ola discovers an astonishing
286
00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,200
number of
funerary alabaster jars.
287
00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,440
These contain mummified food
and wine for the deceased to
288
00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:47,880
live on in the afterlife.
289
00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:51,040
That's fantastic.
290
00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,280
That shows that this
is a rich burial, yes.
291
00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,120
Oh, yes, show me.
292
00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,480
More tunnels lead
off from the main chamber.
293
00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,560
Woo, you see,
look, look inside.
294
00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,120
There is still
another passage here.
295
00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:17,400
It is not just a tomb.
296
00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,440
It's a catacomb
with half a dozen tombs
connected together.
297
00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,480
Come, come, come.
298
00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,400
A once in a decade find.
299
00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,120
My God.
300
00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,360
Remains of skeleton
with a skull.
301
00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:34,880
Oh my God.
302
00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,000
In Luxor's Deir EL-Bahari
at the Asasif Acropolis,
303
00:17:42,120 --> 00:17:45,400
Fathi's excavating
a 66-foot-long entrance
304
00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,920
corridor of an ancient tomb.
305
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,920
The area is rich with the
burials of Ramses' nobles,
306
00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,320
and Fathi wants to know
what these tombs reveal about
307
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,560
Ramses reign as Pharaoh.
308
00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,560
To find out, Fathi hopes to
solve the mystery of why tomb
309
00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,480
owners chose this site
on the valley floor.
310
00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,880
They've now reached nearly
ten feet below ground level
311
00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,280
at the end of the corridor.
312
00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,000
As he searches for
the tomb's entrance,
313
00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,600
he uncovers clues
in the debris.
314
00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:25,560
Wow.
315
00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,200
This pottery is very
nice, we will keep this pottery
316
00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,640
and will take it
to the conservation area.
317
00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:37,520
As Fathi's team
gets close to what they
hope is the tomb entrance,
318
00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,680
they discover funerary
treasures that prove they
319
00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,040
are on the right track.
320
00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,840
Yeah, wow, it's a
ushabti, mostly complete one
321
00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,600
representing a man standing in
the same position, like this.
322
00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,560
Ancient Egyptians
believe these tiny figures,
323
00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,040
called ushabtis would come
to life and serve the tomb's
324
00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:01,120
occupant in the afterlife.
325
00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,360
It is very good, nice one.
326
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,200
As the team excavates,
327
00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,400
the sandy rock debris changes
to smooth white limestone.
328
00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:13,400
Wow.
329
00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,680
The top of
the tomb's entrance door.
330
00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,240
It's a very
exciting moment for us.
331
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,520
Fathi hopes
the tomb will hold clues,
332
00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,640
such as inscriptions that
reveal why the tomb owner
333
00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,560
chose such a low-lying site,
when most tombs for the elite
334
00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,720
are in the hillsides that
surround a necropolis.
335
00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:36,200
The team must work quickly
in the scorching heat
336
00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:38,880
to remove the rocks
blocking the entrance.
337
00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:40,680
Very hot.
338
00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:42,680
In this
low-lying valley,
339
00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:46,960
temperatures can reach up
to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
340
00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,000
Luckily for Fathi,
there's not long to go.
341
00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:55,600
We will reach the
entrance for the first time.
342
00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,200
So we are very proud now.
343
00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,000
With the first
limestone blocks removed,
344
00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:04,560
Fathi can finally look inside.
345
00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:06,240
Wow.
346
00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,080
In Luxor's Karnak temple,
347
00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,160
Colleen is hunting for
clues that explain Ramses
348
00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:16,960
rise to power.
349
00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,880
Ramses was a mighty warrior
and general who fought in many
350
00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,320
campaigns and expanded
Egypt's borders to the
351
00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,000
east and south.
352
00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,280
But the temple walls suggest
that's not the only reason he
353
00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:32,120
became so powerful.
354
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,160
This is a
remarkable document.
