Retjenu ('' rṯnw; Reṯenu, Retenu''), later known as Khor, was the

Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt () was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology), when Upper and Lower E ...

ian name for the wider Syrian region, where the Semitic-speaking Canaanites lived. Steindorff, George; Seele, Keith C. (2014)

942 Year 942 (Roman numerals, CMXLII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – The Hungarian raid in Spain (942), Hungarians invade Al-Andalus (modern Spain) and besiege the f ...

"VI. Western Asia in the middle of the second millennium B.C.". ''When Egypt Ruled the East'' (revised ed.). University of Chicago Press. p. 47. Retrieved 17 February 2024. Retjenu was located between the region north of the Sinai Desert and south of the

Taurus Mountains The Taurus Mountains (Turkish language, Turkish: ''Toros Dağları'' or ''Toroslar,'' Greek language, Greek'':'' Ταύρος) are a mountain range, mountain complex in southern Turkey, separating the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coastal reg ...

in southern

Anatolia Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...

. The term Retjenu was used to refer to this geographical area since the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000–1700 BCE). The geographical area of Retjenu were defined during the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1069 BCE) and considered to have been a collection of small states ruled by princes. The boundaries of the area considered Retjenu shifted throughout time due to military, political, and economic factors. Retjenu was divided into two geographical regions. Djahy the southernmost region covered the area between Askalon and

Mount Lebanon Mount Lebanon (, ; , ; ) is a mountain range in Lebanon. It is about long and averages above in elevation, with its peak at . The range provides a typical alpine climate year-round. Mount Lebanon is well-known for its snow-covered mountains, ...

stretching inland to the

Sea of Galilee The Sea of Galilee (, Judeo-Aramaic languages, Judeo-Aramaic: יַמּא דטבריא, גִּנֵּיסַר, ), also called Lake Tiberias, Genezareth Lake or Kinneret, is a freshwater lake in Israel. It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth ...

. Amurru the northern region stretched between the

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

and

. During

Thutmose III Thutmose III (variously also spelt Tuthmosis or Thothmes), sometimes called Thutmose the Great, (1479–1425 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. He is regarded as one of the greatest warriors, military commanders, and milita ...

's (1479–1425 BCE) military campaigns in

West Asia West Asia (also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia) is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian ...

, the area of Djahy was referred to as Upper Retjenu and generally covered the area of

Canaan CanaanThe current scholarly edition of the Septuagint, Greek Old Testament spells the word without any accents, cf. Septuaginta : id est Vetus Testamentum graece iuxta LXX interprets. 2. ed. / recogn. et emendavit Robert Hanhart. Stuttgart : D ...

. Lower Retjenu was used to refer to the area of Amurru but also incorporated the cities located along

Phoenicia Phoenicians were an Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples, ancient Semitic group of people who lived in the Phoenician city-states along a coastal strip in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily modern Lebanon and the Syria, Syrian ...

n coast. The Egyptian term "

Aamu Aamu () was a name used to designate West Asians in ancient Egypt. It is often translated as "Western Asiatic", but it might refer specifically to Canaanites or Amorites. The Egyptologist and linguist Thomas Schneider (Egyptologist), Thomas Sch ...

", translated as "Asiatic", was used to refer to the people originating from the Levant. In the Twelfth Dynasty (1991–1802 BCE) text ''

Story of Sinuhe The ''Story of Sinuhe'' (also referred to as Sanehat or Sanhath) is a work of ancient Egyptian literature. It was likely composed in the beginning of the Twelfth Dynasty after the death of Amenemhat I and the ascention of Senwosret I as sole ...

'', "

" is applied about the people of Retjenu. The term "Western Asiatic" has been used to refer to the people of Retjenu but can be used to generally refer to the lands now located in modern

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

, the

Red Sea The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...

, and the

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising parts of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus Mountains, i ...

References to Retjenu

Twelfth Dynasty

The earliest documented occurrence of the term Retjenu occurs in the military campaign record of King Senusret III on the Sebek-khu Stele, detailing an Egyptian victory over the people of 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 Retjenu". An amethyst scarab seal featuring an inscription of a personal name, title, and the term Retjenu was discovered in the site of Tell el-Dab'a dating to the Twelfth Dynasty.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 An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an eight-digit to uniquely identify a periodical publication (periodical), such as a magazine. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. ISSNs a ...

1015-5104.

JSTOR JSTOR ( ; short for ''Journal Storage'') is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources founded in 1994. Originally containing digitized back issues of academic journals, it now encompasses books and other primary source ...

23786957. The scarab seal would have been received either through trade or as a diplomatic gift from the court of Egypt's Twelfth Dynasty. In the early Twelfth Dynasty text '' Tale of Sinuhe'' (c. 1875 BC) Retjenu is a main setting and referenced in name multiple times as a defined geographical region and applied to the identity of the people residing in the area. Retjenu referenced as a defined geographical area: "When Amunenshi carried me off. He was the ruler of upper Retjenu", "This decree of the king is brought to you to inform you that your roving though countries, going from Qedem to Retjenu" and "Without calling Retjenu to mind-it is yours, even like your hounds!". The people residing in Retjenu are also referenced: "A hero of Retjenu came to provoke me in the tent; he was a peerless champion" and "When it was dawn, all Retjenu had come, having incited its tribes and gathered its neighboring countries". Kamose_Siegesstele_Luxor_Museum_02

Seventeenth Dynasty

The Second Stela of

Kamose Kamose was the last king of the Thebes, Egypt, Theban Seventeenth dynasty of Egypt, Seventeenth Dynasty at the end of the Second Intermediate Period. Kamose is usually ascribed a reign of three years (his highest attested regnal year), although s ...

