Ancient Egyptian Weapons | Weapons of History

The Epsilon Axe, a legendary relic of ancient Middle Eastern warfare, holds a profound place in the annals of history. Crafted with meticulous skill, its unique construction featuring tangs for secure attachment to the haft sets it apart from conventional axes. While its effectiveness against heavily armored foes is limited, its swift and powerful swings find purpose against less protected adversaries. Paired with a shield, it offers a balanced offense-defense strategy for Egyptian warriors, likely serving among less elite infantry.
In contrast, the Ancient Egyptian Mace Axe embodies practicality and force. With a rounded ball-shaped head and a sharp blade, it delivers powerful blows capable of smashing through shields and armor. Its dual-purpose design makes it a versatile weapon on the battlefield, symbolizing the martial prowess and craftsmanship of ancient Egypt.
The Egyptian Fan Axe, though fantastical in appearance, likely served a ceremonial rather than practical role. Its elaborate design, depicted in ancient Egyptian artwork, suggests a specialized purpose unsuited for chaotic combat scenarios. Instead, it likely made appearances in religious or symbolic events, adding mystique to ancient Egyptian culture.
The Ducks Bill Axe, originating in Syria-Palestine during the Middle Bronze Age, offered a departure from traditional Egyptian axe construction. Its large socket for the haft and concentrated force made it a formidable weapon, particularly effective in an era where battlefield protection was minimal. It likely played a significant role in driving the adoption of heavier armor during the Bronze Age.
The khopesh, with its sickle-shaped blade, remains an iconic symbol of ancient Egyptian warfare. From its origins as a bronze weapon to its evolution into a finely crafted iron sword, it left an indelible mark on military history, symbolizing the authority and prowess of Egyptian pharaohs.
In the New Kingdom, the straight one-handed bronze sword provided a compact yet versatile weapon for Egyptian warriors. Its practical design and prevalence in military depictions highlight its significance in ancient Egyptian warfare, showcasing the adaptability and sophistication of the civilization.
Finally, the Egyptian Composite Bow revolutionized warfare with its compact yet powerful design. Crafted from composite materials, it empowered charioteers to engage in hit-and-run tactics, contributing to the expansion of the Egyptian empire. It stands as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Egyptian craftsmen and their ability to leverage technology for strategic advantage.
In essence, each of these ancient Egyptian weapons embodies a unique aspect of the civilization's military prowess, technological innovation, and cultural significance, leaving an enduring legacy in the sands of time.
SOURCES:
www.worldhistory.org/
www.britannica.com/
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#ancientegypt #egypt #AncientHistoryGuy

[@cal2127]

i like this channel but you gotta do more handwritten scripts. we can tell chatgpt is writing them when you repeat the same point about versitility 3 times in a row.

[@Pemmont107]

Yeah. It's informative and I love the drawings, but the change to AI isn't amazing :p I always think a real voice is ten times better.

[@callumpaxton1657]

Don’t forget meticulous, they were meticulous about three times as well

[@dirremoire]

The lack of any kind of humor is a dead giveaway.

[@collencal4662]

It’s hard to be history channel in 2024 smh

[@jclark2752]

I’ve simply begun to block any pages I find using AI irresponsibly. There are too many options out there to waste time on bad product. Some People pour their heart and soul into their work. They deserve views and subs. Plain and simple.

[@fluteboiz8912]

Disappointed by the obvious ai script

[@skylerslack12]

A crime not to talk about the sling, Egyptians even had their own design for it.

[@lero_]

It was used for the slaves and nubians💀

[@callumpaxton1657]

This is far too AI for my tastes

[@pauldalton6999]

Lasted less than a minute before I could not stand the bollocks anymore.

[@DieLuftwaffel]

Everything stands as a testament to......

[@user-vk4jk1ww2q]

As a medieval reenactor, If I have to use a Fan Axe, I would use it as a spear against low armored mass of enemies.

[@mikewlazlinski4309]

That's exactly what it was for. However doubt there were heavily armored opponents like you are thinking around in the bronze age.