355
00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,840
It's the actual
text to a Peace Treaty.
356
00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:42,480
This 3,300 year
old wall holds 38 lines of
357
00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,720
hieroglyphic inscriptions
that lay out in detail
358
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,080
the world's
first Peace Treaty,
359
00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:50,040
an unprecedented promise of
360
00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:53,680
alliance between Ramses
and his mortal enemies,
361
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,280
the Hittites.
362
00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:58,200
It's amazing to see
the text of an actual Treaty.
363
00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,160
This is the document that
two great powers signed.
364
00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,160
Egypt on one hand and the
Hittites on the other.
365
00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:08,320
This proves that
Ramses didn't just fight wars,
366
00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,320
he ended them too.
367
00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,640
Peace allowed Egypt to
proper and for Ramses
368
00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,840
to get richer
and more powerful.
369
00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,640
This tells us how
neither the Hittites nor the
370
00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,640
Egyptians could
attack one another,
371
00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,040
and if they were attacked
by a third party,
372
00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:26,280
they would come to
their allies' aid.
373
00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:28,320
The Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty,
374
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,520
or the Treaty of Kadesh,
meant Ramses could finally
375
00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,400
end his 20-year war
with the Hittites.
376
00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,960
Wars are quite costly,
so by having peace,
377
00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:42,000
Ramses is guaranteeing stability
and prosperity in his reign.
378
00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,760
This allowed Ramses
to focus on gathering wealth
379
00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,640
and building temples and
monuments that celebrated his
380
00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:50,560
mighty achievements.
381
00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,480
COLLEEN A lot
of Pharaohs, including Ramses,
382
00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,560
used propaganda, but in the
case of the Peace Treaty,
383
00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:59,200
these are real terms
with a real foreign king,
384
00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,600
so this shows Ramses wanted
everyone to know that he
385
00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,520
was a great diplomat.
386
00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,360
Ramses demonstrated himself to
be the ultimate king,
387
00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,280
and his choice of Karnak
to proclaim as such
388
00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:13,160
was no accident.
389
00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,560
COLLEEN
I think Ramses is
showing the Peace Treaty here
390
00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,560
at Karnak precisely
to contrast with
391
00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:20,240
his military exploits.
392
00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,400
He does what he needs
to do to preserve order
393
00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,440
on behalf of Egypt's gods.
394
00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,960
Ramses was a warrior
king and a diplomat who ruled
395
00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,760
over an extraordinary period
of peace and prosperity.
396
00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,000
But that still doesn't
explain how he became so
397
00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:40,600
powerful that we're
still repeating his
name 3,000 years later.
398
00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,320
At the historic Egyptian
museum in Cairo,
399
00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:46,720
French archaeologist,
400
00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,360
Simon Connor and
Egyptian conservator,
401
00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,640
Eid Mertah, are
investigating how he wielded
402
00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,360
power across his kingdom,
using ancient propaganda.
403
00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,400
Here Ramses,
here also Ramses.
404
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,200
Ramses built
thousands of statues and
405
00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:06,800
placed them
strategically across Egypt.
406
00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,280
Most are now in museums,
and around 90 of them are
407
00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:11,880
here in Cairo.
408
00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:17,040
Some of them have never
been studied up close.
409
00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:20,520
Being able
to almost touch them
410
00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,200
to be a few centimeters
away from their faces
411
00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:24,960
it's quite emotional actually.
412
00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,320
Simon and Eid
think they might be hiding
413
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,560
secrets in plain sight.
414
00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,200
By studying the details
of the stone work,
415
00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,120
they hope to discover how
Ramses used his statues to
416
00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:38,840
increase his power.
417
00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:42,120
Colossal statues of
Pharaohs were a common sight
418
00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,360
for ancient
Egyptians, with temples,
419
00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,480
cities and palaces guarded by
these giant granite figures.
