I had previously mentioned to Tylluan that one of my favourite pharaohs was Tuthmosis III because of his military ability and attitude to archery. Here is a picture of a statue of him:
tuthmosis III

Tuthmosis III was a New Kingdom pharaoh and ruled from 1504-1450BC. Tuthmosis was his Greek name meaning 'Born of the God Thoth'; his Egyptian name would have been Djehutymes. In some of the ancient reliefs Tuthmosis III is depicted enjoying one of his favourite activities - this was to be driven fast in a chariot and shooting arrows at targets! He would make the Egyptian army watch him shoot his arrows into a thick plate of copper set up on a pole.

It was recorded that Tuthmosis managed to shoot his arrow into the copper with such force that it came out the other side. He had the plate (with the arrow still in it) set up in a temple dedicated to the god Amun. This is similar to the Greeks: Herakles bow was dedicated in the Temple of Apollo Alaios at Krimissa.

However modern scholars believe the penetrating power of these Pharaonic arrows was exaggerated. An arrow might be expected to pierce a metal plate 0.002-0.003m thick but not much more. As the ruler of Egypt and an intermediary between the Gods and mortals, the pharaoh reported his activities on a greater than human scale. It may have been a bit of royal propaganda!