[@HIFLY01]

"please write a script but make it less obvious it was written by chatgpt" you should use this next time

[@user-nk3dr2nx4d]

I suggest a possible use for the fan axe - protecting a dignitary from an assassin. If someone with an audience with the Pharoah pulled out a dagger and sprinted towards him, the bodyguard closest to the assassin's path might move to place himself in the path with the fan axe held out and the blade horizontal. If the assassin dodged the axe head the bodyguard could pull it towards himself while pressing the haft against the assassin in order to hurt him with the hook or pull one of his feet up, or else reverse the fan axe to strike with the metal structure on the weapon's butt. A bodyguard who was more perpendicular to the assassin's path might thrust the fan held horizontally (parallel to the ribs) then run it across the front or back of the assassin, hook the assassin's far side then pull. (The hook could catch the side of the head, neck or waist, the outside of the further leg or the inside of the closest leg.) A bodyguard behind the assassin could also slice and hook. Once the assassin was slowed by 1 or 2 axe heads held before him, or was hooked, he would be dispatched or captured by other guards. This specialist use would explain why the fan axe would be depicted in ceremonial occasions, when dignitaries were in the presence of the public, rather than battlefields.

[@loke6664]

You are wrong about the Khopesh. They didn't switch to iron before around 1000 BCE and the new kingdom ended in 1077 BCE. They also did now switch to iron due to it being stronger the iron used at that time was weaker then well made bronze but they lost access to tin after the bronze age collapse. Bronze is underestimated, it took a rather long time before iron weapons became better (around late Roman times really, a bot earlier in India) but bronze have 2 other weaknesses: It weights more and is far more expensive. The only known New kingdom weapon in a harder material then bronze was the dagger King Tut had made of meteoric steel. Iron weapons did exist in the period but not in Egypt.

[@mrredeef]

Fan axe has kind of a "bec de corbin" vibe. I think it would've been good for tearing through cowhide shields or scale armor.

[@richard6133]

I would suspect that it would have been used more like a bardiche or halberd is used when not in a formation. Held buttspike forward like a spear and blade back and low. Thrust and jab with the spike until it's time to suddenly come around with the blade. The angles of the points suggest that it would be used like the point of a sickle or kama, up close, with the hands up closer to the blade end. At least, that's my hypothesis, anyway.

[@johnduquette7023]

@@richard6133 With the seeming "ceremonial" presentation in the art, I think it more likely that it was used for protection/bodyguard duty and crowd control domestically in the same way that those over-designed pokey halberds from the Renaissance that couldn't cut. Without depictions of it on the battlefield and its odd design, I'm disinclined to think it was a battlefield weapon at all.

[@richard6133]

@@johnduquette7023 I was speaking more to the body mechanics of actually using it as a weapon, more than the actual deployment doctrine. I'm not aware of any depictions of it actually getting used as a weapon against another person, so it's entirely possible that it wasn't really even meant to be used as a weapon. In that sense, it could have been more of a cult symbolic fantasy weapon.

[@Plastic_Passion]

A Fan Axe would be a good crowd control weapon for the time. It is ornate and can be swept to keep people away.

[@kronckew]

I've not seen a 'mace-axe' before. They did use alabaster-headed maces. The penetrative axe was skipped entirely. 'Penetrative' because it could penetrate armour. It's shown in many of the wall drawings and even cartoons here, but not mentioned. Tut had a rather nice one in his tomb. The spear was the primary weapon, as in most nations. Also not mentioned.

[@ofertsadok8640]

if you dont understand how a compound bow is made just skip it

[@warmist8197]

Hey cool channel I'm digging the content. Worth my sub 👍

[@mohamed-fb9vt]

You forgot the mace and the iron dagger

[@blakebailey22]

Are there any examples of iron khopesh? What swords were Egyptian soldiers using during the Achaemenid conquest?

[@NobleKorhedron]

Good questions, @blakebailey22...

[@kronckew]

Probably rusted away

[@carloshenriquezimmer7543]

Iron was very rare in ancient Egipt, during the periond that the kopesh was popular. The few examples of iron weapons of that era that were ever found were some iron daggers in faraos' tombs (kink Tut had 4). Those were short, 3-5 inches blades, with exquisite decorations, made of meteoric iron (meteorites). The meteorites were forged directly, not smelted or patern welded first, because they could not achieve the temperature needed for a solid weld, let alone melting iron. Given the size of a kopesh, making one out of iron was way out of theyr technology level. The very first evidence of an iron sword of similar size to a kopesh is the Vered Jericho Sword, from Israel, dated around 600 bc. The kopesh was already around 1000 years out of fashion by this time. Not impossible that it existed, but there are no evidences of an example or of the tech needed for it.

[@xyreniaofcthrayn1195]

@@carloshenriquezimmer7543 For posterity it's spelt pharaoh's not faraos. The pharaoh tutankhamun had more than four kinks.

[@danboyle7165]

Not a bad video, but it's a little too noticeably a script by chatgpt. Thank you for reading it yourself instead of having an AI voice, though. There are some channels on KZbin that use an AI voice as well as chatgpt script, & I can't even watch them with the foul pronunciations. You haven't fallen victim to that issue.

