The Annals of Tuthmosis III

'Annals of Tuthmosis III' - these writings are located on the walls of two halls behind Pylon VI -

These writings describe the successful campaigns of Tuthmosis III against rebellious city states and against the Mitanni people. On his return home from war in Year 42, Tuthmosis III commanded that the story of his campaigns should be written on the walls of the Karnak Temple.

They are slightly unusual for such writings of the time as they told in a more realistic manner.

Horus: Strong-Bull-arisen-in-Thebes; [Two Ladies: Enduring--in-kingship-like-Re-in-heaven; Gold-Horus: Mighty-in-strength, Ma-jestic-in-appearance]; the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands: Menkheperre; the Son of Re, [of his body: Tuthmosis, given life forever].
His majesty commanded to record [the victories his father Amun had given him] by an inscription in the temple which his majesty had made for [his father Amun, so as to record] each campaign, together with the booty which [his majesty] had brought [from it, and the tribute of every foreign land] that his father Re had given him.
Year 22, fourth month of winter, day 25, [his majesty passed the fortress of] Sile on the first campaign of victory [to smite those who attacked] the borders of Egypt, in valour [strength, might, and right]. For a [long] period of years ------ plunder, with every man [serving] ---. For it had happened in the time of other (kings) that the garrison there was (only) in Sharuhen, while from Yerdj to the ends of the earth there was rebellion against his majesty.
Year 23, first month of summer, day 4, the day of the feast of the King's Coronation, (arriving) at the town of "Conquest-of-the-Ruler" [the Syrian name of which is] Gaza. [Year 23], first month of summer, day 5, departure from this place in valour, [strength], might, and right, to overthrow that wretched enemy, to extend the borders of Egypt, his father, mighty and victorious Amun, having commanded that he conquer.
Year 23, first month of summer, day 16, (arrival) at the town of Yehem. [His majesty] ordered a consultation with his valiant army, saying: "That wretched foe of Kadesh has come and entered into Megiddo and is [there] at this moment. He has gathered to him the princes of [all] the foreign lands [that had been loyal] to Egypt, as well as those from as far as Nahrin, consisting of, Khor and Kedy, their horses, their armies, [their people]. And he says-it is reported- 'I shall wait [and fight his majesty here] in Megiddo.' (Now) tell me [what you think]."
They said to his majesty: "How will it be to go [on] this road which becomes narrow, when it is [reported] that the enemies are waiting there [beyond and they] are numerous? Will not horse go behind [horse] and [soldiers] and people too? Shall our vanguard be fighting while the [rearguard] waits here in Aruna, unable to fight? There are two (other) roads here. One of the roads is [to our east] and [comes out] at Taanach. The other is on the north side of Djefti, so that we come out to the north of Megiddo. May our valiant lord proceed on whichever of [these] seems best to him. Do not make us go on that difficult road!"
Then messages ., which they had said before. The speech of the majesty of the palace: "I swear, as Re loves me, as my father Amun favours me, as my nostrils are refreshed with life and dominion my majesty shall proceed on this Aruna road! Let him of you who wishes go on those roads you spoke of. Let him of you who wishes come in my majesty's following. Or they will say, those foes whom Re abhors: 'Has his majesty gone on another road because he is afraid of us?' So they will say."
They said to his majesty: "May your father Amun, Lord of Thrones--of-the-Two-Lands, who presides over Ipet-sut, do [as you wish]! We are followers of [your majesty] wherever your majesty goes! A servant follows his lord."
[His majesty ordered to] tell the whole army: ["Your valiant lord will guide your steps on] this road which becomes narrow." [For his majesty had taken] an oath, saying: "I shall not let [my valiant army] go before me from [this place!" Thus his majesty resolved] that he himself should go before his army. [Every man] was informed of his order of march, horse following horse, with his majesty at the head of his army.

