Libyans

Libya was the country lying north-west of Egypt, inhabited by tribes with whom the Pharaohs kept up an intermittent warfare. The Libyans of cla ical geographies—the Labu, Laubu, Lebu of the Egyptian monuments—are mentioned for the first time in the XIXth Dynasty. They are represented in paintings as rather fine men, with fair hair falling in a side lock, having fair complexions, with blue eyes. Whenever there was a conspiracy among the petty kings against Egypt, the Libyan king was, if not actual leader, at least one of the chief ringleaders. When Ramses conquered them they made splendid troops for him, and formed an important part of his auxiliary army.