A New Stela of Ramesses II in Jordan in the Context of Egyptian Royal Stelae in the Levant
Open accessAbstract
It was in a mosque in the southern Syrian region of Hauran, where in the late 19 th century an Egyptian royal stela was identified for the first time in Western Asia.GOTTLIEB SCHUMACHER, a prominent member of the German "Templer" community from Haifa, recognized by 1891 in the village of Sheikh Sa‛ad, that an almost 2 m tall standing basalt monolith in the centre of a local shrine, related by tradition to the Qur'anic and Biblical Nabi Ayyūb/Job 2 , was in fact a badly eroded pharaonic monument (Fig. 5; Schumacher 1891; KRI II: 223).The faint traces of relief and hieroglyphs permitted to attribute it safely to Ramesses II, who is depicted vis-à-vis a Canaanite deity.3 Less than 20 km to the south of Sheikh Sa‛ad, the upper half of a second stela, showing Sethos I with Amun-Ra and Mut, was noticed in 1901, built in the wall of a house in the village of Tell esh-Shihab (Fig. 3; Smith 1901: 344-349; Müller 1904; KRI I: 17; Brand 2000: 123-124).Three more monumental stelae, again of Sethos I and Ramesses II, were unearthed in the 1920s at archaeological excavations at Beisan (Beth Shean) in northern Palestine.4 At Tell el-1 I am obliged to the director of the ROYAL JORDANIAN DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, DR.FAWWAZ AL-KHRAYSHEH, for authorizing this presentation of the new discovery.2The so-called saxrat Ayyūb, "the stone of Job".For a description of the village and its various sites cf.Schumacher 1886: 187-198.3 The identity of the deity has been much debated.He is depicted en face with horns protruding from an atefcrown.His composite name has not been satisfactorily explained, but it seems to contain the elements "El" and "Saphon".
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
The paper presents a newly discovered, fragmentary basalt stela of Ramesses II found in 1999 at at-Turra in northern Jordan, built into a mosque wall and cut to 50 x 30 cm. It identifies the monument via its cartouche, tentatively dates it to Ramesses II’s year 8 campaign, and argues its likely original provenance was Tell esh-Shihab, strengthening that site’s identification with Yeno‛am.
Key findings
- The new stela preserves 8 incomplete lines of text, is made of local basalt, was cut on three sides to 50 x 30 cm and turned by 90°, and is built into a wall pillar of Maqām aš-Šayx #alīl at at-Turra; it is described as the first royal Egyptian monument from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
- The royal-name spelling is said to have been used exclusively in Ramesses II’s regnal years 2–20; the paper tentatively attributes the stela to Ramesses II’s year 8 campaign, with lines 6–7 possibly mentioning Egyptian building activity or fortification in a military context.
- The probable original provenance is Tell esh-Shihab, only about 5 km from at-Turra; this would give Tell esh-Shihab two stelae, one of Sethos I and one of Ramesses II, and strengthens its candidacy for the location of Yeno‛am.
- The find is placed along a route marked by at least four royal stelae running through the Hauran northwards to Damascus, with a suggested itinerary descending south of the modern Syrian-Jordanian border toward Pella and Beth Shean.
Methods
- Epigraphic publication: facsimile, transcription, translation, and line-by-line commentary on the at-Turra stela, using parallels from the Digitalisierte Zettelarchiv (DZA) and royal titulary.
- Contextual corpus: a catalog/table of Egyptian royal stelae in the Levant, both Ramesside and non-Ramesside, listing location, date, description, deities, and discovery/collection.
- Historical-geographic analysis: comparison of regnal-year dates and campaign evidence to assess the stela’s date, original provenance, and route connections.
Limitations
- Stated: the stela is incomplete and in a bad state of preservation; the rough basalt surface with natural cavities makes the inscription hard to read, and only 8 incomplete lines survive.
- Stated: the attribution to Ramesses II’s year 8 campaign is tentative; the exact wording of line 6 has no parallel, and the historical allusions could be rhetorical rather than reflecting actual events (in discussion, Prof. Bietak favored a solely rhetorical interpretation, while Dr. Warburton and others favored the historical option).
- Stated/evident: original provenance is uncertain—Tell esh-Shihab is a strong possibility, but at-Turra itself could have been the original site; the date is not preserved and is only approximated from the spelling of the royal name.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 7 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingown data
The latest discoveries in al-Kiswa and at-Turra line up along a route marked by at least four royal stelae, running through the Hauran northwards to Damascus.
