MITANNI (HURRIANS), SYRIANS, CANAANITES and

HYKSOS

by Nigel Stillman
MITANNI (HURRIANS), SYRIANS, CANAANITES and HYKSOS
Location and dates - Syria/Canaan 1500 BC to 1000 BC (New Chronology)
Who were they? -Hurrian chariot warrior aristocracy (Maryannu) dominated the city
states of Syria and Canaan. Some of these; the Hyksos invaded Egypt. Later, the
Hurrians formed the powerful Mitannian Empire in Syria and North Mesopotamia which
fought resurgent Egypt for control of the region and ruled Assyria for a time. The
Canaanites with Mitannian allies fought the Egyptians at Megiddo. The Hittites defeated
Syrians and Hurrians and incorporated them into their empire as vassal kingdoms. The
Canaanites fought against the Habiru tribes (Hebrews) until the Hebrews succeeded in
carving out a kingdom in Canaan.
Who did they fight? - The Hyksos fought Egypt . As did the Canaaniotes, Syrians
and Hurrians. They also fought against and later allied with the Hittites . Hurrians
fought against Assyria. There was constant fighting among the kingdoms as well as
against the Habiru and desert nomads and against Sea Peoples raiders.
Army Organisation - Units of 50, 200, 600 & 1000 men. Contingents drawn from vassal
or allied kingdoms.
Best Troops - Excellent chariotry. Phoenicians had excellent fleet.
Typical Allies & Mercenaries - Habiru, Amorites, Sea-Peoples.
Terrain - Homeland; plains, steppes and forested highlands. Invaded Syrian desert,
canaanite highlands, Anatolian plateau and Mesopotamian plains.
Hypothetical Encounters - Mitanni vs Kassite Babylonia. Phoenicians vs
Mycenaeans/Minoans anywhere in Mediterranean, Hyksos vs Minoans .
PAINTING
Skin tones - Arab complexion, dark hair. Hurrians; caucasian looks.
Clothing - White linen/woollen robes heavily patterned. Tyrian crimson.
Weapons & Armour - Bronze. Scale armour in wide variety of styles.
Shields - Leather bucklers with bronze studs arranged in patterns.
Chariots - Frames covered by leather scale armour, probably painted.
Horses - Black, chestnut, bay, grey. Some leather scale armour bards.
Standards - Gilded bronze with coloured streamers.
Bases - Desert, grassland or steppe with tufts of coarse grass and stones.
Nigel Stillman