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"Our army was annihilated... Our food... incinerated... our vineyards... devastated. Our city is ravaged. Know this! Know this!"
- Final message from Ugarit city, north of Canaan c.1190 BC. - Ugarit city was raided by the "Sea Peoples".
Bronze Age Collapse & Sea Peoples
Bronze Age Collapse & Sea Peoples
Late Bronze Age Collapse [1200~ 1150BCE]
The Late Bronze Age collapse was a sudden event when all the major nations within the eastern Mediterranean basin collapsed; cities abandoned, societies disintegrated and cultures vanished. This affected ancient Greece, Anatolia, the Hittites, the Levant and ancient Egypt. We are still unsure what happened and why.
Invasion of the Sea Peoples [1177BCE]
The Invasion of the Sea Peoples occurred around the same time. The main source of information on this is from Ramesses III of ancient Egypt. Basically, a large number of tribes ganged together, travelled by ships and then attacked cities along the eastern Mediterranean coast like in Cyprus, the Levant (including Ugarit) and ancient Egypt.
The Sea Peoples consisted of different peoples including Peleset (Philistines), Sherden, Lukka (Lycians), Tjecker, Shekelesh, Denyen, Weshesh, Ekwesh, Karkisha & Teresh. We do not know much about most of these named peoples. Some of these peoples may have been migrants travelling overland as well.
The Sea Peoples were eventually defeated at the Battle of the (Nile) Delta by Ramesses III.
It is suspected that the Late Bronze Age collapse and the Invasion of Sea Peoples are related consequences of a sudden unknown major event. There is speculation as to if this was global warming, massive draught, volcanic activity or a meteor strike. We still don't know.
Auxiliary archers in the ancient Egyptian army in Battle of the Delta c.1175 BC [source- WikiCommons], (coloured edit by Yala Abdullah).
Tribes of the Sea Peoples
Tribes of the Sea Peoples
In general, Sea Peoples refer to the following tribes of peoples (I rank them here by importance):-
~ Gold - very important ~
▪ Sherden - likely from Sardinia (Italy).
▪ Peleset - from the Aegean region.
~ Silver - somewhat important ~
▪ Lukka - from Lycia (Anatolia, Turkey).
▪ Shekelesh - likely from Sicily (Italy).
▪ Tjecker - unknown origin.
~ Bronze - not particularly important ~
▪ Karkisha - likely from Caria (Greece).
▪ Ekwesh - possibly from Achaea (Greece).
▪ Teresh - possibly from Etruria (Italy).
▪ Denyen - likely from Danaoi (Greece).
▪ Weshesh - unknown origin.
Peleset and Sherden of the Sea Peoples in Battle of the Delta c.1175 BC [source- WikiCommons], (coloured edit by Yala Abdullah).
Main Sources of Information
Main Sources of Information
~ Before the Invasion ~
▪ Kadesh Inscriptions - Hieroglyphic inscription for Pharaoh Ramesses II describing the Battle of Kadesh (1274 BCE) against the Hittites.
The Sea Peoples are mentioned as allies on different sides.
▪ Great Karnak Inscription - The hieroglyph inscription of ancient Egypt for Pharaoh MernePtah (reign 1213-1203 BCE).
The Sea Peoples are mentioned in the Battle of Perire (c. 1208 BCE).
~ Invasion of the Sea Peoples ~
▪ Amarna Letters - The massive collection of cuneiform tablets (mostly in Akkadian) of diplomatic correspondences from the coastal Levant (ie. Canaan & Amurru) region.
The Sea Peoples are mentioned in the Ugarit letters (c. 1180 BCE) between King Ammurapi of Ugarit and the Governor of Alashiya (Cyprus).
▪ Medinet Habu Temple - The Mortuary Temple of Pharaoh Ramesses III (reign 1186-1155 BCE).
The Sea Peoples are inscribed with reliefs on the temple walls & pylons. Specifically, the Battle of Djahy and the Battle of the (Nile) Delta (both c.1178 BCE).
~ After the Defeat ~
▪ Onomasticon of Amenope - Papyrus text cyclopedia from ancient Egypt c.1100 BCE.
