The Sword of Ramesses (News from the Field)

Blade of Frontiers (not Wyll). In September 2024, the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities announced new discoveries including a sword inscribed with the names of Ramesses II, King of Egypt. In this episode, we discuss the weapon and its origins, as well as the larger significance of the fortress in which this discovery occurred. Who did the sword belong to? What was this fortress guarding against?

Egyptian swords in museum collections:

• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/545558
• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA5425
• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA52850
• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA36769

The Egyptian army and fortifications:

• Video lecture series, "Perspectives on the Ramesside Military System" on YouTube.
• The Old Kingdom (c.2500—2200 BCE): Spotify and Website.
• Grave of the Unknown Warriors (c.2000 BCE): Spotify.
• The Army of Sety I (c.1300 BCE), Part 1: Spotify.
• The Army of Sety I (c.1300 BCE), Part 2: Spotify.
• The New Kingdom (c.1500—1150 BCE): Spotify and YouTube.
• Ian Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare (Oxford, 2019).
• C. Vogel, The Fortifications of Ancient Egypt 3000-1780 BC (Botley, 2010).
• E. F. Morris, The Architecture of Imperialism: Military Bases and the Evolution of Foreign Policy in Egypt’s New Kingdom (Leiden, 2005).
• B. McDermott, Warfare in Ancient Egypt (Stroud, 2004).

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