Military of ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of eastern North Africa, concentrated along the northern reaches of the Nile River in Egypt. The civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh, and it developed over the next three millennia. Its history occurred in a series of stable kingdoms, separated by periods of relative instability known as intermediate periods. Ancient Egypt reached its pinnacle during the New Kingdom, which entered a period of slow decline. Egypt was conquered by a succession of foreign powers in the late period, and the rule of the pharaohs officially ended in 31 BC, when the early Roman Empire conquered Egypt and made it a province. Although the ancient Egyptian military forces in the Old and Middle kingdoms were well maintained, the new form that emerged in the New Kingdom showed the state becoming more organized to serve its needs.

For most parts of its long history, ancient Egypt was unified under one government. The main military concern for the nation was to keep enemies out. The arid plains and deserts surrounding Egypt were inhabited by nomadic tribes who occasionally tried to raid or settle in the fertile Nile River valley. Nevertheless, the great expanses of the desert formed a barrier that protected the river valley and was almost impossible for massive armies to cross. The Egyptians built fortresses and outposts along the borders east and west of the Nile Delta, in the Eastern Desert, and Nubia to the south. Small garrisons could prevent minor incursions, but if a large force was detected, a message was sent to the main army corps. Most Egyptian cities lacked city walls and other defences.

The history of ancient Egypt is divided into three kingdoms and two intermediate periods. During the three kingdoms, Egypt was unified under one government. During the intermediate periods (the periods between realms), government control was in the hands of the various nomes (provinces within Egypt) and foreigners. The geography of Egypt served to isolate the country and allowed it to thrive. This circumstance set the stage for many of Egypt’s military conquests. They enfeebled their enemies using small projectile weapons, like bows and arrows. They also had chariots which they used to charge at the enemy.

The Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BC)

The Old Kingdom was one of the most significant times in Egypt’s history. This affluence allowed the government to stabilize and organize a functioning military. During this period, most military conflicts were limited to the consolidation of power within Egypt.

During the Old Kingdom, Egypt had no professional army; the governor of each nome (administrative division) had to raise his volunteer army. Then, all the troops would come together under the Pharaoh to battle. Because military service was not considered prestigious, the army mainly consisted of lower-class men who could not afford to train in other jobs.

Old Kingdom soldiers were equipped with many weapons, including shields, spears, cudgels, maces, daggers, and bows and arrows. The most common Egyptian weapon was the bow and arrow. During the Old Kingdom, a single-arched bow was often used. This type of bow was challenging to draw, and there was less draw length. Egyptian soldiers also used this weapon after the Hyksos introduced the composite bow.

The First Intermediate Period (2181–2055 BC) and Middle Kingdom (2055–1650 BC)

The Pharaoh Mentuhotep II commanded military campaigns south as far as the Second Cataract in Nubia, which had gained independence during the First Intermediate Period. He also restored Egyptian hegemony over the Sinai region, which had been lost to Egypt since the end of the Old Kingdom.

From the Twelfth Dynasty onwards, pharaohs often kept well-trained standing armies, which formed the basis of larger forces raised for defence against invasion. Under the rule of Senusret I, Egyptian armies built a border fort at Buhen and incorporated all of lower Nubia as an Egyptian colony.

The Second Intermediate Period (1650–1550 BC)

After Merneferre Ay of the mid-13th Dynasty fled his palace, a Canaanite tribe called the Hyksos sacked Memphis (the Egyptians’ capital city) and claimed dominion over Upper and Lower Egypt. After the Hyksos took control, many Egyptians fled to Thebes, where they eventually began to oppose the Hyksos’ rule.

The Hyksos, Asiatics from the Northeast, set up a fortified capital at Avaris. The Egyptians were trapped at this time; their government had collapsed. They were in the middle of an “enemy sandwich” between the Hyksos north and the Kushite Nubians south. This period marked a significant change for Egypt’s military. The Hyksos have been credited with bringing to Egypt the horse, the Ourarit (chariot), and the composite bow—tools that drastically altered the way Egypt’s military functioned. (Some evidence suggests that horses and chariots were present earlier.)The composite bow, which allowed for more accuracy and greater kill distance with arrows, along with horses and chariots, eventually assisted the Egyptian military in ousting the Hyksos from Egypt, beginning when Seqenenre Tao became ruler of Thebes and opened a struggle that claimed his own life in battle. Seqenenre was succeeded by Kamose, who continued to battle the Hyksos before his brother Ahmose finally succeeded in driving them out. This marked the beginning of the New Kingdom.

