The
Great Karnak Inscription describes the scene when Merneptah receives news of the attack: "... the third season, saying: 'The wretched, fallen chief of Libya, Meryey, son of Ded, has fallen upon the country of
Tehenu with his
bowmen — Sherden, Shekelesh, Ekwesh, Lukka, Teresh. Taking the best of every warrior and every man of war of his country. He has brought his wife and his children — leaders of the camp, and he has reached the western boundary in the fields of Perire. "His majesty was enraged at their report, like a lion," assembled his court and gave a rousing speech. Later, he dreamed he saw
Ptah handing him a sword and saying, "Take thou (it) and banish thou the fearful heart from thee." When the bowmen went forth, says the inscription, "
Amun was with them as a shield." After six hours, the surviving
Nine bows threw down their weapons, abandoned their baggage and dependents, and ran for their lives. Merneptah states that he defeated the invasion, killing 6,000 soldiers and taking 9,000 prisoners. The inscription describes in full detail Meryey's feverish emotional collapse upon the field of battle upon realizing defeat was imminent. ==References==