420
00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:53,520
Master sculptors worked
on them for months
with stone tools,
421
00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:56,680
refining the detail
with copper chisels,
422
00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,120
and finally polishing them
to a smooth finish with sand.
423
00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,360
They were more than
just works of art.
424
00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,560
They were magical avatars
that allowed the Pharaoh's
425
00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,960
to connect with their subjects.
426
00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:16,480
Once the Pharaoh's name
was carved onto it,
427
00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,480
the statue was
activated and became a bearer
428
00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,240
of the king's soul.
429
00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,080
The team immediately spot
some surprising evidence
430
00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,040
that this Ramses
statue was altered after
431
00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:31,040
it was first carved.
432
00:24:31,360 --> 00:24:33,520
So here, we
can see very quickly the
433
00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,600
traces of modification.
434
00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,120
You see it around the ears,
435
00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,520
here under the arches of
the eyebrows and the eyes.
436
00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:42,400
Here the mouth
has been modified,
437
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,040
the corners have been dug.
438
00:24:44,120 --> 00:24:45,800
The ears have been changed.
439
00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:50,080
There is very clear traces
of modification or re-carving.
440
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,560
Although the name on the statue
is Ramses the Second,
441
00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,880
could it have started
out as someone else's name?
442
00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,440
To find out Simon and Eid
need to compare the details
443
00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:04,240
with an original unaltered
Ramses statue,
444
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,360
to see what his statues
really looked like.
445
00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,560
Outside the
Egyptian museum in Cairo,
446
00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,680
Simon and Eid spot a stunning
statue carved from granite.
447
00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:22,480
They search for clues that
it's a genuine statue of
448
00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,240
Ramses the Great.
449
00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,480
The way the King
holds two standards
450
00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,840
completely started with Ramses.
451
00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,760
EID Clearly this
statue was made during his
452
00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:34,600
own reign for himself.
453
00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:39,120
This statue seems
to be looking right at them.
454
00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:40,880
The eyes
are looking down.
455
00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:42,720
Ramses looked at the people.
456
00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:44,600
Unlike Pharaohs gone before,
457
00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:46,840
whose eyes looked
to the horizon,
458
00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:50,920
Ramses used his statues
to connect with his people.
459
00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,800
His direct eye contact is a
powerful way to instill awe.
460
00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,600
Simon and Eid return to inside
the museum to compare their
461
00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,760
findings with the seemingly
modified Ramses statue.
462
00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,160
Sure enough it has
Ramses' eye-line.
463
00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,880
The sculptors
get under the eye,
464
00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,880
they cut here on the eyelid.
465
00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,080
The idea was to produce
a heavy upper eyelid.
466
00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:18,280
The eyelid
and downward eye-line is
467
00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:20,040
a later modification.
468
00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:23,760
Incredibly, an unmodified
version of this exact same
469
00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,840
statue exists in
another museum.
470
00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:29,920
This clearly shows that
the eyes would have looked
471
00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:31,880
straight ahead
when first carved.
472
00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,440
Simon and Eid
spot more evidence.
473
00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,120
Here we see
traces of modification of
474
00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:39,760
the feature of the eyebrows,
475
00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,440
enough to create the
arches of the eyebrows.
476
00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,160
So here the sculptor
wanted this part to protrude.
477
00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,640
Even the cobra
on the crown was re-cut
478
00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,800
to the style of Ramses'
19th Dynasty snake.
479
00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,800
They wanted the snake
to have this double loop on
480
00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:00,320
either side of the hook,
so when statues have to be
481
00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:05,400
Ramesized, we have to produce
these little features.
482
00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,400
It's powerful
evidence that Ramses altered
483
00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,400
an older statue to
look like one of his.
484
00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,640
This statue clearly
was not Ramses originally.
485
00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:15,240
It was another King.
486
00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,200
So if this
isn't Ramses, who is it?
487
00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,360
We have
an alternation between one
488
00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,720
thick stripes and two thin.
