Ancient sword bearing name of Ramesses II discovered in Egypt
A sword with the name of Ramesses II – thought by some to be the pharaoh mentioned in the Book of Exodus – has been discovered in the northwest Nile Delta area of Egypt. Thought to be 3,200 years old, the bronze sword was found by a team of archaeologists at a 3,200-year-old military fort at the Tell Al-Abqain excavation site.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the site was a key military outpost in the defense system of ancient Egypt. Structures were built all along a military route in the northwestern Nile Delta to defend against threats from tribes in the Libyan Desert and the Mediterranean Sea.
According to Khaled, the site's advanced architectural layout demonstrates the engineering skills of the ancient Egyptians, who effectively used the landscape for military purposes.
The ancient weapon was found in one of the mudbrick structures that were once military barracks and storage rooms for weapons and provisions. It was in a small room close to an area that could have been vulnerable to attack or intrusion, leading researchers to conclude that the sword was a weapon intended for use rather than purely decorative.
Historian Prof. Peter J. Brand from the University of Memphis has a particular interest in the art history of the Ramesside Period of Ancient Egypt. Commenting on the find, he stated: "The weaponry demonstrates that the place was well armed and may even have been able to produce some weapons on site. 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."
Hieroglyphic inscriptions on the sword are highlighted by two stones, according to Ynet News, one of which mentions the name of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II. The fact that it mentions the Pharaoh’s name would have contributed to the prestige of the gift.
Many other significant finds from the time of Ramesses II have been discovered at the site in the Hosh Issa District, including a limestone block also bearing his name. Large granaries, storage jars, cooking pots, beads and amulets are some of the treasures that have been found, along with the sword featuring the name of the Pharaoh.
Ramesses II ruled from 1279 to 1213 B.C.E. and was Egypt’s most powerful and famous king. He led multiple military campaigns and expanded the Egyptian Empire, stretching all the way from Syria to Nubia in the south during his reign.
We recommend to read:
Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
