13th century BCE – 12th century BCE
Western Egypt and Libya
The Meshwesh were a Libyan people recorded in Egyptian sources during the nineteenth dynasty and the reign of Ramses III. They appear as western neighbours of the Libou under Merneptah and as participants in major Egypto-Libyan wars. Their defeat under Ramses III led to the incorporation of prisoners into the Egyptian army, while their relationship to later Greek ethnonyms remains uncertain.
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The Story
The Meshwesh are first situated in the late second-millennium Egyptian record. Under Merneptah, dated in the excerpt to 1227 BCE, they are named as western neighbours of the Libou. The passage considers both groups part of the broader Temehou grouping, although Egyptian representations distinguish their dress.
In the figured representations cited here, the Meshwesh wear the phallic covering, whereas the Libou wear a loincloth. The text warns against identifying the Meshwesh with the Maxyans known from Herodotus, since the latter are described as long-established settlers in Tunisia. This caution reflects the uncertainty of matching Egyptian and Greek ethnic names.
During the reign of Ramses III, dated here to 1194–1188 BCE, the Meshwesh followed the Libou in attempting to overcome Egyptian resistance on the Nile. They were defeated, and many prisoners were pressed into the Egyptian army. The military qualities of Libyan recruits were highly valued, and Libyan officers gained dominant influence in the army toward the close of the New Empire.
13th century BCE – 12th century BCE
Western Egypt and Libya
The Meshwesh were a Libyan people recorded in Egyptian sources during the nineteenth dynasty and the reign of Ramses III. They appear as western neighbours of the Libou under Merneptah and as participants in major Egypto-Libyan wars. Their defeat under Ramses III led to the incorporation of prisoners into the Egyptian army, while their relationship to later Greek ethnonyms remains uncertain.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Meshwesh are first situated in the late second-millennium Egyptian record. Under Merneptah, dated in the excerpt to 1227 BCE, they are named as western neighbours of the Libou. The passage considers both groups part of the broader Temehou grouping, although Egyptian representations distinguish their dress.
In the figured representations cited here, the Meshwesh wear the phallic covering, whereas the Libou wear a loincloth. The text warns against identifying the Meshwesh with the Maxyans known from Herodotus, since the latter are described as long-established settlers in Tunisia. This caution reflects the uncertainty of matching Egyptian and Greek ethnic names.
During the reign of Ramses III, dated here to 1194–1188 BCE, the Meshwesh followed the Libou in attempting to overcome Egyptian resistance on the Nile. They were defeated, and many prisoners were pressed into the Egyptian army. The military qualities of Libyan recruits were highly valued, and Libyan officers gained dominant influence in the army toward the close of the New Empire.
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