The Battle of Kadesh: A Debate between the Egyptian and Hittite Perspectives

The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Lecture Series organized by the University of Chicago brings notable scholars from around the country and abroad as they present on new breakthroughs, unique perspectives, and innovative research applications related to the Ancient Middle East.

The Battle of Kadesh, ca. 1285 BC, is the earliest military encounter that can be analyzed in detail. This conflict between the Egyptian forces of Ramses II and the Hittite army of Muwatalli was celebrated as a personal victory by Ramses, but is often treated by modern scholars as an Egyptian defeat or as a stalemate. In any case, the battle had profound impact on international politics of the age, with unexpected results. Join us for a lively debate presented from the two sides of the ancient conflict, provided by noted Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures scholars Robert Ritner, The Rowe Professor of Egyptology, for the Egyptian side, and Theo van den Hout, Arthur and Joann Rasmussen professor of Hittite and Anatolian Languages, for the Hittites.

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