Latest / Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History / Ramses the Great's Horses: Companions in War and Peace
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Ramses's chariots, his army, his battles. But one thing we haven't really touched on is the horses themselves — the animals that actually pulled those chariots and carried pharaoh into war. Luna: I never really thought about that. What kind of horses did they have in ancient Egypt? Lucas: Great question. The horses of the New Kingdom weren't the massive draft horses you'd see in medieval Europe. They were smaller, more like modern Arabians — probably around 14 to 15 hands high, lean and built for speed and endurance. They were a distinct breed, often called 'Kemet' horses in the texts. Lucas: And they were incredibly valuable. A good warhorse could cost as much as a small estate. Ramses's stables were legendary — at his capital Per-Ramesses, he had vast complexes dedicated to horse breeding and training. Luna: Did they have names? Like, did Ramses have favorite horses? Lucas: Absolutely. We actually know the names of several of Ramses's personal chariot horses from inscriptions. One was called 'Victory in Thebes' — in Egyptian, something like 'Nakht-in-Waset.' Another was 'Mut is Content,' named after the goddess Mut. There's also one called 'Qedesh,' which might refer to the Syrian goddess of that name, or the city of Qadesh. Lucas: These horses were so important that they appear in royal reliefs, often shown trampling enemies alongside the pharaoh. In the Kadesh inscriptions, Ramses boasts that his horses stood firm even when he was surrounded — they didn't panic. Luna: That must have taken incredible training. How did they train horses for battle? Lucas: Training was rigorous. Horses were introduced to the chaos of battle gradually — loud noises, dust, the clash of weapons. They were paired in teams of two for the chariot, and they had to be perfectly synchronized. The Egyptians used a bit and bridle system similar to what we see later in Mesopotamia, and they had charioteers who were specialists — not just soldiers, but skilled drivers who could handle the reins while the archer shot. Lucas: And the horses themselves were often imported. Egypt didn't have native wild horses — they were introduced by the Hyksos during the Second Intermediate Period, around 1700 BCE. By Ramses's time, Egypt was breeding its own stock, but they still imported superior animals from places like Syria and Mitanni. Luna: So the Hyksos brought horses to Egypt? That's interesting — they're usually seen as invaders, but they left a lasting legacy. Lucas: Exactly. The Hyksos introduced the chariot and the horse to Egypt, and within a few generations, the Egyptians had turned it into a devastating military tool. Ramses's stables were a direct result of that earlier innovation. Lucas: You know, speaking of things that were transformative, I think today's episode might have given you a new appreciation for these animals. If you found this useful, just a heads up — the way we keep this show ad-free is through listener support. You can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a small way to help us keep digging into these stories. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. And it's nice to know that what we do here is valued. Lucas: Now, back to those Kemet horses. One of the most fascinating sources we have about Ramses's horses comes from the so-called 'Horse Burial' at the Ramesseum. Archaeologists found the skeletons of several horses near the temple, possibly buried with honor. Luna: Were they sacrificed to accompany him in the afterlife? Lucas: It's possible. Horses were often associated with the sun god Ra — they pulled his celestial chariot across the sky. So burying a horse with a pharaoh could have had deep religious meaning. But there's also evidence that some horses were simply beloved companions. Ramses's son Khaemwaset, who was a high priest, was known to be particularly fond of horses — he had a stable near Saqqara. Lucas: And beyond war, horses were used for hunting and ceremonial processions. Ramses is shown on horseback in some reliefs — riding, not just driving a chariot — which was rare for a pharaoh. It shows he was an accomplished horseman. Luna: Did they have any special care for these animals? Like, farriers or veterinarians? Lucas: Yes, they did. We have records of 'overseers of horses' and 'doctors of horses' in Egyptian texts. They treated injuries, managed lameness, and even had remedies for common ailments. The Kikkuli text, which is a Hittite manual on horse training from around 1400 BCE, shows that chariot horses were put through a rigorous conditioning program — and the Hittites and Egyptians shared knowledge. Lucas: One particular story from Ramses's Battle of Kadesh is worth retelling. According to the poem of Pentaur, when Ramses was surrounded by Hittite chariots, he prayed to Amun-Re, and then charged into the enemy lines. His horses, named 'Victory in Thebes' and 'Mut is Content,' didn't falter. He later had a stela erected at Abu Simbel praising them. Luna: So they were practically heroes in their own right. Lucas: Exactly. Horses were status symbols, military assets, and beloved partners. The bond between a pharaoh and his horses was a measure of his power — both earthly and divine. After all, if you couldn't control a horse, how could you control a kingdom? Luna: That's a great way to put it. Thanks, Lucas.