489
00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:25,960
One thick, two thin,
one thick, two thin.
490
00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,320
These detail is typical
of the 12th Dynasty,
491
00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,280
so around 600 years before
the reign of Ramses.
492
00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,840
They can't tell
exactly which Pharaoh the
493
00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,040
statue was for originally,
494
00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:39,760
but it's clear evidence that
Ramses modified older statues
495
00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:42,600
to proclaim his power
across Egypt quickly.
496
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,120
The intention was really
to choose specific statues,
497
00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:49,160
beautiful ones, big
ones of prestigious ancestors,
498
00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:50,840
to re-embody them.
499
00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,320
Ramses deliberately
left evidence of the former
500
00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,000
Kings in the statues.
501
00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,160
He wasn't trying to
steal their identities.
502
00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,800
He was using the reputation
of his most illustrious
503
00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:03,320
ancestors to exert and
increase his own power.
504
00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,360
They had an aura,
they had a prestige,
505
00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,960
and the idea was to show
that they were ancient,
506
00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:11,640
but that he was the new them.
507
00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:13,520
Recent evidence
reveals that nearly
508
00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:15,880
one-quarter of Ramses statues
throughout Egypt,
509
00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,600
originally belonged
to other Pharaohs.
510
00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:20,800
Ramses simply re-carved them,
511
00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:22,840
claiming them as his own.
512
00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,400
But further investigation of
some statues proves tricky,
513
00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:29,120
because of ancient
damage done to them.
514
00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:30,680
SIMON
Two things mostly missing.
515
00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,080
The head of the uraeus
and here the nose.
516
00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,760
It has been completely erased,
really carefully chipped off.
517
00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:39,600
So the statue is broken,
518
00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,000
and it's 90% of cases
in Egyptian statues,
519
00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,840
all of them were intentionally
chipped off, cut off.
520
00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,520
Ramses used this
statue and others as his
521
00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,640
magical avatar
across his kingdom,
522
00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:52,320
but once no longer ruler,
523
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,760
his statues needed
to be deactivated.
524
00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,520
You need to
remove the magic from the
objects by killing it.
525
00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,040
So you remove the nose,
you remove the uraeus.
526
00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,720
He's not real anymore,
he's just a piece of stone.
527
00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,400
Today Ramses'
statues help piece together
528
00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:07,960
the mighty Pharaoh's rule,
529
00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,040
and act as vital evidence
for how he used them to
530
00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,040
become the greatest
ruler of ancient Egypt.
531
00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,160
In Luxor's Deir El-Bahari,
532
00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:23,240
in a vast necropolis full
of Ramses' nobles' tombs,
533
00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,400
Fathi's on the brink
of a new discovery:
534
00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:31,600
an unopened tomb hidden
for thousands of years
beneath the desert sands..
535
00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,320
Wow, here is
the top of the door.
536
00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:39,000
It's quite dark,
full of debris.
537
00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:41,120
Fathi believes
this tomb will provide clues
538
00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:43,640
as to why tomb
owners chose this site,
539
00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,000
and reveal information
about Ramses' prosperous
540
00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:47,920
reign as Pharaoh.
541
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,200
He needs to get inside,
542
00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,600
but the debris is
blocking the entrance.
543
00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,400
We can't
see any decorations
544
00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:56,040
there's too much debris.
545
00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:58,120
We have to arrive at the bedrock
546
00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,480
of the door before we enter.
547
00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:04,560
We have to follow the nature
of the debris, layer by layer.
548
00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:09,480
At least two meters to go.
549
00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:13,120
For several days,
550
00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,480
the team hauls tons
of sand and soil
551
00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:17,320
under the burning sun.
552
00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,840
But finally, they
uncover the full entrance.
553
00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,880
FATHI I'm
waiting one month to enter,
554
00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,480
so it is a very
special moment.
