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Lecture 16 Hittites and Kadesh

HIST 213 Spring 2012

1270 BCE

Ramses II (19th Dynasty)

“The Great”

• expeditions in Nubia, Libya, Levant and pirates landing in Egypt from North – standing army of 100,000

• Renaissance of Egyptian culture and creativity

• married to Nefertiti

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Abu Simbel Temple

Mummy of Ramses II found in KV 5

Ramesses II in Syria

• Conducts Syrian campaign 1275

– controls Canaanite cities, Tyre, Byblos

– Threatens to take western Assyrian city-states of Ugarit and Carcamesh from Hittite control

• Returns to Egypt to plan large offensive

– developed ox-carts for logistics

• Sets up conflict with the Hittites (Kadesh)

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Changes in Egypt The Rise of the Ramesses Family

• Young successful noble Pramesse adopted as Ramesses I.

• Adopts Seti I who conquers region around Kadesh

• Muwatalli accepts his gains with Orontes as boundaries so he can focus on uprisings in his own lands

• Son of Seti I takes name Ramesses II

Hittite Empire 1400-1180 BCE

Suppiluliumas I – conquers the Euphrates Valley

– Queen of Egypt asks to

marry his son

– son is killed before reaching Egypt

Mursilis II

• extends conquest further

Muwatallis I

Muwatallis II

• Battle of Qadesh (1274 BCE)

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Hattusha, Capital of the Hittite Empire (Bogazköy)

Short Documentary “Dark Lords of Hattusha”

http://faculty.uml.edu/Ethan_Spanier/Teaching/WAWVideo.aspx

Lion Gate of Hattusas

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“King’s Gate” at Hattusha

• Represents “ideals” of Hittite Kingship – strong muscles

– armed with sword and mace

– wearing helmet

– left arm in gesture of

– aggression or religious piety

Battle of Kadesh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kadesh

Stalemate at Kadesh Ramesses finally retreats

• Ramesses receives a message from Muwatalli and decides to retreat

• According to the Egyptians, the "wretched, vanquished chief of Hatti" pleaded with the Pharaoh

“The land of Kemi, the land of Hatti, are at your service. They are under your feet. Re, your exalted father, gave them to you so you would rule us. Is it good, that you should kill your servants?”

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Egyptian Account of the Battle

• Ramesses claims to have won

• Muwatalli represents it as a victory for Hittites

• Reality: stalemate, but Hittites forced to pull back

“Battle of Qadesh on the south wall of the Hypostyle Hall and the Cour de la Cachette, Karnak Temple

Kadesh “Poem” dialogue between royal shield bearer and Ramses II

“We stand alone in the midst of battle, abandoned by soldiers and chariotry.”...His Majesty said to his shield-bearer: “Stand firm, steady your heart shield-bearer! I will chase them as a falcon pounces, I will slaughter, butcher, fling to the ground. Why do you fear these weaklings whose multitudes I disregard?” His Majesty then rushed forward. At a gallop he charged the midst of the foe. For his sixth time he charged them. I was after them like Baal in his moment of power, I slew them without pause.

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Poem of Pentaur

Now then, his majesty had prepared his infantry, his chariotry, and the Sherden of his majesty's capturing,...in the Year 5, 2nd month of the third season, day 9, his majesty passed the fortress of Sile. [and entered Canaan] .......

“No officer was with me, no charioteer, no soldier of the army, no shield-bearer ... not one of my princes, of my chief men and my great, was with me, not a captain, not a knight; For my warriors and chariots had left me to my fate, Not one was there to take his part in fight.” ........ Here I stand, all alone; There is no one at my side, My warriors and chariots afeared, Have deserted me, none heard My voice, when to the cravens I, their king, for succor, cried. But I find that Ammon's grace Is better far to me Than a million fighting men and ten thousand chariots be.

The Poem of Pentaur

Treaty of Kadesh, Istanbul Archaeology Museum

The peace treaty was recorded in two versions • Egyptian hieroglyphs • Akkadian, using cuneiform script;

− fortunately, both versions survive. Such dual-language recording is common to many subsequent treaties. This treaty differs from others, however, in that the two language versions are differently worded. Although the majority of the text is identical, the Hittite version claims that the Egyptians came suing for peace, while the Egyptian version claims the reverse. The treaty was given to the Egyptians in the form of a silver plaque, and this "pocket-book" version was taken back to Egypt and carved into the Temple of Karnak.

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Hittite king is depicted as god (wearing a pointed hat) and warrior (as he is wearing a short skirt and weapons) The relief is part of the Hieroglyph Chamber in Hattusha, Turkey.

Relief of Suppiluliuma II,

Hittite Late Empire (1267-1209)

• Hittite kings seek divine protection

Tudhaliya IV’s seal found at Ugarit Tudhaliya IV at

Yazalikiya

Hittite Empire evaporates

After the son of Tudhaliya IV acsends to the throne, the king lists stop.

– mention of a rebellion in CHT

– war with Ahhiyawan and city of “Milawanda”

Numerous theories as to why Hittites disappear from historical and archaeological record

What happened to the Hittites ????

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Collapse of the Bronze Age

Invasions/Migrations

1200-1000 BCE Ammorites