War and Weapons in Ancient Egypt

Egypt had no professional army until the invasion of the Hyksos during its Second Intermediate Period. The need for defense in the face of this invasion prompted the development of a well-trained army uniquely adapted to Egypt's climate and terrain.

Command Structure

The Egyptian pharaoh served as commander in chief of the armed forces. Under him were generals and senior lieutenants, followed by frontier commanders, then commanders of progressively smaller infantry units.

Chariots

The Hyksos brought the chariot to Egyptian warfare. While most cultures used chariots as an offensive weapon, the Egyptians used them primarily to defend infantry from enemy chariots. Egyptian chariots were lighter and nimbler than those of other nations.

Infantry

Despite the glamour of the chariots, the ancient Egyptian army was an infantry-based force. As time progressed, foreign mercenaries played an increasingly large role in filling the ranks.

Weapons

Infantry weapons such as clubs, daggers and axes were supplemented by longer-range weapons such as bows and spears. Egypt had no natural iron deposits (weapons were made of copper and bronze), which proved a major disadvantage in later conflicts against nations using iron-based weapons.

Navy

Egypt did develop a navy, though it functioned primarily as transportation and support for infantry rather than as a true naval battle fleet.

References

• Tour Egypt