Khopesh
| Khopesh | |
|---|---|
Canaanite city-states | |
| Wars | |
| Specifications | |
| Length | avg. 50–60 cm (20–24 in) |
| Blade type | Curved |
| ||||
ḫpš ('leg')
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
The khopesh (ḫpš; also vocalized khepesh) is an Egyptian sickle-shaped sword that developed from battle axes.[1][2]
Description
A typical khopesh is 50–60 cm (20–24 inches) 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.[3] 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.[4]
The blade is only sharpened on the outside portion of the curved end. The khopesh evolved from the epsilon or similar crescent-shaped axes that were used in warfare.[2]
History
The khopesh fell out of use around 1300 BC. However, on the 196 BC
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Various pharaohs are depicted with a khopesh, and some have been found in royal graves, such as the two examples found with Tutankhamun.[4]
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.[4]
Etymology
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
In media
- Khopeshes were used by Egyptians in many films of the Book of Exodus including the 1923, 1956, 1974, 1995, 1998 and its prequel, 2006, 2007, 2014, and 2016 films, as well as the Moses episode of Testament.
- Khopeshes were among many weapons used by Minotaurs in the Chronicles of Narnia films, including The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).
- An ornately-decorated black-bladed khopesh was the weapon of choice for the fictional Egyptian Pharaoh Kahmunrah in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
See also
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References
- ^
Wise, Terence (1981). Ancient Armies of the Middle East. Osprey Publishing. pp. 23–25. ISBN 978-0-85045-384-3.
- ^ a b
ISBN 0-415-25589-9. - ^
Howard, Dan (2011). Bronze Age Military Equipment. Casemate Publishers. pp. 31–34. ISBN 978-1-84884-293-9.
- ^ a b c
Loades, Mike (2010). Swords and Swordsmen. Pen & Sword Military. pp. 1–21.ISBN 978-1-84884-133-8. - ^
ISBN 0-486-26163-8.
- ^ Coffin Texts: CT V, 9c, B1C
Bibliography
- 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)
External links
Media related to Khopesh at Wikimedia Commons
