Hello and welcome to the History of Egypt podcast. This is a mini episode, the tale of two brothers,

recounting a fairy tale which emerged during the New Kingdom around the late 18th or early 19th

dynasties. It is a story of magic, of betrayal,

of falsehood and of great adventures, both in Egypt and foreign lands. In this story, we're going

to see how a man who is wronged by others comes to great triumphs and is able to overcome even death itself.

The tale of two brothers is a fascinating piece of ancient Egyptian storytelling.

It has been called the oldest fairy tale in the world, and as we will see, it is a story

rich in mythological references, full of excitement and adventure,

and one which ties in to some of the most fundamental concepts in Egyptian philosophical thought.

In this holiday season, sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy a fairy tale from 3,300 years ago.

The tale of two brothers focuses in particular on two brothers.

Their names are Anubis and Bata. These are no ordinary names.

They are divine names. Anubis, of course, is the famous jackal deity, lord of embalming and protector of the dead.

Bata, meanwhile, was a provincial god. His name was probably pronounced Bitti, and he was the lord of the town

called Saka in southern Egypt. So Anubis and Bata are both fictional characters in the story,

and also real gods who were worshipped in different communities in the land. The story begins on a small farm in an unnamed part of the country.

Anubis and Bata live together, along with Anubis's wife, and the two brothers take care of the

crops and the animals. This country estate, this idyllic home, is the setting for our tale's beginning.

Quote,

It is said that there were two brothers of the same mother and the same father.

The elder brother was named Anubis, and the younger brother was named Bata.

As for Anubis, he had a house and a wife, and his younger brother Bata was with him as if he were a son.

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