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War Scenes of Sety I

Sety I with Hittite prisoners

During the 1970s and 1980s, the University of Chicago's Epigraphic Survey made the definitive record of the war scenes of Sety I that grace the north exterior wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.

Their facsimile publication of these battle scenes with detailed translations and commentary is available from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago's website as a PDF document:

Epigraphic Survey, Reliefs and Inscriptions at Karnak, Volume 4: The Battle Reliefs of King Sety I, Oriental Institute Publications 107, (Chicago: The Oriental Institute, 1985).

PDF Here

The major editor of this work, the late Dr. William J. Murnane, published a study of the numerous historical issues raised by these war scenes which is also available as a PDF from the Oriental Institute:

William J. Murnane, The Road to Kadesh: A Historical Interpretation of the Battle Reliefs of King Sety I, 2nd edition revised, SAOC 42, (Chicago: The Oriental Institute, 1990)

PDF Here

For a brief overview of the war scenes see here.

Image Gallery

Plan of the east wing of Sety I's war scenes at Karnak

 

Plan of the west wing of Sety I's war scenes at Karnak