[From James Henry Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt: Historical
Documents. (Chicago: 1906), II:175-188]
The
Battle of Megiddo, Egyptian Account: 1469 BC
Mighty Bull,
Shining in Thebes; King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two
Lands;
Menkheperre, Son of Re.
His Majesty
commanded to cause to be recorded his victories which his father, Amon, gave
to
him, upon a
tablet in the temple which his majesty made for his father, Amon, setting forth
each
expedition
by its name, together with the plunder which his majesty carried away therein.
It was
done
according to all the command which his father, Re, gave to him.
Year 22,
fourth month of the second season, on the twenty-fifth day his majesty was in
Tharu on
the first
victorious expedition to extend the boundaries of Egypt with might. Now, at that
period the
Asiatics
had fallen into disagreement, each man fighting against his neighbor. Now, it
happened
that the
tribes - the people, who were there in the city of Sharuhen; behold, from Yeraza
to the
marshes of
the earth, they had begun to revolt against his majesty.
Year 23,
first month of the third season, on the fourth day, the day of the feast of the
king's
coronation,
he arrived at the city, the possession of the ruler, Gaza.
Year 23,
first month of the third season, on the fifth day; departure from this place in
might, - in
power, and
in triumph, to overthrow that wretched foe, to extend the boundaries of
Egypt,
according
as his father, Amon-Re, had commanded that he seize.
Year 23,
first month of the third season, on the sixteenth day, he arrived at the city of
Yehem. His
majesty
ordered a consultation with his valiant troops, saying as follows: "That
wretched enemy,
the chief
of Kadesh, has come and entered into Megiddo; he is there at this moment. He
has
gathered to
himself the chiefs of all the countries which are on the water of Egypt, and as
far as
Naharin,
consisting of the countries of the Kharu, the Kode, their horses, their troops.
Thus he
speaks, 'I
have arisen to fight against his majesty in Megiddo.'"
They spoke
in the presence of his majesty, "How is it, that we should go upon this road,
which
threatens
to be narrow? While they come and say that the enemy is there waiting, holding
the way
against a
multitude. Will not horse come behind horse and man behind man likewise? Shall
our
advance-guard be fighting while our rear-guard is yet standing yonder in
Aruna not having fought?
There are
yet two other roads: one road, behold, it will carry us, for it comes forth at
Taanach, the
other,
behold, it will bring us upon the way north of Zefti, so that we shall come out
to the north of
Megiddo.
Let our victorious lord proceed upon the road he desires; but cause us not to go
by a
difficult
road."
Then went
messengers concerning this design which they had uttered, in view of what had
been
said by the
majesty of the Court: "I swear, as Re loves me, as my father Amon, favors me, as
my
nostrils
are rejuvenated with satisfying life, my majesty will proceed upon this road of
Aruna. Let
him who
will among you, go upon those roads ye have mentioned, and let him who will
among
you, come
in the following of my majesty. Shall they think among those enemies whom
Re
detests:
'Does his majesty proceed upon another road? He begins to be fearful of us,' so
will they
think."
They spoke
before his majesty: "May thy father Amon, lord of Thebes, presider over Karnak,
grant
thee life.
Behold, we are the following of thy majesty in every place, whither thy
majesty
proceedeth;
as the servant is behind his master."
Then his
majesty commanded the entire army to march upon that road which threatened to
be
narrow. His
majesty swore, saying: "None shall go forth in the way before my majesty." He
went
forth at
the head of his army himself, showing the way by his own footsteps; horse behind
horse,
his majesty
being at the head of his army.
Year 23,
first month of the third season, on the nineteenth day; the watch in safety in
the royal
tent was at
the city of Aruna. "My majesty proceeded northward under the protection of my
father,
Amon-Re,
lord of Thebes, who went before me, while Harakhte strengthened my arms."The
enemy
went forth
in numerous battle array. The southern wing was in Taanach the northern wing was
on
the ground
south of Megiddo. His majesty cried out to them before they fell; behold, that
wretched
foe of the
city Aruna.
Now, the
rear of the victorious army of his majesty was at the city of Aruna, the front
was going
forth to
the valley; they filled the opening of this valley. Then they said in the
presence of his
majesty:
"Behold, his majesty goes forth with his victorious army, and it has filled the
hollow of the
valley; let
our victorious lord hearken to us this time and let our lord protect for us the
rear of his
army and
his people. Let the rear of this army come forth to us behind; then shall they
also fight
against
these barbarians; then we shall not need to take thought for the rear of our
army." His
majesty halted outside and waited there,
protecting the rear of his victorious army.
Behold,
when the front had reached the exit upon this road, the shadow had turned, and
when his
majesty
arrived at the south of Megiddo on the bank of the brook of Kina, the seventh
hour was
turning,
measured by the sun.
Then was
set up the camp of his majesty, and command was given to the whole army,
saying:
"Equip
yourselves! Prepare your weapons! for we shall advance to fight with that
wretched foe in
the
morning." Therefore the king rested in the royal tent, the affairs of the chiefs
were arranged,
and the
provisions of the attendants. The watch of the army went about, saying, "Steady
of heart!
Steady of
heart! Watchful! Watchful! Watch for life at the tent of the king." One came to
say to his
majesty,
"The land is well, and the infantry of the South and North likewise."
