The volume assembles the contributions of a conference on the Ramesside military system that aimed to shed light on new archaeological and historical perspectives concerning the entire military outlook of Egypt at this time. The intention of the conference was to make a broad assessment of the current state of knowledge about the Ramesside military system and discuss how the new knowledge relates to previously held theories, and to provide a forum for discussion. The Egyptian military activity was very significant during the Ramesside Period of Egypt (Dynasties XIX–XX, 1310–1100 BC) and was an important part of the historical developments during the New Kingdom of Egypt as well as in the contemporary Late Bronze Age of the ancient Near East. – On the basis of archaeological, iconographical and textual evidence, Mohamed Raafat Abbas collected the attestations of the Libyan war of Ramesses II. – Mohamed Abd el-Maksoud and Elsayed Abd el-Alim discussed the fortifications at Tell Heboua (ancient Tjaru) in north Sinai which secured Egypt’s eastern border at the Pelusiac branch of the Nile at the starting point of the so-called Ways of Horus to Palestine by protecting the crossing of the Nile at a strategically suitable place. – Peter J. Brand examined recurring ideological themes in the monumental military texts and reliefs of Sety I and Ramesses II and their impact on our endeavor to understand the historical context of the wars these pharaohs waged. – The fortress of Tjaru was dealt with by Ola El-Aguizy once more. It is depicted not only in the temple of Karnak, but also in the Ramesside tomb of the Generalissimo Urkhya at Saqqara. – James K. Hoffmeier discussed the fortress of Tell el-Borg, one of the bases along the Ways of Horus in north Sinai, concentrating on the reconstruction of the antique landscape in order to understand the position and the building phases of the fortress. – Jozef Hudec dealt with the fortress(es) of Tell el-Retaba east of Ismailia. Recent excavations of the Polish-Slovak Archaeological Mission revealed numerous structures inside the fortresses, and delivered new information about the defense walls and other defensive installations. – The chariot which is so prominent in the Ramesside war scenes was treated by Heidi Köpp-Junk in its historical development from the earliest evidence until the first century BC. – Alberto M. Pollastrini dealt with scale armours, which are mentioned as booty of war or diplomatic presents and occasionally depicted. – Sylvia Schoske dealt with the Stela ÄS 8025 from the Munich Egyptian Museum. – Steven Snape concentrated on the fortress of Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham west of Marsa Matruh which was erected by Ramesses II against the Libyans for securing the coastal trade. – Finally, Anthony Spalinger showed that studies of points of view have been a revealing strategy in analysing literary compositions of the ancient world. How the author or compiler of a relatively lengthy historical account established his focus upon the narrative automatically entails a certain strategy of presentation.

Preface

Conference Program

Mohamed Raafat Abbas: The Libyan War of Ramesses II

Mohamed Abd el-Maksoud and Elsayed Abd el-Alim: The Ramesside Fortresses at Tjaru (Tell Heboua I, II): Excavations on the Eastern Gate of Egypt

Peter J. Brand: Ideological Aspects of Ramesside Military Texts and Reliefs: Sety I and Ramesses II

Ola El-Aguizy: A Reconsideration of the Scene of the Tjaru Fortress in the Tomb of the Generalissimo Urkhya

James K. Hoffmeier: Tell el-Borg and the Ways of Horus in the Ramesside Era

Jozef Hudec: Defensive Constructions of the Twentieth Dynasty at Tell el-Retaba

Heidi Köpp-Junk: The Chariot in the Ramesside Period: A Study on the Background of the Development from the Earliest Evidence until the First Century BC

Alberto Maria Pollastrini: The Body Armour of Ramesses II

Sylvia Schoske: High on the Chariot: A New Stela in Munich

Steven Snape: What was Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham for? Early Ramesside Strategy in the Libyan West

Anthony Spalinger: Points of View: Ramesses II and the Battle of Kadesh