The Heretic Pharaoh

Tile decorated with a cow's head

New Kingdom Egypt, c. 1279-1213 BCE

Faience, paint

This tile once decorated the palace of Ramesses II in Piramesse, which he made into one of the greatest royal cities of ancient Egypt. Thanks to the royal favor and its strategic location, Piramesse soon became an important international trade center and a cosmopolitan metropolis, boasting a harbor, a military base, and temples dedicated to various gods like Amun-Re-Harakhty-Atum, Seth, Astarte, etc. Poems were written in the city's praise, and its name, which translates as "The House of Ramesses, Beloved of Amun, Great of Victories" when fully written, came to us through the Old Testament as ‘Raamses.’

The tiles bear the names of Seti I, Ramesses II and later Ramesside kings, who renovated the palace and changed its decoration through the reigns. New tiles were made, and the old tiles may be have been dismantled and buried together. Based on the tiles, we can still reconstruct quite a number of the features of the palace that are now completely lost, including throne podiums, steps, windows of appearance, and faience sculptures.

A Hittite cuneiform tablet declaring the first surviving recorded peace treaty in history between Ramesses II and Ḫattušili III respectivly rulers of the New Kingdom of Egypt and the empire of the Hittites. The tablet is written in the Hittite language and their cuneiform.

This is one of three known relics of the treaty. Also known as The Treaty of Kadesh.

Circa 1259 BC

3,200-Year-Old Egyptian Tomb of Ramesses III’s Military Commander Uncovered

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a 3,200-year-old tomb thought to be that of a senior military commander during the time of Pharaoh Ramesses III. The tomb was discovered at the Tell el-Maschuta site, also referred to as Tell el-Maskhuta, in the Ismailia governorate. The discovery illuminates the strategic significance of the area in protecting Egypt’s eastern borders during the New Kingdom period.

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary General, underlined the significance of the discovery, noting that the Tell el-Maschuta area was a key military outpost. Existing fortifications and garrisons in the region suggest that it played a crucial role in defending Egypt against external threats.

The tomb, constructed using mud bricks, features a main burial chamber and three other surrounding rooms whose walls are covered with white mortar. Inside, archaeologists discovered a collection of artifacts that indicate the deceased was a high-ranking military official. The most significant items discovered were a gold ring with the cartouche of Ramesses III, bronze arrowheads, and a small ivory box. The artifacts suggest the individual was the pharaoh’s military leader.

One of the most fascinating finds was a set of inscribed pottery vessels with the name of Pharaoh Horemheb, who reigned from around 1323 to 1295 BCE. A former military leader before becoming a pharaoh, Horemheb ruled over a hundred years prior to Ramesses III. The fact that his name appears on the pottery indicates that the tomb could have been reused over time.

Further evidence of the reuse of the tomb came to light through the human remains recovered inside. A skeleton covered in cartonnage—material made up of linen and plaster—refers to the fact that the burial had been altered in later periods. In addition to skeletal remains, archaeologists also recovered alabaster vessels, semi-precious stones, and amulets depicting the gods Taweret and Bes, as well as the Eye of Udjat, a protective symbol in Egyptian mythology.

Beyond the military commander’s tomb, archaeologists also uncovered a series of collective and individual burials dating to the Greco-Roman and Late Periods. These burials contained skeletal remains and funerary artifacts that highlight the region’s rich cultural history as a crossroads between civilizations. Professor Qutb Fawzi Qutb, director of the Lower Egypt and Sinai Antiquities Department, noted that the combination of Egyptian and Greco-Roman elements in the tombs provides valuable insights into the region’s diverse historical influences.

In addition to the tomb of the military commander, archaeologists also unearthed a series of collective and individual burials that dated to both the Greco-Roman and the Late Period. The burials contained skeletal remains and artifacts revealing the region’s rich cultural history as a crossroads between civilizations.

Ramesses III, who ruled from about 1184 to 1153 BCE during Egypt’s 20th Dynasty, is often regarded as the last great pharaoh of ancient Egypt. His reign was marked by military conflicts, most notably his conflicts with the Sea Peoples, a group of seafaring raiders that threatened the stability of Mediterranean civilizations. In the most pivotal battle, the Battle of the Delta in 1175 BCE, the Egyptian navy outmaneuvered the invaders with tactical superiority on the waterways of the Nile.

The recently discovered tomb brings intriguing speculations about the occupant’s role in these wars of antiquity. If this individual buried within was a military commander under Ramesses III, he may have played a crucial role in defending Egypt.

The Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry stated it would go ahead with more excavations and studies on the site in the hopes that further studies will reveal additional information on Egypt’s military and cultural history.

By Dario Radley.

Egyptian Child’s Eyes, Late Period, 664-332 BC