The Sea Peoples are mentioned as settled in various locations.
Pharaoh Ramesses II.
Pharaoh MernePtah.
Pharaoh Ramesses III.
Battles with the Sea Peoples
Battles with the Sea Peoples
Compiled from battle documentation of the ancient Egypt. What we know:-
-battles- -1- -2- -3- -4-
Karkisha y - - -
Lukka y y - -
Ekwesh - y - -
Teresh - y - -
Sherden y y ? y
Shekelesh - y y y
Peleset - - y y
Tjecker - - y y
Denyen - - y y
Weshesh - - y y
-1- Battle of Kadesh, 1274 BCE -2- Battle of Perire, c.1208 BCE - Land attack from west (Libya)-3- Battle of Djahy, c.1178 BCE - Land battle in middle-south Canaan-4- Battle of the Delta, c.1178 BCE - Sea attack from northeast (Canaan)
Peleset/ Philistine pottery fragments
A brief Chronology of the Sea Peoples
A brief Chronology of the Sea Peoples
Mid-1300's - The Amarna Letters mention Lukka raids on Alashiya island (Cyprus).
1278 BCE - The Stele of Tanis records that Sherden sea-pirates attack the coast of ancient Egypt and are defeated by Ramesses II. The Pharaoh then hires the Sherden as his bodyguards. Sherden are depicted with horned helmets.
1274 BCE - In the Battle of Kadesh, the ancient Egyptians have a land battle against the Hittites. The Kadesh Inscriptions record Ramesses III using his Sherden bodyguards to fight for the ancient Egyptians; while the Karkisha and Lukka were alongside with the Hittites.
c.1208 BCE - In the Battle of Perire, the ancient Libyans (from the Maghreb), under the Berber King Meryey, attack the western frontier of ancient Egypt by land. Fighting for Meryey are the Sherden, Shekelesh, Ekwesh, Lukka & Teresh. They are defeated by pharaoh Merneptah. It is mentioned that about 210 Shekelesh were killed in the battle.
The Great Karnak Inscription mentions Meryey's army as "Taking the best of every warrior and every man of war of his country. He has brought his wife and his children — leaders of the camp, and he has reached the western boundary in the fields of Perire".
Up to this point, the involvement of the Sea Peoples has been as auxiliary troops or mercenaries; fighting for another nation.
c.1180 BCE - The Invasion of the Sea Peoples begins in Alashiya island and Ugarit city (Syria). The Ugarit letters do not specifically mention any Sea Peoples tribes. But they do reveal that:-
(a) with 7 ships, the Sea Peoples attack and destroy Alashiya and Ugarit,
(b) for both Ugarit & Alashiya, their armies were away defending Hatti -and- their navies were away defending Lukka, and
(c) the Governor of Alashiya, in writing to the King of Ugarit, says "it was the people from your country, and it was the people from your own ships, who committed this transgression", referring to the invaders.
c.1180 BCE - We know that Hatti (Hattusa), the Hittite capital city was destroyed then.
Campaign at Amor
Campaign at Amor
c.1178 BCE - Campaign at Amor (Amurru). With the fall of the Hittite empire, there was unrest in the Amurru region. Both the cities of Ugarit and Kadesh were in Amurru. This news prompted Pharaoh Ramesses III to lead a campaign to quell them and conquer Hittite lands.
The reliefs at Medinet Habu show the Sherden were fighting for Ramesses III. It also shows the Peleset among the defeated prisoners.
Battle of Djahy
Battle of Djahy
c.1178 BCE - Battle of Djahy
From this image, it seems like:-(a) the horned helmets are Sherden, and (b) looks like Peleset could be fighting on both sides of the battle.
Battle of the Nile Delta
Battle of the Nile Delta
c.1178 BCE - Battle of the (Nile) Delta.
Relief at Medinet Habu depicting the victory of Ramses III against the Sea Peoples in the Battle of the (Nile) Delta [source-WikiCommons, see also].
Visually, from the relief at Medinet Habu, the Battle of the Delta enemy naval force were mostly Peleset (feathered headdress) and then Sherden (helmets with pointed horns).
