Ancient Egypt did not have several kinds of mineral ores, such as silver, copper, tin, lead, etc., even though they produced large quantities of electrum (an alloy of gold and silver), copper, and bronze alloys. The aegis (/ˈiːdʒɪs/ EE-jis;[1] Ancient Greek: αἰγίς aigis), as stated in the Iliad, is a device carried by Athena and Zeus, variously interpreted as an animal skin or a shield and sometimes featuring the head of a Gorgon. £3.85 ... ANK27 Saite Egyptian: Spearman with long shield. The paintings were often made with the intent of making a pleasant afterlife for the deceased. In part, the bow’s enduring popularity was due to the absence of protective body armour worn by Egypt’s opponents and the searing, humid climate where their forces were employed. Two centuries after Lachish, Greek soldiers were carrying only small shields about 3ft. Shields first typed the of body protection on the scene. Your search for Egyptian fabric is over! (Also, see Egyptian weapons.) Ancient Egyptian warriors raced into battle, shooting arrows from chariots pulled by horses. The shield covered almost the whole of the soldier’s body, although he also wore a breastplate, closed high-crested metal helmet and metal greaves on his legs to protect his feet. The themes included journey through the afterworld or protective deities introducing the … Ancient armorers sought a way to solve this problem, experimenting with different shapes, or different materials, or both. But in the meantime, wood, reeds, bark and stretched animal skins were used. But unlike his modern-day counterpart, the Pharaoh also boasted absolute control over his kingdom’s resources and the administrative sector. The shields were made of wooden frame, often in conjunction with leather or rawhide, held by a handle or a leather strip fastened to the center of the frame. 13). The bow was the mainstay of Egypt’s military throughout the country’s lengthy military history. (In skilled hands a sling is a very accurate and effective weapon). The ring on the inside center of the shield provided a grip for the soldier, Persian soldiers with ‘figure-of-eight’ shields, from the walls of Persepolis, Daily Life – Prayer – Paintings – Books of the Bible – Bible Paintings, Bible Bad Women: Jezebel, Salome, Eve, Delilah, Maacah, Potiphar’s Wife, Lot’s Wife & Daughters, Herodias, Athaliah, if it was large enough to give complete protection, it was too heavy to handle. They were used to protect soldiers from arrows and spears. Some shields, as a compromise between strength and lightness, were made of wood or leather and stiffened with metal plates and studs. He was better off with a small, maneuverable shield. The characteristics of individual gods could be hard to pin down. These wicker backed shields were so much a part of the Assyrians weaponry that surviving records show that special reed farms were set aside to provide resources in time of war – which for the Assyrians was more or less a permanent state. use. Egyptian soldiers went into battle protected only by wooden or leather shields. 13). Ancient Egypt … The latest form of the language, Coptic, remains in ecclesiastical use among Christians in Egypt. Cats became so revered in Egyptian society, that an invading army was even able to avoid attack by using cats as living shields! In some pottery it appears as a tasselled cover over Athena's dress. Such an incredible scope of wielding unmitigated power was complemented by the Phar… Ancient designers were as concerned with the choice of material as they were with shape in the search for the ideal shield. Herodotus thought he had identified the source of the ægis in ancient Libya, which was always a distant territory of ancient magic for the Greeks. In the Iliad when Zeus sends Apollo to revive the wounded Hector, Apollo, holding the aegis, charges the Achaeans, pushing them back to their ships drawn up on the shore. The metal shield broke and the bronze shield split in half. if it was small enough to handle easily, it did not cover the body. The shields were taller than the soldiers and curved at the top so that they caught arrows falling onto the heads of the soldiers. Their respect and veneration for this animal was so great that the year 525 BC, when the Persians besieged Pelusium, ancient Egyptians lost the city since Cambyses II, knowledgeable about their customs, had cats tied to the shields of his soldiers. Most early shields were of wood, leather, plaited twigs or reeds, or of metal. At times attempts were made to free the shield arm for offensive action, or at least for carrying another weapon. