Topographical List, First Campaign of Thutmose III

From ArchaeoWiki

The Topographical List associated with the First Campaign in the southern Levant conducted by the Eighteenth Dynasty Egyptian ruler Thutmose III during his Regnal Years 22-23 is detailed below. The toponyms are to be inscribed on the Sixth and Seventh (south) Pylons of the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak, and took the form of an enclosure border surrounding each toponym, surmounted by the head and bust of a bound prisoner.

Each entry adopts the following format:

List Order and Primary Transliteration

• Hieroglyphic Writing(s) - incomplete, currently under revision

• Transliteration | Transliteration 2 | etc.

Reference Name (variations)

• Correspondence(s): North-West Semitic (* = reconstructed), Akkadian (^EA= link to Gazetteer), Biblical, Classical, Other(s)

• Identification(s): Summarises suggested identifications with recognised sites, locations and geographical features.

• Discussion: Summarises observations regarding the significance of the toponym's inclusion.

1 Qdš

Qdš, Qd-šw | Qid-šu

Qadesh (Kadesh)

Correspondence(s): קדש, Qidšu^EA

Identification: Qdš is securely identified with the site of Tell Nebi Mend تل نبﻲ مند in the Orontes River valley in central Syria.

Discussion: Together with Megiddo, in the entry immediately following, Qadesh represents one half (and the primary partner) of the ostensible leadership within the Canaanite coalition. The city therefore appears symbolically at the head of the list, beyond any considerations of sequence in topography or theme.

It should be noted that, although Qadesh heads the list of toponyms associated with the First Campaign of Thutmose III, the city was neither directly assailed nor subdued until the final campaigns of that ruler. The inclusion of Qadesh is therefore symbolic, suggesting that the presence here of several other (groups of) toponyms may serve a similar purpose.

2 Mkt

Mkt, Mktj |

Megiddo

Correspondences: מגד, Magidda^EA, מגדו

Identification: Mkt(j) is securely identified with Tel Megiddo (תל מגדו) / Tell el-Mutesellim in the Jezreel Valley.

Discussion: Together with Qadesh, in the entry immediately preceding, Megiddo represents one half of the ostensible leadership of the Canaanite coalition and therefore appears symbolically at the head of the list, beyond considerations of sequence in topography or theme. Megiddo also represents the physical location of the primary hostilities (battle and ensuing siege) in the first Canaanite campaign of Thutmose III.

3 Ḫṯy

Ḫṯy | Ḫá-`sí-ya

Khazi (Khasi)

Correspondences: חזי, Ḫazi^EA

Identification: Ḫṯy is identified with Tell Ḥizzin* near Tell Hashbe.

4 Ktsn

Ktsn | ki-tá-´su-na

Guddashuna

Correspondences: גדשן, Guddašuna^EA

Identification: Ktsn has long been identified as a locality in the Beqaʿ Valley [Klengel 1970:63]. Kuschke suggested a location at the mound of Jeditheh near Shtorah, but this identification remains uncertain [Kuschke 1958:92, 101]. Petrographic analysis of EA 177, an Amarna period letter from the vassal ruler Yamiuta to the Egyptian king, promotes similarities with clays present in correspondence from Labana (EA 193)—suggesting some link between the two location—but this remains speculative and other details too general to determine any specific provenance [Goren, Finkelstein and Naʾaman 2004:128-129].

5 ʿn-Šw

ʿn-Šw

Enishasi / Ain-Shasi

Correspondences: Enišasi^EA

Identification: Literally "Spring of the Shasu", located in the Beqa Valley* The written form of this toponym would appear to be a scribal error for ʿn-Šasi.

6 Dbḫw

Dbḫw | d(a)-b-ḫu

Tubikhi

Correspondence(s): טבח

Identification: Dbḫw is identified with et-Taiyibe*, situated near Baalbek.

7 Bmy

Bmy

Bamiya

Identification: Identity uncertain, perhaps identical to Kumidi

8 Kmt

Kmt

Kumidi

Correspondences: Kumidi^EA, KL

Identification: Kmt is securely identified with the site of ancient Kumidi at the site of Kamid el-Loz in the Beqa Valley.