Details on the Tribes
Details on the Tribes
▪ Sherden
They appear in every battle with Sea Peoples (Kadesh, Perire, Djahy & Nile Delta). The Sherden are not explicitly named in the Battle of Djahy but they are visually represented wearing their horned helmets.
Earlier, in 1278BCE, the Sherden pirates had attacked the coast of ancient Egypt. Ramesses II defeated them and also hired them as his bodyguards.
The tribes of Sea Peoples "sent" to settle in south Canaan were Peleset, Sherden and Tjecker. They would later form Philistia.
The 1100BC Onomasticon of Amenope records Sherden living in Canaan.
▪ Peleset
They appear in the "invasion battles" of Djahy & the Nile Delta. Visually, the Peleset appear in overwhelming numbers.
In the book The Palace of Minos, Arthur Evans describes the Battle of Djahy "The ox-wagons with women and children captured in the struggle on the land side show that it was in some sort a migration of peoples and that the process had already begun which was to convert the coast of Canaan into Palestine. It is, moreover, a significant symptom that the Pulasati [Peleset], identified with the later Philistines, and the kindred Tzakkaras [Tjecker] now come to the fore."
The tribes of Sea Peoples "sent" to settle in south Canaan were Peleset, Sherden and Tjecker. They would later form Philistia.
Also called Philistine, Pulasti, Palaset (Exodus 15:14), Palestina (King James bible), the Peleset established Philistia in south Canaan and their material culture of appears there as "Aegean".
▪ Tjecker
They appear in the "invasion battles" of Djahy & the Nile Delta.
The tribes of Sea Peoples "sent" to settle in south Canaan were Peleset, Sherden and Tjecker. They would later form Philistia.
In the Story of Wenamun c.1050BCE, a priest of Amun stops at the port of Dor which is rued by a Tjecker prince, Beder. Port Dor is between Ashdod and Tyre; on the coast in the centre of "middle Canaan." Wenamun is robbed and tries to recover his loss from the Tjecker only to be confronted by a fleet of 11 Tjecker ships. The style of writing suggests that the Story of Wenamun is likely to be literature rather than history.
▪ Lukka
They appear in the Battle of Kadesh as an ally of the Hittites and again in the Battle of Perire as an ally of the berber king of ancient Libya .
Lukka is Lycia, in southwest coast of Anatolia. Lukka is frequently mentioned in Hittite texts. This is the same "all my ships are still stationed in the Land of Lukka" from the Ugarit letters.
▪ Shekelesh
They appear in the battles of Perire, Djahy and Nile Delta. Shekelesh are thought to be from Sicily but implied only by linguistic analysis.
▪ Karkisha
They only appear in the battle of Kedesh as an ally of the Hittites.
▪ Denyen
They appear in the "invasion battles" of Djahy & the Nile Delta.
The Denyen is also mentioned as Danuna. In the Amarna Letters, Danuna is a land mentioned by the King of Alashiya (Cyprus).
The 2 main theories are that Denyen refers to (a) Aegean Greeks, and (b) Cilicia/ Adana.
▪ Teresh
They only appear in the battle of Perire. Through linguistic analysis and circumstantial events, the Teresh are thought to be either (a) Etruscans (Tyrrhenoi), or (b) Trojan (Taruisa).
▪ Ekwest
They only appear in the battle of Perire. Ekwest is thought to be Mycenaean Greek but only implied by linguistic analysis and circumstantial timing.
▪ Weshesh
They appear in the "invasion battles" of Djahy & the Nile Delta.
We cannot speculate much about the Weshesh. We know nothing more.
More Questions than Answers
More Questions than Answers
Battle of Perire c.1208 BCE: Meryey's army described as "He has brought his wife and his children — leaders of the camp".
This sounds like they were an invading force of refugees.
Battle of Djahy c.1180 BCE: Arthur Evans describes "The ox-wagons with women and children captured in the struggle on the land side show that it was in some sort a migration of peoples".
This sounds like they were an invading force of refugees as well.