, the last king of the Theban 17th Dynasty (c. 1580-1550 BCE), refers to Apepi, a

Hyksos The Hyksos (; Egyptian language, Egyptian ''wikt:ḥqꜣ, ḥqꜣ(w)-wikt:ḫꜣst, ḫꜣswt'', Egyptological pronunciation: ''heqau khasut'', "ruler(s) of foreign lands"), in modern Egyptology, are the kings of the Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt ( ...

Pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian language, Egyptian: ''wikt:pr ꜥꜣ, pr ꜥꜣ''; Meroitic language, Meroitic: 𐦲𐦤𐦧, ; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') was the title of the monarch of ancient Egypt from the First Dynasty of Egypt, First Dynasty ( ...

, as a "Chieftain of Retjenu" implying a

ite background.

Eighteenth Dynasty

Within the ''Autobiography of Ahmose son of Abana,'' Retjenu is referenced in the section detailing the Syrian campaign of King

Thutmose I Thutmose I (sometimes read as Thutmosis or Tuthmosis I, Thothmes in older history works in Latinized Greek; meaning "Thoth is born") was the third pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 18th Dynasty of History of Ancient Egypt, Egypt. He re ...

: "After this (his majesty) proceeded to Retjenu to vent his wrath through the lands". The Poetical Stela of

within the Karnak Temple references Retjenu in the poem section of the stela: "I came to let you tread on those of Asia, to smite the Asians' heads in Retjenu". The tomb of Rekhmire includes the "chiefs of Retjenu" in scenes depicting lines of foreigners prostrating, bowing, and carrying tribute on their backs, shoulders, or in front of them to be delivered to

. The tomb of Menkheperreseneb II depicts the chiefs of Retjenu among the chiefs of Keftiu, Hatti, and Qadesh leading rows of foreigners to deliver goods as tribute to

. Similar to the depiction within the tomb of Rekhmire the rows of foreigners are depicted carrying their tribute in front or behind them. The tomb of Amenemhab depicts the chiefs of foreign lands including Retjenu leading rows of foreigners to deliver tribute to

. The foreigners are depicted carrying their tribute on their backs while some kneel and prostrate before

. The Stela of

Amenhotep III Amenhotep III ( , ; "Amun is satisfied"), also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent or Amenhotep the Great and Hellenization, Hellenized as Amenophis III, was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, Eighteenth Dynasty. According to d ...

within his mortuary temple in western Thebes references Retjenu in the section ''The Bark of Amun:'' "in making for men-Rea great bark upon the river, 'Amen-Re-firm-of-brow,' of new pine wood, cut by my majesty in the countries of god's land, and dragged from the mountains of Retjenu by the chiefs of all foreign lands". A relief on a wall adjacent to the Tenth Pylon in the temple of

Karnak The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak (), comprises a vast mix of temples, pylons, chapels, and other buildings near Luxor, Egypt. Construction at the complex began during the reign of Senusret I (reigned 1971–1926 BC) in the ...

depicts a scene of

Horemheb Horemheb, also spelled Horemhab, Haremheb or Haremhab (, meaning "Horus is in Jubilation"), was the last pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, 18th Dynasty of Egypt (1550–1292 BC). He ruled for at least 14 years between 1319 ...

presenting foreigners to deities. Depicted behind

are rows of bound and prostrating foreigners, among them are chiefs of Retjenu and Aegean islanders who express their fear of

Nineteenth Dynasty

Within the walls of hypostyle hall at

the battle reliefs of

Seti I Menmaatre Seti I (or Sethos I in Greek language, Greek) was the second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the New Kingdom of Egypt, New Kingdom period, ruling or 1290 BC to 1279 BC. He was the son of Ramesses I and Sitre, and th ...

include a reference to captives brought to Egypt from Retjenu: "The great chiefs of Retjenu the vile, whom His Majesty brought away by his ictoies over the foreign country of Hatti in order to fill the magazine fhis noble ather Amun-Re".

Depictions of West Asians in Egyptian reliefs

File:Block from a Relief Depicting a Battle MET 213 S3BR2 01GG.jpg, Egyptian relief depicting a battle against West Asiatics. Reign of Amenhotep II, Eighteenth Dynasty, c. 1427–1400 BCE File:West Asiatic tribute bearers tomb of Sobekhotep 18th Dynasty Thebes.jpg, West Asiatic tribute bearers in the tomb of Sobekhotep, c. 1400 BCE, during the reign of Thutmose IV, Thebes.

British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...

. File:Submission of West Asiatics on the tomb of Horemheb circa 1300 BCE.jpg, Submission of West Asiatics on the tomb of Pharaoh

Saqqara Saqqara ( : saqqāra ), also spelled Sakkara or Saccara in English , is an Egyptian village in the markaz (county) of Badrashin in the Giza Governorate, that contains ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty, serving as the necropolis for ...

, circa 1300 BCE. File:Horemheb Tomb Relief Saqqara Grave (2009).jpg, Submission of West Asiatics on the tomb of Pharaoh

, circa 1300 BCE. File:Syrian tribute bearer from a Theban tomb of the 18-19th dynasty.jpg, Syrian tribute bearer from a Theban tomb of the 18-19th dynasty. File:Retjenu, tomb of Sobekhotep 18th Dynasty Thebes.jpg, A Retjenu. Tomb of Sobekhotep, 18th Dynasty Thebes.

References

{{Reflist Geography of ancient Egypt Canaan Geography of Phoenicia