Evolution: Technological Process of Chariot
Change in Spokes of the Wheel
From the time when chariot first came to Egypt until the early 18th Dynasty, Egyptians were using the Hyksos Chariot or Early 18th Dynasty model which were lightweight with four-spoke wheels and a platform for two people.
Ancient Egyptians were definitely aware of the weakness of the four-spoke wheel. According to reliefs from 18th Dynasty, there are traces of Egyptians attempting to solve this problem by increasing the number of spokes to strengthened the wheel.
The image of the relief on the left probably dates to the time when the eight-spoke wheel started to emerge because there is also a relief of four-spoke wheel on the same stone which could mean that four-spoke wheels were still being used.
The image of the relief on the left probably dates to the time when the eight-spoke wheel started to emerge because there is also a relief of four-spoke wheel on the same stone which could mean that four-spoke wheels were still being used.
By the time of Amenhotep III, experts can be quite sure that the six poke wheels were being used because archaeologists have discovered a complete chariot in the Tomb of Yuya, the father of Amenhotep III's wife, Tiye.
Six-spoke wheels are used instead of the eight-spoke because six spokes are enough to maintain strength of the wheel and it was lighter than having eight spokes.
However, according to the Stela of Amenhotep III, four-spoke wheels were probably kept being used even after the six-poke wheels were made.
At the same time, one can not be sure about this inference because there is a possibility that the craftsmen of this stela wanted to simplify their work by carving four-spoke wheels instead of six.
According to the reliefs from 19th Dynasty and onward, the six-spoke wheels were consistently used.
It is not only the spoke which has changed. For example, the position of axle have been changed from close to the center of the platform to the rear. This enabled the platform to be a bit slanted and prevented the rider to fall off backward.
Overall, although Chariot was a foreign technology, Ancient Egyptian made it into one of their technologies through modification and development.
Related Technology
Horses
Horses were introduced to Egypt at the same time as the Chariots. Before the horses, Egyptians were relying on donkey for transporting military supplies in warfare.
Horses are important because they are the one which pulls and run the chariot or in other words, they are part of the chariot technology because they are basically like the engine of the chariot.
Composite Bows
Another technology which can be described as a part of chariot technology is the composite bow. Composite bow was also introduced to Egypt by the Hyksos. In fact, the chariot and composite bow can be recognized as a one unit because chariot was accompanied by a driver who controls the chariot and an archer who shoots the arrow.
This video presented by NOVA is extremely useful to understand how composite bow was different from the previously used straight bow, and how the composite bow was made.
This video presented by NOVA is extremely useful to understand how composite bow was different from the previously used straight bow, and how the composite bow was made.