Medinet Habu - Temple of Ramesses III - Reliefs North Wall

... More >

Shardana mercenaries. 6: battle with the northern peoples in Palestine; the King in his chariot launching arrows at the enemy, identifiable as Zakari by their curious caps; children sitting in oxcarts. 7: the King hunting lions; in the thicket a wounded lion, with another dying under the horse's feet; below, a parade of Egyptian troops and mercenaries. 8 (seen properly only in slanting light): Naval battle with the northern peoples, whose fleet is annihilated at one of the mouths of the Nile; from the shore the King shoots arrows at the enemy; below, one of the enemy ships has capsized; the Egyptian ships are distinguishable by the lions' heads on their prows (one vessel with many oarsmen below, right contains Zakari prisoners); bottom row, other prisoners being marched away; the King trampling on prisoners, in front of him archers, hovering above him the goddess of Lower Egypt in the form of a vulture. 9: the King, on the palace balcony, receiving dignitaries who bring in the Zakari prisoners; bottom row, the severed hands being counted; left, the royal chariot; above, the "castle of Ramesses", perhaps the Palace of Medinet Habu. 10: the King conducting two rows of prisoners (above Zakari, below Libyans) into the presence of the gods of Thebes (Amun, Mut and Khons).

East end of north wall (first court), upper row (left to right). 1: the King storming a Syrian fortress. 2: the King, having alighted from his chariot after the victory, pierces a Syrian with his lance. 3: the King receiving the prisoners. 4: the King presenting the prisoners to Amun and Khons, together with costly vessels. Lower row (left to right): the King in his chariot attacking a Libyan stronghold, bringing in Libyan prisoners; receiving three rows of prisoners brought in by officers; returning home with prisoners and being greeted by dignitaries; and presenting the captured Libyans to Amun and Mut.