Siege of Dapur

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Siege of Dapur
Part of Ramesses II campaigns in Syria

The siege of Dapur on a mural in Ramesses II's temple in Thebes
Date1269 BC
Location
Result Egyptian victory
Territorial
changes
Egypt captures Dapur
Belligerents
New Kingdom of Egypt Hittite Empire
Commanders and leaders
Pharaoh Ramesses II
Prince Khaemweset
Unknown
Strength
Unknown
Several archers and foot soldiers
Several chariots
Several siege ladders
Several mantlets
Unknown
(likely less than Egyptian strength)
Casualties and losses
Unknown
(likely lower than Hittite losses)
Unknown

The siege of Dapur occurred as part of Pharaoh Ramesses II's campaign to suppress Galilee and conquer Syria in 1269 BC. He described his campaign on the wall of his mortuary temple, the Ramesseum in Thebes, Egypt. The inscriptions say that Dapur was "in the land of Hatti".[1] Although Dapur has often been identified with Tabor in Canaan, Egyptologist Kenneth Kitchen argues that this identification is incorrect and that the Dapur in question was in Syria,[2] north of Kadesh.[3]

Egyptian reliefs depict Dapur as a heavily fortified settlement with both inner and outer walls and situated on a rocky hill, which was usual for Bronze Age settlements in Syria and abroad, Egypt was also Fortified.

Contemporary illustrations of the siege show the use of ladders, chariots, and mounted cavalry with Egyptian soldiers climbing scale ladders supported by archers. Six of the sons of Ramesses, still wearing their side locks, also appear on those depictions of the siege. Those include:

King's son, of his body, his beloved, Khaemweset.

King's son, of his body, his beloved, Montu.

King's son, of his body, his beloved, Meriamon.

King's son, of his body, his beloved, Amenemuya.

King's son, of his body, his beloved, Seti.

King's son, of his body, his beloved, Setepenre.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kitchen, Kenneth A (1998-12-17). Ramesside Inscriptions. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-631-18435-5.
  2. ^ Kitchen, Kenneth A (1998-12-17). Ramesside Inscriptions. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-631-18435-5.
  3. ^ M. Healy, Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the warrior kings, 87
  • James Henry Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part III § 359.