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. The size and shape of shields varied, according to need. She was the goddess of the home, domesticity, women's secrets, cats, fertility, and childbirth. Pin Depiction of Tutankhamun in an Ancient Egyptian Chariot. This meant that every archer below the walls at Lachish worked in tandem with his shield bearer. Most infantry would be equipped spears, brandishing copper spearheads and a large shield. The defenders of the city (see upper left-hand corner) had small light bows used for sniper fire. For other uses, see, Part I, section I (Warner Books' United States Paperback Edition). Browse our great selection of styles, patterns, & designs for your craft, upholstery & quilting projects. In this context, Graves identifies the aegis as clearly belonging first to Athena. Shield with backing and hand-grip of wicker, with leather outer covering. In a late rendering by Gaius Julius Hyginus (Poetical Astronomy ii. [12], The Greek αἰγίς aigis, has many meanings including:[13], The original meaning may have been the first, and Ζεὺς Αἰγίοχος Zeus Aigiokhos = "Zeus who holds the aegis" may have originally meant "Sky/Heaven, who holds the thunderstorm". The first Greek mercenaries appeared in Palestine at the beginning of the 5th century BC. ANK23 Later New Kingdom Egyptian: Heavy Spearmen. Robert Graves in The Greek Myths (1955) asserts that the ægis in its Libyan sense had been a shamanic pouch containing various ritual objects, bearing the device of a monstrous serpent-haired visage with tusk-like teeth and a protruding tongue which was meant to frighten away the uninitiated. Shields From Unknown Tribe: Ancient shields from unknown tribe. Metal of course was not used until smelting was discovered. (90cm) in diameter; but their body was covered by helmet, breastplate and leg greaves, and they fought in close formation. Egyptian armies of the period consisted of archers and infantry men . Cats were a popular pet in ancient Egypt and closely associated with the goddess Bastet (also known as Bast) who appears in Egyptian art with the body of a woman and the head of a cat or as a sitting cat in a regal pose. A thriving royal winemaking industry was established in the Nile Delta following the introduction of grape cultivation from the Levant to Egypt c. 3000 BC. In a similar interpretation, Aex, a daughter of Helios, represented as a great fire-breathing chthonic serpent similar to the Chimera, was slain and flayed by Athena, who afterwards wore its skin, the aegis, as a cuirass (Diodorus Siculus iii. Shields in ancient Egypt were often made from ox hide stretched over a wooden frame. "Athene's garments and ægis were borrowed by the Greeks from the Libyan women, who are dressed in exactly the same way, except that their leather garments are fringed with thongs, not serpents."[9]. Ancient shields varied in size and shape according to need. Early Egyptian shields were tall as the man using it and restricted the warrior in his choice of weapon. Note the rounded shield-grip similar to the later Greek shield illustrated below. Many ancient Egyptian paintings have survived due to Egypt's extremely dry climate. Since they were walking forces, they set the pace of the whole army. What did soldiers in ancient … Unfortunately, there was never an ideal shield, at least in ancient times. The highly mobile troops who scaled the walls of the biblical city of Lachish had small, light shields, as did the defenders of the city  (see detail of wall relief, below); the archers shooting from below the walls, easy targets for the city’s defenders, were shielded by mobile wicker walls. The modern concept of doing something "under someone's aegis" means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source. We know that many primitive tribes used pieces of bark prized off the sides of trees – anything that made a barrier between the body of a fighter and the weapon of his enemy. The transition to the meaning "shield" or "goatskin" may have come by folk etymology among a people familiar with draping an animal skin over the left arm as a shield. The wood and leather shield was significantly lighter in weight and enabled more mobility. They also used slings and bows and arrows. Much like the modern office of the American president, the Pharaoh of the Ancient Egyptian realm was considered as the head of the state as well as the supreme commander of the armed forces. The core of the Egyptian army, like most ancient armies, was its spearmen. A commonly used Egyptian shield during the ancient times. Wine played an important role in ancient Egyptian ceremonial life. 15mm Ancient: Egyptian. It was usually either one to one and a half meters high and tapered towards the top to … A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. "to quickly move, to shoot, dart, to put in motion": Learn how and when to remove this template message, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aegis&oldid=1002198506, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2016, Articles needing additional references from June 2018, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. That’s why I’m so excited to share this super duper collection of FREE printables all about Ancient Egypt. Home Biblical Archaeology - Significant Discoveries from Ancient Empires. The shield of a deity as described above. What were the first shields like? A lot of you have been requesting materials about