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Kadesh

Battles
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A 1274 BCE battle between Ramesses II and the Hittite king Muwatalli II.

Detailed Definition
The Battle of Kadesh, fought near the Orontes River, was one of the ancient world's great chariot engagements. Ramesses II survived an exposed advance and later proclaimed the encounter a triumph, while the Hittites retained strength enough to negotiate peace. Poets can draw on Kadesh as a meditation on heroic self-advertisement, the gap between inscription and event, and the river that carries competing versions of glory.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poem may invoke Kadesh as an example of rival powers claiming victory after a contested battle; “Kadesh kept two kings inside their own versions of glory,” could explore the difference between propaganda and reality; A poet might use the battle to contrast the monumental confidence of Ramesses II with the uncertain outcome of the campaign; The name can symbolize how rulers turn military stalemate into public legend.
Additional Notes
Kadesh, fought around 1274 BCE, brought the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II against the Hittite king Muwatalli II. The battle was not a simple Egyptian victory, and the later peace treaty is historically important. Its poetic associations include heroic self-presentation, imperial rivalry, diplomacy, and the gap between propaganda and fact.
Other Meanings of “Kadesh”
Also Known As
Battle of Kadesh Battle of Qadesh
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