Pyramids of Skulls

Celebrate Poe

Episode 141 - Pyramids of Skulls

This episode begins with an apology for the lateness of this episode because of a medical bill snafu that was all consuming. The main part of Pyramids of Skulls is an imaginary interview with the ghost of the historical Tammerlane - highlighting his ruthlessness in battle, incredible cruelty to his enemies, and the destruction caused by what was the strongest army in the world at that time. Poe’s first published work was Tammerlane and Other Poems - but a look at the Tammerlane’s exploits shows that Poe’s work about the man was quite different.

• Who was Tammerlane?
• Describe his conquest of Baghdad and of Delhi.
• How did Tammerlane use fire when conquering Delhi?
• How did Tammerlane treat the head of the Ottomans?
• What eventually happened to the head of Ottomans?

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:53 Apology
• 04:30 Entrance of the ghost of Tammerlane
• 06:25 Strongest and most brutal army in the world
• 13:53 Invasion of Baghdad
• 19:25 Invasion of Delhi
• 23:27 Return to Samarkand
• 25:30 Conflict with Ottoman Turks and sultan
• 33:42 Future episode
• 33:42 Sources
• 34:23 Outro