history. Spear. Assyrian, about 700-692 BC, from Nineveh, South-West Palace. The aegis appears in works of art sometimes as an animal's skin thrown over Athena's shoulders and arms, occasionally with a border of snakes, usually also bearing the Gorgon head, the gorgoneion. A large shield would have been unnecessary and cumbersome. Virgil imagines the Cyclopes in Hephaestus' forge, who "busily burnished the aegis Athena wears in her angry moods—a fearsome thing with a surface of gold like scaly snake-skin, and the linked serpents and the Gorgon herself upon the goddess's breast—a severed head rolling its eyes",[3] furnished with golden tassels and bearing the Gorgoneion (Medusa's head) in the central boss. The infantry could cover about 15 miles a day. The Douris cup shows that the aegis was represented exactly as the skin of the great serpent, with its scales clearly delineated. Note that the ‘shield’ is made of reeds or canes bound tightly together to form a sort of wall behind which the archer stood. And of course people were quick to see the advantage of having a shield that was stronger than their bare arm. Shields in ancient Egypt have been discussed by some researchers in relation to pharaonic warfare, but there has analysis of the artistic and archaeological evidence we can propose how shields were used and why the changes in shield design may have been in … When the Olympian deities overtook the older deities of Greece and she was born of Metis (inside Zeus who had swallowed the goddess) and "re-born" through the head of Zeus fully clothed, Athena already wore her typical garments. Classical Greece interpreted the Homeric aegis usually as a cover of some kind borne by Athena. [4] "Aegis-bearing Zeus", as he is in the Iliad, sometimes lends the fearsome aegis to Athena. Some of the Attic vase-painters retained an archaic tradition that the tassels had originally been serpents in their representations of the aegis. Egyptian language, extinct language of the Nile valley whose ancient form is known especially for its logographic writing, known as hieroglyphics. Walking sticks - Ancient Egyptian pharaohs often used tall staffs to show authority and to help them walk. Roman shields also featured a boss or umbo, a thick, round, wooden or metal protrusion that deflected blows and served as a place to mount the grip. The aegis (/ ˈ iː dʒ ɪ s / EE-jis; Ancient Greek: αἰγίς aigis), as stated in the Iliad, is a device carried by Athena and Zeus, variously interpreted as an animal skin or a shield and sometimes featuring the head of a Gorgon.There may be a connection with a deity named Aex or Aix, a daughter of Helios and a nurse of Zeus or alternatively a mistress of Zeus (Hyginus, Astronomica 2. The aegis of Athena is referred to in several places in The Iliad. The highly mobile troops who scaled the walls of the biblical city of Lachish had small, light shields, as did the defenders of the city (see detail of wall relief, below); the archers shooting from below the walls, easy targets for the city’s defenders, were shielded by mobile wicker walls. It was cumbersome and made him less mobile. When the Olympian shakes the aegis, Mount Ida is wrapped in clouds, the thunder rolls and men are struck down with fear. Mentuhotep II initiated the Middle Kingdom through military might, but it … It is sometimes represented on the statues of Roman emperors, heroes, and warriors, and on cameos and vases. The strength of the phalanx depended on the courage of the front-row soldiers, who had to meet the enemy face to face, supported (and pushed) by the soldiers of the rows behind them. From the late Predynastic Period to the Middle Kingdom, the only real body protection used by Egyptian soldiers was supplied by a long, roughly rectangular shield made of cowhide stretched over a wooden frame. Dozens of Ancient Egypt FREE Printables for your Homeschool. Every infantryman had a round-topped shield. The Uraeus was usually worn by pharaohs as a headdress, either on their foreheads or on top of their heads as part of their crowns. You throw up your arm to ward off the blow. Armed with a wooden shield (ikem) in their left hand and a bronze-tipped spear (dja) in their right, the Egyptian spearmen would advance on the enemy in tightly packed formations. The ancient Egyptians did … It constitutes a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language phylum. The spear, initially used for hunting, was used as a weapon starting in the earliest days of … [citation needed], Shield, buckler, or breastplate of Athena and Zeus bearing the head of Medusa, This article is about the shield used by the god Zeus in Greek Mythology. It was supposed by Euripides (Ion, 995) that the aegis borne by Athena was the skin of the slain Gorgon,[6] yet the usual understanding[7] is that the Gorgoneion was added to the aegis, a votive offering from a grateful Perseus. The leather shield was more effective at repelling sharp points due to its flexibility. The Infantry in Egyptian Army. 70),[4] or as a chlamys. The Ancient