Editing Shasu (section)

==History==
===Late Bronze===
The earliest known reference to the Shasu occurs in a 16th-century BCE list of peoples in the [[Trans-Jordan (region)|Transjordan region]]. The first occurrence of Shasu is in the biographical inscription of Admiral Ahmose found in [[Elkab]],<ref>R. Givéon, Les bédouins Shosou des documents égyptiens, Leyde, 1971.</ref> who claims to have taken Shasu prisoners while serving Pharaoh Aakheperenre [[Thutmose II]]. The Shasu were on his way as he led a punitive expedition north. Giveon (1971) argued that the only event that could account for the Shasu's appearance at that date was the expulsion of the [[Hyksos]] (around 1550 BC).<ref>R. Givéon, Les bédouins Shosou des documents égyptiens, Leyde, 1971.</ref>

In the year 39 of [[Thutmose III]], during his 14th campaign, the pharaoh fought the Shasu before reaching the [[Retjenu]]. Shasu are therefore found in southern Canaan. According to the Pharaoh's list, they are more specifically located in the [[Negev]] (No. 14 of the list).

The name appears in a list of Egypt's enemies inscribed on column bases at the temple of [[Soleb]] built by [[Amenhotep III]]. Among the details uncovered at the temple was a reference to a place called "[[Mount Seir|{{sc2|sʿrr}}]], in the land of Shasu" ({{sc2|tꜣ-shꜣsw sʿr}}), a name thought to be related to or near to [[Petra]], [[Jordan]].{{sfn|Grosby|2007|page= [https://books.google.com/books?id=aNuqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA109 109]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nabataea.net/media/Names%20for%20the%20city%20of%20Petra.pdf |title=Names for the city of Petra |first1=Daniel |last1=Gibson |first2=Peter |last2=Harremoës}}</ref>

In the [[13th century BCE]], copies of the column inscriptions ordered by [[Seti I]] or by [[Ramesses II]] at [[Amara, Nubia]], six groups of Shasu are mentioned: those of {{sc2|sʿrr}}, of {{sc2|rbn}}, of {{sc2|smʾt}}, of {{sc2|wrbr}}, of {{sc2|yhw}}, and of {{sc2|pysps}}.{{sfn|Sivertsen|2009|p=118}}{{sfn|Hasel|1998|p=219}} The Shasu continued to dominate the hill country of Canaan (Cis-Jordan) and Trans-Jordan regions. The Shasu had become so powerful during this period that they could temporarily cut off Egypt's northern routes. This, in turn, prompted vigorous punitive campaigns by [[Ramesses II]] and his son [[Merneptah]]. After Egyptian abandonment, Canaanite city-states came under the mercy of the Shasu and the [[ʿApiru]], who were seen as 'mighty enemies'.{{sfn|Younker|1999|p=203}}

The other documents of the 18th dynasty attest to the increasing importance of the Shasu in Canaan, by the large number of prisoners (at [[Amenhotep II]], a list of prisoners gives about half of those of [[Khor|Khor/Kharu]]), and then by their appointment to Egypt's greatest enemies, like [[Babylonia|Babylon]] or [[Ancient Libya|Tehenou]] (Libya).

During the reign of [[Amenhotep III]], the origin of the Shasu ("En-Shasus") is given as near the biblical city of [[Tel Dothan|Dothan]], a place where [[bedouin]]s brought their flocks. The story of [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]] also mentions nomads who come to water their animals at a source near Dothan.

During the pharaoh [[Seti I]]'s campaign, primarily attested as a historic event by the presence of victory [[stele]]s found at [[Tel Megiddo]] and [[Beth Shean]], the Shasu live in a fertile, mountainous area between [[Tjaru|Sileh]] and Pa-Canaan (perhaps the [[Gaza City|city of Gaza]]).<ref>R. Givéon, Les bédouins Shosou des documents égyptiens, Leyde, 1971.</ref> The introductory text of the relief showing the Shasu under notes: "The Shasu enemies plot a rebellion, their tribal leaders are gathered, standing on the hills of [[Khor|Khor (Kharu)]], and they are engaged in turmoil and tumult. They don't respect their neighbours, they don't consider the laws of the Palace!" In this campaign, the pharaoh confronts the [[ʿApiru]] around [[Tel Megiddo|Megiddo]]. 

The Shasu would eventually be eclipsed by the [[Sea Peoples]].{{sfn|Younker|1999|p=203}}