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Khopesh

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Khopesh
18th century BC khopesh blade found in Nablus; the blade is decorated with electrum inlays.
TypeSword
Place of originAncient Egypt
Service history
In servicec. 3000–1300 BC
Used by
Wars
Specifications
Lengthavg. 50–60 cm (20–24 in)
Blade typeCurved

The khopesh (ḫpš; also vocalized khepesh) is an Egyptian sickle-shaped sword that developed from battle axes.[1][2] The sword style originated in Western Asia during the bronze age[3] and was introduced in the Second Intermediate Period[4][5]. The khopesh became more common in the New Kingdom, and is often depicted with kings in statues and murals.

Etymology

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The word khopesh may have been derived from "leg", as in "leg of beef", because of their similarity in shape. The hieroglyph for ḫpš ('leg') is found as early as during the time of the Coffin Texts (the First Intermediate Period).[6] However, on the 196 BC Rosetta Stone, it is referenced as the "sword" determinative in a hieroglyph block, with the spelled letters of kh, p, and sh to say:

Shall be set up a statue ..., the Avenger of Baq-t-(Egypt), the interpretation whereof is 'Ptolemy, the strong one of Kam-t'-(Egypt), and a statue of the god of the city, giving to him a sword royal of victory, ...[7]

Aa1
Q3		 N37
F23		 F51
(Coffin Texts)
ḫpš ('leg') 

in hieroglyphs

Description

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A typical khopesh is 50–60 cm (20–24 in) in length, though smaller examples also exist. The inside curve of the weapon could be used to trap an opponent's arm, or to pull an opponent's shield out of the way. These weapons changed from bronze to iron in the New Kingdom period.[8] The blade is only sharpened on the outside portion of the curved end. Examples have been found with dull edges, most likely indicating they were of ceremonial purpose. The khopesh evolved from the epsilon or similar crescent-shaped axes that were used in warfare.[2] The khopesh also evolved from the crescent-shaped swords that came with settlers to the delta region from Western Asia.[9] The khopesh was also a ceremonial object shown alongside depictions of kings and represents a symbol of power and conquest.

History

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Fragment of the Stele of Vultures. Fragment is divided in half with two scenes on the top and bottom of the fragment. Each scene is of a line of soldiers with shields and spears being led by a figure holding a khopesh.
A fragment of the Stele of the Vultures in which the earliest depiction of a khopesh is found. The khopesh can be seen in the hands of the figures at the top and bottom left portion of the fragment.

The khopesh did not originate in Egypt and was a foreign technology that was introduced to Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period when the Hyksos ruled Lower Egypt.[10] The Hyksos most likely originated from the Levant and brought new technological advances to Egypt. The Hyksos brought new techniques in pottery, bronze working, and weaving, they also brought new weapons like composite bows, chariots, and curved swords that were the precursors to the khopesh[11][10]. The earliest known depiction of a khopesh is from the Stele of the Vultures, depicting King Eannatum of Lagash wielding the weapon; this would date the khopesh to at least 2500 BC.[12]

The height of the use of the khopesh was during the New Kingdom Dynasties in which warfare and imperial conquest were key features of the New Kingdoms.[13] The khopesh fell out of use around 1300 BC.[6] Ancient Egyptian soldiers carried the khopesh with various weapons such as axes, spears, maces, daggers, bows, and war chariots.[14] Outside of active warfare, the khopesh is often featured alongside depictions of Kings as a symbol of power and conquest.

Although some examples have clearly sharpened edges, many examples have dull edges that apparently were never intended to be sharp. It may therefore be possible that some khopeshes found in high-status graves were ceremonial variants.[12] Various pharaohs are depicted with a khopesh, and some have been found in royal graves, such as the two examples found with Tutankhamun.[12]

Examples in Art

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Depictions of the khopesh are also common in carvings from the New Kingdom Period. Carvings typically show the khopesh being wielded by a King in battle or while in a ceremonial setting. This use of the khopesh is used to associate kings with concepts of power and conquest.

  • In an ostraca from the New Kingdom, a depiction of Ramesses IV is shown wielding a khopesh used to smite his enemies. The ostraca came from the reign of Ramesses IV putting its creation around 1153–1147 B.C. It is currently in possession of the MFA Boston.
Mural of Seti I holding a khopesh while riding in a war chariot and trampling libyans found at Karnak.
  • A plaster relief on the exterior of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnack shows a depiction of Seti I from the 19th dynasty in a battle scene with a war chariot and a raised khopesh. In the scene, Seti I is trampling a group of enemies who are depicted as Libyans.