[@surgesilk]

Holy adjectives

[@EddieJr8611]

Nice animation, I’m a huge history buff. Good information too, just repetitive writing.

[@travisgoonan7667]

I sent this video to a pen pal of mine, who happens to be a history professor, and this is what he had to say. “To be honest that video is really lacking in historical veracity. It is ok as an introduction for kids ...but much of the information is not correct. Egyptian bronze weapons as academia on the subject stands right now, was influenced by outside sources....i.e. Canaan, Phoenicians, Hittites, Sea Peoples.... The Egyptian armies were more a spear, dagger, kopesh, and axe based arsenal and of course bow and arrow. There seems to have been heavy use of maces too and 'throwing sticks' ...the swords seem to be more a later introduction and heavily associated with foreign mercenary units.”

[@paulellington1505]

The fan axe was probably more of a dueling style of weapon. Because in a one on one duel it would be formidable but in the structure and formations of multiman combat it isn't very practical. Great video. I've always loved the aesthetics of Egyptian weaponry.

[@seanmalloy7249]

Proof that ancient Vulcans explored Earth and passed the lirpa to the Egyptians...

[@tonyadams6375]

If I wanted to watch a cartoon I would.

[@WoebringerofDoom]

Stands as a testament to artificial halfassery and poor writing.

[@udikai7799]

kopesh is the better weapon in skilled hands the straight sword is simple to use low skill required same reason atlatl and sling were replaced with javelin and bows

[@nagual1992]

The art depicts the Kopesh’s blade incorrectly. I’m fine with the AI, just do some better management of it and make sure your art is right.

[@lokitus]

Did the Egyptians invent the composite bow or was it something borrowed?

[@gehtdichnixan3200]

well that fan axe thing reminds me on medieval pole or murder axes most of the fighting with those is done with the spike on the foot but you can use the head for a crushing blow maybe those upper axeheads are a bit oversiced in art ...

[@Hokatoman]

When i have a Fan Axe and must fight with it i will probably use the pointy end as a Speer, and grab from time to time the far end for a wide swings like you do it with the halberd or the naginata. In History all around the World People Fear the moment when one Crazy Monk guy steps on the Battlefield with his Crazy staff Weapons moves.

[@mosu24]

"the choice of bronze"... Was there any other choice in the... Bronze... Ahem... Age?

[@anon2427]

Stop using AI for you scripts man. At least edit it yourself. WTF

[@shuusaki3917]

He glazinggggg

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

Love the cartoon artwork it's brilliant.

[@bani1046]

Yeah not good and some bad info in the weapons really sad. The fan axe was mostly likely used my place guards and elite troops. The down ward points are not used to stab but to hook and control. the blade used to keep groups of people away think like a zweihander sword most likely.

[@MysticChronicles712]

I'm impressed by how this video breathes new life into ancient myths. It's a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. Well done!

[@adrianescobar3335]

Why do most of these weapons look so goofy

[@AncientRylanor69]

tcetera

[@travisgoonan7667]

Please in the name of God, no not erase this video EVER!!!

[@nazmaahmed9061]

Ma j

[@311Bob]

At least draw real pictures when describing weapons. Cartoonish weapons are not interesting.yeah, like the other comments say you repeat the same thing 3 or 4 times, makes me say all pass sorry, maybe the algas may bring your content around again when visuals are more professional.

[@mennorach]

Spoken like someone who knows very little and understands even less. Try again, please?

[@embalmertrick1420]

Excellent documentary but needs accuracy, at 13:14 palestine is the name of Israel given by the romans when they conquered it, around Jesus' time, so there was no palestine in the bronze age.

[@my5092]

The isreali occupation appeared 70 years ago, in the bronze age it was named canaan and Egyptians was there beforetge existence of the so called jews, and there was nothing called isreal, they are bunch of colonial Europeans, Go learn history please

[@lero_]

There was no isreal its 70 years old occupation, it was canaan/palestine then not isreal

[@user-gg6xy7vr6v]

It would be nice to see real artifacts or even replicas instead of this cartoon crap.

[@alien0scientist]

Thank You for mentioning palestine instead of the others so called nation...

[@domm5715]

That’s just another thing on a long list of shit that this guys ai got wrong… it was not called Palestine at that time, it has not come into existence yet. If you got Problem with Israel, cool, but at least know the history about the area if you are gonna pick a side, you can’t decide who’s right if you don’t know anything about it

[@my5092]

​@@domm5715there was no isreal in this era, isreal existed 70 years ago, in this era it was named canaan and the Egyptians invaded it