11. Merneptah: Smashing the Enemies of Egypt
Merneptah’s reign was marked by aggressive military campaigns against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples, who threatened Egypt’s western and northern borders. In 1208 BC, he achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Perire, where his forces, primarily archers, inflicted heavy casualties on the invading coalition. The Merneptah Stele, an inscription commemorating this victory, details the defeat of various groups, including the Libyans, Ekwesh, Teresh, Lukka, Sherden, and Shekelesh. The stele also mentions the suppression of revolts in Canaan, including those in Ascalon, Gezer, and Yanoam. Notably, it contains the earliest known reference to “Israel,” indicating the presence of Israelites in Canaan at that time. This inscription underscores Merneptah’s use of military force to maintain Egypt’s dominance and suppress uprisings within its territories. (en.wikipedia.org)