555
00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,680
Now I can go inside.
556
00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:41,760
Wow.
557
00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,080
FATHI
Wait, there's a huge
tomb full of debris.
558
00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:00,400
Okay, the ceiling is
not in good condition.
559
00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:02,520
In Luxor's
Deir El-Bahari,
560
00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,320
in a necropolis used
by Ramses' nobles,
561
00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:08,640
Fathi enters a new tomb
for the first time.
562
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,760
He wants to know why elites
chose this low-lying site for
563
00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,400
their necropolis,
and what that might reveal
564
00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:17,320
about Ramses' reign.
565
00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:19,480
He's looking for inscriptions,
566
00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:23,640
but the room's 25 by
12-foot walls are bare.
567
00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:26,800
I cannot
see an inscription.
568
00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:30,040
Now he must
launch a painstaking
search of the debris,
569
00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,640
to look for other kinds of
evidence that could provide
570
00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,360
clues as to why the
nobles of Ramses the Great
571
00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:37,560
chose to bury their dead here.
572
00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,360
I see some pottery here
and some baskets also.
573
00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,000
Wow.
574
00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:46,400
It's so beautiful because
575
00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:50,960
it is not common to
find a complete jar.
576
00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,800
Hopefully this kind of pottery
helps us also for information
577
00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,080
why the tomb owner located
his tomb here.
578
00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,320
I see another thing here also.
579
00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:03,160
Wow.
580
00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,280
Looks like a nice basket
581
00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:10,600
and it's great because
it's in good condition.
582
00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,800
The ancient items
are perfectly preserved,
583
00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,440
but they will start to
degrade in the open air.
584
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,120
Fathi takes them straight
to the conservation lab for
585
00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:22,680
further study.
586
00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:27,080
He has to use the air
587
00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,960
to be sure there isn't
any more dust inside it.
588
00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:34,400
He'll try to strengthen it
with another liquid material
589
00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,040
and we can open it.
590
00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,800
The stunning
basket and pot are
in such great condition,
591
00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,640
that it's unlikely these
are burial goods placed next
592
00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:44,680
to the deceased in
the burial chamber.
593
00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:48,000
But rather offerings
by family members,
594
00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:50,440
placed in mourning at
the tomb's entrance,
595
00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,880
as part of an ancient festival
specific to this area.
596
00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:56,920
Could be for
the Beautiful Festival
of the Valley.
597
00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:02,280
This basket could be
used for food or fruits.
598
00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,600
Every year on
the first new moon of May,
599
00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:11,000
crowds gathered at Karnak
temple with offerings of food
600
00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:12,640
and masses of flowers.
601
00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,920
They processed behind a
boat carrying the image of
602
00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:21,520
the god, Amun, and crossed
the Nile to the west bank,
603
00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:23,240
land of the dead.
604
00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,600
The procession passed
the temples of the Kings,
605
00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:33,360
and then they made their way
to the Temple of Hatshepsut.
606
00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,720
Families broke away to visit
the tombs of their relatives,
607
00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,440
where they made offerings
of food and flowers,
608
00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,520
and feasted through the
night with the dead.
609
00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:52,560
Fathi's finds suggest that
nobles, including those of
Rameses the Great
610
00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:54,240
chose this site for their burial
611
00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:55,960
because of its
excellent location
612
00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:58,120
for the Beautiful
Festival of the Valley.
613
00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:01,120
These tombs would have been
the last stop before the
614
00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,760
procession ended at
the nearby Hatshepstut Temple,
615
00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:08,200
so prime real estate
to receive offerings.
616
00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,560
In that case,
if their tomb is here,
617
00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:13,200
it means they will
get more offerings,
618
00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:15,600
more flowers, more
food, more drink.
619
00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:17,480
The deceased, he will enjoy
620
00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:21,320
and he will cheer for
the Beautiful Festival
of the Valley.
