On Borders and Expansion: Egyptian Imperialism in the Levant during the Ramesside Period
Abstract
:1. Introduction
Historical Context
2. Material Evidence and Method
2.1. Egyptian Terms Related to Frontiers/Borders, Territorial Control and Imperialism
- Egypt’s tAS is equal to a “sphere of influence”, the territory directly or indirectly controlled by the state, while Dr is a “sphere of chaos” beyond the Egyptian control.
- tAS is connected to the cosmological idea of mAat and Dris equally connected to the idea of isft, mAat’s opposite and
- The two are fluid and while the Egyptians expand the tAS, the Dr is reduced. Since movement was continuous and Egyptian control fluid, the result was the creation of culturally mixed borderlands.
- There is a set tAS that might be threatened or/and plundered by enemies; e.g., Pharaoh Merenptah accusing the “Nine Bows” of plundering Egypt’s borders present an example of the term’s use [18] (p. 4).
- The tAS is fluid, and ideally ever-expanding: The word is used in the standard royal phrase defining the Pharaoh as one ‘who establishes his boundary as far as he wants, in any land’ [irtAS = f rdd(t) Hr = f]. e.g., the “rhetorical” text of Seti I in Karnak, [19] (p. 7). The Kings are also praised for having extended it; e.g., Ramesses II is “extending their borders forever” (sHD.n = k tAS = sn) [20] (p. 197).
2.2. Lists of Placenames
2.3. Egyptian Terms Related to Fortified Frontiers and Areas of Control
2.4. Boundary Stelae’
2.5. Archaeological Evidence Related to Fortified Frontiers and Areas of Control
- the location in an entry-site to the Nile Valley;
- the presence of a central monumental building serving administrative purposes
- fortification.
3. Discussion
4. Conclusions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
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Xekalaki, G. On Borders and Expansion: Egyptian Imperialism in the Levant during the Ramesside Period. Heritage 2021, 4, 3938-3948. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040216
Xekalaki G. On Borders and Expansion: Egyptian Imperialism in the Levant during the Ramesside Period. Heritage. 2021; 4(4):3938-3948. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040216
Chicago/Turabian StyleXekalaki, Georgia. 2021. "On Borders and Expansion: Egyptian Imperialism in the Levant during the Ramesside Period" Heritage 4, no. 4: 3938-3948. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040216