“A look at the map (Fig. 4) reveals how the latest discoveries in al-Kiswa and at -T urra line up along a route, marked by at least four royal stelae, running through the Hauran northwards to Damascus.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The at-Turra stela can be safely identified as a monument of Ramesses II.
“Luckily the line preserves enough of the royal name for a safe identification.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingnone given
The at-Turra stela is the first royal Egyptian monument from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
“Being the first royal Egyptian monument from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, it is a very major discovery for that country, at least.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The new stela outlines an itinerary from the Jordan Valley up to the Hauran and northwards to Damascus.
“It further outlines an itinerary from the Jordan Valley up to the Hauran and northwards to Damascus”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The at-Turra stela can tentatively be attributed to Ramesses II's campaign in his year 8.
“To sum up: although the stela is incomplete and in a bad state of preservation, it can tentatively be attributed to Ramesses' II campaign in his year 8.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- Premisecitation
In year 8 Ramesses II conducted an extensive campaign through Galilee and southern Syria.
“in year 8 in an extensive campaign through Galilee and southern Syria (KRI II: 148-149).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites KRI II: 148-149
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationreasoning
If the allusions to fighting in the at-Turra stela are taken at face value, the stela can most probably be related to the year 8 campaign.
“If we chose to take the allusions at fighting in the at -T urra stela at face value 16 , then it can most probably be related to that last mentioned event.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The topographic list at the Ramesseum records the captured towns of the year 8 campaign.
- Premisereasoning
The Beth Shean stela of Ramesses II (year 18) contains no military indications beyond the usual rhetorical formulae.
“The Beth Shean stela (year 18), in marked contrast to the two stelae of Sethos I, which report intense military activities, contains no such indications beyond the usual rhetorical formulae.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premiseown data
The al-Kiswa stela has the year date 56.
“The stela from al-Kiswa has the unexpected high year date 56.14”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The al-Kiswa stela cannot refer to any military campaign, because all campaigns are recorded before the peace treaty with the Hittite Empire from year 21.
“That monument cannot possibly refer to any military campaign, all of which are recorded before the peace treaty with the Hittite Empire from year 21.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
The main Late Bronze Age route connection inland from Egypt crossed Edom and Moab along the 'Kings' highway', then descended towards the northeastern region of the Dead Sea to link up with the Jordan Valley.
“The main Late Bronze Age route connection inland from Egypt, coming from the Red Sea, crossed Edom and Moab along the “Kings' highway”, and then descended towards the northeastern region of the Dead Sea to link up with the Jordan Valley.21”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Wimmer 2000
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Strobel/Wimmer 2003
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationreasoning
The wording in line 7 of the at-Turra stela could indicate actual fighting.
“This could indicate actual fighting.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The probable original provenance of the at-Turra stela at Tell esh-Shihab strengthens Tell esh-Shihab as a candidate for the location of Yeno‛am.
“its probable original provenance, Tell esh-Shihab, gains more weight as a candidate for the location of Yeno‛am.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisereasoning
There is no safe evidence for any Egyptian campaigns after year 10.
“In fact, there is no safe evidence for any campaigns after year 10.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisenone given
The campaign of year 10 was directed along the Lebanese coast.
“The campaign of year 10 was directed along the Lebanese coast, as had also been the case in year 4, when Ramesses was underway to the Qadesh battle of year 5.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The at-Turra stela seems to mention Egyptian building activity at the site in a military context.
“It seems to mention Egyptian building activity at the site in military context”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
In year 7 Ramesses II was engaged in the region east of the Dead Sea.
“In year 7 he was engaged in the region east of the Dead Sea (KRI II: 179-183; Darnell and Jasnow 1993)”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites KRI II: 179-183
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Darnell and Jasnow 1993 source
- Interpretationreasoning
The allusions in lines 6 and 7 of the at-Turra stela, taken in combination, more likely reflect actual events than usual praise.
“The allusions in lines 6 and 7, positioned toward the end of the inscription, and taken in combination, would seem to opt more in favour of a reflection of actual events.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 5
- May combine two claims. 6
- The quote only partly states this claim. 2
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingown dataThe inscription is not easily readable due to the very rough surface of the local basalt, which has numerous natural cavities.
“Due to the very rough surface of the local basalt, which is spotted by numerous smaller and larger natural cavities, the inscription is not easily readable.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe new stela is placed in a mosque, Maqām aš-Šayx #alīl, built in a wall pillar close to the ground, not centred prominently as a venerated monument.
