Old Kingdom Warfare
Digest
This episode delves into the fascinating world of the Old Kingdom Egyptian army, shedding light on their organization, training, and weaponry. While evidence for a professional standing army is limited, the episode reveals a surprising level of sophistication in their military practices. The episode begins by examining the training methods, highlighting scenes from the Temple of Sahurra depicting wrestling and combat training. It then explores the terminology used to describe warriors and commanders, revealing a hierarchy and a degree of military bureaucracy. The episode also discusses the weapons used by the Old Kingdom Egyptians, including spears, axes, bows and arrows, and maces. The episode then moves on to examine artistic depictions of battles and sieges, focusing on two key monuments: the pyramid of Onus and the tombs of Ka-em-heset and Inti. The pyramid of Onus features a scene of a battle between Egyptian archers and eastern enemies, while the tombs of Ka-em-heset and Inti depict elaborate scenes of sieges, showcasing the Egyptians' use of ladders, sapping techniques, and their tactics for overwhelming enemy defenses. The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of these artistic depictions as valuable sources for understanding the Old Kingdom Egyptian army, despite the limited physical evidence that survives from this period.
Outlines
Wrestling and Combat Training
This Chapter explores the early evidence of military training in the Old Kingdom, focusing on scenes from the Temple of Sahurra depicting warriors practicing wrestling and combat techniques. These scenes, dating back to around 2500 BCE, provide a glimpse into the practical elements of military training, showcasing the Egyptians' emphasis on both long-range and close-combat skills.
Organization and Equipment
This Chapter delves into the organization and equipment of the Old Kingdom Egyptian army. While evidence for a professional standing army is limited, the episode reveals a hierarchy of military titles and a degree of military bureaucracy. The most common term for a warrior is "meshah", while "nefer" refers to recruits or conscripts. The episode also discusses the titles of commanders, such as "imigra mesha" (overseer of troops) and "imira awu" (overseer of auxiliaries). The existence of titles like "zecha mesha" (scribe of the troops) and "imira perui ahau" (overseer of the two houses of weapons) suggests a system of organization and management of military resources. The episode also explores the weapons used by the Old Kingdom Egyptians, including spears, axes, bows and arrows, and maces.
Battle Scenes from Royal Monuments
This Chapter examines artistic depictions of battles from royal monuments, focusing on the pyramid of Onus. The pyramid of Onus features a scene of a battle between Egyptian archers and eastern enemies, showcasing the Egyptians' use of archery and close-combat tactics. The scene is particularly dynamic, with the artist depicting the archers firing arrows with such force that they throw their enemies backwards, tumbling head over heels.
Battle Scenes from Non-Royal Tombs
This Chapter explores artistic depictions of battles from the tombs of non-royal individuals, focusing on the tombs of Ka-em-heset and Inti. The tomb of Ka-em-heset features a scene of an Egyptian army attacking a town, showcasing the Egyptians' use of ladders and sapping techniques to breach enemy fortifications. The tomb of Inti features a more elaborate scene, depicting both a field battle and a siege. The field battle showcases the Egyptians' use of archers, infantry, and axes, while the siege highlights their use of ladders, sapping techniques, and their tactics for overwhelming enemy defenses.
The Legacy of the Old Kingdom Army
This Chapter reflects on the legacy of the Old Kingdom Egyptian army, highlighting the importance of the artistic depictions of battles and sieges as valuable sources for understanding their military practices. The episode emphasizes the skill and sophistication of the Old Kingdom Egyptian army, showcasing their effective weapons, thorough training, and diverse tactics. The episode concludes by noting that the Old Kingdom army left a surprising variety of records, providing insights into their organization, equipment, and training methods.
Keywords
Old Kingdom Egypt
The Old Kingdom of Egypt (c. 2686–2181 BCE) was a period of great political stability, economic prosperity, and artistic achievement. It was during this period that the iconic pyramids of Giza were constructed, and the Egyptian state reached its peak of power and influence. The Old Kingdom is characterized by its strong centralized government, its sophisticated bureaucracy, and its impressive architectural achievements. The Old Kingdom was also a period of significant military expansion, as the Egyptians sought to secure their borders and expand their influence into neighboring regions.
