The Sea Peoples, a seafaring confederation that attacked ancient Egypt before the Late Bronze Age collapse, are a fascinating topic in Egyptian history. Wilhelm Max Müller described it as tied to important questions of ethnography and the primitive history of classic nations.
Debates about the origins of the Sea Peoples suggest they may have come from western Anatolia or Southern Europe. While there is no explicit reference to migration in archaeological inscriptions, it is believed they sailed across the eastern Mediterranean, invading various regions towards the end of the Bronze Age.
The Trojan War, often romanticized by Homer, may have played a significant role in what has been called “World War Zero,” leading to the collapse of eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age civilizations around 3200 years ago. A mysterious and powerful civilization, the Luwians, may have been the catalyst for this war.
Civilization flourished in the eastern Mediterranean in the second millennium BC, with the Egyptian New Kingdom, the Hittites of central Anatolia, and the Mycenaeans of mainland Greece coexisting. However, within a generation, these civilizations collapsed for reasons that remain contested.
Eberhard Zangger, head of the Luwian Studies non-profit in Zurich, Switzerland, argues that another powerful civilization in western Anatolia, the Luwians, played a crucial role in the collapse. Supported by ancient Egyptian texts, his theory describes attacks by the Sea Peoples, believed to be the ancient Luwians.
Zangger’s theory suggests that the Luwians set fires to temples and buildings, causing the Hittite civilization to disappear for three thousand years. The Mycenaean kings took advantage of this situation, raiding port cities in Asia Minor and ultimately joining forces with the Luwians before the siege of Troy.
Despite their importance in these events, the Luwians remain unknown archaeologically. They do not appear on political maps of the Aegean Bronze Age, leading to misconceptions about their power and influence. However, recent research aligns with excavation results, written documentation, and traditions.
While not all archaeologists agree that the Luwians were the Sea Peoples, there is growing support for further research in western Anatolia. Christoph Bachhuber, a professor at Oxford, is excited about this research, believing it will shed light on ancient civilizations in the region.
Overall, the story of the Sea Peoples and the Luwians is a fascinating chapter in ancient history that continues to intrigue scholars and archaeologists. The search for answers about these mysterious groups sheds light on the complex interactions and conflicts that shaped the ancient world.
For more information on World War Zero and the lost civilization of the Sea Peoples, visit Anomalien.com.