Bronze Plaque with Inscription of Ramesses III, Lachish

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A cast Bronze Plaque with an inscription of the Twentieth Dynasty Egyptian ruler Ramesses III was excavated at Lachish as part of a cache of eight bronze objects (Locus 4164) in Area GE, Level VI, revealed during a sondage beneath the Levels IV-III inner gatehouse structure, where its locus was sealed by the destruction layer of Level VI.

The roughly cast bronze object was broken in antiquity, the remnant having the appearance of a door or gate bolt. Essentially, the object has the form of a rectangular plaque (of which a large central portion is missing), with a cast bronze handle welded on its back surface. The object measures 16.5 cm at maximum length—its original length is unknown as both ends are broken. The upper and lower edges are preserved, with a width of 11.4 cm. The thickness of the plaque reflects its somewhat crude workmanship, varying between 3-6 mm.

The bronze object was cast with a hieroglyphic inscription, parts of the lower frame of the inscription and a royal cartouche surviving the ancient damage. The cartouche was badly damaged but readily restored as the prenomen of Ramesses III: wsr-M3ʿ.t-Rʿ.(w) mr.y-Jmn.w.

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Bibliography

  • Giveon, Raphael [1983], “An Inscription of Ramesses III from Lachish”, TA 10 (1983), pp. 176-177, pl.30.
  • Giveon, Raphael, Sweeney, Deborah and Lalkin, Nir [2004], “Chapter 24, Section D: The Inscription of Ramesses III”, in Ussishkin, D. (ed.), The Renewed Archaeological Excavations at Lachish (1973-1994) - Volume III: The Pre-Bronze Age and Bronze Age Pottery and Artefacts, [Emery and Claire Yass Publications in Archaeology Monograph Series 22], Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, 2004, pp.1626-1628, figs 23.57:1; 23.58:1, colour pl. XIII:2. ISBN 9655266017
  • Ussishkin, David [2004], “Chapter 23, Section E: A Cache of Bronze Artefacts from Level VI”, in Ussishkin, D. (ed.), The Renewed Archaeological Excavations at Lachish (1973-1994) - Volume III: The Pre-Bronze Age and Bronze Age Pottery and Artefacts, [Emery and Claire Yass Publications in Archaeology Monograph Series 22], Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, 2004, pp.1584-1588, figs 23.57:1; 23.58:1, colour pl. XIII:2. ISBN 9655266017
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