A Rare Historical Documentation: Ramesses II Besieges Ashkelon
Known as Asqanu in ancient Egyptian texts, Ashkelon was among the cities that rebelled against Pharaoh Ramesses II. The dramatic scenes of the battle are immortalized on the walls of Ramesses' temple at Karnak, showcasing the chaos of warfare. In the center, Ashkelon's army is caught between the Pharaoh's chariot horses on the right and the Egyptian army on the left.
Distinctive clothing and weaponry mark the combatants: Ashkelonites in "skirts" and Egyptians in "kilts," wielding curved swords called "khopesh" and large shields. Egyptian soldiers are seen scaling ladders to attack the city's defenders, while others break down the gates with axes. Amidst a rain of arrows from Egyptian archers, Ashkelon’s citizens desperately pull their comrades over the walls.
Ashkelon, an ancient Mediterranean city in modern-day Israel, lay on Egypt's northeastern border. Around 1280 B.C., Ramesses II launched an assault to quell the uprising, leaving a vivid historical record of the conflict.
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