Annals of Tuthmosis III (excerpt)

Date: ca. 15041450 BCE

This document contains an excerpt from the so-called annals of the Egyptian ing
Tuthmosis !!! "15041450 BCE# recorded $y the military scri$e T%aneni. "&is name is
spelled Thutmose in the document.# The text' (hich recounts the military campaigns
undertaen $y this fifth ing of the Eighteenth )ynasty (as inscri$ed on (alls $uilt
$ehind the sixth pylon "monumental gate# of the temple complex of the god *mun at
+arna.
The Eighteenth )ynasty of the Egyptian ingdom (as a time of territorial and economic
expansion. This prosperous period $egan (hen the first ing of the dynasty' ,*hmose ! "15-0
154. BCE# expelled the &ysos rulers and restored political sta$ility. The third ing' Tuthmosis
! "fl. ca. 15/5151/ BCE#' expanded Egyptian territory as far south as the ingdom of +ush
"on the fourth cataract of the 0ile# and as far north as 1alestine.
*ccording to the annals' (hen Tuthmosis !!! $ecame ing' some of Egypt,s territories in
1alestine $egan to re$el and he undertoo campaigns there to restore Egyptian so2ereignty.
This excerpt descri$es Tuthmosis,s %ourney into 1alestine and his 2ictory at the $attle of
3egiddo "*rmageddon#' (here the Egyptian army met (ith the forces of the ings of 3egiddo
and +adesh. !n the year /4 "ca. 14-5 BCE#' +adesh (as a city on the 6rontes ri2er and part of
the ri2al 7yrian empire of the 3itannians. The e2entual fall of 3egiddo (ould ena$le Tuthmosis
to march north(ard and continue his attac on 3itannian territory. * large portion of the
excerpt includes the enumeration of the spoils that the Egyptian army (on from 8that
(retched foe'8 the ing of +adesh.

Original spellings have been retained in this document.
Annals of Thutmose III (excerpt)
From: Horne, Charles F., ed. The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East. Vol.
II. Ne !or": #ar"e, Aust$n, and %$pscom&, Inc. '(').
The First Campaign
Year 22, fourth month of the second season (eight month), on the twenty-fifth day his Majesty was
in Tharu on the first victorious expedition to extend the boundaries of gypt with might!
"ow at that period the #siatics had fa$$en into disagreement, each man fighting against his
neighbor%! "ow, it happened that the tribes ! the peop$e, who were there in the city of &haruhen'
beho$d, from Yera(a to the marshes of the earth, they had begun to revo$t against his majesty%
Year 2), first month of the third season (ninth month), on the fourth day, the day of the feast of the
*ing+s coronation, he arrived at the city, the possession of the ru$er, ,a(a%
Year 2), first month of the third season (ninth month), on the fifth day' departure from this p$ace in
might, ! in power, and in triumph, to overthrow that wretched foe, to extend the boundaries of
gypt, according as his father, #mon--e, had commanded ! that he sei(e%
Year 2), first month of the third season (ninth month), on the sixteenth day, he arrived at the city of
Yehem%
.is Majesty ordered a consu$tation with his va$iant troops, saying as fo$$ows/ 0That wretched
enemy, the chief of *adesh, has come and entered into Megiddo' he is there at this moment% .e
has gathered to himse$f the chiefs of a$$ the countries which are on the water of gypt, and as far
as "aharin, consisting of the countries of the *haru, the *ode, their horses, their troops,! thus he
spea1s, +2 have arisen to fight against his Majesty in Megiddo%+ Te$$ ye me!0
They spo1e in the presence of his Majesty, 0.ow is it, that we shou$d go upon this road%, which
threatens to be narrow3 4hi$e they come and say that the enemy is there waiting, ho$ding the way
against the mu$titude% 4i$$ not horse come behind horse and man behind man $i1ewise3 &ha$$ our
advance-guard be fighting whi$e our rear-guard is yet standing yonder in #runa, not having fought3
There are yet two other roads/ one road, beho$d, it wi$$ ! us, for it comes forth at Taanaach, the
other, beho$d, it wi$$ bring us upon the way north of 5efti, so that we sha$$ come out to the north of
Megiddo% 6et our victorious $ord proceed upon the road he desires' but cause us not to go by a
difficu$t road%0
Then ! messengers concerning this design which they had uttered, in view of what had been said
by the Majesty of the 7ourt ($ife, hea$th, strength)/ 02 swear, as -e $oves me, as my father #mon
favors me, as my nostri$s are rejuvenated with satisfying $ife, my Majesty wi$$ proceed upon this
road of #runa% 6et him who wi$$ among you go upon those roads ye have mentioned, and $et him
who wi$$ among you, come in the fo$$owing of my Majesty% &ha$$ they thin1 among those enemies
whom -e detests/ +8oes his Majesty proceed upon another road3 .e begins to be fearfu$ of us,+ so
wi$$ they thin1%0
They spo1e before his Majesty/ 0May thy father #mon, $ord of Thebes, presider over *arna1, grant
thee $ife% 9eho$d, we are the fo$$owing of thy Majesty in every p$ace, whither they Majesty
proceedeth' as the servant is behind his master%0
1. The BBC production quotes the annals directly. The BBC production does not take
into account that the final record was published on the outside walls of the temple
of Amun at Karnak. ow does this fact influence how we interpret the inclusion of
Thutmosis! assertion that Aruna is the best road to take" #f it!s intentional biases$
what did they want people to think"
Then his Majesty commanded the entire army to march ! upon that road which threatened to be
narrow% .is Majesty swore, saying/ %&one shall go forth in the way before my 'a(esty$ in )%
e went forth at the head of his army himself$ showing the way by his own footsteps* horse
behind horse$ his 'a(esty being at the head of his army.