The New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC)

In the New Kingdom, new threats emerged. However, the military contributions of the Hyksos allowed Egypt to defend itself from these foreign invasions successfully. The Hittites hailed from further northeast than had been previously encountered. They attempted to conquer Egypt but were defeated, and a peace treaty was made. Also, the mysterious Sea Peoples invaded the entire ancient Near East during this time. The Sea Peoples caused many problems, but ultimately the military was strong enough at this time to prevent a collapse of the government. The Egyptians were firmly vested in their infantry, unlike the Hittites, who depended on their chariots. In this way, the New Kingdom army differed from its two preceding kingdoms.

Old and Middle Kingdom armies

During the Old and Middle Kingdom, Egyptian armies were very basic. Before the New Kingdom, the Egyptian armies were composed of conscripted peasants and artisans, who would then mass under the banner of the Pharaoh. The Egyptian soldiers carried a simple armament consisting of a spear with a copper spearhead and a large wooden shield covered by leather hides. A stone mace was also carried in the Archaic period, though later, this weapon was probably only in ceremonial use and was replaced with the bronze battle-axe. The spearmen were supported by archers carrying a simple curved bow and arrows with arrowheads made of flint or copper. No armour was used during the 3rd and early 2nd Millennium BC. Foreigners were also incorporated into the army. Nubians (Medjay) entered Egyptian armies as mercenaries and formed the best archery units.

New Kingdom armies

The significant advance in weapons technology and warfare began around 1600 BC when the Egyptians fought and finally defeated the Hyksos people, who had made themselves lords of Lower Egypt. During this period, the horse and chariot were introduced into Egypt. The Egyptians had no answer until they introduced their version of the war chariot at the beginning of the 18th Dynasty. The Egyptians then improved the design of the chariot to suit their requirements. That made the Egyptian chariots lighter and faster than those of other major powers in the Middle East. Egyptian war chariots were manned by a driver holding a whip and the reins and a fighter, generally wielding a composite bow or, after spending all his arrows, a short spear of which he had a few. The charioteers wore occasionally scale armour, but many preferred broad leather bands crossed over the chest or carried a shield. Their torso was thus more or less protected, while the lower body was shielded by the chariot itself. The pharaohs often wore scale armour with semi-precious inlaid stones, which offered better protection, the stones being harder than the metal used for arrow tips.

The principal weapon of the Egyptian army was the bow and arrow; it was transformed into a formidable weapon with the introduction by the Hyksos of the composite bow. Combined with the war chariot, these bows enabled the Egyptian army to attack quickly and from a distance.

Other new technologies included the khopesh, which temple scenes show being presented to the king by the gods with a promise of victory, body armour and improved bronze casting; in the 18th Dynasty, soldiers began wearing helmets and leather or cloth tunics with metal scale coverings.

These changes also caused changes in the military’s role in Egyptian society. So during the New Kingdom, the Egyptian military changed from levy troops into a firm organization of professional soldiers. Conquests of foreign territories, like Nubia, required a permanent force to be garrisoned abroad. The encounter with other powerful Near Eastern kingdoms like Mitanni, the Hittites, and later the Assyrians and Babylonians made it necessary for the Egyptians to conduct campaigns far from home. Over 4,000 infantry of an army corps were organized into 20 companies, between 200 and 250 men each. The Egyptian army is estimated to have had over 100,000 soldiers at the time of Ramesses II, c. 1300 BC. There were also companies of Libyans, Nubians, Canaanites and Sherdens (Greeks) who served in the Egyptian army. They were often described as mercenaries, but they were most likely impressed prisoners who preferred the life of a soldier instead of slavery.

Late Period armies

The next leap forward came in the Late Period (712–332 BC), when mounted troops and weapons made of iron came into use. After the conquest by Alexander the Great, Egypt was heavily Hellenised, and the principal military force became the infantry phalanx. The ancient Egyptians were not great innovators in weapons technology, and most innovations came from Western Asia and the Greek world.

