Retjenu

Retjenu (rṯnw; Reṯenu, Retenu), was an ancient Egyptian name for Canaan and Syria. It covered the region from the Negev Desert north to the Orontes River. The borders of Retjenu shifted with time, but it generally consisted of three regions. The southernmost was Djahy, which had about the same boundaries as Canaan.[2] Lebanon proper was located in the middle, between the Mediterranean and the Orontes River.[2] North of Lebanon was designated Amurru, the land of the Amorites.[2]

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T		 n
nw		 wN25

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Retjenu[1]
(determ.-foreign land)
in hieroglyphs

Occurrences of the term

Overall, numerous mentions of the Retjenu appear in Egyptian inscriptions.[3]

12th Dynasty

The earliest attestation of the name occurs in the Sebek-khu Stele, dated to the reign of Senusret III (reign: 1878–1839 BCE), recording the earliest known Egyptian military campaign in the Levant and their victory over the Retjenu: "His Majesty proceeded northward to overthrow the Asiatics. His Majesty reached a foreign country of which the name was Sekmem (...) Then Sekmem fell, together with the wretched Retenu", where Sekmem (s-k-m-m) is thought to be Shechem.[4][5][6]

Scarabs with the name "Retjenu" have been found in Avaris, also dating to the 12th Dynasty (1991-1802 BCE).[7]

The name also occurs in the Tale of Sinuhe (written during the early 12th Dynasty), inscribed on a piece of limestone in the 14th century BCE.

17th Dynasty

The Second Stela of Kamose, the last king of the Theban 17th Dynasty (c. 1580–1550 BCE), refers to Apepi, the Hyksos pharaoh, as a "Chieftain of Retjenu" {wr n rṯnw} that implies a Canaanite background for this Hyksos king.[8]

18th Dynasty

The Retjenu people are depicted in the 18th Dynasty tomb of Rekhmire (TT100).

Syrians bringing presents to Tuthmosis III (18th Dynasty), in the tomb of Rekhmire, circa 1450 BCE (actual painting and interpretational drawing). They are labeled "Chiefs of Retjenu".[9][10]

Depictions in Egyptian reliefs
  • The Sebek-khu Stele, dated to the reign of Senusret III (reign: 1878–1839 BCE), records the earliest known Egyptian military campaign in the Levant. The text reads "Then Sekmem fell, together with the wretched Retenu", where Sekmem (s-k-m-m) is thought to be Shechem.
    The Sebek-khu Stele, dated to the reign of Senusret III (reign: 1878–1839 BCE), records the earliest known Egyptian military campaign in the Levant. The text reads "Then Sekmem fell, together with the wretched Retenu", where Sekmem (s-k-m-m) is thought to be Shechem.
  • Egyptian relief depicting a battle against West Asiatics. Reign of Amenhotep II, Eighteenth Dynasty, c. 1427–1400 BCE
    Egyptian relief depicting a battle against West Asiatics. Reign of Amenhotep II, Eighteenth Dynasty, c. 1427–1400 BCE
  • West Asiatic tribute bearers in the tomb of Sobekhotep, c. 1400 BCE, during the reign of Thutmose IV, Thebes. British Museum.
    West Asiatic tribute bearers in the tomb of Sobekhotep, c. 1400 BCE, during the reign of Thutmose IV, Thebes. British Museum.[11]
  • Submission of West Asiatics on the tomb of Pharaoh Horemheb at Saqqara, circa 1300 BCE.
    Submission of West Asiatics on the tomb of Pharaoh Horemheb at Saqqara, circa 1300 BCE.
  • Submission of West Asiatics on the tomb of Pharaoh Horemheb at Saqqara, circa 1300 BCE.
    Submission of West Asiatics on the tomb of Pharaoh Horemheb at Saqqara, circa 1300 BCE.
  • Syrian tribute bearer from a Theban tomb of the 18-19th dynasty.
    Syrian tribute bearer from a Theban tomb of the 18-19th dynasty.
  • A Retjenu. Tomb of Sobekhotep, 18th Dynasty Thebes.
    A Retjenu. Tomb of Sobekhotep, 18th Dynasty Thebes.

See also

References
  1. Faulkner, Ramond O. Middle Egyptian. p. 154. Griffith Institute, Oxford, 1962.
  2. Steindorff, George. When Egypt Ruled the East. p. 47. University of Chicago Press, 1942.
  3. Parkinson, R. B. (2009). Reading Ancient Egyptian Poetry: Among Other Histories. John Wiley & Sons. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-4051-2547-5.
  4. Pritchard, James B. (2016). Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament with Supplement. Princeton University Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-4008-8276-2.
  5. Manchester Museum: 3306 Stela, Object, Registered, Africa, Egypt, Upper Egypt, Abydos
  6. The Land of the Bible: A Historical Geography, Yohanan Aharoni
  7. Martin, Geoffrey T. (1998). "The Toponym Retjenu on a Scarab from Tell el-Dabʿa". Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant. 8: 109–112. ISSN 1015-5104. JSTOR 23786957.
  8. Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997). The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C. Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-87-7289-421-8.
  9. "The foreigners of the fourth register, with long hairstyles and calf-length fringed robes, are labeled Chiefs of Retjenu, the ancient name tor the Syrian region. Like the Nubians, they come with animals, in this case horses, an elephant, and a bear; they also offer weapons and vessels most likely filled with precious substance." in Hawass, Zahi A.; Vannini, Sandro (2009). The lost tombs of Thebes: life in paradise. Thames & Hudson. p. 120. ISBN 9780500051597.
  10. Zakrzewski, Sonia; Shortland, Andrew; Rowland, Joanne (2015). Science in the Study of Ancient Egypt. Routledge. p. 268. ISBN 978-1-317-39195-1.
  11. "Tomb-painting British Museum". The British Museum.
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