BY DAVE RANKIN

Seti the 1^st returned home from battle against the “vile” Kheta with captives and “the choicest items their country has to offer.” Reliefs from the exterior wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak provide us with some details. It depicts Seti the 1^st “crowned by a solar disk, standing upon his chariot firing arrows.”

On the home front, Seti the 1^st began to rewrite history in his own way. To legitimize his own dynasty, Seti had himself and his son Rameses the 2^nd showing adoration to the shenu or cartouche of sixty-seven previous nesew. A shenu is an oval shaped carving with a vertical line at the end of it. Usually, a name is inscribed within the shape. The word cartouche is French in origin, and was first used by soldiers who said the symbol reminded them of a ‘paper powder cartridge’ used for loading their firearms. The depiction included the list of sixty-seven names beginning with Menes and ending with Seti the 1^st. It is here that I mention that the great nesew Hatshepsut was not mentioned in this list.

Around year three of his reign, Seti the 1^st fought the Libyans who had encroached upon the borders. The reliefs show a number of detailed inscriptions. In one scene, Seti the 1^st threatens a Libyan chieftain. In another, he restrains two other Libyan chieftains while holding a weapon similar to a javelin. Also, there is a mention of the name ‘Horthema’, loosely meaning ‘avenging Heru’ or Horus inscribed among the reliefs. Again, there is a wonderful carving of Seti victoriously returning home, standing in his chariot, adorned with the heads of his captives.

All of this seemed to be a precursor for one of his greatest battles in the city of Qadesh, sometimes spelt Kadesh. Around the 4^th year of his reign, Seti set out on a major campaign to retake the city from the Hittites. Again, we have to give thanks for his war correspondents that the reliefs etched along the north wall of the Hypostyle hall in the temple of Amun located at Karnak.

There is one scene where a ‘fleeing ox driver… is begging for mercy.’ While it’s recorded that Seti was victorious, this was relinquished quickly as the Hittites retook the city. In another scene, a Hittite king, presumably king Muwatallis, stands before Seti like a ‘pylon’ as one author put it. This very important scene informs us of the peace treaty was signed between the two forces. The details are fragmented; however, they do advise that the cities of Qadesh and Amurru were retained by the Hittites as long as they did not interfere with the Kemetian interests in Canaan and other neighboring cities.

Near home, Seti the 1^st held control of the turquoise mines in Sinai. There were also gold mines to the east of Edfu that were under the empire. The construction of wells in Wadi Mia and Wadi Abbad took place in his ninth year. In Nubia, Seti launched a minor campaign into Irem, which is located in Upper Nubia, to confiscate the gold mines of Wadi Allaqi.

BY DAVE RANKIN

From the very onset Rameses the 1^st was appointed the new ruler of ancient Kemet, he had one thing in mind, to uphold the tradition of having his heir succeed him on the throne. As we have seen with the pharaohs of the late 18^th Dynasty, namely King Tut, Aye, and Horemheb, a nesew without an heir leaves the nation in great peril. History would not repeat itself this time as we introduce this week’s subject, Seti the 1^st.

Unlike his father, who was clearly aged at the time of his ascension. Seti the 1^st was in the prime of his adult years, something that Kemet hadn’t witnessed in a while. Rameses the 1^st made sure Seti was schooled in the ways of kingship. Rameses the 1^st appointed his son to hold various positions of office during his short reign. The two positions that should stand out to us are the following.

The first, Seti the 1st, was acting general of foreign policy. However, the second and more important one, was a position similar to that of a vizier. As vizier, Seti the 1^st would be privy to major nation building discussions while his father was alive. But as nesew, Seti the 1^st displayed what he had learned during his time in office, coupled with his military experience. This laid the foundation for one of Kemet’s greatest dynasties.

With his visions set on the glorious days of Thutmosis the 3^rd, Seti the 1^st set out on a campaign to reclaim the empire once established in Asia. Similar to Tuthmosis the 3^rd, Seti had his feats of war etched on the North Wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, a magnificent structure that has stood the test of time. He departed from the “border fortress of Tjel” and headed straight to Raphia, a Palestinian city located somewhere along the Gaza Strip.

Along the way, he battled with the Shasu Bedouin. The semitic speaking nomads were pests along the eastern Palestinian frontier and needed to be dealt with. This inscription from the Great Wall tells us the following. “Their tribal chiefs are gathered together… They have taken to cursing and quarreling, each of them slaying his neighbor, and they disregard the laws of the palace.”