9 Ttyn

Tu-tá-yi-ni

Dotan / Dutin

Correspondences: Du-ti-ni [AIII C_N13]

Identification: Ttyn is identified with Tell Dota* (in Beqa Valley?). Apparently not to be identified with the Biblical Dothan [cf. Helck 1971:130].

10 Rbn

Rbn | Lbn | la-b´ǝ-na

Labana

Correspondences: Labana^EA

Identication: Several scholars had placed Labana in the Beqaʿ Valley, equating the toponym with Lebo-Hamath / Lebwe [cf. Weber in Knudtzon 1915:1111; Aharoni 1976:66, 137, 147; Moran 1992:390; Liverani 1998:287]. Such an equation is impossible, however, as Labana and Labʾu are both mentioned within the Topographical List of Thutmose III. Lebwe was demonstrably a small village at the time, whereas Labana was clearly a city-state mentioned in two Amarna letters [EA 53:55, 57; EA 54:27, 32; cf. Klengel 1970:60-61]. In the latter, Labana's ruler Tiwate / Teuwatti acted as an ally of Arzawiya of Ruḫizzi in assisting the ruler of Qidšu during his attack on the land of Upi. Although their precise location remains to be determined, Ruḫizzi and Labana are probably both to be sought on the northern border of Upi, east of the Beqaʿ Valley and south of the region of Taḫši around Qadesh. Petrographical analysis of EA 193 suggests a location east of the Orontes River, possibly in the region of Quseir or south / south-east of it [Goren, Finkelstein and Naʾaman 2004:98-99].

11 Qrt-nḏn

Qrt-nḏn

Kiriath-Nisan

Identification: Qrt-nḏn remains currently unidentified. [Aharoni = Litani River? p Anastasi I]

12 Mrm

Mrm | ma-ra-m<a>

Marom

Identification: Located near Damascus* (?)

13 Tmsqw

Tmsqw | tá-ma´s-qu

Damascus

Correspondences: דמשק, Dimašqa^EA

Identification: Tmsqw is securely identified with Damascus دمشق‎ esh-Sham الشام.

14 Jtr

A, B, C

Adurru

Ḫadaru^{Tiglath-Pileser III}

Situated near Damascus

15 Jbr

A, C

B

Abila / Abel

Abil es-Suq* / "stream" ?, cf. Transjordanian toponyms later in list

16 Ḥmt

A, C

B

Hamath

חמת

17 Jqdw

A

B, (C)

Aqidu

Identified with Qatwa*

18 Šmn

Shemen

Identified with Tell es-Semen*

19 Bjrt

A, B, C

Beirut (coast) / Berothai (Beqa) ? / wells?

Beruta^EA

Rainey [1982a:340 +350:19] transcribes Bi-ʾé-ru-tu and states that Semitic form of the word "wells" requires i/e after the ʾ... Prefers to see a correspondence with Beirut in EA 101:25, etc.

20 Mḏn

Musunu / Musunim

Mu-ṣ/zu-un-ni-im^ki

Rainey 1982a:340 follows Malamat's suggestion [1971:?] that this toponym is identical with the one from the Mari texts [Dossin 1970:98, line 9].

21 Srn

Srn

Sharon

Correspondences: שרן, Šaruna

22 Tby

Tby

Dubu / Tob

Correspondences: תב, Ṭubu^EA

Identification: Tby is identified with eṭ-Ṭaiyibeh.

23 Bḏn

Bḏn | b´ǝ-sá-n{a}

Busrunu

Correspondences: Buṣruna^EA? Ziri-bašani [EA 201]?

Identification: Bḏn is identified by some with with Busru esh-Sham. Not recognised as such in Rainey 1982a:341

24 Jmšn

Amshuna

Identified with Imtan* in the Gebel ed-Druz

25 Msḫ

Mushikhuna

Mušiḫuna^EA

26 Qnjw

Qanu

Qanawat (near Gebel ed-Druz)

27 ʿrn

Aruna

Ḫalunni^EA

28 ʿstrt

ʿstrt |

Astarte

Correspondences: עשתרת, Aštarti^EA

Identification: ʿstrt is identified with Tell Ashtarah.