Year 2), first month of the third season (ninth month), on the nineteenth day' the watch in safety in
the roya$ tent was at the city of #runa% 0My Majesty proceeded northward under the protection of
my father, #mon--e, $ord of Thebes, who went before me, whi$e .ara1hte strengthened my arms
! my father, #mon--e, $ord of Thebes, victorious of the sword ! over my Majesty%0
The enemy went forth ! in numerous batt$e array%! The southern wing was in Taanach, the
northern wing was on the ground south of ! .is Majesty cried out to them before ! they fe$$'
beho$d, that wretched foe ! of the city of #runa%
"ow, the rear of the victorious army of his Majesty was at the city of #runa, the front was going
forth to the va$$ey of !, they fi$$ed the opening of this va$$ey% Then they said in the presence of
his 'a(esty$ +l. h. s.,- %Behold$ his 'a(esty goeth forth with his .ictorious army$ and it has
filled the hollow of the .alley* let our .ictorious lord harken to us this time and let our lord
protect for us the rear of his army and his people% 6et the rear of this army come forth to us
behind' then sha$$ they a$so fight against these barbarians' then we sha$$ not need to ta1e thought
for the rear of our army%0 is 'a(esty halted outside and waited there$ protecting the rear of
his .ictorious army.
9eho$d, when the front had reached the exit upon this road, the shadow had turned, and when his
Majesty arrived at the south of Megiddo on the ban1 of the broo1 of *ina, the seventh hour was
turning, measured by the sun%
/. 0hy does T(aneni sight so many specifics when describing the time of day in the
past passage" 0hat does he want to certify in the minds of readers"
Then was set up the camp of his Majesty, and command was given to the who$e army, saying/
0:uip yourse$ves; <repare your weapons; for we sha$$ advance to fight with that wretched foe in
the morning%0 Therefore the *ing rested in the roya$ tent, the affairs of the chiefs were arranged,
and the provisions of the attendants% The watch of the army went about, saying, 0&teady of heart;
&teady of heart; 4atchfu$; 4atchfu$; 4atch for $ife at the tent of the *ing%0 =ne came to say to his
Majesty, 0The $and is we$$, and the infantry of the &outh and "orth $i1ewise%0
Year 2), first month of the third season (ninth month) on the twenty-first day, the day of the feast of
the new moon, corresponding to the roya$ coronation, ear$y in the morning, beho$d, command was
given to the entire army to move%! .is Majesty went forth in a chariot of e$ectrum, arrayed in his
weapons of war, $i1e .orus, the &miter, $ord of power' $i1e Montu of Thebes, whi$e his father, #mon,
strengthened his arms% The southern wing of this army of his Majesty was on a hi$$ south of the
broo1 of *ina, the northern wing was at the northwest of Megiddo, whi$e his Majesty was in their
center, with #mon as the protection of his members ! the va$or ! of his $imbs% Then his 'a(esty
pre.ailed against them at the head of his army$ and when they saw his 'a(esty pre.ailing
against them they fled headlong to 'egiddo in fear$ abandoning their horses and their
chariots of gold and sil.er. The people hauled them up$ pulling them by their clothing$ into
this city* the people of this city ha.ing closed in against them and lowered clothing to pull
them up into this city% "ow, if on$y the army of his Majesty had not given their heart to p$undering
the things of the enemy, they wou$d have captured Megiddo at this moment, when the wretched foe
of *adesh and the wretched foe of this city were hau$ed up in haste to bring them into this city% The
fear of his Majesty had entered their hearts, their arms were power$ess, his serpent diadem was
victorious among them%
1. The description of the army!s looting was included in the final publication of the
annal upon the wall of the temple in Karnak 2 why" ow could this possibly glorify
Thutmosis"
Then were captured their horses, their chariots of go$d and si$ver were made spoi$' their champions
$ay stretched out $i1e fishes on the ground% The victorious army of his Majesty went around
counting their portions% 9eho$d, there was captured the tent of that wretched foe in which was his
son%! The who$e army made jubi$ee, giving praise to #mon for the victory which he had granted to
his son on this day, giving praise to his Majesty, exa$ting his victories% They brought up the booty
which they had ta1en, consisting of hands of $iving prisoners, of horses, chariots of go$d and si$ver,
of !