621
00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:23,280
I'm so happy because
622
00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:26,320
now we know why they
chose this area.
623
00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,760
Ramses' 66-year reign
was incredibly prosperous,
624
00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:33,760
so he could afford to be
generous with his subjects.
625
00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:36,520
He continues the Beautiful
Festival of the Valley,
626
00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:38,760
along with dozens
of other festivals,
627
00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:42,000
even organizing an
annual 24-day feast,
628
00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:44,160
making him popular
with the masses and
629
00:34:44,240 --> 00:34:46,840
increasing his power.
630
00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:52,240
For Fathi and his team,
631
00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,000
it's been a
very successful dig,
632
00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:57,320
and they hope this will
just be the start of their
633
00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,440
discoveries here.
634
00:35:00,720 --> 00:35:03,760
We will continue our work
for the rest of the tomb.
635
00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:09,920
In Saqqara,
636
00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,440
Ola is exploring a hidden
chamber in the tomb of one of
637
00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:17,200
Ramses military commanders,
General Iwrkhy.
638
00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:21,960
She hopes to uncover
how these generals
helped his rise to power,
639
00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:24,720
and how he
rewarded them in return.
640
00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:29,200
But the tomb is a mess of
artifacts buried under rubble
641
00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:31,600
with skeletons
scattered throughout.
642
00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:35,880
It's a clear sign to Ola
that robbers looted this tomb
643
00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:37,840
thousands of years ago.
644
00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,480
Ola makes a start on the
funerary items the robbers
645
00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:42,840
left behind.
646
00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:45,520
We have a
puzzle everywhere.
647
00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,360
Sometimes you find many
fragments of the same jar,
648
00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:49,960
we have to put them together.
649
00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,600
One jar in
particular stands out.
650
00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:57,800
You see this here,
it's a crown with horns
651
00:35:57,880 --> 00:35:59,720
and sun disk here.
652
00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:02,320
This is a deity, maybe Hathor.
653
00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:05,120
The stunning
pot shows Hathor,
654
00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:08,480
the goddess of love,
who takes the form of a cow,
655
00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:11,040
but no information
about Iwrkhy.
656
00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:14,120
Hidden in the debris, something
else catches Ola's eye.
657
00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:20,560
Oo-oo-oo-ooh.
Beautiful, my God!
658
00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:29,280
Ola has made
a major discovery.
659
00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:32,600
She hopes it will provide
clues as to how Ramses'
660
00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:35,720
generals helped
his rise to power,
661
00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:38,400
and how he rewarded
them in return.
662
00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,920
This is the first time
we have something so clear.
663
00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,600
This is the head of one
of the canopic jars.
664
00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:51,240
It's beautiful, you
see the wig, the ears.
665
00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:55,080
Oh my god.
666
00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:57,640
This canopic jar
head is part of the funerary
667
00:36:57,720 --> 00:37:00,520
goods buried in the
tomb of Ramses' head general
668
00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,360
called Iwrkhy.
669
00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:04,600
They hold the
mummy's vital organs,
670
00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:08,960
so they can live again
and reuse their organs
in the afterlife.
671
00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,200
OLA So beautiful.
672
00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,480
And the cheek is so smooth.
673
00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:18,640
Finding this is like
a treasure also,
674
00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:22,760
because it's very indicative
of lots of other things.
675
00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:26,200
If these decorative
items belong to Iwrkhy,
676
00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:28,720
it proves he and his
family were highly rewarded
677
00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:30,720
by Ramses the Great.
678
00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:32,600
Alabaster was a
prized material,
679
00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:35,080
thought of as
desirable by the gods.
680
00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:37,880
If this was Iwrkhy's
it's evidence he had a
681
00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:39,880
very luxurious burial.
682
00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:41,560
It's a rare find.
683
00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:43,840
But there's more treasure
beneath the debris.
684
00:37:44,240 --> 00:37:46,560
OLA Okay, now
we have a block coming out.