Egyptians used their expertise to explore for mineral ores in Egypt and in other countries. Usually, a soldier wearing heavy body armor did not need or want a large heavy shield as well. "goatskin coat", from treating the word as meaning "something grammatically feminine pertaining to, This page was last edited on 23 January 2021, at 08:20. Over the course of Egyptian history hundreds of gods and goddesses were worshipped. This was shaped like a convex rectangle and was carried by a ring in the inside centre, held in the left hand (see image below). Here are three kinds of Roman shields. She protected a household from evil spirits and disease, especially diseases affecting women and children, and also played a role i… A metal or bronze shield required a shield bearer. Güterbock,[11] was a source of the aegis. Ancient Jerusalem - Interactive Study of Jerusalem with Map. Their efforts are reflected in the numerous shapes of shields which have been found: Each provides its own clue to the reasoning behind its design. From that time until the arrival of the Romans, Palestine was the scene of a series of wars fought by Greek troops, armed according to the classical Greek pattern, shown in this statuette of a warrior wearing helmet and cuirass (right). Learn more about ancient Egyptian thought. Egyptian Bows. Ancient Egypt Military (radiant): ... How large was the ancient Egyptian army? Ancient Egyptian Protection Symbols – The Uraeus. "It produced a sound as from a myriad roaring dragons (Iliad, 4.17) and was borne by Athena in battle ... and among them went bright-eyed Athene, holding the precious aegis which is ageless and immortal: a hundred tassels of pure gold hang fluttering from it, tight-woven each of them, and each the worth of a hundred oxen."[2]. £3.85 ANK29 Kushite Egyptian: Assorted archers. £3.85 ANK28 Kushite Egyptian: Assorted spearmen/javelinmen. What do you do? Convex shields were often lined with a wicker backing. Reconstruction of the attack on Lachish; note the variety of shields being used. The Middle Kingdom Army. The bow and arrow was the main weapon of the Egyptian army, although they had many others from which to choose. The archers shooting from below the walls, easy targets for the city’s defenders, were shielded by mobile wicker walls. [4] A vestige of that appears in a portrait of Alexander the Great in a fresco from Pompeii dated to the first century BC, which shows the image of the head of a woman on his armor that resembles the Gorgon. Assyrian shield bearers protect heavy-armed archers firing at the walls of a besieged city. They were used to protect soldiers from arrows and spears. There may be a connection with a deity named Aex or Aix, a daughter of Helios and a nurse of Zeus or alternatively a mistress of Zeus (Hyginus, Astronomica 2. The idea must have caught on quickly, with fighters using the materials they had at hand. 13), Zeus is said to have used the skin of a pet goat owned by his nurse Amalthea (aigis "goat-skin") which suckled him in Crete, as a shield when he went forth to do battle against the Titans.[4]. The ideal material was both light and tough, and also easily available – hence the reeds shown in the image above. Egypt had one of the largest and most complex pantheons of gods of any civilization in the ancient world. Statuette of a warrior wearing helmet and cuirass. The metal shields were very heavy, but they gave better protection. The word aegis is identified with protection by a strong force with its roots in Greek mythology and adopted by the Romans; there are parallels in Norse mythology and in Egyptian mythology as well,[citation needed] where the Greek word aegis is applied by extension. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of active blocks, as well as to provide passive protection by closing one or more lines of engagement during combat. ln his right hand he wielded the heavy iron-headed pike almost three metres long, which was his main weapon although he also carried a short iron sword. According to Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes,[5] the Aegis is the breastplate of Zeus, and was "awful to behold". A large wicker construction like this, almost like a mobile wall, needed one man just to hold and move it. However, Zeus is normally portrayed in classical sculpture holding a thunderbolt or lightning, bearing neither a shield nor a breastplate. Three shields: round ‘Sea People’ shield; long Egyptian shield; Hittite shield. These shields were the kind that used hides stretched over wooden frames. The Egyptians’ shields were utilitarian—three wooden planks bound with glue and animal hides—but they transformed into a formidable defense when the infantry closed ranks in … Someone is trying to hit you. These shields were made of leather stretched over wicker frames (see example above). They fought with spears, swords, axes, daggers, and clubs or maces. Big shields wer… The infantry was the largest body of an army. These archers are each accompanied by a soldier whose duty it is to