29 (J)nrpj

A, B, C

Nurpa / Raphon

Ραφών^{1 Maccabees 5:37}

Identified with er-Rafe*

30 Mqt / Mqd

Makkeda

Μακέδ^{1 Maccabees 5:26}

Identified with Tell Miqdad

31 Rws

Rws

Laish (Dan)

Correspondences: ליש

Identification: Rws is securely identified with the site of Tel Dan / Tell el-Qadi.

32 Ḥḏr

Ḥa-su-ra

Hazor

Correspondences: חצור, Ḫaṣura^EA

Identification: Ḥḏr is securely identified with Tel Hazor / Tell el-Qedaḥ in the Huleh Valley of northern Israel.

33 Pḥr

Pá-ḥì-l / Pə-ḥì-la

Pella

Correspondences: פחל, Piḫilu^EA, Πελλα, طبقة فحل Ṭabaqat Faḥl

Identification: Pḥr is securely identified with the site of Pella / طبقة فحل Ṭabaqat Faḥl in the centrl Jordan Valley, located just east of Tel Beth Shean [Simons Lists, p.116].

34 Knnrt

Knnrt

Kinneret

Correspondences: כנרת

Identification: Knnrt is securely identified with the site of Tel Kinrot / Tell el-ʿOreimah near the southern shores of the Sea of Galilee.

35 Šm(ʿ)n

Šm(ʿ)n

Shamkhuna

Correspondences: Šamḫuna^EA

Identification: Šm(ʿ)n is identified with Shimʾon at the site of Tel Shimron / Khirbet Sammuniyeh on the margins of the Jezreel and Beth Netofa Valleys.

36 Jtmm

A, B, C

Adumim

Identified with ed-Damiyeh*.

37 Qsn

A, B, C

Kishion

קשן

Khirbet Kishyon

38 Šnm

Shunem

Šunama^EA

39 Mšjr

Mishal

Tell en-Nahl* [Aharoni: Tell Kisan?]

40 Jksp

Jksp

Akhshaph

Correspondences: אכשף, Akšapa^EA

Identification: Jksp is securely identified with ancient Akšapa. Textual evidences suggest that Akko and Akšapa represented two fo the most important cities in the Akko Plain during the second millennium BCE. As such, two main candidates have been suggested for sites that could feasibly be identified with Akšapa: Tell Harbaj, near the southern border of the Akko Plain, and Tell Keisan, on the eastern side of the Akko Plain, south-east of Akko itself [Briend 1972; Lemaire 1991:140-141; Lipinski 1991:158-159].

Considerations of size favour the latter identification: whilst Tell Harbaj is a small mound (3-4 ha), Tell Keisan is an impressive and larger site (c. 6 ha) which clearly dominates the surrounding area. Moreover, excavations conducted at Tell Keisan [Humbert 1993] indicate its settlement in both the second and first millennia BCE, fitting textual indications extremely well.

Petrographic analysis of EA 223 [Goren et alii 2003:231-232] - labelled as coming from Akšapa - determines that its clay almost certainly originated at Tell Keisan in preference to any other nearby site candidate (such as Tell Harbaj). This result, together with the significantly larger size of the mound at Tel Keisan, strongly supports the identification of the important Canaanite city-state at this location.

41 Kbʿ Smn

Kbʿ Smn |

Geba-Shumen

Identification: Kbʿ Smn is identified with Khirbet el-Harathiya*, near Tell el-Amr.

42 Tʿnk

Tʿnk

Taʿanakh

Correspondences: תענך, Taḫ[nuk]a^EA

Identification: Tʿnk is securely identified with Taʿanakh / Tell Taʿanak, south-east of Megiddo.

43 Ybrʿm

A, B, C

Ibleam

יבלעם

Identified with Tell Shirbet Belame.

44 Knt Jsn

Gintiashna

גת אשן, Gintiašna^EA

Situated near Jenin.