685
00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:47,640
Let's see.
686
00:37:47,720 --> 00:37:49,160
Oh my God!
687
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:53,240
Hidden under the
sand for thousands of years,
688
00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:55,480
the block is covered
in inscriptions.
689
00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:57,880
OLA They're
all kneeling on the ground and
690
00:37:57,960 --> 00:37:59,880
weeping and mourning.
691
00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:03,600
Beautiful carvings
on the blocks' underside,
692
00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:07,120
reveal distraught funeral
mourners convulsed in grief.
693
00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:09,480
It's a religious scene,
694
00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:12,280
depicting the sacred
funerary rites for the
695
00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:14,080
tomb owner's burial.
696
00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:18,280
It's not every day
that we find something
as big as that.
697
00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,640
We cannot find the
name of the owner.
698
00:38:21,720 --> 00:38:25,040
It needs to be taken into
the magazine and put together
699
00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:27,200
again by the specialists.
700
00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:31,600
If they can
find the name of the tomb
owner in the inscriptions,
701
00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:35,680
the block could prove that
Ramses' generals, like Iwrkhy,
702
00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:38,360
were so important
they received elaborate
703
00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:42,600
funerary processions as
part of Egypt's high society.
704
00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:45,120
You'll find
a lot of things,
705
00:38:45,200 --> 00:38:46,960
significant thing
that could help find
706
00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:49,640
information about Iwrkhy.
707
00:38:49,720 --> 00:38:52,560
But Ola can't
see Iwrkhy's name yet,
708
00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:53,920
nor any others.
709
00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:58,160
She needs to find
more of the block to
piece together their names.
710
00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:01,160
Well, it's a lot of
work still to be done,
711
00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:02,960
but it is promising.
712
00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:06,200
But, I might tell you
I have to go out before it
713
00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:07,840
falls on our heads.
714
00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:12,880
With so many
finds inside the tomb,
715
00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:16,640
and with so many rooms
still to excavate, for Ola,
716
00:39:16,720 --> 00:39:18,920
this is simply the beginning.
717
00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:21,400
OLA Of course,
it is part of the puzzle,
718
00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:24,560
and it is part
of the suspense.
719
00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,480
Any block we find
we are expecting to
720
00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:29,120
find something important.
721
00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:34,520
Fantastic,
fantastic, fantastic.
722
00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:36,080
Three times fantastic.
723
00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,160
In Egypt's far south,
724
00:39:41,240 --> 00:39:44,560
Colleen investigates
Ramses the Great's legacy.
725
00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:49,400
She wants to understand how
he became the most powerful
726
00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:51,800
Pharaoh of ancient Egypt,
727
00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:55,560
and why we still know
his name three millennia
728
00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,240
after his death.
729
00:39:57,920 --> 00:39:59,480
COLLEEN
This is Lake Nabta.
730
00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:02,360
I'm at the southern border
of modern day Egypt and
731
00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:04,360
just a few miles
upstream is Sudan.
732
00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:08,520
But this is ancient Nubia.
733
00:40:09,560 --> 00:40:13,360
This is where Ramses's armies
and his bureaucracy maintained
734
00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:16,920
control over the
all-important gold resources
735
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:18,280
of ancient Egypt.
736
00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,440
Ramses and
other Pharaohs sourced vast
737
00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:26,840
quantities of their
precious gold from Nubia.
738
00:40:27,160 --> 00:40:29,920
Control of this area
allowed Ramses to trade the
739
00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:33,480
gold and other goods
with the rest of Africa,
740
00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:36,480
and over the
Red Sea with Asia.
741
00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:40,120
And it is here that Ramses
chose to build one of his most
742
00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:43,360
impressive temples,
Abu Simbel.
743
00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:46,840
Incredible.
744
00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:50,360
No matter how many times
I see this monument,
745
00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:53,640
I'm overwhelmed by
how massive it is.