“Like the “Stone of Job”, the new stela is placed in a mosque, Maqām aš-Šayx #alīl (Fig. 7).It is, however, not centred prominently as a venerated monument, but built in a wall pillar, close to the ground (Fig. 6).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingnone givenThe ductus has thin and tall, very slightly cursive hieroglyphs.
“The ductus has thin and tall, very slightly cursive hieroglyphs.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
FindingreasoningTo fit into the pillar, the stela was cut on three sides to 50 x 30 cm and turned by 90°.
“To fit into the pillar it was cut on three sides to 50 x 30 cm, and turned by 90°.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingown dataThe site at-Turra is about 5 km southeast of Tell esh-Shihab.
“The site is actually only about 5 km southeast of Tell esh-Shihab (Fig. 3).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.
Findingnone givenA new Egyptian royal stela was discovered in 1999 at at-Turra in northern Jordan during a survey by the Jordanian Department of Antiquities.
“Jordanian town of at -T urra, during a survey by the JORDANIAN DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingown dataThe stela contains 8 incomplete lines of text.
“It contains 8 incomplete lines of text.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimThe quote only partly states this claim.
InterpretationreasoningThe new discovery strengthens the archaeological importance of the region of northern Jordan and southern Syria, especially for the Late Bronze Age.
“it strengthens the archaeological importance of the region.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The region east of the Sea of Galilee and the upper Jordan was an important and central part of the Egyptian province of Canaan.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe Beth Shean stela was erected at a time of peace, when Egyptian control over Canaan had been firmly established.
“That seems to infer that the monument was, like the al-Kiswa stela, erected already at times of peace, when Egyptian control over Canaan had been firmly established.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe probable original provenance of the at-Turra stela is Tell esh-Shihab, from where it was transported to at-Turra, probably when the Maqam of Sheikh Khalil was built.
“it remains a strong possibility that Tell esh-Shihab is in fact the place of origin of the piece, which was at some stage transported to the near location of at -T urra, probably when the Maqam of Sheikh Khalil was built and in order to promote the significance of the structure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationNa'aman suggested locating Yeno‛am at Tell esh-Shihab.
“NADAV NA'AMAN suggested to locate there the long searched-for Yeno‛am, one of the most frequently mentioned Canaanite cities in New Kingdom sources.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Na'aman 1977
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationThe spelling of the royal name element was used exclusively in Ramesses II's regnal years 2-20, giving an approximate date for the at-Turra stela.
“The element was used exclusively in Ramesses' regnal years 2-20 (cf.Loffet 1999: 4 with further lit.).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Loffet 1999
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
The paper relies on this without support.
The topographic list at the Ramesseum records the captured towns of the year 8 campaign.
“The topographic list recording the captured towns of that campaign, at the pylon of the Ramesseum, is only partly preserved.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The region east of the Sea of Galilee and the upper Jordan was an important and central part of the Egyptian province of Canaan.
“The region east of the Sea of Galilee and the upper Jordan was an important and central part of the Egyptian province of Canaan.”
Cites
Canaanite toponyms in ancient Egyptian documents
Ahituv, S. (1984) · doi:10.1163/9789004670884 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Reallexikon der ägyptischen Religionsgeschichte
Bonnet, H. (2000) · De Gruyter eBooks · doi:10.1515/9783110827903 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Brand, P. (2000) · BRILL eBooks · doi:10.1163/9789004495661 · Cited by 44
The Egyptian Monument of Tell Esh-Shihâb
Müller, W. M. (1904) · Palestine Exploration Quarterly · doi:10.1179/peq.1904.36.1.78 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
The Excavation of Armageddon. By Clarence S. Fisher.