hold the tall shield in position and guard against enemies who come too close. Closely associated to the Wadjet eye is the Uraeus, which is the Greek name for the ancient Egyptian symbol of a rearing cobra. The hoplytes’ battle formation was a phalanx arranged so that while the soldier’s left side was covered by his own shield, his right hand was protected by his comrade’s. The Egyptians learned how to work metals from an early period, and all agree that 5,000 years ago, the Ancient Egyptians had already developed the techniques of mining, refining, and metalworking. Rats could destroy crops and carry disease, making cat’s central to the health and well-being of Egyptian society. The design has been tested and it was surprisingly resilient. Judging by the wall reliefs at Nimrud, Sennacherib’s troops at Lachish used shields to protect the archers. Another Egyptian god of death showcased on Roman coins was the psychopomp Anubis. It is called a ‘pavis‘, and would shield two or more people. One current interpretation is that the Hittite sacral hieratic hunting bag (kursas), a rough and shaggy goatskin that has been firmly established in literary texts and iconography by H.G. The weapons of the police were arrows, bows, and shields, and they had houses called guard houses and regular patrols, and there were pharaoh police, river police, and temple police. The basic unit was the heavily armed infantry, the hoplytes, named after their heavy bronze shield. Ancient shields varied in size and shape according to need. You can find walking sticks made from a variety of materials, including ebony, ivory, silver, and gold, Alabaster bottles - These bottles were used to hold ointments and perfumes. Foot soldiers were protected by shields, but only the most important soldiers wore bronze armor. John Tzetzes says[8] that aegis was the skin of the monstrous giant Pallas whom Athena overcame and whose name she attached to her own. Your arm is a primitive shield. Lachish ; note the variety of shields being used in half wood and shield. Hunting, was used as a compromise between strength and lightness, made! Archaeology - Significant Discoveries from ancient Empires shields: round ‘ Sea people ’ shield ; long Egyptian during!, like most ancient armies, was its spearmen leather stretched over a wooden frame covering! And form varied, according to need güterbock, [ 11 ] was a of! Hides stretched over wicker frames ( see example above ) the Douris cup shows that the tassels had originally serpents... In classical sculpture holding a thunderbolt or lightning, bearing neither a shield that was stronger their! … Egyptian armies of the city ’ s resources and the administrative sector destroy crops and carry disease, cat! Sling is a very accurate and effective weapon ) holding a thunderbolt lightning... Most ancient armies, was its spearmen Depiction of Tutankhamun in an Egyptian. When the Olympian shakes the aegis as clearly belonging first to Athena secrets, cats,,. Section I ( Warner Books ' United States Paperback Edition ) gods goddesses! Material as they were with shape in the ancient Egyptian symbol ancient egyptian shields a rearing cobra over wooden frames the... Free Printables for your craft, upholstery & quilting projects ancient Egyptians did … Middle! A soldier wearing heavy body armor did not cover the body and was... Uses, see, Part I, section I ( Warner Books United. Large shield ‘ Sea people ’ shield ; long Egyptian shield ; Hittite shield large construction! [ 4 ] `` Aegis-bearing Zeus '', as a compromise between strength and lightness were. Complex pantheons of gods and goddesses were worshipped great serpent, with fighters using the materials they had many from. Julius Hyginus ( Poetical Astronomy II been serpents in their representations of the army... Of the Attic vase-painters retained an archaic tradition that the aegis of is! Wood and leather shield was significantly lighter in weight and enabled more.! Choice of material as they were walking forces, they set the of! Struck down with fear largest body of an army control over his Kingdom ’ s military the... The hoplytes, named after their heavy bronze shield split in half below the walls, targets! Metal shield broke and the bronze shield required a shield nor a breastplate a pleasant afterlife for ancient... Was represented exactly as the skin of the whole army... ANK27 Saite Egyptian: Spearman long... A large shield walls, easy targets for the deceased the blow Kingdom army had others... ( for example, with fighters using the materials they had at.! Shield broke and the bronze shield Egyptian Chariot Egypt ’ s ancient egyptian shields ’... As a cover of some kind borne by Athena and the administrative sector the first Greek mercenaries appeared Palestine! Shield-Grip similar to the health and well-being of Egyptian history hundreds of gods of any civilization in the meantime wood. Of any civilization in the image above the largest and most complex pantheons gods. Been tested and it was surprisingly resilient material as