746
00:40:56,960 --> 00:41:01,520
The four colossal statues of
Ramses face the Nile River.
747
00:41:02,720 --> 00:41:05,840
They would have been
visible at great distance,
748
00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:09,440
making a statement of
Ramses' divine authority.
749
00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:13,240
Here, in ancient Nubia,
750
00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:17,680
Ramses wanted everyone
to know he was King and this
751
00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:19,680
was his Empire.
752
00:41:20,320 --> 00:41:22,240
Inside the temple walls,
753
00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:26,360
Colleen finds a vast
record of Ramses' rule.
754
00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:31,400
This temple
is simply filled with
Ramses military victories.
755
00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:34,600
Battles are everywhere.
756
00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:38,200
But in a side chamber,
757
00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:40,840
Colleen spots something
more intriguing
758
00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:43,280
than military propaganda.
759
00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:45,880
This is such
a peculiar image.
760
00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:49,840
So Ramses is offering
two jars of water,
761
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:53,680
and then there's an offering
table in front with two
762
00:41:53,760 --> 00:41:57,360
baskets of fruit, topped
off with a lotus flower,
763
00:41:57,440 --> 00:41:59,640
and below are two
loaves of bread.
764
00:41:59,960 --> 00:42:02,280
These are the sorts of
offerings that Kings would
765
00:42:02,360 --> 00:42:05,920
present to deities, and the
Coronation name of Ramses is
766
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:09,960
labelling the god who
the king worships.
767
00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:16,240
This is not the king
offering to just any god,
768
00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:19,480
but to his own deified self.
769
00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:24,040
This is Ramses as King
offering to Ramses as a god.
770
00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:28,200
Meaning that this temple
was a place where Ramses
771
00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:30,720
could be worshipped for
generations to come.
772
00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:33,480
Throughout his reign,
773
00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:36,880
Ramses increased his power
through military glory and by
774
00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:39,360
ultimately securing peace.
775
00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,240
But it was by
making himself a god,
776
00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:46,240
that he was able to secure
his legacy as Ramses the Great.
777
00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:50,240
All Pharaohs deify
themselves before they die,
778
00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:52,560
but Ramses the Great,
like everything else,
779
00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:55,040
did it bigger and better,
780
00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:58,400
building grander temples
to be worshipped from,
781
00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:01,760
and proclaiming his
divine right to rule more times
782
00:43:01,840 --> 00:43:03,920
than any other.
783
00:43:04,280 --> 00:43:09,520
Abu Simbel and
Karnak Temple are among the
greatest wonders of the world,
784
00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:11,840
but in ancient Egypt,
785
00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:13,480
to have your name repeated,
786
00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:16,240
granted you immortality
in the afterlife.
787
00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:18,920
We know that nine more
Pharaohs were named Ramses,
788
00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:21,360
and we're still
repeating his name today.
789
00:43:21,440 --> 00:43:24,760
He truly lives forever.
790
00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:27,120
Every season,
ongoing excavations are
791
00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:30,840
uncovering new evidence
about what made Ramses the
792
00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:34,840
most powerful and successful
ruler of ancient Egypt.
793
00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:38,440
Hundreds of temples
and monuments show his
794
00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:40,840
skill at propaganda.
795
00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:44,160
His repurposing of statues
linked him to Egypt's
796
00:43:44,240 --> 00:43:46,360
illustrious past rulers.
797
00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:51,000
A mighty warrior, his peace
treaty reveals that he was an
798
00:43:51,080 --> 00:43:53,080
outstanding diplomat.
799
00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:56,960
He held expensive burials
for those loyal to him and
800
00:43:57,040 --> 00:43:59,720
his lavish festivals show
that he shared the prosperity
801
00:43:59,800 --> 00:44:02,040
of his long reign.
802
00:44:02,400 --> 00:44:06,360
He truly was the greatest
of all Egypt's kings.