Year 23, first month of summer, day 19, awakening in [life] in the royal tent at the town of Aruna. Northward journey by my majesty with my father Amen-Re, Lord of Thrones-of-the-Two-Lands, [that he might open the ways] before me, Harakhti fortifying [the heart of my valiant army], my father Amun strengthening [my majesty's] arm, and . protecting my majesty.
Coming out (of the pass) by his majesty [at the head of his army], grouped in many battalions, [without meeting] a single [enemy]. [Their] southern wing was at Taanach, and [their] northern wing on the [north] side [of the Qina valley. Then] his majesty called to them: ", they are fallen! The wretched enemy.. Amun .. Give [praise to him, extol the might] of his majesty, for his strength is greater than------. [He has protected the rearguard of] his majesty's army in Aruna." Now while the rearguard of his majesty's valiant army was still at Aruna, the vanguard had come out into the Qina valley, and they filled the opening of the valley.
Then they said to his majesty: "Lo, his majesty has come out with his valiant troops and they fill the valley. May our valiant lord listen to
us this time. May our lord watch for us the rearguard of his army with its people. When the rearguard has come out to us in the open, then we shall fight against those foreigners; then we shall not be concerned about the rearguard of our army!" His majesty halted in the open. He sat [down] there to watch the rear guard of his valiant army. Now when the last of the lead-troops had come out from this road, the shadow turned.
His majesty arrived at the south of Megiddo, on the shore of the Qina brook, when the seventh hour was in (its) course of day. A camp was laid out for his majesty, and the whole army was told: "Prepare yourselves! Make your weapons ready! For one will engage in combat with that wretched foe in the morning; for one ..." Resting in the royal camp. Giving provisions to the officers, rations to the attendants. Posting the watch of the army; saying to them: "Steadfast, steadfast! Vigilant, vigilant!" Awakening in life in the royal tent. One came to tell his majesty: "The region is safe, and so are the troops of the south and the north."
Year 23, first month of summer, day 21, the exact day of the feast of the new moon. Appearance of the King at dawn. An order was given to the whole army to pass .. His majesty set out on a chariot of fine gold, decked in his shining armour like strong-armed Horus, lord of action, like Mont of Thebes, his father Amun strengthening his arm. The southern wing of his majesty's army was at a hill south of the Qina [brook], and the northern wing to the northwest of Megiddo, while his majesty was in their centre, Amun protecting his person (in) the melee, and the strength of [Seth pervading] his limbs.
Then his majesty overwhelmed them at the head of his army. When they saw his majesty overwhelming them, they fled headlong [to] Megiddo with faces of fear, abandoning their horses, their chariots of gold and silver, so as to be hoisted up into the town by pulling at their garments. For the people had shut the town behind them, and they now [lowered] garments to hoist them up into the town. Now if his majesty's troops had not set their hearts to plundering the possessions of the enemies, they would have [captured] Megiddo at this moment, when the wretched foe of Kadesh and the wretched foe of this town were being pulled up hurriedly so as to admit them into their town. For the fear of his majesty had entered [their bodies], and their arms sank as his diadem overwhelmed them.
Then their horses were captured, and their chariots of gold and silver became an easy [prey]. Their ranks were lying stretched out on their backs like fish in the bight of a net, while his majesty's valiant army counted their possessions. Captured was the tent of that wretched [foe], which was worked [with silver]. ------. Then the entire army jubilated and gave praise to Amun [for the victory] he had given to his son on [that day. They lauded] his majesty and extolled his victory. Then they presented the plunder they had taken: hands, living prisoners, horses, chariots of gold and silver and of [rpainted work'].
[Then his majesty] commanded his army, saying: "Grasp well, grasp well, [my] valiant [army]! Lo, [all the foreign lands] are placed [in this town by the will of] Re on this day. Inasmuch as every prince of every [northern] land is shut up within it, the capture of Megiddo is the capture of a thousand towns! Grasp firmly, firmly!" .. [Orders were given to] the troop-commanders to [provide for their soldiers and to let] every [man know] his place. They measured the town, surrounded (it) with a ditch, and walled (it) up with fresh timber from all their fruit trees. His majesty himself was on the fort east of the town, guarding [it day and night]. . [surrounded] by a thick wall its thickness. It was given the name "Menkheperre-Encircler-of-Asiatics." Guards were placed at the camp of his majesty and were told: "Steadfast, steadfast! Vigilant, vigilant!" His majesty . [No one] of them [was permitted to come] out beyond this wall, except for a coming out to [knock] at the gate of their fortress.
Now all that his majesty did to this town and to the wretched foe and his wretched army was recorded on its day by the name of the sortie and by the name of the troop-commander. ... They are recorded on a roll of leather in the temple of Amun to this day.
Now the princes of this foreign land came on their bellies to kiss the ground to the might of his majesty, and to beg breath for their nostrils, because of the greatness of his strength and the extent of the power of [Amun over all foreign lands]. ------, all the princes captured by his majesty's might bearing their tribute of silver, gold, lapis lazuli, and turquoise, and carrying grain, wine, and large and small cattle for his majesty's army; one group among them bore tribute on the journey south. Then his majesty appointed the rulers anew for [every town]
[List of the booty which his majesty's army brought from the town of] Megiddo. Living prisoners: 340. Hands: 83. Horses: 2,041. Foals: 191. Stallions: 6. Colts: ---. One chariot of that foe worked in gold, with a [pole] of gold. One fine chariot of the prince of [Megiddo], worked in gold. [Chariots of the allied princes: 30]. Chariots of his wretched army: 892. Total: 924. One fine bronze coat of mail belonging to that
enemy. One fine bronze coat of mail belonging to the prince of Megiddo. [Leather] coats of mail belonging to his wretched army: 200. Bows: 502. Poles of mry-wood worked with silver from the tent of that enemy: 7. And the army of [his majesty] had captured [cattle belonging to this town].: 387. Cows: 1,929. Goats: 2,000. Sheep: 20,500.
List of what was carried off afterward by the King from the household goods of the enemy of Yanoam, Inuges, and Herenkeru, together with the property of the towns that had been loyal to him which were captured by [the might of his majesty] ..
[Maryan-warriors] belonging to them: 38. Children of that enemy and of the princes with him: 84. Maryan-warriors belonging to them: 5. Male and female slaves and their children: 1,796. Pardoned persons who had come out from that enemy because of hunger: 103. Total: 2,503. In addition, bowls of costly stone and gold, and various vessels .. One large jar of Syrian workmanship. Jars, bowls, plates, various drinking vessels, large kettles, knives: .. + 17, making 1,784 deben. Gold in [disks] skillfully crafted, and many silver [disks], making 966 deben and I kite. A silver statue .. with a head of gold. Walking sticks with human heads: 3. Carrying chairs of that enemy of ivory, ebony, and ssndm-wood worked with gold: 6. Footstools belonging to them: 6. Large tables of ivory and ssndm-wood: 6. One bed of ssndm-wood worked with gold and all costly stones in the manner of a krkr, belonging to that enemy, worked with gold throughout. A statue of ebony of that enemy worked with gold with a head of lapis lazuli. .., bronze vessels and much clothing of that enemy.
The fields were made into plots and assigned to royal inspectors in order to reap their harvest. List of the harvest which his majesty brought from the fields of Megiddo. Sacks of wheat: 207,300 + . apart from what was cut as forage by his majesty's army. ...