The Merneptah Stele from the New Kingdom depicts Merneptah, the fourth king of the 19th dynasty being given a khopesh from the God Amun after his victory over the Libyans in the north.

Merneptah stele showing a carving of merneptah being given a khopesh by Amun
Merneptah Stele, depicting Merneptah's victory over the Libyans in 1208 BCE. Merneptah is being given a khopesh by Amun.

Examples in Archeology

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Archeological examples of the khopesh have been found in tombs with both dull and sharpened edges. This points to the khopesh being used as a ceremonial object as well as a weapon. Archeological examples of the khopesh are most prevalent in the New Kingdom period after their introduction during the second intermediate period.

  • A bronze khopesh found in the region of Palestine was found with an engraving of Ramses II. Louvre. E 25689.
  • Two examples of a khopesh were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. These swords were ornately carved and with a dull edge, indicating these swords were largely ceremonial in purpose. JE 61588.

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khopesh.
  • Celurit – Indonesian sickle
  • Falcata – Ancient Iberian single-edged sword
  • Falx – Ancient bladed weapon
  • Harpe – Type of sword featuring a sickle-like protuberance
  • Kopis – Greek curved knife or sword
  • Makraka – African hybrid knife/axe
  • Shotel – Type of curved sword originating in Ethiopia

References

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  1. ^ Wise, Terence (1981). Ancient Armies of the Middle East. Osprey Publishing. pp. 23–25. ISBN 978-0-85045-384-3.
  2. ^ a b
    Hamblin, W.J. (2006). Warfare in the Ancient Near East (softcover ed.). Routledge. pp. 66–71. ISBN 0-415-25589-9.
  3. ^ Sapiro, D., Webler, B. Fabrication of a Bronze Age Sword using Ancient Techniques. JOM 68, 3180–3185 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-2105-9
  4. ^ Lloyd, Alan B. A Companion to Ancient Egypt. Spalinger, Anothony J. Ch 23. Military Institutions and Warfare: Pharaonic. Newark, UNITED KINGDOM: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2010.
  5. ^ Mieroop, Marc Van De. A History of Ancient Egypt. John Wiley & Sons, 2021. pg 126
  6. ^ a b Coffin Texts: CT V, 9c, B1C
  7. ^ Budge, E.A.W. (1989) [1929]. "Rosetta line 6". The Rosetta Stone (unabridged, softcover, reprint ed.). Dover Publications. pp. 155–156. ISBN 0-486-26163-8.
  8. ^ Howard, Dan (2011). Bronze Age Military Equipment. Casemate Publishers. pp. 31–34. ISBN 978-1-84884-293-9.
  9. ^ Mieroop, Marc Van De. A History of Ancient Egypt. John Wiley & Sons, 2021. pg 126
  10. ^ a b Mieroop, Marc Van De. A History of Ancient Egypt. John Wiley & Sons, 2021. pg 126
  11. ^ Lloyd, Alan B. A Companion to Ancient Egypt. Spalinger, Anothony J. Ch 23. Military Institutions and Warfare: Pharaonic. Newark, UNITED KINGDOM: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c
    Loades, Mike (2010). Swords and Swordsmen. Pen & Sword Military. pp. 1–21. ISBN 978-1-84884-133-8.
  13. ^ Mieroop, Marc Van De. A History of Ancient Egypt. John Wiley & Sons, 2021. pg 126
  14. ^ Lloyd, Alan B. A Companion to Ancient Egypt. Spalinger, Anothony J. Ch 23. Military Institutions and Warfare: Pharaonic. Newark, UNITED KINGDOM: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2010.

Bibliography

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  • Wernick (2004). "A khepesh sword in the University of Liverpool Museum". JSSEA. 31: 151–155.
  • Massafra (2009). Le harpai nel Vicino Oriente antico. Cronologia e distribuzione. Rome La Sapienza Studies on the Archaeology of Palestine & Transjordan. Vol. 09. Roma (published 2012).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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  • Media related to Khopesh at Wikimedia Commons
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