A team of archaeologists in Egypt uncovered a sword with hieroglyphs bearing the name of Pharaoh Ramesses II. The weapon was one of many artifacts from the well-stocked archaeological site of Tel Al-Abqain, near the coast of northwestern Egypt.
The sword is made of bronze and features the name of King Ramses IIwho ruled Egypt from approximately 1279 to 1213 BC. Ramesses II had the second longest reign in Egyptian history, marked by a major building boom and wars with the Hittites and a group of invaders called the Sea Peoples. The sword was unearthed near an area called could have been infiltrated by enemiesThe team also found two inscribed limestone blocksOne of the blocks bears a hieroglyphic inscription mentioning Ramses II and the other bears a inscription for an official named “Bay”.
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Several religious and spiritual artifacts were also found, including the remains of an intact cow. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and AntiquitiesCows symbolized “strength, abundance and prosperity, as cows were revered as heavenly gods” in ancient Egypt. Other cow bones were found near the ovens.
The team also found several scarabs–depictions of a scarab beetle, which was considered a symbol of the morning sun. One scarab bore the inscription “Amun—Lord of Heaven.” Other scarabs bear inscriptions honoring various deities and flowers. More jewelry was unearthed, including half of a bronze ring inscribed “Amun Horakhty,” necklaces, and several semi-precious stones called carnelian in the form of pomegranate seeds.
The objects were discovered among the 3,200-year-old remains of a military barracks that served as defense against enemy invasion during the New Kingdom EraIt has several architectural structures made of mud brick that housed soldiers, weapons and the food they needed to survive.
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According to Mohamed Ismail KhaledSecretary General of the Supreme Council for Archaeology, it was an important military base from 1550 to 1070 BC on the Western War Road. It was built as a fortress to protect Egypt’s northwestern frontier from attacks by Libyan tribes and Sea Peoples. This collection of tribes waged war in the eastern Mediterranean in the Late Bronze Age.
The Sea Peoples are held responsible for the destruction of the Hittite empire. However, due to a sudden break in record keeping as a result of these invasions, the exact extent and origins of their actions remain unknown. Some of the main evidence for the Sea People is based on Egyptian texts and artwork, which is considered one-sided. Other evidence comes from Hittite sources and archaeological data.
Given the very well-stocked nature of the barracks, the soldiers may have been successful in protecting the invasion. However, archaeologists are still not sure why the complex was abandoned by the army and so many objects were left behind.