This thesis treats the identification between the Teucrians and the Ṯ-k-(k)-r, one of the so-called Sea Peoples. The hypothesis that the Teucrians and the Ṯ-k-(k)-r would be one and the same was proposed by the Egyptologist Lauth in 1867 and has since become the standard identification for this Sea People. The hypothesis is to-day up-hold by almost all scholars, regarding of discipline, devoted to the research of the Sea Peoples. The author has limited himself to the geographical links between these two peoples. Regarding the Teucrians, the ancient authors suggested three different areas of origin, Crete, Attica, and the Troad. Besides this, the Cypriot Salamis as well as the Cilician Olba have also been linked to this people. By studying the ancient texts relating to these five geographical areas and their respective connections to the Teucrians, the author has set out to test the historicity of the geographical connections. He has gone through the ancient texts and tried to find out the sources for their statements, the background and origin of these connections and their historical value. This has then been compared to the primary sources regarding the Ṯ-k-(k)-r, all of which originate from Egypt and the 20th Dynasty. The results of this survey is that none of the ancient accounts can be verified, with certainty, with information received from sources contemporary with the Sea Peoples. Furthermore, it is also impossible to prove that the Teucrians were an historical people and thusly their identification with the Ṯ-k-(k)-r is very problematic. Of the geographical areas, it is only Cyprus that with certainty can be linked to the Sea Peoples, but probably not with the Ṯ-k-(k)-r but with the D-n-n.

This thesis discusses a small, red granite, Egyptian royal portrait head in the collection of the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. The head is determined to be a fragment from a group depicting the king in front of the monumental figure of a divine animal, probably a ram or baboon. Scholars have attributed the head to the reigns of various New Kingdom pharaohs, including Horemheb and Seti I, but on more careful examination its style demonstrates that it dates to the reign of Ramesses II (1304-1237 B.C.).

The Battle of Kadesh fought between the Hittites and Egyptians in Syria is one of the biggest chariot battles in ancient Near Eastern history. Previous research has shown that the significance of the Battle of Kadesh is derived predominately from a tactical and strategic level. This dissertation introduces the idea that although this is a tactical battle, its overall importance comes from applying a holistic approach, in particular, investigating the causes and consequences, alongside the battle. By extending prior work on tactics and strategy to include an identified cause, the Zannanza Affair, and the consequences, the Treaty of Kadesh and the Royal Marriages it makes allowances for a wider evaluation of the battle. Attention is paid to textual, iconographical and archaeological sources to gain a better understanding of the battle. The findings provide support for the argument that the murder of the Hittite prince in the Zannanza Affair led to crucial military innovations and operational changes adopted by the Hittites and Egyptians, which impacted how they fought on the battlefield. While a considerable amount of research has been done on the Hittite and Egyptian military organisations, the role of the elite units on the battlefield has largely not been explored. The Treaty of Kadesh and the Royal Marriages were a critical turning point in Hittite-Egyptian relations offering a strong alliance and unprecedented peace in the ancient Near East. Traditionally, the Battle of Kadesh has been viewed as a tactical battle. However, for further advances, the contribution of this study prompts a rethinking of the latter by placing the operational details of the battle in a broader context encouraging new research on the social, cultural and political aspects, which is crucial for the understanding of the importance of the Battle of Kadesh, on and off the battlefield. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M. A. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)