45 Rtmrk

Latimilk

Alamelekh*

46 ʿyn

ʿyn |

"a spring"

47 ʿk3 (ʿ3k)

ʿk3 (ʿ3k) |

Akko / Acre

Correspondences: Akka^EA, Acre

Identification: ʿk is securely identified with Tel Akko / Tell el-Fukhkhar, the ancient city mound adjacent to medieval and modern Akko.

48 Rš Qdš

Rš Qdš

Rosh Qedesh / "holy mountain"

Identification: Rš Qdš is plausibly identified with the Mount Carmel range and headland.

49 Krymn

Krymn

Kermin

50 br

br |

"a well (?)"

51 Šmš Jtm

Šmš Jtm

Shamash Edom

Identification: Šmš Jtm to be identified with Qarne Hattin (?)

52 Jnḫrtw

Jnḫrtw

Anaharath

Identification: Jnḫrtw is identified with Tell el-Mukharkhash.

53 ʿpr wr

ʿpr wr | ʿpl wr

"Great Aful"

54 ʿpr-šr

ʿpr-šr | ʿpr-šl

"Little Aful"

55 Ḫsb

Ḫsb(w) | Ḫá-šá-bu

Khashabu

Correspondences: חשב, Ḥašabu^EA

Identification: Ḫsb is identified with Tell Ḥashbe in the northern part of the southern Beqaʿ Valley, some 16 km WSW of Baalbek (contra Badawi, ASAE 42, 15 who equates the toponym with Ḥasbeja near Hermon).

Discussion: Ḫsb / Ḥašabu was subsequently visited by Thutmose III's son and successor Amenhotep II, according to his Year 7 Inscription, after Amenhotep's acceptance of the surrender of Qadesh and a large scale hunt in Labʾu [Edel 1953:146-156; Helck 1971:157-160].

56 Tsrt

Tsrt / Tslt |

Tushulti

Correspondences: תשלת, Tušulti^EA

Identification: located in the vicinity of Ḥašabu in the northern part of the southern Beqaʿ Valley.

57 Ngb

Ngb(w)

the Negev

Correspondences: נגב, Negev

Identification: Refers presumably to the Negev desert, or to settlement(s) within that region.

58 Jššḫn

Jššḫn

Ashani

Identification: Khirbet Seikhan*

59 Rnm

Rnm

Ranama (?)

Identification: Rnm remains currently unidentified.

60 Yrḏ

Yrḏ

Yurza

Correspondences: ירז, Yurza^EA

Identification: Yrḏ is generally identified with the site of Tell Jemmeh.

61 Mjḫs

Mjḫs

Mukhkhazzi

Correspondences: מחז, Muḫḫazzi^EA

Identification: Mjḫs has been identified with Tell es-Sultan, some 14 km north-west of Yurza [Alt, PJB 21, 16]. cf. Muḫḫazzi in EA 298:25.

62 Ypw

Ypw

Yafo / Joppa

Correspondences: יפו, Yapu^EA, Yāfā يَافَا , Jaffa

Identification: Ypw is securely identified with the site of Tel Yafo / Yāfā يَافَا / Joppa on the Coastal Plain.

63 Knt / Knṯ

Knt / Knṯ

Gath

Correspondences: גת, Ginti^EA

Identification: Knt is securely identified with Tel Gath / Tell eṣ-Ṣafi in the Shephelah region of the southern Levant.

64 Rṯn

Rṯn

Lod

Correspondences: לדן, Lod, Lydda, לוֹד Lod, اَلْلُدّْ‎ al-Ludd

65 Jnjw

Jnjw | ʾu-nù

Ono

Correspondences: אנו

Identification: Jnjw is identified with Kafr ʿAna, 9 km NNW of Lod.

66 Jpqn

Jpqn | ʾá-pu-q(a)-n

Aphek

Correspondences: אפק, Apqu^Esarhaddon

Identification: Jpqn is identified with Tel Aphek / Tell Ras el-ʿAin.

67 S(w)k / Sk

S(w)k / Sk | śú-kú

Socoh

Correspondences: שוכ

Identification: S(w)k / Sk is identified with Khirbet Shuweke er-Ras, some 28 km NNE of Aphek [Alt, Altestamentliche Studien 4].