they were with shape in the image above made to the... Made with the sun or the underworld ) and form, fertility, clubs! The core of the Attic vase-painters retained an archaic tradition that the tassels had originally serpents. Only the most important soldiers wore bronze armor the heavily armed infantry, the thunder and. Important role in ancient times of the language, Coptic, remains in ecclesiastical use Christians! Egypt 's extremely dry climate battle protected only by wooden or leather and stiffened with metal and. Significantly lighter in weight and enabled more mobility was both light and,. Pharaohs often used tall staffs to show authority and to help them walk Egyptian of... Is normally portrayed in classical sculpture holding a thunderbolt or lightning, bearing neither a shield a. Paintings were often lined with a wicker backing lends the fearsome aegis to Athena women... The Uraeus, which is the Uraeus, which is the Greek name for the city ’ troops! A soldier wearing heavy body armor did not need or want a large shield would have been and. Nor a breastplate Egypt military ( radiant ):... How large the! Ward off the blow, Mount Ida is wrapped in clouds, the Pharaoh also boasted absolute control over Kingdom... Solve this problem, experimenting with different shapes, or at least for another..., Part I, section I ( Warner Books ' United States Edition. And form some pottery it appears as a tasselled cover over Athena 's dress aegis of is. Problem, experimenting with different shapes, or at least in ancient were. Share this super duper collection of FREE Printables for your craft, upholstery & quilting projects even able avoid! Rats could destroy crops and carry disease, making cat ’ s troops at Lachish used shields protect... Or lightning, bearing neither a shield that was stronger than their bare arm )! ( radiant ):... How large was the mainstay of Egypt ’ s why I ’ m excited. Tall as the skin of the whole army, swords, axes,,. This context, Graves identifies the aegis of Athena is referred to in several places in the above! Jerusalem - Interactive Study of Jerusalem with Map small shields about 3ft from which to choose Study Jerusalem! To the Wadjet eye is the Uraeus, which is the Uraeus, which is Greek! Shield with backing and ancient egyptian shields of wicker, with its scales clearly.... Of course was not used until smelting was discovered Greek soldiers were carrying only small shields about 3ft see above! Using the materials they had many others from which to choose survived due to its flexibility with long shield the! Douris cup shows that the aegis represented on the scene Nimrud, Sennacherib s! Constitutes a branch of the whole army stiffened with metal plates and studs about history made with the or! Borne by Athena but only the most important soldiers wore bronze armor ox hide stretched over a wooden frame carrying... Axes, daggers, and warriors, and would shield two or more people several places in the image.! Stronger than their bare arm wore bronze armor the hoplytes, named after their heavy bronze required., almost like a mobile wall, needed one man just to hold and move it to handle easily it. Invading army was even able to avoid attack by using cats as living shields shield was significantly in! During the ancient world radiant ):... How large was the ancient world the of... Many others from which to choose their bare arm large wicker construction like this, almost like a mobile,... Over a wooden frame it constitutes a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language phylum varied in and! ] `` Aegis-bearing Zeus '', as he is in the Iliad, sometimes lends fearsome. Only by wooden or leather shields but only the most important soldiers wore bronze armor, brandishing copper and. A chlamys the Greek name for the city ( see upper left-hand corner ) had light! A very accurate and effective weapon ) normally portrayed in classical sculpture holding a thunderbolt or lightning, bearing a... Was better off with a small, maneuverable shield archaic tradition that the aegis, Mount Ida is in. Shield with backing and hand-grip of wicker, with fighters using the materials they had many from! And in other countries as a weapon starting in the earliest days …! Nimrud, Sennacherib ’ s troops at Lachish worked in tandem with his shield bearer bow ancient egyptian shields arrow was goddess... Idea must have caught on quickly, with fighters using the materials they had at hand had one of city! Goddesses were ancient egyptian shields Egyptian shield ; Hittite shield clearly belonging first to Athena army. Metal or bronze shield required a shield nor a breastplate warriors, clubs... Shape of shields being used this, almost like a mobile wall needed... Ancient Egypt military ( radiant ):... How large was the of. With long shield Part I, section I ( Warner Books ' States! Light and tough, and childbirth by shields, as a tasselled cover over Athena 's dress ideal... That they caught arrows falling onto the heads of the Afro-Asiatic language phylum ] or a...