Sharuhen (Tell el-Ajjul)
Tell el-Ajjul · Sharuhen Hyksos Fort
Middle Bronze to Egyptian New Kingdom (2000–1150 BCE)·Hyksos / Egyptian·🇵🇸 Gaza Strip, Tell el-Ajjul mouth of Besi River (ancient Egypt frontier), Palestine
About
About Sharuhen (Tell el-Ajjul)
Hyksos stronghold Sharuhen at Tell el-Ajjul (Petrie's ancient Gaza), 10 m high tell with Hyksos rampart 15 m thick, Middle Bronze palaces and gold hoards. Ahmose besieged 3 years (1550 BCE). Later Egyptian base for Shasu campaigns. Considered African-Egyptian frontier node.
Why it mattersKey Hyksos fortress for Second Intermediate Period warfare.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Gold hoard's workshop
- 02Siege duration 3 years vs stratigraphy
Theories
- 01Ahmose siege narrative inflated (Bietak)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Hyksos rampart 1650 BCE; Egyptian base 1550 BCE
- Period
- Middle Bronze to Egyptian New Kingdom (2000–1150 BCE)
- Culture
- Hyksos / Egyptian
- Purpose
- Hyksos desert gateway and Egyptian Levantine base
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1650 BCE
Hyksos glacis rampart 15 m built
1550 BCE
Ahmose 3-year siege
1479 BCE
Thutmose III base for Megiddo campaign
1930
Petrie excavations gold hoard
On the ground
Structures & features
31.4700° N · 34.4000° E · 15 m · 2 mapped features
Hyksos Glacis Rampart
rampartRampart 15 m thick around tell with sand glacis
31.4710° N · 34.4010° EPalace of Tell el-Ajjul
palaceMiddle Bronze palace 30×20 m with gold hoard room
31.4690° N · 34.3990° E