Egyptian Army
The Egyptian army was a powerful force that played a crucial role in the expansion and defense of the Egyptian state. The army was composed of both professional soldiers and conscripts, and it was equipped with a variety of weapons, including spears, axes, bows and arrows, and maces. The Egyptian army was known for its discipline, its tactical prowess, and its ability to wage war on multiple fronts. The army was also responsible for maintaining order within the Egyptian state, and it played a key role in the construction of major public works projects.
Military Training
Military training was an essential aspect of the Egyptian army. Soldiers were trained in a variety of skills, including archery, spear fighting, swordsmanship, and wrestling. Training was often conducted in specialized training grounds, such as the Temple of Sahurra, where warriors practiced their skills in a controlled environment. The Egyptians also developed sophisticated tactics and strategies for warfare, which they employed in battles and sieges.
Siege Warfare
Siege warfare was a common tactic employed by the Egyptian army. The Egyptians developed specialized tools and techniques for attacking fortified cities and towns, including ladders, sapping techniques, and battering rams. Siege warfare was a complex and challenging form of warfare, requiring patience, skill, and a thorough understanding of the enemy's defenses. The Egyptians were successful in conducting sieges, as evidenced by the artistic depictions of sieges found in the tombs of Ka-em-heset and Inti.
Pyramid of Onus
The pyramid of Onus is a royal tomb located at the necropolis of Sakara. It was built by King Onus around 2350 BCE, over a century after the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The pyramid of Onus is notable for its well-preserved battle scene, which depicts Egyptian archers engaging in combat with eastern enemies. The scene provides valuable insights into the tactics and weaponry used by the Old Kingdom Egyptian army.
Tomb of Ka-em-heset
The tomb of Ka-em-heset is a non-royal tomb located in the cemetery of Sakara. It was built by Ka-em-heset, a high-ranking official of the early Sixth Dynasty, around 2300 BCE. The tomb is notable for its scene of a siege, which depicts an Egyptian army attacking a fortified town. The scene showcases the Egyptians' use of ladders and sapping techniques to breach enemy fortifications, and it provides valuable insights into the tactics and tools used in siege warfare.
Tomb of Inti
The tomb of Inti is a non-royal tomb located at De Shasha. It was built by Inti, a high-ranking official who held the title of "Overseer of Royal Fortresses", around 2350 BCE. The tomb is notable for its elaborate scene of a siege, which depicts both a field battle and a siege. The scene showcases the Egyptians' use of archers, infantry, axes, ladders, and sapping techniques, and it provides valuable insights into the tactics and weaponry used by the Old Kingdom Egyptian army.
Q&A
What evidence exists for military training in the Old Kingdom?
Scenes from the Temple of Sahurra, dating back to around 2500 BCE, depict warriors practicing wrestling and combat techniques, providing a glimpse into the practical elements of military training. These scenes showcase the Egyptians' emphasis on both long-range and close-combat skills.
What were the most common terms used to describe warriors in the Old Kingdom?
The most common term for a warrior was "meshah", which could also be used for laborers. "Nefer" referred to recruits or conscripts. "Ahha" was a more generic term for a fighter, and it could also apply to weaponry and arrows.
What evidence suggests a degree of military bureaucracy in the Old Kingdom?
The existence of titles like "zecha mesha" (scribe of the troops) and "imira perui ahau" (overseer of the two houses of weapons) suggests a system of organization and management of military resources. The title "imira menenu" (overseer of fortresses) also hints at a far-reaching military network.
What weapons were used by the Old Kingdom Egyptians?
The Old Kingdom Egyptians used a variety of weapons, including spears, axes, bows and arrows, and maces. The most common type of Egyptian mace was a pear- or oval-shaped club.
What are some key artistic depictions of battles and sieges from the Old Kingdom?
