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- Feb 2, 2011
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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 16th SEPTEMBER 2024
THE ANCIENTS
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF THE NEW KINGDOM EGYPTIANS
NUBIAN AND LIBYAN MERCENARIES
During the 20th Dynasty Egyptian power declined, and Egypt itself was beset with Libyan incursions and attempted invasions by the sea peoples.
The Libyans were originally composed of two peoples namely the Tehenu and the Temehu. These were later joined by tribes called the Kehek and Meshwesh, the latter being the most notable of all the Libyan tribes.
These peoples never did well against the Egyptians due mainly to their lack of chariots, and were no match for the Egyptians at this time.
The first Libyan War in 1193 BC, Pharaoh Rameses III of the 20th Dynasty fought a mixed army of Libyans and Sea Peoples, which were led by King Themer. The invaders were beaten back with over 12,000 killed and 1,000 taken prisoner.
Libyans wore animal hide cloaks and had dyed ostrich feathers in their hair.
Many Libyans who raided Egypt during the reigns of Merenptah and Ramesses III were captured and impressed as auxiliary troops in the Egyptian army. Ramesses III’s battle scenes illustrate many Libyans armed with bows, as well as long slashing swords traded from the sea peoples.
THE SEA PEOPLES
Ramasses the III, the last great pharaoh of the New Kingdom, saw the massed invasion of “dispossessed nations”, which became known collectively as “The Peoples of The Sea”.
The armies of these “sea Peoples” were composed of many peoples who came by land and by sea in a migration more than an invasion.
These were people from Crete, North Caria, and the Lycian coast, and included the Thekel, Denyen, Tyresenoi, Weshwesh, Sherden and Peleset.
This mass invasion of Egypt, was a coalition of peoples who clearly had come to settle, for they brought with them their families, their cattle and household possessions.
The most serious invasion occurred in Year eight of Ramasses III’s reign.
The advance on Egypt was by land and water.
The temple at Medinet Habu provides the visual images of the invasion.
THE SHERDEN, PHARAOH’S BODYGUARD
The Egyptian Armies had from the earliest of times contained mercenary soldiers, most notably the Nubians who provided excellent archers. In addition to the Nubians, were recruited Libyans, and eventually the Peoples of The Sea.
The Sherden were sea pirates and were first engaged as mercenaries by Rameses II who had defeated them in a battle. He defeated them in his second year (1278 BC) when they attempted to raid Egypt's coast.
The pharaoh subsequently incorporated many of these warriors into his personal guard.
Ramesses stated in his Kadesh inscriptions that he incorporated some of the Sherden into his own personal guard at the Battle of Kadesh.
Their bronze helmets were horned and surmounted by a bronze disc raised on a small shaft. They wore leather armour which was studded with metal, and was worn over a pleated kilt and secured at the waist by a girdle.
They were armed with a great bronze stabbing sword, and carried a round wooden shield with bronze studs and a bronze rim
The first of the Libyan and Sherden Bodyguards will be available in the next few months.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
THE ANCIENTS
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF THE NEW KINGDOM EGYPTIANS
NUBIAN AND LIBYAN MERCENARIES
During the 20th Dynasty Egyptian power declined, and Egypt itself was beset with Libyan incursions and attempted invasions by the sea peoples.
The Libyans were originally composed of two peoples namely the Tehenu and the Temehu. These were later joined by tribes called the Kehek and Meshwesh, the latter being the most notable of all the Libyan tribes.
These peoples never did well against the Egyptians due mainly to their lack of chariots, and were no match for the Egyptians at this time.
The first Libyan War in 1193 BC, Pharaoh Rameses III of the 20th Dynasty fought a mixed army of Libyans and Sea Peoples, which were led by King Themer. The invaders were beaten back with over 12,000 killed and 1,000 taken prisoner.
Libyans wore animal hide cloaks and had dyed ostrich feathers in their hair.
Many Libyans who raided Egypt during the reigns of Merenptah and Ramesses III were captured and impressed as auxiliary troops in the Egyptian army. Ramesses III’s battle scenes illustrate many Libyans armed with bows, as well as long slashing swords traded from the sea peoples.
THE SEA PEOPLES
Ramasses the III, the last great pharaoh of the New Kingdom, saw the massed invasion of “dispossessed nations”, which became known collectively as “The Peoples of The Sea”.
The armies of these “sea Peoples” were composed of many peoples who came by land and by sea in a migration more than an invasion.
These were people from Crete, North Caria, and the Lycian coast, and included the Thekel, Denyen, Tyresenoi, Weshwesh, Sherden and Peleset.
This mass invasion of Egypt, was a coalition of peoples who clearly had come to settle, for they brought with them their families, their cattle and household possessions.
The most serious invasion occurred in Year eight of Ramasses III’s reign.
The advance on Egypt was by land and water.
The temple at Medinet Habu provides the visual images of the invasion.
THE SHERDEN, PHARAOH’S BODYGUARD
The Egyptian Armies had from the earliest of times contained mercenary soldiers, most notably the Nubians who provided excellent archers. In addition to the Nubians, were recruited Libyans, and eventually the Peoples of The Sea.
The Sherden were sea pirates and were first engaged as mercenaries by Rameses II who had defeated them in a battle. He defeated them in his second year (1278 BC) when they attempted to raid Egypt's coast.
The pharaoh subsequently incorporated many of these warriors into his personal guard.
Ramesses stated in his Kadesh inscriptions that he incorporated some of the Sherden into his own personal guard at the Battle of Kadesh.
Their bronze helmets were horned and surmounted by a bronze disc raised on a small shaft. They wore leather armour which was studded with metal, and was worn over a pleated kilt and secured at the waist by a girdle.
They were armed with a great bronze stabbing sword, and carried a round wooden shield with bronze studs and a bronze rim
The first of the Libyan and Sherden Bodyguards will be available in the next few months.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
). We will miss this awesome range but it & the K&C Streets of Rome are competing now... Even though we quit collecting a few years ago