What the Shasu didn’t know was that there was a reason why Seti the 1^st was named the “Powerful bull that give life to the Two Lands after having been crowned at Thebes.” Seti the 1^st captured Raphia relatively easy. Kemetian military fortified this giving the Kemetians a strategic foothold, as it secured fresh water from the wells along the trade route through Gaza called “The Ways of Horus.”  It is here where I will insert a small passage from the chiseled reliefs at Karnak that tell us of the victory. “The destruction which the mighty sword of the Pharaoh made among the vanquished of the Shasu… his majesty marched against them like a fierce-eyed lion, making them carcasses in their valleys…”

He then went on to capture Gaza and sent the army of Ra, ‘Plentiful of Valor’ to Beth Shan and Reheb. He also sent the armies of Amen, ‘Mighty of Bows’ and Seth, ‘Strong of Bows’ to Hamath and Yenoam. Successful in their battles, they also captured Acre, and Tyre and had sights on Lebanon. The nesew beat the local Lebanese chiefs into submission, and as one author put it, ‘they were compelled to cut down valuable cedar woods as tribute.’

Tremendous achievements for the 1^st year nesew who adopted the name ‘Repeater of Birth.’ It points us to a new beginning adding to the greatness of Kemet’s legacy.

BY DAVE RANKIN

The passing of Aye left a power vacuum, which needed to be filled, and only one person had the gall to finally sit upon the throne and bring Kemet under order.

Horemheb’s vast years of military experience and loyalty to the throne would serve him well. Especially since he was dubbed “Deputy of the Two Lands.” He was a direct successor to the throne by Tutankhamun himself. Only through a mix up with the previous nesew Aye, who also claimed direct divination, did he bide his time. It is here that I would like to introduce this week’s muse, the last nesew of the 18^th Dynasty, Horemheb.

Aside from the fact that he was born of a commoner, probably near the west bank of the Nile, there is very little information about the early life and times of Horemheb. What we do know is that Horemheb was a part of the Royal Armed Guards under nesew Akhenaten. Even though the French scholar Nicolas Grimal disputes this fact. Most references I have come across solidify the position that it was under Akhenaten where Horemheb was appointed Commander of the Army. It was under Tutankhamun where the distinction of “Deputy of the Two Lands” as a direct successor was bestowed upon him. There are also reports the title of “Deputy of the Two Lands” has been inscribed in Horemheb’s Memphis tomb near Saqqara.

While serving under the “boy king” Horemheb was able to conduct military campaigns in Syria, where Kemet had lost territories due to Hittite uprising. He was able to regain the Qadesh and Nuges areas to once again cement the domination of the region. However, these areas were won back by the Hittites after prince Zennanza died. As a point of reference, these events happened around the time of the famous “Hittite Letters” we mentioned in the past several entries.

Horemheb took the throne around 1319 BCE, approximately four years after the passing of Aye. As soon as he got there, he went to work. First, he married Mutnodjmet, Nefertiti’s sister. (Please note here, that the way through the throne has always been through the woman). With Mutnodjmet being of royal blood, the tradition was upheld. Next, Horemheb lived up to his Heru or Horus name “Powerful bull with wise decisions,” when he began erecting laws that would prevent the abuse of power. At that time certain officials had a number of privileges that they enjoyed under Akhenaten. So Horemheb set out to ensure a balance was established. He also was a favorite of the priests of Amun considering some of the reforms benefited them as well.

Like other nesew, Horemheb built a number of monuments. He enlarged a mortuary temple of Aye for his personal use. Horemheb also dedicated a rock temple to Amun & Tehuti near Gebel el-Silsila. However, it was at Karnak where Horemheb would devote his time towards his most prestigious projects. His work on the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak and setting up three pylons is what he is most known for. Officially, the pylons were numbered as the second, ninth, and tenth. It was at the tenth pylon where a stele was built which had a decree that officially restored order to the nation.

Horemheb died with no male heirs after approximately thirteen years of rule and was buried in KV57. Thus bringing an end to the 18^th Dynasty. The late Theodore M. Davis discovered his tomb on February 22^nd, 1908. His findings were recorded in his book The Tombs of Harmhabi and Touatankhamanou.