Army and Soldiers of Ancient Egypt

History

Farmers rather than warriors made up the first Egyptians. They didn’t think a well-organized army was necessary. The natural confines of the desert that encircled the empire effectively shielded them. When the Pharaoh of the Old Kingdom required soldiers to defend the nation, he would summon the farmers.

The Hyksos people, who lived close to northern Egypt, finally organized, though. They used chariots and cutting-edge weapons to conquer Lower Egypt. Egypt understood that they now required an army. They mastered the art of building robust chariots and amassed a large army composed of soldiers, archers, and charioteers. In the end, they reclaimed Lower Egypt from the Hyksos.

Egypt started keeping a standing army after that. The Egyptian Empire grew during the New Kingdom, when the Pharaohs frequently led the army into combat and captured much of the surrounding territory.

Weapons

The bow and arrow was likely the most crucial weapon in the Egyptian army. The composite bow was utilized by the Egyptians, who had learnt about it from the Hyksos. They were able to kill numerous foes at a distance of nearly 600 feet with their arrows. The infantry, also known as the foot soldiers, were outfitted with a variety of weapons, such as spears, axes, and short swords.

Chariots

An essential component of the Egyptian army was their chariotry. They were ridden by two warhorses that moved quickly. The chariot contained two troops. While the other engaged in combat with a bow and arrow or spear, the other would steer the chariot and command the horses.

Armor

Rarely did the Egyptian warriors wear armor. They had a shield as their main line of protection. When they wore armor, it took the shape of straps made of toughened leather.

An Egyptian soldier’s daily routine

Being an Egyptian soldier was a difficult job. They engaged in training to maintain their stamina and endurance. They also received training with various weaponry. They would become an archer if they were skilled with a bow.

The army was frequently employed for purposes aside from combat. Pharaoh had to utilize these guys for something if he was going to feed them all, so he better be able to use them when things are peaceful. During the seasons of planting and harvest, the army worked the fields. They contributed labor to the building of several structures, including pyramids, temples, and palaces.

Organization

The Pharaoh served as the commander of the Egyptian army. Two generals served as the Pharaoh’s underlings; one oversaw the armies in Upper and Lower Egypt, respectively. Infantry, cavalry, and navy were each an army’s three main branches. The Pharaoh’s generals were frequently his blood kin.

Fun facts about the Egyptian Army:

The Egyptian army’s soldiers enjoyed high regard. When they retired, they had a piece of land and the loot from the fights.

Boys as young as 5 years old were occasionally enlisted in the military. However, they didn’t start fighting until they were 20 years old.

Army divisions were frequently given god names.

Particularly in battles fought outside of Egypt’s borders, the Egyptians frequently employed foreign mercenaries to fight for them.