Military organization

As early as the Old Kingdom (c.2686–2160 BC), Egypt used specific military units, with military hierarchy appearing in the Middle Kingdom (c.2055–1650 BC). By the New Kingdom (c.1550–1069 BC), the Egyptian military consisted of three major branches: the infantry, the chariotry, and the navy.

Soldiers of Egypt

During the Egyptian conquest, the Pharaoh would divide his army into two parts, the North and the South. They would then be further divided into four more armies named after the Egyptian gods Ra, Amen, Ptah, and Sutekh (of all the armies, the Pharaoh would align himself with Amen). From there, he would pick a commander in chief, generally princes of the royal house, who would then pick captains to enforce orders down the command chain. During the war, the commander in chief was given the job of selecting their captains, usually lower-ranking princes of the royal house. They generally achieved these positions using tools of bribery and appealing to the interest courts. Another major factor in choosing both officers and captains was the education they received; most officials were frequently diplomatists with extensive educational backgrounds. Later, after receiving the official position, the divided armies would ally themselves with mercenaries who would be trained with them as one of their own but never a part of the native Egyptian military.

Each regiment in the Egyptian army could have been identified by its weapon: archers, lancers, spearmen, and infantry. The lancers carried not only their long-range weapon, the lance, but also a dagger on their belt and a short-curved sword. Depicted in Egyptian art is a cane or a wand-type object that has been assigned to each fifth member in a group. This may indicate that the man carrying the cane or wand was in charge of a unit of men beside him (Girard).

Military standards A military standard is the code or sign used to signify a standard among a group of militarized individuals to show distinction from other groups but not from one another. This only became prevalent in armies that were large enough to require the division to be better controlled. This recognized division started as early as the Unification period in Egypt in the Proto-dynastic period (Faulkner). The most common symbol in Egyptian military history would be the semi-circular fan sitting on top of a large, long staff. This symbol represented the Egyptian naval fleet. During later dynasties, such as the 18th dynasty, it was the most common military standard symbol—particularly under the reign of Queen Hatshepsut. Another standard type was the rectangular mounted on a large, long staff. The staff may have been decorated with ornaments such as ostrich feathers.

Infantry

Infantry troops were partially conscripted, partially voluntary. Egyptian soldiers worked for pay, both natives and mercenaries. Of mercenary troops, Nubians were used beginning in the late Old Kingdom, Asiatic maryannu troops were used in the Middle and New Kingdoms, the Sherden, Libyans, and the “Na’arn” were used in the Ramesside Period (the New Kingdom, Dynasties XIX and XX, c.1292-1075 BC) and Phoenicians, Carians, and Greeks were used during the Late Period.

Chariotry

Chariotry, the backbone of the Egyptian army, was introduced into ancient Egypt from Western Asia at the end of the Second Intermediate Period (c.1650–1550 BC) / the beginning of the New Kingdom (c.1550–1069 BC). Charioteers were drawn from the upper classes in Egypt. Chariots were generally used as a mobile platform from which to operate projectile weapons and were usually pulled by two horses and manned by two charioteers; a driver who carried a shield and a man with a bow or javelin. Chariots also had infantry support. By the time of Qadesh, the chariot arm was at the height of its development. It was designed for speed and manoeuvrability, being lightweight and delicate in appearance. Its offensive power was able to turn rapidly, wheel, and repeatedly charge, penetrating the enemy line and functioning as a mobile firing platform that allowed the fighting crew members to shoot many arrows from the composite bow. The chariot corps served as an independent arm but were attached to the infantry corps. At Qadesh, there were 25 vehicles per company. Many of the lighter vehicles were retained for scouting and communication duties. In combat, the chariots were deployed in troops of 10 and squadrons of 50. The larger unit was called the pedjet, commanded by an officer with the title ‘Commander of a chariotry host’ and numbering about 250 chariots.

