paintings of Thebes offer two forms, one of which is more circular than that of Mr. Salt's; from the excellence, however, of its workmanship and materials, we may conclude that this last was of the most general and approved shape, and perhaps belonged to some military chief, or to the king himself; and it is singular that an axe very similar to this was formerly used by the Germans, and other European infantry. The battle-axe may answer to the Tλexus, as the pole-axe to the aim, of the Greeks. The pole-axe was about three feet in length, but apparently more difficult to wield than the preceding, owing to the great weight of a metal ball to which the blade was fixed and if this increased its force, and rendered the blow more destructive, it required, like the mace, a powerful as well as a *Figs. 3. and 4. skilful arm to use it with success, and to make it as efficient a weapon as the battle-axe. We rarely find an entire corps of men armed with it; the only instance I remember occurring at E'Sioot, where the same soldiers bear the cumbrous shields already noticed *; it may, therefore, have been peculiar to certain troops, and to the chiefs, in whose hand it is usually represented. The handle was generally about two feet in length, sometimes much longer; the ball four inches in its greatest diameter t, and the blade varied from ten to fourteen inches, by two and three in breadth. 1 No. 43. κορυνη The mace was very similar to the pole-axe, without a blade, and appears to correspond to the xopun of the Greeks, which was frequently of iron. That used by the Egyptians was of wood, bound with bronze, about two feet and a half in length, and furnished with an angular piece of metal, projecting from the handle, which may * Vide wood-cut, No. 34. † I suppose it to have been a ball, rather than a flat circular piece of metal. have been intended as a guard, though in many instances they represent the hand placed above it, while the blow was given.* No. 44. Maces. Thebes. 3 4 They had another macet, similar in many respects to this, without the ball, and, to judge from its frequent occurrence in the sculptures, more generally used, and evidently far more manageable; but the former was a most formidable weapon against armour, like that used for the same purpose by the Memlooks and the modern people of Cutch; and no shield, helmet, or cuirass, could have been a sufficient protection against the impetus given it by a powerful arm. Neither of these was peculiar to the chiefs all the soldiers in some infantry regiments were armed with them; and a charioteer was furnished with one or more, which he carried in a case attached with the quiver to the side of his car. § In ancient times, when the fate of a battle was frequently decided by personal valour, the dexterous management of such arms was of primary * Wood-cut, No. 44. fig. 2. + Wood-cut, No. 44. figs. 3. and 4. Called dabóss, or dabbóos. Vide Egyptian chariot, in wood-cut, No. 53. a. p. 346. importance; and a band of resolute veterans, headed by a gallant chief, spread dismay among the ranks of an enemy; as Homer describes Areïthous alone breaking through an opposing phalanx with his iron mace* and notwithstanding the great improvements which have taken place in the art of war, by the introduction of artillery and the musket, and by the machinery of modern armies, physical strength and individual courage are still considered the highest recommendation in close combat; and thus the Egyptians, though they placed their chief reliance in the skill of their archers, failed not to attach great importance to heavy infantry, and paid particular attention to the nature of their offensive as well as defensive arms. And the variety of weapons used by dif ferent corps, as well as the care they took in allotting to each its respective duties during action, in selecting those best suited for a peculiar service, and in the judicious arrangement of the army and its component parts, argue the great experience acquired by the Egyptians in the art of war. They had another kind of mace, sometimes of uniform thickness through its whole length, sometimes broader at the upper end†, without either the ball or guard, and many of their allies carried a rude heavy club‡; but no body of native troops was * Homer, Il. 7, 138. : -: « Διου Αρηϊθρου, τον επικλησιν Κορυνητην Αλλα σιδηρείη κορύνῃ ῥήγνυσκε φαλαγγας.” Vide wood-cut, No. 47. figs. 1. and 2. armed with the last, and indeed it cannot be considered an Egyptian weapon. The curved stick, or club (now called lissan)*, was used by heavy and light-armed troops as well as archers; and if it does not appear a formidable arm, yet the experience of modern times bears ample testimony to its efficacy in close combat. To the Bisharieen it supplies the place of a sword; and the Ababdeh, content with this, their spear, and shield, fear not to encounter the hostile Maazy, whom they frequently defeat, though armed with the matchlock and the atagan. In length that of the ancient Egyptians was probably the same, about two feet and a half, and made of a hard thorn wood, as the mimosas, sellem, and sumr; which are still used for the same purpose, as well as for the shafts of the Ababdeh lance. The shield, their principal defence, I have already noticed. The helmet was usually quilted, but rarely of metal; and though bronze helmets are said to have been worn by the Egyptians‡, we may con * i. e." tongue," in Arabic. + A long knife, or straight sword, worn in the girdle, and called gembéeh (side arm) by the Arabs. Vide Herod. ii. 151. |