BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Guarding Egypt during the Time of Ramesses II

New Kingdom fortress discovered

Archaeologists with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have uncovered a fortress from the reign of Ramesses II (r. 1279–1213 BCE), the Egyptian pharaoh often associated with the Exodus. Located in the northwest Nile Delta, about 60 miles south of Alexandria, the fortress defended against encroaching Libyan forces from the west and Sea Peoples coming from the Mediterranean. The most magnificent find, however, was the discovery of a well-preserved bronze sword, bearing the cartouche of Ramesses II.

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Defending Egypt

The fort consisted of a barracks along with warehouses for storing weapons and food. The mudbrick buildings were meticulously organized into two identical groups separated by a narrow passageway. Among the finds were weapons, tools, and the personal effects of Egyptian troops stationed at the fort. The latter included necklaces made with semi-precious stones, a bronze ring, and numerous scarab seals. Excavators also discovered two inscribed limestone blocks mentioning Ramesses and an official named Bay. The most impressive find was the bronze sword bearing the cartouche of Ramesses II.

“The weaponry demonstrates the place was well armed and may even have been able to produce some weapons on site,” Peter Brand, a professor at the University of Memphis in Tennessee, told Live Science. The bronze sword was “likely given to a high-ranking officer as a royal reward. The king’s name and titles engraved on it increased the prestige of its owner and advertised the [king’s] wealth, power, and generosity.”

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Ramesses II, known as Ramesses the Great, ruled Egypt at the height of its power when its borders stretched from Syria to Nubia. Despite Ramesses’s many military victories, his reign was also a time of threats, including raids from Libya and the marauding Sea Peoples.

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This article was first published in Bible History Daily on September 30, 2024.

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