So far I’ve only dealt with archery in ancient Greece, a nation that were reluctant to use the bow. However, the ancient Egyptians were the complete opposite.
During the Old Kingdom (2575-2150BC) the Egyptians used a bow known as the ‘self bow’. It was between 1-2 meters in length and strung with twisted gut. It was made entirely of acacia wood which meant it was not flexible enough to shoot more than 200 metres effectively. This may not sound much, but if you ever stand in a field and measure it, you will see it is quite a distance!
When the Hyksos successfully invaded Egypt just before the New Kingdom (1580-1070BC), they brought with them the composite bow, which eventually lead to the transformation of ancient Egyptian warfare. This type of bow consists of layers of wood and sinew, which gives greater tension and compression, allowing greater power and accurate range for the archer.
The Egyptians realised that they had to change their weaponry and tactics in order to fight and expel their enemies. Many composite bows are made of Oryx horn and wood and they have been found in the tombs of the Pharaohs. However some of these are not of Egyptian manufacture, suggesting that they did not have the materials available to make them on a large scale. Instead they were probably imported from Syria and Asia Minor.
This may be the one of the earliest examples of arms dealing!