Battle of Djahy : Visual
Battle of the Nile Delta : Visual
~ Bonus Section ~
~ Bonus Section ~
Chronological attacks by the Sea Peoples.
Chronological attacks by the Sea Peoples.
1: c. 1208 BCE: 5th Year of Pharoah MerneptahBattle of Perire, stated in the Great Karnak Inscripton, the Libyans attack Egypt from the west. Libyans used Sea People tribes of Sherden, Shekelesh, Lukka and Ekwesh. Merneptah is victorious at the Libyan frontier.
2: c. 1180 BCE: Inland HattusaThe Hittite capital of Hattusa is burned and abandoned. The role of the Sea Peoples is debated. Egyptian records state "no land could stand before their arms" and that Hatti was "cut off."3: c. 1180 BCE: Coastal CanaanAlashiya (Cyprus): The king of Alashiya writes to the king of Ugarit (RS 20.18) stating that the enemy is already in his country and that his cities have been burned. Major Cypriot sites like Enkomi and Kition were destroyed around this time.From Tablets (RS L.1); Ugarit city was destroyed while its army and navy were away, leaving it defenseless.Many sites along the coast, such as Ashkelon and Akko, show layers of destruction around this time, which is linked to the Sea Peoples and the general upheaval.
4: c. 1178 BCE: 8th Year of Ramesses III A larger Sea Peoples coalition including the Peleset (Philistines), Tjekker, Shekelesh, Denyen, Weshesh and Sherden. The reliefs show them traveling with ox-carts carrying women and children, indicating a migration, not just a raid.Land Battle of Djahy: The confederation of Peleset, Tjekker, Shekelesh, Denyen and Weshesh moved south through to middle Canaan. Ramesses III mobilized his army and claims to have defeated them in a great land battle in Djahy (Askelon area & inland).Naval Battle of the Delta: The confederation list is the same but also includes Sherden. Simultaneously, the enemy fleet tried to enter the Nile Delta. Ramesses positioned his own ships and archers on the shore, trapping the Sea Peoples' fleet in the Delta. The reliefs show a chaotic battle with Egyptian ships capsizing enemy vessels and Egyptian archers firing point-blank into the crowded enemy ships. Ramesses III is victorious. "Those who reached my frontier, their seed is not, their heart and their soul are finished forever and ever."5: Post-1178 BCE: Aftermath and Settlement While Ramesses III claimed victory, he could not prevent the Sea Peoples from settling elsewhere. The Egyptian presence in Canaan collapsed soon after.The Philistines/ Peleset were settled on the southern coast of Canaan, establishing their Pentapolis (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath). A material culture of Aegean-style appears at these sites.Other groups, like the Tjekker, are thought to have settled further north, at sites like Dor.
Ugarit Attack - in detail
Ugarit Attack - in detail
Letter 2. From the Governor of Alashiya to Ammurapi of Ugarit
Invaders are people from Ugarit.
Invaders are people from Ugarit ships.
Ugarit did not repel them.
Alashiya cities on fire & land damaged.
Alashiya troops are still in Hatti,
Alashiya ships are still in Lukka.
Alashiya is invaded and helpless.
Seven enemy ships attacked Alashiya.
Letter 3. From Ammurapi of Ugarit to the Governor of Alashiya
Seven enemy's ships attacked Ugarit.
Ugarit cities on fire & land damaged.
All Ugarit troops & ships did not return to Ugarit.
Ugarit is invaded and helpless.
While under attack by the Sea Peoples, the Ugarit correspondences were written on clay tablets in Akkadian. The Amarna Letters translations here were selected by DeepSeek AI.
Letter 1. From Ammurapi of Ugarit to the Governor of Alashiya (Cyprus)Tablet Reference: RS 20.238"My father, now the enemy's ships are coming. They have been setting fire to my cities and have done harm to the land.""My father, did you not know that all my troops were stationed in the Hittite land, and that all my ships are still stationed in the land of Lukka? They have not returned, so the land is thus prostrate. My father, you must know this! Now, the seven enemy ships that have come have done harm to us."