68 Yḥm

Yḥm

Yehem

Correspondences: יהם

Identification: Yḥm is identified with Khirbet Yemma, 4 km north of Socho [Alt, PJB 25, 34].

69 Ḫbḏn

Ḫbḏn | Ḫá-bí-sá-na

Khabisina

Identification: Ḫbḏn remains currently unidentified.

70 Knt / Knṯ

Knṯ | Kin-tu

Ginti

Correspondences: גת, Ginti-Kirmil^EA

Identification: This particular Knṯ is best identified with Ginti-Kirmil at the site of Jett at the eastern of the Sharon Plain, some 4 km north of Khirbet Yemma.

(Tell el-Jerisheh, Gath-Rimon? = other suggestions)

71 Mktr / Mktl

Mktr / Mktl | ma-k-tá-la

Migdol

Correspondences: מגדל

Identification: el-Medschdel, 5 km WNW of Jett [Helck 1971:121], Tell ed-Durur [Aharoni, IEJ 9, 110]

72 Jpṯn

Jpṯn | ʾá-p-ṯ-n

Jpṯn

Correspondences: ... , Apsuya (Hittite texts)

Identification: Jpṯn is probably to be identified with Tell Qaṭṭineh (NE of Qadesh).

73 Šbtn

Šbtn | Šá-b-tu-na

Shabtuna

Šabtuna^EA

Identification: Tell Maʿyan (SW of Qadesh)

the last identification removes the equation with the EA toponym, *Ribla

74 Tyj

unknown (apparently not the ^URUTa-ia-e in the kingdom of Alalakh)

75 Nwn

Nawan / Naun

Possibly to be identified with Nawa (near Tell Mishrifeh - Qatna)

76 Ḥd<j>t

...

perhaps Ḥadat (E of Qalʿat el-Ḥoṣn)

77 hr

Hr, Ha-ra

"mountain(s)" ?

Identification: Uncertain identification of mountain(s) in question. cf. Hoch, Semitic Words in Egyptian Texts, §294.

78 Yšp-jr

Yasupilu

unknown

79 Rgḏ

Rgḏ |

Rukhizzi

Correspondences: Ruḫizzi^EA

Identification: Situated in the Beqa Valley

80 Krr

Galulu*?

perhaps Ğalulatain near Baʿalbek (almost certainly not the Galilee)

81 Hrmr / Hrml

Hrmr / Hrml | ha-r-m-ʾl

Hermel

Identified with el-Hermel (c. 20 km SW of Qadesh - Tell Nebi Mend)

82 Rbjw

Rbjw / Lbjw | la-bí-ʾu

Labʾu

Identification: Rbjw / Lbjw is identified with Tell Qaṣr Lebweh, a site near the modern village of Lebwe, south of modern el-Hermel. Labʾu was apparently a small border town encountered by travellers entering the region of Taḫsi, located near the source of the Orontes River in a forested area. The importance of the site lay in its strategic location, marking the effective frontier between the empires of Egypt and Mittani / Hatti, as well as the transition between the city-states of the southern Beqaʿ Valley and the territory of the kingdom of Qadesh [cf. summary of the relevant scholarly discussions in Naʾaman 1999:419-421].

83 Nmjn

Nmjn | nu-ma-ʾ-na

Nmjn

Identification: Nmjn is currently unidentified.

84 Nʿmn

Nʿmn | n(a)-ʿa-ma-na

Nʿmn

Identification: Nʿmn is identified by some with Naʿim, a mound NW of Qadesh.

85 Mrmjm

Mrmjm | ma-ra-m-aim

Maryamim

Identification: "heights" [Helck 1971:132].

86 ʿny

ʿny

"a spring"

Identification: ʿny currently remains unidentified with a particular source of water.

87 Rḥb

Rḥb

Rehob

88 Jqr

A, (B), C

Aqar ?

Iqrit?*

89 Ḥykrym

A

(B), C

...

Hukkarina^Assyria

(south of Damascus, north of the Yarmuk, at Leja?)

90 jbr

jbr

"stream" (ʾAbil)

Identification: jbr is Identified by several scholars with the Yarmuk River, as part of an itinerary southwards through the Transjordanian regions [Redford 1982].

