Battle of Kadesh

In ancient Egyptian historical writings, the technique of "projection" was used to relate historical events to mythological ones, or vice versa. This connection between events in the material world and the primordial time held significant importance in ancient Egypt. The Battle of Kadesh serves as an example where ancient Egyptians projected mythological events onto historical ones.

During the reign of Ramses II, the Battle of Kadesh occurred in the Middle East region against the Hittites. The events of the battle were recorded by Egyptian artists on the walls of temples such as the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, the Temple of Luxor, and the Ramessuem. The idea of recording the battle on temple walls signifies that it wasn't just a historical event to the ancient Egyptians but had a connection to the spiritual realm since temples in ancient Egypt were considered houses of the gods.

There are enough archaeological evidences to prove the occurrence of this battle, but at the same time, there is a risk of misunderstanding the symbols related to its recording if one only sees the Battle of Kadesh as a historical event and overlooks its connection to mythology and the events of the creation of the universe.

In ancient Egypt, the actions of the king weren't limited to the material world; they also addressed both the material and spiritual realms simultaneously. Therefore, historical events were also seen as mythological events by the ancient Egyptians.

Historical sources recorded on temple walls describe how Ramses II led his army to Kadesh, encountered two Bedouin men who provided false information about the Hittite army's location, and how Ramses II, finding himself alone, faced the enemy in the darkness of night. The texts then describe Ramses II's victory over the enemy, which coincided with the sunrise, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.

It's remarkable that the texts mention the battle starting at sunset and ending at sunrise, as battles rarely occurred at night. However, this symbol reminds us of the texts from the "Book of Gates" and the "Book of Amduat," which depict Ra's journey through the underworld, beginning at sunset and ending at sunrise, symbolizing the renewal of life.

We cannot overlook the subtle connection between the events of the Battle of Kadesh and Ra's journey in the underworld. The ancient Egyptians used historical events as a means to recount mythological events. The primary role of the king was to connect the material world with the spiritual world and perform rituals that would facilitate this connection.

Therefore, what Ramses II did during the night of the battle can indeed be seen as "rituals" that allowed the material world to connect with the spiritual world, and these rituals were more significant to the ancient Egyptians than the historical events of the battle itself.