Shasu

Shasu is an ancient Egyptian texts in the second millennium BC occurring term for a group of Asian semi-nomads.

Etymology of the name

The word " Shasu " ( š3św ) is derived from the Egyptian verbal root from S3S that the meaning of " pass through, pull, travel" has. As a loanword of the Egyptian S3S is the Hebrew verb שׁסה (ssh, " ( plunder )"; noun: מְשִׁסָּה - mešissāh, " looting" ) with its variants שׁשׂה (SSH) and שׁסס (SSS ) considered, in turn, with the once found in Ugaritic texts verb TSJ - is associated - with the same meaning. Not secured a connection between the Egyptian š3św / S3S and the attested in cuneiform texts " Sutu ", which was also a term for nomadic groups.

The Shasu in the Egyptian documents

Are first mentioned in the Shasu in a report of General Ahmose Pennechbet during a campaign against the Shasu Bedouin under Pharaoh Thutmose II on a stela from Memphis from the time of Amenhotep II is about the capture of 15,020 living Shasu Bedouin in his second Retjenu campaign reported that Amenhotep II led to the territory of the Hurrians. In this context, the land of Edom (having additional: Shamash ) in the same region on his first Retenu campaign called near Qatna on the Orontes.

In the struggle relief of Seti I at Karnak Temple the reasons for military action against the Shasu be specified in the northern Sinai:

The relief represents a mass deportation of Shasu from the Sinai Peninsula and southern Palestine to Egypt, where they should probably work.

Under Ramses II Shasu Bedouin were detained shortly before the Battle of Kadesh. A letter of a customs officer under Seti II reported in the Papyrus Anastasi VI of them again, but this time in a peaceful description:

Whether it is the Edom in the Sinai Peninsula or to the Edom near Qatna remains unclear. A short time later came under Ramses III. the mention of a military conflict with the Shasu because it the title of " Conqueror of the Shasu " gave himself. Also negative is the assessment in the Papyrus Anastasi I, in which travelers warned of the danger by the Shasu:

From the side of some Bible historians agree it has been suggested that Shasu reproduces an Egyptian distinction, according to which this name denotes the south of the line from Rafah to the Dead Sea wandering nomads, while the groups were north called them ʿ Apiru, of which Hebrews deduce. Nicolas Grimal locates the land of Shasu southeast of the Sea of ​​Galilee. However, the exact localization of the Shasu strains remains largely open, despite these attempts, as Shasu strains were found in various places between Qatna and the Sinai Peninsula. Similarly, the hypothesis of a shift of the settlement area is not currently available to prove.

Shasu country Yahu

A first in the temple of Amenhotep III Soleb below. testified locations list that is dated around 1380 BC, under the name of " Shasu country Yhw " in conjunction with other local names of the Edomite highlands. The term is again demonstrated in a list of place names under Ramses II. This designation, which is mainly understood as a local name has been associated with the Hebrew name of God YHWH.

Some interpreters have it seen an allusion to a " semi-nomadic living, JHW Group ' ", which is said to have played a role in the exodus from Egypt and the origins of Israel, and Yhw as "Name of the tribal god of this ( Midianite ) Shasu group " considered.