Social life in ancient Egypt / by W.M. Flinders Petrie.

  • Flinders Petrie
Date:
1923
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Social life in ancient Egypt / by W.M. Flinders Petrie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    220/236 page 198
    of the second prehistoric age. Later, about the beginning of the 1st dynasty, the copper spear, throw-stick, double-pointed mace, and bow and arrows appear. The lighter battle-axe, distinct from the heavy work-axe, comes in about the Vlth dynasty. The short thick stick—the modern nabut—was always the favourite weapon of Egyptians, and in the Xllth dynasty they armed it with a sharp cutting edge let in, pro¬ jecting about an inch. The shield was always of piebald skin ; and it originated in taking off the skin cloak and holding it up to ward off blows (Q.H., Ixxvi.). The sling was a Libyan weapon, used by auxiliaries. In campaigning, the great shields were planted as a fence to the camp. Within the enclosure are placed the chariots, horses, ox-carts for baggage, and donkeys, with all the stores. The horses were not used for riding (except rarely by foreigners), but drew the chariots. The report in late times was that in Thebes were 20,000 chariots, and along the country were 100 stables, each holding 200 horses. Thus the chariots in general only had one horse, and there could be none for riding (D.B., I., p. 52). The Pharaoh’s chariot is the only one represented with two horses in Egypt, but all the chariots in the scenes of battles in Syria have two horses owing to the hilly nature of the country.
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