Chariots are best defined as horsedrawn vehicles with two spoked wheels that require their drivers and passengers to stand whilst in motion’ (Archer 1). Described, the chariot has been around for centuries in the Near East, showing the owners’ status in societies and in times of war. This became the most predominant in the time of the 16th century when the chariot was introduced to the Egyptians during a war with the Hyksos army (Shulman). The chariot aided in many battles. They could be used in many ways, from a glorified product mover or transportation for soldiers to be moved to and from the battlefield in a ‘battle taxi’ type manner and a variety of other ways (Archer 2). A weapon that accompanied the soldiers and their passengers were objects such as composite bows, arrows and other objects such as spears and swords. The role of an archer was one of value when placed on the back of a chariot, literally making this a target almost unable to hit due to the amount of movement. ‘Chariots were used to ferry bowmen to suitable firing positions, where they dismounted and fired their bows on foot, climbing back into their chariots and speeding away when threatened’ (Archer 6). One primary usage of the chariot was to ram into the enemy’s front lines to scare them into breaking formation, allowing the army to get behind their lines and start fighting. Since the horses for war, although trained, they still became scared. ‘Horses will not willingly charge into massed ranks of infantry, always preferring to pull up and stop just short of their lines regardless of the intentions of the riders and handlers’ (Archer 4). Even if the horse-drawn chariot did follow through and attempt to break the enemy’s lines would have been a terrible idea if they were using the lighter Bronze Age-type war chariots. The chariots proved most beneficial on the flat-unbroken ground, where their speed and manoeuvring capabilities were at their height. This did, however, become a thorn in the side of Egyptians during the eighth and ninth centuries when the battle between Egypt and Syria, Palestine Empire broke out, causing the Egyptian chariots to become virtually incapable of performing their intended duties due to the very nature of the landscape; mountainous and rocky. There are many theories about how chariots aided the rise and fall of Egypt, the most prominent of which was created by Robert Drews. He claims that chariots were responsible for the end of the Late Bronze Age. He claims that the mercenaries in the area at this time spent a tremendous amount of effort and time watching and learning the strength and weaknesses of the warfare styles of the Egyptian military to aid in the future rebellions they would hold to overthrow the government.

Navy

Before the New Kingdom, the ancient Egyptian military was mainly aquatic, and the high ranks comprised elite middle-class Egyptians. As early as the Late Old Kingdom, Egyptian troops were transported by naval vessels. By the later intermediate period, the navy was highly sophisticated and used complicated naval manoeuvres, such as Kamose’s campaign against the Hyksos in the harbour of Avaris (c.1555–1550 BC).

Ancient Egypt had two types of ships: the reed boat and the vessel made from large wooden planks. The planked ships created the naval fleet and gave it its fierce reputation. These early ships lacked an internal rib for support. Each boat had a designated section under the main deck where the slave rowers would sit. One man operated the steering oar.

Projectile weapons

The ancient Egyptians used projectile weapons to weaken the enemy before an infantry assault. Slings, throw sticks, spears, and javelins were used, but the bow and arrow were the primary projectile weapon for most of Egypt’s history. A catapult dating to the 19th century BC. was found on the walls of the fortress of Buhen.

Throw stick

The throwing stick does appear to have been used to some extent during Egypt’s predynastic period as a weapon, but it seems to have not been very effective for this purpose. Because of their simplicity, skilled infantry continued to use this weapon at least with some regularity through the end of the New Kingdom. It was used extensively for hunting fowl throughout Egypt’s dynastic period. Most Egyptians were intent on using this weapon, which also had a holy effect.

Spear

The spear does not fit comfortably into the close combat class or the projectile type of weapons. It could be either. The Old and Middle Kingdom of Egypt’s Dynastic period typically consisted of a pointed blade made of copper or flint attached to a long wooden shaft by a tang. Conventional spears were made for throwing or thrusting, but there was also a form of a spear (halberd) which was fitted with an axe blade and thus used for cutting and slashing.

Since the earliest times, the spear was used in Egypt to hunt larger animals, such as lions. In its form of javelin (throwing spears), it was replaced early on by the bow and arrow. Because of its greater weight, the spear was better at penetration than the arrow, but in a region where armour consisted mostly of shields, this was only a slight advantage. On the other hand, arrows were much easier to mass-produce.