Dougherty, R. P. (1930) · American Journal of Archaeology · doi:10.2307/498551 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Across the Jordan: Being an Exploration and Survey of Part of Hauran and Jaulan
Schumacher, G. (2009) · Cited by 12 · see citing works
On the Moabite Inscriptions of Ramesses II at Luxor Temple
Darnell, J. C., & Jasnow, R. (1993) · Journal of Near Eastern Studies · doi:10.1086/373634 · Cited by 10
Notes et études d’Archéologie orientale
Ronzevalle, S. (1909) · Mélanges de la Faculté orientale · doi:10.3406/mefao.1909.920 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Notes on a Stela of Ramesses II from near Damascus
Kitchen, K. A. (1999) · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Notes of a Journey Through Hauran, with Inscriptions found by the Way
Smith, G. A. (1901) · Palestine Exploration Quarterly · doi:10.1179/peq.1901.33.4.340
A Royal Stele of the New Empire from Galilee
Albright, W. F., & Rowe, A. (1928) · The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology · doi:10.1177/030751332801400157
Taraqji, A. F. (1999) · Bulletin de la Société française d'égyptologie · doi:10.3406/bsfe.1999.2016
La Stèle de Ramsès II à Keswé et sa signification historique
Yoyotte, J. (1999) · Bulletin de la Société française d'égyptologie · doi:10.3406/bsfe.1999.2018
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 6
- Albright, W.F. 1926 The Jordan Valley in the Bronze Age. Annual of the American School for Oriental Research 6: 13-74. 1950 Baal-Zephon. Pp. 1-14 in Festschrift Alfred Bertholet, ed. W. Baumgartner, O. Eisfeldt, K. Elliger, L. Rost. Tübingen: Mohr.
- Černý, J. 1959 Stela of Ramesses II from Beisan. Pp. 75*-82* in Eretz Israel V. Mazar Volume. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society.
- Chéhab, M. 1969 Noms de personalités égyptiennes découvertes au Liban. Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth 22: 1-47.
- Giveon, R. 1965 Two Egyptian Documents Concerning Bashan from the Time of Ramses II. Rivista degli Studi Orientali 40: 197-202. http://www.stefan-jakob-wimmer.de/3ICAANE_wimmer.pdf -p. 11 1975 Two Inscriptions of Ramesses II. Israel Exploration Journal 25: 247-249, pl.
- Kitchen, K.A. 1975-1990 Ramesside Inscriptions, I-VIII. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Wimmer, S. 2000 "Zeret-Shahar on the Hill in the Valley" -The Discovery of a New Moabite Site in Jordan. Pp. 1777-1784 in Proceedings of the First International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Rome, May 18 th -23 rd 1998, vol. 2, ed. P. Matthiae, A. Enea, L. Peyronel, F. Pinnock. Roma: La Sapienza. http://www.stefan-jakob-wimmer.de/3ICAANE_wimmer.pdf -p. 13 2008 Von Nubien bis Syrien: zur ramessidischen Stele von Tell eš-Šihâb. Pp. 190- 196 in Altägyptische Weltsichten. Akten des Symposiums zur historischen Topographie und Toponymie Altägyptens vom 12.-14. Mai 2006 in München. Ägypten und Altes Testament 68, ed. F. Adrom, K. and A. Schlüter. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The Eighth Campaign of Thutmose III Revisited
Mizrachy, Y. (2012) · Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections · doi:10.2458/azu_jaei_v04i2_mizrachy · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Bietak, M. (2015) · Quantitative Methods in the Humanities and Social Sciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-04768-3_2 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
On Borders and Expansion: Egyptian Imperialism in the Levant during the Ramesside Period
Xekalaki, G. (2021) · The Heritage · doi:10.3390/heritage4040216 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Une stèle ramesside à Meydaa (région de Damas) et la présence égyptienne en Upé
Lagarce-Othman, B. (2010) · Syria · doi:10.4000/syria.652 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Is the Critical, Academic Study of the Bible Inextricably Bound to the Destinies of Theology?
(2016) · Bloomsbury T&T Clark eBooks · doi:10.5040/9780567663818.ch-022 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Economic Conditions in the Area Around the Sea of Galilee in Pre-Hellenistic Times
Zwickel, W. (2017) · Journal of Landscape Ecology · doi:10.1515/jlecol-2017-0030
- Authors
- Wimmer, S. J.
- Corresponding author
- Wimmer, Stefan Jakob
- ORCID
- Wimmer, Stefan Jakob
- Venue
- Universitätsbibliothek der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Publisher
- Universitätsbibliothek der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Published
- 2002
- OpenAlex
- W1670254058
- Semantic Scholar
- 7ad9317749dcd736061eed76d6513c5520b8f170
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2021: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- nbn-resolving.de
- Locations
- Open access LMU (Ludwid Maxmilian's Universitat Munchen) (submittedVersion)
- Universitätsbibliothek der LMU
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeology and Historical Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient Near East History
- Keywords
- Ramesses II, Levant, Hauran, Beth Shean, Amun-Ra, MutS, Canaanite deities, hieroglyphic inscriptions, occupation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-28.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-28.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
