Ramses the Great's Sherden Mercenaries: Pirates Turned Bodyguards

Long before they fought for Ramses II at Kadesh, the Sherden were feared sea raiders who plagued Egypt's coasts. This episode traces their transformation — from captured pirates to elite warriors of the pharaoh's personal guard, with their distinctive horned helmets and bronze swords. Lucas and Luna explore what we know from the Battle of Kadesh reliefs at the Ramesseum, the Papyrus Harris I's account of Sherden prisoners being recruited, and the thorny question of their homeland — Sardinia? The Levant? We also examine how the Sherden integrated into Egyptian society, marrying local women and settling in the Delta, and what their story tells us about Ramses's pragmatic approach to foreign policy. This is a tight, focused look at a single group that crosses the lines between enemy and ally, pirate and soldier. #Sherden #SeaPeoples #RamsesII #Kadesh #EgyptianMilitary #Mercenaries #BronzeAge #Pirates #Ramesseum #PapyrusHarrisI #PerRamesses #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #NorthAfrica #AncientEgypt #NavalWarfare #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo