Commentary on books IX-X Volume 5; Boeotia, Phocis. Addenda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 Excerpt: ...Sardinien, p. 114. There was a place called the Sanctuary of Father Sardus on the coast of Sardinia (Ptolemy, Geogr. iii. 3. p. 375 ed. Miiller). Egyptian monuments inform us that from the time of Ramses II. onward the kings of Egypt retained in their pay a large body of foreign mercenaries called Shardana. These are said to have been originally prisoners taken by Ramses II., and in inscriptions they are often designated as "people of the sea." As depicted on the monuments they are easily distinguished by the type of their features and the style of their equipment: they carry round shields, long pointed swords, and a peculiar helmet adorned with a crescent and ball. In the reign of Merenptah (Minephtah), son of Ramses II., the Shardana and other "people of the sea" joined the Libyans in invading Egypt from the west, but the united host was defeated with great slaughter. It has been supposed by Mr. E. de Rouge" and other scholars, including W. Max M tiller, that the Shardana were the Sardinians. Professor Maspero's view is that the Shardana were originally settled in the west of Asia Minor, and that after the failure of the attack on Egypt in the reign of Merenptah (Minephtah) they moved westward and settled in Sardinia. Professor Wiedemann, on the other hand, holds that the Shardana were a Libyan tribe inhabiting the north coast of Africa not far from Egypt, and he denies their connexion with Sardinia. But that they were a sea-faring people, not merely coast-dwellers, is placed beyond doubt by an Egyptian wallpainting, which represents them sailing in ships with high curved prows and poops and attacking the Egyptians, who are in ships of a different typeSee E. de Rouge, 'Sur Ies attaques dirigees contre l'Egypte par les peuples de l...