Over 3,500 years ago, Rome was no more than a soggy marsh and the Acropolis was just an empty rock, but Egypt was on the brink of its greatest age – the New Kingdom. There was an explosion of creativity, wealth and power in Egypt that would make it the envy of the world.

After defeating the Hyksos invaders, successive Pharaohs expanded and maintained their Empire through both force and diplomacy. In the process, they won Egypt vast amounts of gold, influence and respect. They included; Ahmose, Hatshepsut, Tuthmosis III, Amenhotep III, Akenhaten, Tutankhamen and Ramesses III. They created the first largest empire, the most powerful and fearful nation the world had ever seen.

Zahi Hawass has led an all-Egyptian team that is excavating and restoring the mysterious tunnel leading from the burial chamber of King Seti I deep into the Theban cliffs. No explorer has ever reached its end. The reason for the tunnel’s existence is unknown, but Hawass is determined to uncover its mysteries.

Languishing away on CBBC lurks the best sketch show the Beeb have made in years – HORRIBLE HISTORIES! Here’s just a tiny nugget: a musical guide to preserving your very own pharaoh.

Dr Zahi Hawass talks about the tomb robbers and how the Tomb of King Tutankhamun was saved from being raided after it was sealed by the Valley of the Kings police. Work on creating the Tomb of Ramesses VI, which is adjacent to KV62, led to part of King Tut’s tomb caving in and sealing the entrance. It makes KV62 the only tomb in the Valley of the Kings to be discovered fully intact.

Egyptologist Dr. Kara Cooney visits “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson” to discuss the Pharaoh Hatshepsut and the Discovery Channel special “Secrets of Egypt’s Lost Queen”.

A video animated reconstruction of the mummy of Hatshepsut.

A massive red granite sculpted head of pharaoh Amenhotep III has been unearthed behind the famous Colossi of Memnon in Luxor.

Not only huge in dimensions, the 2.5m (8ft) head is one of the best preserved and finely carved image of the king, recently identified as the grandfather of Tutankhamen thru DNA and CT scan tests conducted on several 18th dynasty royal family mummies.

Other parts from the colossal statue were found several years ago in the excavation site of what once was the largest mortuary temple of ancient Thebes. Egyptian authorities mentioned plans for putting all the pieces back together.