Retjenu (
rṯnw; Reṯenu, Retenu), was an
Ancient Egyptian name for
Canaan and
Syria. It covered the region from the Negev Desert north to the
Orontes River. The borders of Retjenu shifted with time, but it generally consisted of three regions. The southernmost was
Djahy, which had about the same boundaries as
Canaan.
Lebanon proper was located in the middle, between the
Mediterranean and the
Orontes River. North of Lebanon was designated
Amurru, the land of the Amorites.
The earliest attestation of the name occurs in the Tale of Sinuhe, inscribed on a piece of limestone in 14th century BC.
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