In battle, it never gained the importance among Egyptians that it was to have in classical Greece, where phalanxes of spear-carrying citizens fought each other. During the New Kingdom, it was often an auxiliary weapon of the charioteers, who were thus not left unarmed after spending all their arrows. It was also most helpful in their hands when they chased down fleeing enemies stabbing them in their backs. Amenhotep II’s victory at Shemesh-Edom in Canaan is described at Karnak:

… Behold His Majesty was armed with his weapons, and His Majesty fought like Set in his hour. They gave way when His Majesty looked at one of them and fled. His majesty took all their goods himself, with his spear…

The spear was appreciated enough to be depicted in the hands of Ramesses III, killing a Libyan. It remained short and javelin-like, just about the height of a man.

Bow and arrow

The bow and arrow are one of ancient Egypt’s most crucial weapons, used from Predynastic times through the Dynastic age and into the Christian and Islamic periods. The first bows were common “horn bows”, made by joining a pair of antelope horns with a central piece of wood.

By the beginning of the Dynastic Period, bows were made of wood and used by the military of ancient Egypt. They had a single curvature and were strung with animal sinews or strings made of plant fibre. In the predynastic period, bows often had a double curvature, but a single-arched bow, known as a self (or simple) bow, was adopted during the Old Kingdom. These were used to fire reed arrows fletched with three feathers, tipped with flint or hardwood, and later Bronze. The bow was usually between one and two meters in length and made up of a wooden rod, narrowing at either end. Some of the longer self-bows were strengthened at specific points by binding the wooden rod with a cord. Drawing a single-arched bow was harder, and one lost the advantage of the draw-length double curvature.

During the New Kingdom, the composite bow came into use, having been introduced by the Asiatic Hyksos. These bows were often not made in Egypt but imported from the Middle East, like other ‘modern’ weapons. The older, single-curved bow was not wholly abandoned, however. For example, it would appear that Tuthmosis III and Amenhotep II continued to use these earlier-styled bows. A problematic weapon to operate successfully, it demanded strength, agility and years of practice. The experienced archer chose his weapon with care.

The Egyptian artisans never limited themselves to one type of wood. It was common for them to use foreign and domestic woods in their lands. We created the handmade arrows using mature branches or twigs and, in some rare cases, some immature pieces of wood that would have their bark scraped off. Each arrow consisted of the main reed shaft, with a wooden fore shift attached to the distal end. The arrowhead was either attached or was already in place without the help of an outside stabilizer. The size of the arrows was .801 to .851 meters or 31.5 to 33.5 inches. Four types of arrows are further categorized into two groups: stone heads, which consisted of the chisel-ended and leaf-shaped, and the wooden heads under which the pointed and blunt or flaming arrows have been categorized.

Composite bow

The composite bow achieved the most excellent possible range with a small and light bow. The maximum draw length was that of the archer’s arm. The unstrung bow curved outward and was under an initial tension, dramatically increasing the draw weight. A simple wooden bow was no match for the composite bow in range or power. The wood had to be supported; otherwise, it would break. This was achieved by adding a horn to the belly of the bow (the part facing the archer), which would be compressed during the draw. Sinew was added to the back of the bow to withstand the tension. All these layers were glued together and covered with birch bark.

Composite bows needed more care than simple basic bows and were much more difficult and expensive to produce. They were more vulnerable to moisture, requiring them to be covered. They had to be unstrung when not in use and re-strung for action, a feat which required not a little force and generally the help of a second person. As a result, they were not used as much as one might expect. The simple stave bow never disappeared from the battlefield, even in the New Kingdom. The simpler bows were used by the bulk of the archers, while the composite bows went first to the chariots, where their penetrative power was needed to pierce scale armour.

Arrowheads mainly were made for piercing, having a sharp point. However, the arrowheads could vary considerably; some were even blunt (probably used more for hunting small game). The first arrowheads were flint, replaced by bronze in the 2nd Millennium.

Sling

Hurling stones with a sling demanded little equipment or practice to be effective. The sling was rarely depicted as secondary to the bow and arrow in battle. The first drawings date to the 20th century BC. Made of perishable materials, few ancient slings have survived. It relied on the missile’s impact and, like most impact weapons, was relegated to play a subsidiary role. In the hands of lightly armed skirmishers, it was used to distract the enemy’s attention. One of its main advantages was the easy availability of ammunition in many locations. Sling bullets were cast when lead became more widely available during the Late Period. These were preferred to pebbles because of their greater weight, making them more effective. They often bore a mark.