DBA Armies

During the 12th century BC, Anatolia, Egypt, Canaan and Syria all came under increasing pressure from raids by the “Sea Peoples”, whose initial success encouraged larger scale invasions that looted and destroyed many cities and brought down several states. Their origin is uncertain, but current thinking suggests they combined contingents of many different origins (possibly under a single dominant leader whose prestige attracted participants from far afield); the Sherden from Sardinia, the Lukka from Lykia, the Peleset from Crete (who later became the Philistines), and the Sheklesh from Sicily. The Ekwesh may have been Achaians and the Teresh may have come from northern Syria. The Denyen and Tjekker dressed like Peleset and may have been related while the Weshwesh are currently unclaimed. It was suggested by Drews in 1993 that the success of the Sea People was due to their infantry armed with a long cut and thrust sword, a pair of javelins, a strong but handy shield, helmet and body armour; who could both withstand the mainly light chariots that contemporary armies relied on, destroy their supporting infantry and successfully assault towns. Whether their few chariots were Egyptian in type as depicted in reliefs, or Asiatic types as their crew of 3 suggests, is uncertain. References: Armies of the Ancient Near East N. Stillman & N. Tallis, The End of the Bronze Age R. Drews, The Sea Peoples N.K. Sandars.