Heroes of the Bronze Age
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ARCH 0412 From Gilgamesh to Hektor: Heroes of the Bronze Age April 6, 2016: Heroes and War, Heroes in War II: Anatolia and Egypt ‘Warrior Vase’ Krater Mycenae 13th century BCE Battle of Kadesh Hittite forces Egyptian forces led by led by Muwatalli II vs Ramesses II Images of the Hittite Warrior Relief of Suppiluliuma at Sudburg, Hattusa 13th century BCE ‘King’s Gate’, Hattusa 13th century BCE Muwatalli II (r. 1295-1272 BCE) ‘My Lady, the Sun Goddess of Arinna, and My Lord, the Mighty Storm God, and Mezzulla and all the gods ran before me’ (Annals of Mursili) Muwatali II’s relief at Sirkeli, southern Turkey c. 13th century BCE Royal seals of Muwatalli II c. 13th century BCE Ramesses II (r. 1279-1213 BCE) KV7 Tomb of Ramesses II Ramesses II @ Paris The King’s Body: Mummy of Ramesses II • 1.70 m tall (5’ 7’’) • Had arthritis in the last years of his life • Abscessed tooth • Originally red-haired • Had battle wounds The King’s Body and the Warrior Hero The Narmer Palette, c. 3000 BCE Ramesses II smiting an enemy Hierakonpolis Abu Simbel, c. 1265 BCE Heb Sed: • A ‘jubilee’ celebrated after 30 years of rule and every 3-4 years after that The Festival of • Rituals and processions Rejuvenation • King shown as the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt • Rituals including symbols of manhood and strength • Ritual race/running in the ‘field’ designated by boundary stones • Ramesses II celebrated 13-14 Heb Seds Ebony label depicting pharaoh Den (1st dynasty) celebrating Heb Sed , c. 3000 BCE, Abydos The Narmer Macehead, c. 3100 BCE, Hierakonpolis Heb Sed: The Festival of Rejuvenation Step pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara, 3rd dynasty (c. 2650 BCE) The Battle of Kadesh Weapons, Armies, Tactics Battle of Kadesh, 1274 BCE • Seti I had captured Kadesh, recaptured by Hittites when he returned to Egypt Pi-Ramesses • Conflict arose again during the 5th regnal year of Ramesses II and 23rd regnal year of Muwatalli II • Fought with foot soldiers and chariots • Earliest battle that we know tactics from Battle of Kadesh, 1274 BCE: Army Formations • Mercenaries involved in both sides • (Speculated) numbers: • Egyptian forces: 5000x4 infantry and 500x4 chariots • Hittite forces: 50,000 infantry and 3,100 chariots Chariots Hittite chariot Egyptian chariot Abydos reliefs Abydos reliefs Standard of Ur, c. 2600 BCE | from the Royal Tombs of Ur Reverse Side : ‘War’ The Battle: Initial Engagement ‘When they had been brought before Pharaoh, His Majesty asked, 'Who are you?' They replied 'We belong to the king of Hatti. He has sent us to spy on you.' Then His Majesty said to them, 'Where is he, the enemy from Hatti? I had heard that he was in the land of Khaleb, north of .' They of Tunip replied to His Majesty, 'Lo, the king of Hatti has already arrived, together with the many countries who are supporting him... They are armed with their infantry and their chariots. They have their weapons of war at the ready. They are more numerous than the grains of sand on the beach. Behold, they stand equipped and ready for battle behind the old city of Kadesh’ (From the poem of Pentaur) • Hittites believed they were winning The Battle: Assault & • Ptah made it to the battlefield • Hittite forces surrounded Retreat on Both Sides • Muwatalli dispatched auxiliary forces The Battle: Final Stage • Remaining Egyptian divisions make it to the battlefield, surprising Hittites • Both sides suffer heavy losses Orontes north of Kadesh The Battle of Kadesh: Documentation Ramesseum, Thebes (Mortuary Temple of Ramesses II) • Original name ‘the House of millions of years of Usermaatra-setepenra that unites with Thebes-the-city in the domain of Amon’ • The gates and outer walls decorated with scenes of military victory and divine engagement The Battle of Kadesh: The Aftermath • Muwatalli died in 1272 BCE – soon after the battle • Muwatalli II’s son Mursili III (Urhi-Tesub) ascended to kingship • Hattusili III usurped and seized the Hittite throne in c. 1265 BCE. Ruled until 1235 BCE Hattusili III and Queen Puduhepa libating to the gods Rock relief at Fraktin, 13th century BCE The Battle of Kadesh: The Aftermath ‘Thus speaks Puduhepa, Great Queen, Queen of the Land of Hatti: Say to Reamasesa, Great King, King of the Land of Egypt, my brother: Concerning the fact that you, my brother, wrote to me as follows: “My sister wrote to me: ‘I will give a daughter to you.’ But you have withheld her from me. And now you are even angry with me! Why have you not given her to me?” I will give you both my daughter and the dowry. And you will not disapprove of it (i.e. the dowry), you will approve of it.’ (KUB 21.38 Letter from Queen Puduhepa to Ramesses II of Egypt, translation from Hoffner 2009, p.282) The Peace Treaty between Ramesses II and Hattusili III, c. 1258 BCE Friday Alternative to the Male Warrior: Medea (Guest Lecture by Kathryn McBride).