While the mysterious Sea Peoples ransack the Mediterranean c. 1200, they give little sign of their identity and seem to appear out of nowhere. Where did they come from? Origin stories differ. Some of the Sea People were here all along.
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The Sherden (Shardana, Sherdanu) are one of the several ethnic groups associated with the Sea Peoples. Most records of their activities come from ancient Egypt and Ugarit in the late 2nd millennium BC.
The earliest mention of the Srdn-w people, called Sherden or Shardana, is the Akkadian reference to the "še-er-ta-an-nu" in correspondence from Rib-Hadda, mayor (hazannu) of Byblos, to Pharaoh Amenhotep III or Akhenaten in the 14th century BC. There's no further clarification.
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The first definite reference to the Sherden is in the records of Ramesses II in the 13th century. He defeats them in the second year of his reign (1278 BC), following their failed attempt to raid Egypt's coast. What are they thinking?
Shortly thereafter, Ramesses II hires several of the invaders as his personal guard. A stele inscription from Tanis documents the 'raid of the Sherden pirates' and their subsequent defeat.
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It refers to the ongoing threat to Egypt and the Mediterranean:
"... the unruly Sherden whom no one had ever known how to combat, they came boldly sailing in their warships from the midst of the sea, none being able to withstand them."
After Ramesses II defeats the Sherden and takes prisoners, Sherden captives appear in the body guard of the Pharaoh. They are especially noted for their horned helmets with a ball in center, round shields and Naue II swords.
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These sharp-edged bronze swords first appear in 14th century BCE Italy. The name comes from Julius Naue, the person who first describes them centuries later.
Naue II swords are also a weapon of choice when the Sherden fight beside the Egyptians against the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh (1274 BCE). Ramesses incorporates some of the Sherden into his personal guard at the Battle of Kadesh.
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Years later in c. 1200 BCE, the Sherden are among other waves of Sea People who raze the Mediterranean coasts and Greek islands. They cause the extermination of the Hittite Empire and make further attempts to invade Egypt.
Defeated by Merneptah, son of Ramesses II, and Ramesses III, they give up. Despite losing some Mediterranean colonies, Egypt is largely unscathed by the widespread Bronze Age collapse.
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Around 1100 BC, the Egyptian Onomasticon of Amenope documents the Sherden in Canaan. After their defeat by Ramesses III, they and other Sea Peoples are allowed to settle there under Egyptian rule.
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