RAMSES II
What a personage, immortalized by Yul Brenner in The Ten Commandments, Ramses II was the 3rd Pharaoh of the XIX Dynasty. He had a very long reign of 66 years, he oversaw the clash of the great powers at Kadesh, built showcase cities, temples and monuments, led expeditions to Nubia, Palestine and Libya. He encountered Moses' deliverance and the chorus of the Hebrew slaves, and after those times, rebuilt Egypt as a prosperous and powerful imperial force. (KS)1315-1235
Pharaoh of Egypt
MOSES
1310-1220
Deliverer of the Hebrews
AEGEAUS
1310-1255
Ruler of Athens
DAEDELEUS
1305-1240
Minoan Architect
HERCULES
1305-1210
Greek Hero*
JOSHUA
Moses' chosen successor, Joshua is mentioned in many books of the Bible, and walked for the 40 years in the wilderness. Before getting to the Promised Land, Moses died, and Joshua brought down the Walls of Jericho and won the conquest of Canaan- probably the greatest win for the Israelites in organized battle.
1285-1200
Israelite Leader
MINOS II
1280-1230
King of the Minoans
THESEUS
1260-1210
Greek Hero
MENALAUS
1255-1180
King of Sparta
AGAMEMNON
1235-1175
King of Mycenae
ACHILLES
1230-1183
Greek Warrior
HELEN
1220-1170
Spartan Princess
RAMSES III
20th Dynasty. His reign marked the end of the Bronze Age imperial powers, although Egypt was prosperous in and of itself. Ramses mined copper, had a tree-planting program and battled the Sea Peoples, invaded and destroyed the Hittites. In one last feat of Egyptian arms, he turned them away, and resettled them in Canaan, on the edge of the terminally weakened empire. These people would henceforth be called the Philistines.
1220-1156
Pharaoh of Egypt
ODYSSEUS
1210-1150
King of Ithaca
SAMSON
An important Judge of Israel (Judges 13:1), Samson was the famed strongman of the land, and while he tore Philistine temples down, he fell to the wiles of a woman, Delilah. In the end, he went out with a blaze of glory, for when the said no one could, Samson pulled down one last temple, and paid the ultimate price... but took the entire Philistine army with him! (AL)1100-1050
Israelite Warrior
SAUL
Saul was the first ruler of the Kingdom of Israel. He was appointed by Samuel to rule the newly united Hebrew kingdoms and to defend them against the growing Philistine threat. Ultimately, he met his end during a Philistine invasion. He was nailed to the wall of Beth-Shan. (BC)1060-1020
King of Israel
GOLIATH
1045-1018
Philistine Warrior
DAVID
1035-962
King of Israel
SOLOMON
1010-930
King of Israel
HIRAM
Tyre specifically, as he and his Phoenicians were a city-state people. Descended from Canaanites, he had Ball and Astarte to worship. He allied with David and Solomon, but was neutral when Israel fought the Philistines. He sold Solomon the ceder trees used in construction of the Temple.
1005-945
King of Phoenicia
SHEBA
From the land of Arabia-Felix, she came to Israel to seek out the wisdom of Solomon (I Kings 10:1). The Ethiopian Christians today trace their lineage from her. (WM)1000-940
Queen of Sheba
SHISHAK
Taking advantage of the weakened neighborhood after Solomon died in Israel, Pharaoh Shishak took advantage of its weakened state and brought 1200 chariots and thousands of cavalry to capture a number of cities including Megiddo, Gibeon, Beth-Shan, Beth-Horon and more. He attacked Jerusalem and took treasures from the Temple and Solomon's Palace (I Kings 11:40). His deeds are recorded on another temple: that of Amon at Karnak. (AD)965-924
Pharaoh of Egypt
SHALMANESSER III
Shalmanesser III succeeded his father Ashurbanipal and led constant campaigns, wide-ranging, against Syria, Mesopotamia, Urartu, Babylon and more. In Nimrud he build a stone palace, part of which is still standing. (JB)878-824
Emperor of Assyria
ELIJAH
This prophet of the Levant who said "kings should not break laws with impunity, but conform to the same laws as anyone else." Crazy, right? Even Nixon said he was not above the law- that was Elijah talking, not Machiavelli. Elijah's stories are a big part of the Old Testament.
860-820
Israelite Prophet
HOMER
The blind bard who may not have existed but probably did, who may not have written but probably did write the massive epic poems "Iliad" and "Odyssey", which form the cornerstones of Greek education and literature. In actuality, he probably dictated the epics to writers who consigned them to paper. The power in influence of Homer excels that of the gods he wrote about, and the human stories unfolded by him touch the hearts of human beings in Greece and beyond, 2,700 years after they were written. (ZB)800-700
Greek Writer
