Although one of the most unusual-looking swords in military history, the Ancient Egyptian Khopesh is relatively little-known. It was nevertheless an effective weapon with a longevity of almost 1500 years.
History and Design of the Khopesh
The khopesh, sometimes transliterated as "khepesh" or "kepesh" was essentially a sickle-shaped sword made of bronze, copper, or iron. It was wielded one-handed, by a short bone hilt with a spur below the grip for security in the palm. Above this, after straight inch or two, the blade would be offset downwards by its own width, and then the main length of it would be curved , with the edge on the outside. The tip was in line with the hilt, providing balance, and frequently had a spur at the rear. Because of the nature of the metals used - largely bronze and copper - the weapon was usually cast in a mould, rather than forged by a smith.
Origins in Canaan
Although it is the most recognizable of Ancient Egyptian weapons, the khopesh originated in Canaan, where it had a much longer handle and was used as a kind of war axe. When brought to Egypt it was adapted to single-handed use, as Egyptian soldiers both by training and preference used a wicker shield in one hand, and a single-handed weapon in the other.
To begin with, the Egyptian khopesh had a blade-curvature that was almost a quarter-circle, and was over 60cm in length. Over time the weapon evolved and shrank slightly, and by the time of the New Kingdom it had settled down to a length of around 50cm. By this point, too, the curvature of the blade had been all-but dispensed with, and the down-stepped part of the blade was as straight as the hilt and base.
Using the Weapon
The khopesh was primarily a slashing weapon, and the curvature of the blade meant that, upon impact, a greater pressure was exerted on the target that would be delivered by a straight edge. Because it was cast rather than forged with a hammer, the blade was also thicker and heavier than a straight equivalent would have been. Normal procedure would have been for a soldier to defend himself with his shield, while using the khopesh either in wide cuts at the enemy's body, or to strike at the head as he would use a mace.
Because copper and bronze are relatively soft metals, the thick edge of a khopesh could be blunted easily, and it is therefore unlikely that a khopesh would have been used to block or parry blade-to-blade. However, the design does include features clearly intended to make the weapon more versatile in combat.
The tip is weighted and in line with the hilt and base of the blade, so it was perfectly possible to thrust or jab at an opponent's face. The non-sharpened inside of the curve, if the weapon was reversed or dual-wielded, could be used to catch an opponent's arm or weapon and deflect it. Prior to the New Kingdom's straighter-bladed variant, the weighted tip also had a rear-facing spur, which could hook the edge of an enemy's shield and pull it away, thus exposing him to attack.
Sword of the Pharoah
The khopesh fell out of common use in the early 12th Century BC, as it was superseded by straight swords introduced to Egypt by the Sea Peoples. As with most forms of historical weaponry, blunted ceremonial versions were also produced as grave goods for high-status citizens, and indeed a fine example was found in Tutenkhamen's tomb.
Khopeshes are seen in Ancient Egyptian art, both in statuettes found in tombs, and in bas-reliefs of battles. However, as is common with Ancient Egyptian artistic depictions of weaponry, the scale is usually inaccurate, with khopeshes often shown as little larger than daggers, even though surviving examples prove otherwise. The value of the weapon is also reflected in several "smiting" scenes depicting Pharoahs executing prisoners; originally depicted with a mace, some of these images give the mace a small khopesh blade as an additional feature. No physical example of this combination weapon - which would have been fearsome - has ever been found, however.
Sources:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Fighting Pharoahs: Weapons and Warfare in Ancient Egypt by Bob Partridge, Peartree Publishing (2002)
Display at Manchester University Museum
Royal Armouries, Leeds
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