The pyramid of Onus features a scene of a battle between Egyptian archers and eastern enemies. The tomb of Ka-em-heset depicts an Egyptian army attacking a town, showcasing the Egyptians' use of ladders and sapping techniques. The tomb of Inti features a more elaborate scene, depicting both a field battle and a siege, showcasing the Egyptians' use of archers, infantry, axes, ladders, and sapping techniques.
What can we learn from the artistic depictions of battles and sieges?
These artistic depictions provide valuable insights into the tactics and weaponry used by the Old Kingdom Egyptian army. They also reveal the Egyptians' understanding of siege warfare and their ability to overcome enemy defenses.
What are some of the limitations of the evidence for the Old Kingdom Egyptian army?
While the artistic depictions provide valuable insights, they are limited by the fact that they are primarily visual representations. Physical evidence from this period is scarce, making it difficult to fully understand the organization, training, and equipment of the Old Kingdom Egyptian army.
Show Notes
Before the fall (c.2600 - 2200 BCE). Early Egyptians were fierce and active warriors. Our evidence for the Old Kingdom “army,” however, is scattered and fragmentary. Sifting through the pieces, we can reconstruct some elements of the early armed forces. In this episode, we explore royal texts that describe campaigns; pyramid art showing battles and soldiers training; and even images of siege warfare…
The History of Egypt Podcast:
- Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com.
- Support the show via Patreon www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast.
- Make a one-time donation via PayPal payments.
- Intro music by Stephen Rippy from Age of Empires (1997).
- Outro music and interludes by Keith Zizza.
- Music and interludes by Luke Chaos.
Episode Chapters:
- Introduction 00:00
- Dynasty IV Raids and Warriors 02:40
- Army Organisation and Weapons 16:07
- Battle Scenes of Unas and Ka-em-heset 25:58
- Siege Scene of Inti 38:00
Notable artefacts (see Bibliography for full titles):
- Archers from the reign of Khufu, MMA. See Goedicke 1971, MMA Open Access.
- Sahura training scenes: Published in El Awady 2009.
- Unas battle scene: First published by Selim Hassan 1938 (Archive.org).
- Siege scene of Khaemheset: First published in Quibell and Hayter 1927. Archive.org.
- Siege scene of Inti: See Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare, 2019 (Pen & Sword). First published Petrie 1894. See also Kanawati and McFarlane 1993.
Examples of pre-New Kingdom Egyptian weapons in museum collections:
- Wooden bows: Louvre, MMA (FIP or early MK).
- Arrows: MMA (FIP or early MK), Louvre (Pre-Dynastic), MFA (FIP or early MK), ROM (FIP).
- Maces: ROM (4th Dyn., Khafra), ROM (Pre-Dynastic), MMA (FIP or MK).
- Spearheads: Louvre (FIP), Louvre (12th Dyn.), MMA (MK).
- Axes: Louvre, (OK), Louvre (FIP), Louvre (MK).
Select Bibliography (see website for full details):
- L. Bestock, Violence and Power in Ancient Egypt: Image and Ideology Before the New Kingdom (2018).
- T. El Awady, Sahure: The Pyramid Causeway: History and Decoration Program in the Old Kingdom (2009).
- H. Goedicke, Re-Used Blocks from the Pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht (1971). MMA Open Access.
- S. Hassan, ‘Excavations at Saqqara 1937--1938’, Annales du Services des Antiquités de l’Egypte 38 (1938), 503—514. Archive.org.
- N. Kanawati and A. McFarlane, Deshasha: The Tombs of Inti, Shedu and Others (1993).
- A. Labrousse and A. Moussa, La chaussée du complexe funéraire du roi Ounas, I (2002).
- F. Monnier, ‘Les techniques de siège décrites dans la documentation pharaonique’, Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne 15 (2022), 51—73. ENIM.fr.
- A.-L. Mourad, ‘Siege Scenes of the Old Kingdom’, Bulletin of the Australian Centre of Egyptology 22 (2011), 135—158. Academia.edu.
- J. E. Quibell and A. G. K. Hayter, Excavations at Saqqara: Teti Pyramid, North Side (1927). Archive.org.
- I. Shaw, Ancient Egyptian Warfare (2019).
- N. Strudwick, Texts from the Pyramid Age (2005).
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