The History of Weapons in Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians had a variety of weapons, which they used at various points in their kingdom's history. Over time, they had to adapt the making of their weaponry to establish and maintain military supremacy.

Bow and Arrow

The bow and arrow was the primary weapon for the ancient Egyptians. Two kinds of bows were used: the single-curved bow; and the double-curvature bow, which had a better draw length. However, with the arrival, invasion and the overthrow of Egypt by the Hyskos in the 16th and 17th centuries BC---and in response to the more advanced weaponry of the Syrians and Hittites---the composite bow made its appearance. It had greater draw length than either the single-curved or the double-curvature bow.

However, the composite bow required more maintenance, and was much more difficult and expensive to make. Thus the simpler bows remained, the archers employing them while the soldiers on chariots used composite bows for their penetrative power against scale armor. Their arrowheads were initially made of bronze; later ones were made of iron.

Spear

The spear in ancient Egypt had its predecessor in the javelin, the throwing spear. Although they had lesser penetrating power, bows and arrows later displaced the javelin as the major weapon because they were much easier to mass produce. However, the javelin still maintained its presence as it evolved into the copper- or flint-headed spear. These were used until the 16th century BC, when the ancient Egyptians began to use bronze-headed spears, a backup weapon for charioteers when they ran out of arrows.

Sword

Initially, the ancient Egyptians wielded curved swords designed for slicing and cutting. Originally made of bronze, the Egyptians began to manufacture them using iron. Encounters around the 13th century BC with the Sea Peoples---a group with misty origins, possibly from the Balkans and Asia Minor---introduced two-edged blades with sharp points, designed to stab rather than slice. By the time of King Rameses III, who reigned in the middle of the 12th century BC, stabbing blades took precedence over slicing ones, although both were used in war.

Battle Axe

The ancient Egyptians used two kinds of battle axes. The cutting axe was effective against foes without body armor, and soldiers used them on those weakened by archers or fleeing the battle scene. The piercing axe, on the other hand, was effective for penetrating body armor, especially the helmet. While the cutting axe fell into disuse as body armor became more prevalent, the piercing axe stuck around until around the 16th century BC, when the sword began to displace it.

Other Weapons

Other weapons the ancient Egyptians used in war included slings, clubs, daggers and throw sticks. Body armor consisting of broad leather straps (later, made of metal mail due to encounters with better-equipped adversaries), chariots to enable fast attacks at long range, and shields of wood or leather completed the weaponry of the ancient Egyptians.

References

• Weapons in Ancient Egypt
• Egyptology Online: The Army in Ancient Egypt
• Projectile Type Weapons of Ancient Egypt