Archaeologists have discovered a rare hieroglyphic inscription of Pharaoh Ramses III in southern Jordan, providing new proof of Egypt’s ancient ties with the Arabian Peninsula. The find is the first discovery of an Egyptian royal cartouche in Jordan.

One of the painted walls of the tomb of Ramses III (Tomb KV11) located in the main valley of the Valley of the Kings, Egypt. Credit:
kairoinfo4u (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The inscription was carved into a rock face southeast of the Wadi Rum Reserve, near the border with Saudi Arabia. It bears two cartouches—one with Ramses III’s birth name and the other with his throne name—confirming his reign over Upper and Lower Egypt between 1186 BCE and 1155 BCE.

“This is a landmark discovery that enhances our understanding of ancient connections between Egypt, Jordan, and the Arabian Peninsula,” Jordan’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab said at a press conference. She called Jordan “an open library” of cultural heritage and the discovery a “qualitative addition” to Jordan’s extensive collection of inscriptions.


Dr. Zahi Hawᴀss, Egypt’s most prominent archaeologist, also spoke at the event. “The discovery is crucial,” he said. “It could open the door to a deeper understanding of Egypt’s interactions with the southern Levant and the Arabian Peninsula over 3,000 years ago.” Hawᴀss said that finding Ramses III’s name in Jordan points to Egypt’s broader influence than previously known.

The joint excavation is being conducted by Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Saudi Heritage Commission. The project is part of a broader initiative to document evidence of Ramses III’s military and cultural campaigns beyond Egypt’s borders.

Ramses III ruled during a time of upheaval in the Eastern Mediterranean. As the Hitтιтe and Mycenaean Greek kingdoms collapsed, Egypt was repeatedly attacked by land and sea. Ramses led successful defenses, most famously in the Battle of the Delta against the Sea Peoples, a mysterious group of invaders.

The Wadi Rum inscription can tell us about Egypt’s actions in regions east of the Sinai. Jordan was never part of the Egyptian Empire but lay on significant trade routes connecting Egypt with the Levant and Arabia. That a royal seal has been discovered in this desert region shows that Egypt’s influence—military, political, or cultural—extended further than previously attested.

Full analysis of the inscription is underway. Officials will release full findings once research is complete and may conduct additional excavations in the area.

More information: Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities