The later wars of Ramesses II (Years 8 to 15). Following Kadesh, Ramesses led or despatched further campaigns into Canaan and Syria. These battles are documented on his temple walls, preserving some details of the geopolitical situation.
The King launched a series of raids into Amurru and “Qode,” a term for central Syria. He started doing this around Year 8 (recorded at the Ramesseum), but further campaigns progressed over the following years. In at least one case, we learn that Ramesses’ raids coincided (or were prompted by?) the death of a rival. The cost to the Syrian people and their homelands was, apparently, immense. In this episode we explore these “lost campaigns.”
Music: Ancient Lyric and Luke Chaos.
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