Pharaoh Ramses Was Not One Of History’s Greatest Generals – New Study Ruins His Formidable Reputation

AncientPages.com - Apparently, power of Pharaoh Ramses is fake news.

Archaeological evidence from an Egyptian excavation 200 miles east of the Libyan border has helped ruin the formidable reputation of one of the country’s most famous pharaohs - Ramses the Great.

According to Dr Nicky Nielsen from the University of Manchester, the finding adds to the body of evidence that Ramses had limited pedigree as a soldier.

His famous, impressive monuments symbolizing his skills as a warrior were nothing more than ancient propaganda.

There is now evidence that the Egyptians who lived in the late Bronze Age fortress at of Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham were at peace with their Libyan neighbors.

A new research by Dr Nielsen contradicts the widely accepted view that Ramses the Great was fighting and winning- fierce war with his neighbors, in Libya, Nubia and the Near East.

The excavation works led by Dr Steven Snape, from the University of Liverpool, revealed artifacts  including 3,300-year-old sickle blades, handstones, querns and cow bones, which show the Egyptians harvested crops and raised cattle herds up to 8km away from the protection of the fort, located deep in Libyan territory.

“This evidence demonstrates the degree to which the Egyptian occupants of Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham relied on local Libyans not just for trade, but also for their knowledge of the local environment and effective farming methods,” Nilesen said.

“It is another strong indication that the widely held belief that Ramses was one of history’s greatest generals – is completely wrong.

“How on earth could Ramses have been fiercely at war with Libyan nomads when his soldiers were living in peace with them deep in their territory? It just doesn’t add up.

“In fact, the most significant battle Ramses ever fought was at Kadesh: though one of the most famous in the ancient world – it was disastrously executed by the pharaoh.”

According to Dr Nielsen, the Hittites - the Egyptians’ foes - tricked the young king into fighting them, which led him to impetuously imperil a division of his army. It was only when the three other divisions of his army eventually rescued him was he able to escape, but with no territory gained. In fact he lost control of a great part of modern-day Syria after the battle.

“When you realize that Ramses re-inscribed monuments dedicated to others – so that it appeared they were celebrating his achievements, you realize what a peddler of fake news he was, Nielsen explained.

“His name was often carved so deeply, it was impossible to remove it – thus preserving his legacy.

“And as he fathered 162 children and ruled Egypt for 69 years, his propaganda had plenty of opportunity to take root.”

Research is published in the journal Antiquity. 

Original story - here

and - here.

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