3,000-year-old shiny bronze sword with Egyptian pharaoh's mark found

A team of archaeologists excavating an ancient fortress in Egypt's Nile Delta discovered a bronze sword this month, according to The Washington Post . Despite being more than 3,000 years old, the sword still shined after being cleaned.

Bronze sword with hieroglyphs related to pharaoh Ramses II

PHOTO: EGYPT MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ANTIQUES

The sword is engraved with a cartouche, a symbol used by the pharaohs, and a hieroglyphic of the name of King Ramses II, who ruled Egypt from 1279-1213 BC.

According to Popular Science , Ramses II was the second-longest-reigning pharaoh in Egyptian history, noted for his building efforts and his wars with the Hittites and pirate tribes. Known as Ramses the Great, the pharaoh is credited with expanding Egypt's borders as far east as modern-day Syria and as far south as Sudan. Ramses' influence and wealth were widespread throughout Egypt, according to recent archaeological evidence.

The sword was found along with other artifacts at the Tel Al-Abqain archaeological site near Egypt's northwestern coast, which may have been infiltrated by rival Egyptian forces.

Archaeologists also found two carved limestone blocks. One of the blocks bore hieroglyphics mentioning King Ramses II and an official named Bay.

According to Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, the fortress where the artifacts were found was an important military base during the period 1550-1070 BC. The base was built to protect Egypt's northwestern border from attacks by Libyan tribes and sea peoples, a pirate alliance that often waged war in the eastern Mediterranean during the late Bronze Age.

With adequate supplies, the soldiers at the fort may have successfully defended against the invasion. However, archaeologists are unsure why the base was left with so many objects.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tim-thay-thanh-kiem-dong-3000-nam-sang-loang-co-dau-an-pharaoh-ai-cap-185240920102137813.htm