Letter 2. From the Governor of Alashiya to Ammurapi of UgaritTablet Reference: RS 20.18"As for the matter concerning those enemies: it was the people from your country, and it was the people from your own ships, who committed this transgression! ""You have not driven them back from your country, and you have even allowed them to set my cities on fire and do harm to my land!""Consider, my father, the fact that the enemy's forces are stationed in my own country! Every single one of my cities has been burned, and they have done terrible things in my land.""My father, did you not know that all my troops are stationed in the Hittite Land, and that all my ships are still stationed in the Land of Lukka? They have not returned home.""Thus, my country is abandoned to itself. Don't you see this? The seven enemy ships that came here inflicted great damage upon us. Now, if any more enemy ships appear, please send me a message so that I may know."
Letter 3. From Ammurapi of Ugarit to the Governor of AlashiyaTablet Reference: RS L.1"My father, the enemy ships are already here! They have set fire to my cities and have done harm to the land. Doesn't my father know that all my troops and chariots are in the Hittite Land, and all my ships are in the Land of Lukka? ...Thus, the country is abandoned to itself. May my father know it! The seven enemy ships that came here have caused us harm."
This letter was found still in the oven. Last known communication from Ugarit.
This letter was found still in the oven. Last known communication from Ugarit.
Summary of the Letters:
To aid the Hittite empire, Ugarit sent their army to Hatti & navy to Lukka/ Lycia as defence against the Sea Peoples.
Ugarit get word of 7 Sea Peoples ships headed their way. They ask Alashiya/Cyprus for help.
Alashiya are already under attack and lose.
Ugarit are attacked and lose.
Points of Interest:
1).
The Sea Peoples navy was fierce & co-ordinated. There was a sufficiently large threat such that both Ugarit & Alashiya sent their armies to Hatti and navies to Lukka.
We know Hattusa (Hittite capital) was destroyed.
We assume the Sea Peoples defeated Lukka.
The Sea Peoples'7 ships defeated Alashiya.
The Sea Peoples'7 ships defeated Ugarit.
2).
The Governor of Alashiya referred the transgressors as "people from your country" and "people from your own ships".
My interpretation is: Some of the people in Ugarit who live on the land and work on ships are from the tribes of Sea Peoples.
Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III
Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III
Medinet Habu, Thebes, west bank of the Nile river, Egypt.
Catalogue of Works on Internet Archive:
James Henry Breasted [1865 - 1935] of the Epigraphic Survey from 1924 for the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago.
OIP 8 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 1, Earlier Historical Records of Ramses III.
OIP 9 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 2, Later Historical Records of Ramses III.
OIP 21 - Excavation of Medinet Habu, Vol. 1, General Plans and Views
OIP 23 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 3, Calendar & Minor Records of Ramses III.
OIP 25 - Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Vol. 1.
OIP 35 - Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Vol. 2.
OIP 51 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 4, Festival Scenes of Ramses III.
OIP 56 - Key Plans showing location of Theban Temple Decorations
OIP 74 - Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Vol. 3.
OIP 83 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 5, The Temple Proper, Pt. 1.
OIP 84 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 6, The Temple Proper, Pt. 2.
OIP 93 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 7, The Temple Proper, Pt. 3.
OIP 94 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 8, The Eastern High Gate.
OIP 100 - Temple of Khonsu, Vol. 1.
OIP 102 - Tomb of Kheruef
OIP 103 - Temple of Khonsu, Vol. 2.
OIP 106 - Great Hyppostyle Hall at Karnak, Vol. 1, Pt. 1.
OIP 107 - Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Vol. 4.
OIP 112 - Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple, Vol. 1.
OIP 116 - Reliefs and Inscriptions at Luxor Temple, Vol. 2.
OIP 118 - Scarabs & Seals from Medinet Habu
OIP 119 - Theban Desert Road Survey, Vol. 1.
OIP 136 - Medinet Habu, Vol. 9, Eighteenth Dynasty Temple.
In the First Courtyard:-
East wall= Battle of Djahy.
North Wall= Battle of the (Nile) Delta.
Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu - by U Hölscher & JH Breasted
Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu - by U Hölscher & JH Breasted for the Epigraphic Survey from 1924.
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