Meshwesh

The Meshwesh were a group of ancient Libyans, likely of Berber origin, who inhabited the area west of ancient Egypt. They are primarily known from Egyptian texts and depictions from the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, particularly during the 13th to 12th centuries BCE.

Their presence is recorded from at least the reign of Merneptah (c. 1213-1203 BCE), who defeated a Meshwesh-led coalition that invaded the Western Nile Delta. The inscription on the Merneptah Stele (also known as the Israel Stele) describes the Meshwesh and their allies as a threat to Egyptian security.

Later, during the 22nd Dynasty (c. 943-728 BCE), founded by Shoshenq I, a significant number of Meshwesh served in the Egyptian army and rose to prominence within the military and administration. Shoshenq himself is believed to have been of Meshwesh descent, or at least from a family with strong ties to the Meshwesh. This period saw the establishment of a "Meshwesh principality" within Egypt, demonstrating their substantial influence.

The exact location and extent of the Meshwesh territory is debated by scholars, but it is generally believed to have been located in the western part of Lower Egypt and extending westward into Cyrenaica (modern-day eastern Libya).

The Meshwesh are important in understanding the dynamics of ancient North Africa and the interactions between Egypt and its western neighbors. Their integration into Egyptian society and their eventual rise to power within the Egyptian government highlight the complex cultural and political landscape of the time.