18 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Who Are The Sea Peoples?

Who are the Sea Peoples, which are seen as the beginning of the dark age, and where did they come from? Their names are mentioned in historical documents, but often not much is known about who they were even today.

During the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, civilizations in the Near East, Aegean, Anatolia, North Africa, the Caucasus, the Balkans, and the Eastern Mediterranean collapsed and disappeared from the map. So what happened during this period? What caused such an uproar and collapse?

Historians believe that the period was violent and culturally destructive, ending with the disintegration of the Hittite Empire, Mycenaean kingdoms, Kassites, Ugarites, Amorite states, and the Aegean court economy. Despite the downturn, some provinces survived the collapse, such as the New Kingdom of Egypt, Assyria, Phenicia, and Elam.

Historians describe this period as “the worst disaster in ancient history” with various theories such as environmental factors behind the collapse, drought, a general system collapse, technological changes in war, disruption in trade, a volcanic eruption, and the elusive Sea People.

The sea peoples
The Sea Peoples

Almost nothing is known about the Sea People, the only evidence of their existence comes from sparse contemporary sources. This evidence comes from interpretative sources at best and their accuracy is often debated in scientific circles.

It has been suggested that the People of the Sea were a maritime confederation that may have come from Western Asia Minor, the Aegean, the Mediterranean islands of Southern Europe.

The term “Peuples de la mer” (literally meaning “sea peoples”) was first coined by the French Egyptologist Emmanuel de Rougé while reading reliefs in Medinet Habu and became more popular in the late 19th century with a linked theory of migration.

The historical narratives to describe the Sea People originate mainly from seven Ancient Egyptian sources (with some information from Hittite sources) that gave the names of the nine ancient cultures responsible for this period: Denyen, Ekwesh, Lukka, Peleset, Shekelesh, Sherden, Teresh, Tjeker, and Weshesh. (Further suggestions of narratives in other civilizations include Etruscans, Trojans, Philistines, Mycenaeans, and even Minoans).

One such source (Tanis Stele II)  and draws attention to an event the Ramesses II period when the Nile Delta was attacked by Sherden raiders. An inscription on the stele: “The rebel Sherden, who no one knew how to fight, came courageously sailing from the middle of the sea on their warships, none of them could stand them.

A narrative from the reign of Ramses III (2nd Pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty) also records the waves of invasion of the seafaring peoples; The most detailed account is Ramses III, around 1175 as the invaders retreated during the “Battle of Delta”. It is found in the morgue temple of Medinet Habu in Thebes, where Ramses is depicted.

Medinet Habu
Medinet Habu Morgue temple

Medinet Habu is written as follows in the inscription in the morgue temple:

“Now the northern countries on their islands were trembling in their bodies. They entered the channels of the mouths of the Nile. The nostrils have ceased, their desire is to breathe. His Majesty fights against them like a whirlwind, like a runner on the battlefield. His horror and terror penetrated their bodies; (they) capsized and crushed in their places. Their hearts have been taken; their souls flew away. Their weapon is scattered across the sea. ”

It is still a mystery who these people mentioned in the Egyptian documents are and why they came here. Since they were generally named as Sea Peoples in Egyptian documents, they continued to be called by this name in history.

The bright times of Anatolia have entered a dark period with them. They are also known as the beginning of the dark age.

Source: Matthew J. Adams, 2016, “the philistines and other“ sea peoples ”in text and archeology” WF Albright Archaeological Research Institute

Related Articles

The Largest Ancient Floor Mosaic in Cappadocia and Central Anatolia Region Uncovered -600 square meters-

12 November 2023

12 November 2023

The structure with the largest floor mosaic in Cappadocia and Central Anatolia Region was unearthed during the excavations carried out...

Türkiye’s Neolithic Settlement Çayönü Hill Discovered New Tombs from Early Bronze Age

4 September 2023

4 September 2023

Archaeologists have unearthed 5 more tombs dating to the Early Bronze Age during the recent excavations on Çayönü Hill in...

Archaeologists discover Stargazer idol fragment in Turkey’s In the ancient city of Beçin

15 December 2021

15 December 2021

During archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Beçin in the Milas district of southern Turkey’s Muğla, the head of...

A 2,000-year-old Roman sewage system has been discovered in western Turkey

19 September 2021

19 September 2021

The archaeological excavations carried out in the ancient city of Tripolis in the western province of Denizli’s Buldan district have...

8,000-year-old Musical Instrument found in northwest Turkey

4 July 2021

4 July 2021

Archaeologists in northwestern Turkey’s Bilecik on Tuesday discovered a musical instrument that dates back to an estimated 8,000 years. During...

A ‘Talismanic Grave Tablet’ Believed to Protect From Evil Found in Silifke Castle

3 September 2024

3 September 2024

During excavations in the Silifke castle located on lies on a hill in the town with the same name in...

A long-lost branch of the Nile helped in building Egypt’s pyramids – Scientists Say

1 September 2022

1 September 2022

The Giza Pyramids are one of the world’s most iconic cultural landscapes, and they have fascinated humans for thousands of...

Ancient Agora Discovered in Hyllarima: Shops to Be Excavated in the Heart of the City

29 June 2025

29 June 2025

A major archaeological discovery has been made in the ancient city of Hyllarima in southwestern Türkiye—the city’s central agora has...

In the city of Gods and Goddesses Magnesia, Zeus Temple’s entrance gate found

26 September 2021

26 September 2021

During an excavation in the ancient city of Magnesia, located in the Ortaklar district of Germencik in Turkey’s Aegean province...

World’s First Pregnant Ancient Egyptian Mummy has been Discovered

29 April 2021

29 April 2021

Experts from the Polish Academy of Sciences aim to research all mummies in museums as part of the Warsaw Mummy...

1300-year-old baby footprints found in excavations at the ancient city of Assos in western Turkey

3 September 2021

3 September 2021

1300 years ago, a baby stepped on baked bricks prepared to make a bread baking oven. The baby was probably...

Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old eyeshadow and blush in ancient Roman city of Aizanoi

24 September 2023

24 September 2023

Archaeologists discovered rare makeup products of 10 different colors and different sorts of hair accessories and jewelry during excavations at...

1800-year-old statue head found in Ancient Smyrna Theater in western Turkey

30 July 2022

30 July 2022

A statue head dated to the 2nd century AD was unearthed during the excavations at the Ancient Smyrna Theater, located...

A 2,000-year-old whistle was found in a child’s grave in the ruins of Assos, Turkey

18 October 2022

18 October 2022

A terracotta whistle believed to be 2,000 years old from the Roman era and placed as a gift in a...

It is Thought That an Ancient Port will be Reached in Istanbul Metro Excavations

11 April 2021

11 April 2021

New findings were found in the Kabataş excavations, which started a year ago under the presidency of the Istanbul Archeology...