Year 23,
first month of the third season, on the twenty-first day, the day of the feast
of the new
moon,
corresponding to the royal coronation, early in the morning, behold, command was
given to
the entire
army to move. His majesty went forth in a chariot of electrum, arrayed in his
weapons of
war, like
Horus, the Smiter, lord of power; like Montu of Thebes, while his father,
Amon,
strengthened his arms. The southern wing of this army of his majesty was
on a hill south of the
brook of
Kina, the norther wing was at the northwest of Megiddo, while his majesty was in
their
center,
with Amon as the protection of his members, the valor of his limbs. Then his
majesty
prevailed
against them at the head of his army, and when they saw his majesty prevailing
against
them they
fled headlong to Megiddo in fear, abandoning their horses and their chariots of
gold and
silver. The
people hauled them up, pulling them by their clothing, into this city; the
people of this
city having
closed it against them and lowered clothing to pull them up into this city. Now,
if only
the army of
his majesty had not given their heart to plundering the things of the enemy,
they would
have
captured Megiddo at this moment, when the wretched foe of Kadesh and the
wretched foe of
this city
were hauled up in haste to bring them into this city. The fear of his majesty
had entered
their
hearts, their arms were powerless, his serpent diadem was victorious among them.
Then were
captured their horses, their chariots of gold and silver were made spoil, their
champions
lay
stretched out like fishes on the ground. The victorious army of his majesty went
around
counting
their portions. Behold, there was captured the tent of that wretched foe in
which was his
son. The
whole army made jubilee, giving praise to Amon for the victory which he had
granted to
his son on
this day, giving praise to his majesty, exalting his victories. They brought up
the booty
which they
had taken, consisting of hands, of living prisoners, of horses, chariots of gold
and
silver...
Then spake
his majesty on hearing the words of his army, saying: "Had ye captured this
city
afterward,
behold, I would have given Re this day; because every chief of every country
that has
revolted is
within it; and because it is the capture of a thousand cities, this capture of
Megiddo.
Capture ye
mightily, mightily."
His majesty
commanded the officers of the troops to go, assigning to each his place.
They
measured
this city, surrounding it with an enclosure, walled about with green timber of
all their
pleasant
trees. His majesty himself was upon the fortification east of this city,
inspecting.
It was
walled about with its thick wall. Its name was made: "Menkheperre
Thutmose
III-is-the-Surrounder-of-the-Asiatics." People were stationed to watch
over the tent of his majesty;
to whom it
was said: "Steady of heart! Watch." His majesty commanded, saying: "Let not
one
among them
come forth outside, beyond this wall, except to come out in order to knock at
the
other door
of their fortification."
Now, all
that his majesty did to this city, to that wretched foe and his wretched army,
was
recorded on
each day by its the day's name. Then it was recorded upon a roll of leather in
the
temple of
Amon this day.
Behold, the
chiefs of this country came to render their portions, to do obeisance to the
fame of his
majesty, to
crave breath for their nostrils, because of the greatness of his power, because
of the
might of
the fame of his majesty the country came to his fame, bearing their gifts,
consisting of
silver,
gold, lapis lazuli, malachite; bringing clean grain, wine, large cattle, and
small cattle for the
army of his
majesty. Each of the Kode among them bore the tribute southward. Behold,
his
majesty
appointed the chiefs anew.
340 living
prisoners; 83 hands; 2,041 mares; 191 foals; 6 stallions; a chariot, wrought
with gold, its
pole of
gold, belonging to that foe; a beautiful chariot, wrought with gold, belonging
to the chief of
Megiddo;
892 chariots of his wretched army; total, 924 chariots; a beautiful suit of
bronze armor,
belonging
to that foe; a beautiful suit of bronze armor, belonging to the chief of
Megiddo; 200 suits
of armor,
belonging to his wretched army; 502 bows; 7 poles of mry wood, wrought with
silver,
belonging
to the tent of that foe. Behold, the army of his majesty took 1,929 large
cattle, 2,000
small
cattle, 20,500 white small cattle.
List of
that which was afterward taken by the king, of the household goods of that foe
who was in
the city of
Yenoam, in Nuges, and in Herenkeru, together with all the goods of those cities
which
submitted
themselves, which were brought to his majesty: 38 lords of theirs, 87 children
of that foe
and of the
chiefs who were with him, 5 lords of theirs, 1,796 male and female slaves with
their
children,
non-combatants who surrendered because of famine with that foe, 103 men; total
2,503.
Besides
flat dishes of costly stone and gold, various vessels, a large two-handled vase
of the work
of Kharu,
vases, flat dishes, dishes, various drinking-vessels, 3 large kettles, 87
knives, amounting
to 784
deben. Gold in rings found in the hands of the artificers, and silver in many
rings, 966 deben
and 1
kidet. A silver statue in beaten work, the head of gold, the staff with human
faces; 6 chairs
of that
foe, of ivory, ebony and carob wood, wrought with gold; 6 footstools belonging
to them; 6
large
tables of ivory and carob wood, a staff of carob wood, wrought with gold and all
costly stones
in the
fashion of a scepter, belonging to that foe, all of it wrought with gold; a
statue of that foe, of
ebony
wrought with gold, the head of which was inlaid with lapis lazuli; vessels of
bronze, much
clothing of
that foe.
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