The latest news from Ancient Egypt!
Dear All,
Welcome to our weekly Devblog!
In today's blog, we're going to talk about weapons in Pharaoh's army. This is the third part of blogs dedicated to this particular topic, the longest one so far :).
You can check the previous ones below:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/818520/view/6048900423830388110
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/818520/view/6048900423830461020
The basic weapon in the Predynastic Period was a club, consisting of a shaft and a pommel. At first, the shapes of the warheads testified to the origin of the weapon. The disc-headed clubs came from Upper Egypt and the pear-headed ones from Lower Egypt. Soon, the pear-shaped structure replaced the discoidal forms, and the handle was extended. In addition to those used in combat, there were decorative clubs that served only a ceremonial function. At a time when the club no longer belonged to the basic equipment of the Egyptian soldier, it was still one of the royal attributes. During the New Kingdom period, the club was gradually replaced by the khopesh sword with the characteristic curve of the blade. The second basic weapon of infantry, after clubs, were axes, the blades of which were made of bronze. They had a semicircular or arched shape. During the Middle Kingdom, a slightly elongated, curved, the quadrilateral blade became popular. This shape has been used for a long time, although the blade significantly lengthened and widened to make the inflicted wounds deeper and larger. Ax blades with two holes also appeared. The handles of the axes also changed. From straight lines, they became more contoured, so that the fighter could hold the weapon more firmly in his hand. At the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty, axes with openwork blades, not intended for combat, appeared. These unique, delicate items, decorated with images of animals and people, served for ritual purposes.
Egyptian spears consisted of a shaft, a blade, and a sleeve for mounting. The spear was fought, throwing it at the enemy. The blade was narrow and sharp, similar in shape to a pen or the point of a pencil. It could be made of copper, flint (Old and Middle Kingdom), or bronze (New Kingdom). A halberd-like weapon with an ax-like blade (rectangular and elongated) and bolts for mounting was also popular. Such weapons were fought like an ax.
Melee daggers have spread since the Middle Kingdom in Egypt. The Egyptian dagger had a double-sided blade and an ivory or buffalo hilt. Often the handles were decorated with reliefs or openwork representations of plants or animals. In addition to daggers, spears, axes, and other cutting weapons, Egyptian soldiers also used long-range weapons, the kind that allowed them to fight at long distances. The most popular were bows, which were additional equipment for the army. In the Predynastic Period, bows made of antelope horns joined by a piece of wood were used. Later, straight bows were used, made of a wooden bar narrowed at the ends. Such an arch was 1 to 2 m long. The bowstring was made of twisted intestines, the arrows were made of reeds. The shuttlecock consisted of three feathers, and its point was made of flint, wood, or, later, bronze. It is worth mentioning that in addition to weapons, the Egyptians also used shields made of yellow shells. Rectangular ones, slightly rounded in the upper part, made of wood and leather, were also popular. There were as well shields covered with fur, orthogonal at the bottom and pointed at the top.
A unique innovation in the Egyptian army was the introduction of a combat chariot, an invention that was taken over from the Hyksos, peoples of West Asian origin. According to the inscription, the Egyptian army used chariots already in the times between the First Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom. The two-horse war chariot consisted of a wooden frame, an axle, and two wheels. An open-back frame was attached to the axle to which six or four-spoke wheels were attached. The wheels were usually about one meter in diameter. They were assembled from small pieces of wood and wrapped in leather. Usually, two people rode the chariot, a coachman, and a warrior. The first was to drive the vehicle, the second to shoot the enemy with a bow, throw a spear or fight with a sword. The warrior was also armed with a shield.
The spread of the chariot changed the face of Egypt not only in a military sense. The use of this vehicle led to the creation of a new, elite, and aristocratic class of warriors. Specialist chariot repair and maintenance workshops were established quickly. Since the New Kingdom, this vehicle has also become another symbol of the power of the pharaoh after the club. Each of the parts of the royal chariot had its own special name and protective deity.
Until the Middle Kingdom, Egyptian soldiers did not wear any kind of armor or helmets. They had virtually no other protection than their shields. In the times of the New Kingdom, the equipment of warriors was improved. A leather vest trimmed with small bronze plates appeared. A piece of leather was put on the loincloth to protect the abdomen. Bows have become more flexible, accurate, and effective thanks to the technique of attaching horn plates and tendons to the wood. a new form of a dagger was also created, with a narrow blade and a shaft forming a whole, resembling a short sword. The khopesh sword, borrowed from Asia, also spread. The Egyptians borrowed many military innovations from the peoples inhabiting the conquered territories. Foreign mercenaries fighting in the army used their own types of weapons, some of them gradually adopted in the Egyptian army, for example, the Egyptians took the khopesh sword from the Syrians and protective vests and helmets from the peoples of Asia.
Hope you enjoyed our latest blog with a bit of historical context! The last part #4 will be dedicated solely to Egyptian defensive fortresses. Looking forward to your thoughts about today's extensive introduction! Feel free to share them with us in the comments below, at Discord, or on Reddit!
Stay tuned and see you next week Egyptian Viziers and Warriors!
--- Your Team from Strategy Labs ---
