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Ancient Egypt Magazine

Issue Two - July / August 2000

People of Ancient Egypt

Ramesses the Great, King of Egypt

There had been another two spies, earlier, after the Egyptian forces had got their chariots through that wood with some difficulty. Forests were alien to his Egyptian troops and it was evident that some of them thought there were foreign demons lurking in them. Nonsense! They should have as much faith in his father Amun as he did.

Those first two had told them that the Hittite king was far to the north, quaking and quailing as he heard of the advance of Ramesses' army. A wholly believable story, and he had believed it. Now the truth was known - the treacherous Hittite king was just on the far side of the river, beyond the town of Kadesh itself. The first two spies had been sent out deliberately to deceive him. His anger rumbled on. A fine trick to play on Ramesses, king of Egypt, by one who fancied himself as a ruler of equal power.

In the background, his charioteer Menna was busy, as usual. His duties included caring for the chariot and harness, making sure that nothing was stretched or stressed or frayed or fractured. He was also responsible for turnout; the gold sundisk mounted on the yoke was polished until the sun's rays glinting on it blinded the enemy. Those enemy Hittites who had taken Kadesh from the Egyptians in his father's day deserved to be blinded. It was a thorn in his flesh. He would win it back. The Hittite king, treacherous and cowardly though he was, could not attack without some approach by his envoys. It was understood. There was a procedure to go through, before battle commenced and if King Muwatalli did not observe it .

There were sudden screams and cries from the northern side of the Egyptian camp. The king was on his feet in an instant while his household servants froze to the spot.

Hittite chariots, strong and clumsy compared to Egyptian chariots, but carrying three men to the Egyptian's two, were pouring into the camp. The defences were breached, on several sides, the king's guardians scattering. His own household servants were now flapping and squawking uselessly like fowl being chased for slaughtering. It could have been amusing under different circumstances.

The Hittites were bawling in their uncouth tongue and killing as they drove their teams on. The Hittite's stabbing spears were being thrust into Egyptian soldiers, commoners and aristocracy alike.

The horses on the picket lines plunged and some snapped their tethers. His own horses, Theban Victory and Mut's Joy were dragging their grooms forward, almost trampling them underfoot. They were harnessed and ready. Thank god for Menna - but where was the boy?

The charioteer was cowering like all the others. Ramesses leaped into the chariot , picked up the reigns and the grooms, their arms nearly torn from the socket, gave up the unequal struggle gratefully and leaped aside as the team broke into a gallop.

Menna! "Get in, lad, get in!" roared the king. Menna, better able to face the onslaught of millions of Hittites than the wrath of his king, was pulled into the chariot by Ramesses as he half climbed, half fell onto the platform. The horses, wild with excitement, drove blindly on towards the enemy.

The faces of the Hittites bawling in battle rage were distorted but Ramesses was unaware of any sound coming out. Everything had gone silent; he could not hear the straining breaths of his team, the clash of weapons or the creak of wood. It was a silent world as he fought his way into a solid wall of Hittite chariotry.

"Amun!" he bellowed in frustration as the ranks began to close behind him "Amun!"

And the god answered. Some of the Egyptians began to move, slowly, so slowly as in a dream. Their weapons began to flash, bows began to sing and from behind came the thunder of wheels as those chariots that were ready drove towards the enemy. Soon a solid wall of Egyptian chariotry closed up to the rear of the king's chariot - and the foe, faced by what seemed to be an immortal god, began to waver, to fear, and finally to retreat.

And then, from the west, came the roars of warriors and creaking of chariots as the god-given, Amun-sent allies arrived from the coast. The king, sweating, pulled up for a second as his warriors swept past him, full of the god's energy. The reins slipped slightly through his hands but the team slowed down. Menna was beside him, protecting his lord with his shield, as should be. The horse's bellies were red with gore and the boy had a deep cut on his forehead. Ramesses took stock. He had not a scratch on him, thanks to Amun.

"User-Maat-Ra, Setep en Ra," gasped the boy. "Are you all right, sir?"

User-Maat-Ra, Setep en Ra : an immortal name, a name that would be recorded for all time in the stone of Thebes, Memphis and the Delta. Ramesses II, the Great.

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