"Sea Peoples"

In class we broadly talked about the “Sea People”, but who are they and what did they do? For about a century in the second millennium B.C. a band of maritime warriors also known as the “Sea Peoples” wreaked havoc on the Mediterranean. The “Sea Peoples” came from the sea in their warships. People say they attacked Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Palestine. Scholars haven’t seen anything about their culture or nationality. The Sea Peoples returned to Egypt in the mid-12th century B.C. on conquest. The Sea Peoples troubled the land of the Near East and Egypt during the final period of the Bronze Age.  

Names of the tribes which comprised the Sea Peoples have been given in Egyptian records as the Sherden, the Sheklesh, Lukka, Tursha and Akawasha.The three great pharaohs who record their conflicts and victories over the Sea Peoples are Ramesses II (The Great, 1279-1213 BCE), his son and successor Merenptah (1213-1203 BCE), and Ramesses III (1186-1155 BCE). All three claimed great victories over their adversaries and their inscriptions provide the most detailed evidence of the Sea Peoples. In the fifth year of Merneptah reign, (about 1207 BC) Egypt was attacked by a coalition of Labu (Libyans) and Sea Peoples at the border of the western Delta. 

The Sea Peoples are allies of the Hittites but also serving in its own army as mercenaries. Several scholars have puzzled over whether the Sea Peoples were responsible for the collapse of some of the Late Bronze Age civilizations or simply one of several catalysts that put that collapse in motion. Not very many people today have heard or know who the “Sea Peoples” even are. You know they were secret knowing scholars don’t know really anything about them. 

The most detailed and well known texts concerning the Sea Peoples is for sure the inscriptions from Medinet Habu. It is a mortuary temple that was constructed for Ramesses III at Thebes, in Upper Egypt. Some Sea Peoples appear in four letters found at Ugarit, the last three of which seem to foreshadow the destruction of the city around 1190 or 1180 BC. The letters are therefore dated to the early twelfth century.

The video below shows a short clip on the Sea Peoples and says ancient writings could provide answers to one of the greatest puzzles of Mediterranean archaeology.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/archaeologists-decipher-ancient-stone-turkey-invasion-mysterious-sea-people-luwain-hieroglyphic-a7992141.html 

Andrews, Evan. “Who were the Sea Peoples?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2 June 2017

“Sea Peoples.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, www.ancient.eu/Sea_Peoples/.

The Greek Age of Bronze - Sea Peoples, www.salimbeti.com/micenei/sea.htm.