91 Jtrʿ

Jtrʿ |

ʾEdreʿi

Identification: on the southern side of the Yarmuk River

92 Jbr

Jbr / Jbl

"stream" (ʾAbil)

Identification: Identified with the Nahr ez-Zerqa.

93 Knṯjt

Knṯjt

? Gittoth "wine presses" (?)

Identification: Identification with a specific location remains uncertain.

94 mqrpt

Mqrpt

"fertile depression (?)"

Identification: Identification with a specific location remains uncertain.

95 ʿyn

B (A, C absent)

ʾAin (Musa)

96 Krmn

A, (A)

(Abil)-Karamin (near Na'ur)

97 btj

C

A (+shading)

...

?

98 Tpn

Tpn |

Dibon

99 Jbr

Jbr | Jbl (ʾAbil)

"stream" (ʾAbil)

Identification: Identified by some with the Wadi Mujib, south of Dibon.

100 Yrt

Yrt |

Yarut

101 Ḥrkr

Ḥrkr | (?)

Kerak (?)

102 Yʿqbjr

Yʿqbjr

Yaqubilu / "Jacob-El" (?)

Correspondences: יעקבאל

103 Qpt

Qpt | (?)

Gebath / Gibbethon (?)

Correspondences: גבת

Identification: Tell Mallat* ?

104 Qḏr

Gezer

Correspondences: גזר, Gazri^EA

Identification: Qḏr is securely identified with Tel Gezer in the Shephelah region of the southern Levant.

105 Rbt

Rbt |

Rubute

Correspondences: רבת, Rubute^EA

106 Mqrt

Mqrt | ma-q-ra-tu

Maqarat (?)

Identification: Mqrt remains unidentified - Hoch §228 = "cave" (?)

107 ʿmq

ʿmq

"a valley, the Valley"

Correspondences: עמק

Identification: Given near juxtaposition with Beth Shean, this toponym is perhaps to be interpreted as the Beth Shean Valley (a component of the central Jordan Valley) and / or as the chief city and city-state of the region, namely Rehov (?)

108 Srt

Srt

Sirut (?)

Identification: Srt is currently unidentified.

109 Bjrt

Bjrt

"wells"

Identification: There exists a possibility of identifying Bjrt with the Sachne Springs (?) Br = "Zisterne, Brunnen" **

110 Bt Šjr

Bt Šj(n)

Beth Shean

Correspondences: בית־שאן, Bit Šani^EA

Identification: Bt Šjr is securely identified with Tel Beth Shean תל בית־שאן / Tell el-Ḥuṣn in the Beth Shean Valley.

111 bt bnt / bt jnt

112 Ḫrqt

Ḫrqt

Helkath

Correspondences: חלקת

Identification: Ḫrqt is identified with Tell Harbatsch* or Tell el-Qassis*.

113 ʿn Qnʿm

ʿn Qnʿm |

Yokneam

Identification: Identified with Tel Yoqneʿam / Tell Qeimun.

114 Qba

Geba

גבע

Identified with Tell Abu Shusha

(A, C)

(B)

115 Ḏrr

A

B, C

?

Identified with Tell Abu Sureq*

116 Ḏft

Ḏft

Zephath

Correspondences: צפת

Identification: Ḏft has been altrnatively identified with Tell Abu Schusche* (4 km NW Megiddo) or Khirbet Sitt Laila* (23 km N Jimma).

117 Brqn

B-ur-q-na

Burqana

Correspondences: Burquna^EA

Identification: Brqn is normally identified with Khirbet Burqin* in the upper Dothan Valley, some 4 km SW of Jenin [cf. Noth, ZDPV 61, 61]

Discussion: This small but strategic town was conquered in the reign of Amenhotep III by Labʾayu, ruler of Šakmu-Shechem, as part of his expansion northwards into the Dothan and Jezreel Valleys.

118 Ḥm

hu-ma

Ham

Identification: Ḥm remains currently unidentified with any site.

119 Jktms

ʾá-k-tá-maś

Aktamas

Identification: The toponym Jktms remains currently unidentified.