Then spa1e his Majesty on hearing the words of his army, saying/ 0.ad ye captured this city
afterward, beho$d, 2 wou$d have given ! -e this day' because every chief of every country that has
revo$ted is within it' and because it is the capture of a thousand cities, this capture of Megiddo%
7apture ye mighti$y, mighti$y!0
3. 4ead the last passage carefully)why is the capture of 'egiddo the capture of a
thousand cities"
.is Majesty commanded the officers of the troops to go !, assigning to each his p$ace% They
measured this city, surrounding it with an enc$osure, wa$$ed about with green timber of a$$ their
p$easant trees% .is Majesty himse$f was upon the fortification east of this city, inspecting !
2t was wa$$ed about with a thic1 wa$$ ! with its thic1 wa$$% 2ts name was made/ 0Men1heperre
(Thutmose 222%)-is-the-&urrounder-of-the-#siatics%0 <eop$e were stationed to watch over the tent of
his Majesty' to whom it was said/ 0&teady of heart; 4atch%!0 .is Majesty commanded, saying/
06et not one among them come forth outside, beyond this wa$$, except to come out in order to
1noc1 at the door of their fortification%0
5. 4e6read the last recorded statement of Thutmose ###)e7plain how he is mocking the
enemy.
9eho$d, the chiefs of this country came to render their portions, to do obeisance [bow or kneel] to
the fame of his Majesty, to crave breath for their nostri$s, because of the greatness of his power,
because of the might of the fame of his Majesty ! the country ! came to his fame, bearing their
gifts, consisting of si$ver, go$d, $apis $a(u$i, ma$achite' bringing c$ean grain, wine, $arge catt$e, and
sma$$ catt$e for the army of his Majesty% ach of the *ode among them bore the tribute southward%
9eho$d, his Majesty appointed the chiefs anew for !
! )>? $iving prisoners' @) hands' 2,?>A mares' ABA foa$s' C sta$$ions' young !' a chariot, wrought
with go$d, its po$e of go$d, be$ong to that foe' a beautifu$ chariot, wrought with go$d, be$onging to the
chief of Megiddo' ! @B2 chariots of his wretched army' tota$, B2> chariots' a beautifu$ suit of
bron(e armor, be$onging to that foe' a beautifu$ suit of bron(e armor, be$onging to the chief of
Megiddo' ! 2?? suits of armor, be$onging to his wretched army' D?2 bows' E po$es of wood,
wrought with si$ver, be$onging to the tent of that foe% 9eho$d, the army of his Majesty too1 !, 2@E,
!, A,B2B $arge catt$e, 2,??? sma$$ catt$e, 2?,D?? white sma$$ catt$e%
6ist of that which was afterward ta1en by the *ing, of the househo$d goods of that foe who was in
the city of Yenoam, in "uges, and in .eren1eru, together with a$$ the goods of those cities which
submitted themse$ves, which were brought to his Majesty/ >E> !' )@ $ords of theirs, @E chi$dren of
that foe and of the chiefs who were with him, D $ords of theirs, A,EBC ma$e and fema$e s$aves with
their chi$dren, noncombatants who surrendered because of famine with that foe, A?) men' tota$,
2,D?)% 9esides f$at dishes of cost$y stone and go$d, various vesse$s, ! a $arge two-hand$ed vase of
the wor1 of *haru, ! vases, f$at dishes, ! dishes, various drin1ing-vesse$s, ) $arge 1ett$es, @E
1nives, amounting to E@> deben% ,o$d in rings found in the hands of the artificers, and si$ver and
many rings, BCC deben and one 1idet% # si$ver statue in beaten wor1 ! the head of go$d, the staff
with human faces' C chairs of that foe, of ivory, ebony and carob wood, wrought with go$d' C
footstoo$s be$onging to them' C $arge tab$es of ivory and carob wood, a staff of carob wood,
wrought with go$d and a$$ cost$y stones in the fashion of a scepter, be$onging to that foe, a$$ of it
wrought with go$d' a statue of that foe, of ebony wrought with go$d, the head of which was in$aid
with $apis $a(u$i !, vesse$s of bron(e, much c$othing of that foe%
9eho$d, the cu$tivab$e $and was divided into fie$ds, which the inspectors of the roya$ house, $% p% h%,
ca$cu$ated, in order to reap their harvest% &tatement of the harvest which was brought to his
Majesty from the fie$ds of Megiddo/ 2?@,2?? fourfo$d he1et of grain, besides that which was cut as
forage by the army of his Majesty%
8. 0hat is the point of including the in.entory of booty9 tribute in the temple wall
publication of T(aneni!s records"
:. ;o back and re.iew one bolded passage and e7plain how it is an e7ample of
intentional bias.
#r$mar* +ource C$tat$on:
8*nnals of Tuthmosis !!! "excerpt#.8 !n &orne' Charles 9.' ed. The Sacred Books and Early Literature
of the East. :ol. !!. 0e( ;or< 1are' *ustin' and =ipscom$' !nc.' 151-. Ancient and Medieval
istory Online. 9acts 6n 9ile'
!nc. http<>>(((.fof(e$.com>acti2elin/.asp?
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