Arms – Armor
Arms – Armor
Armor
In order to give a clear view of this subject, we shall endeavor to show succinctly, and from the best authorities now available, what were the weapons, both offensive and defensive, used by the ancient Asiatics.
Offensive Arms
Fig. 531, 2, 3. Clubs
4, 5. Crooked Billets, or throwing bats
6. Mace
7. Battle axe
8. Hardwood Sword
9. Sharks-teeth Sword
10. Flint Sword
11. Saw-fish Sword
12, 13. Egyptian Battle-axes
The instruments at first employed in the chance, or to repel wild beasts, but converted by the wicked to the destruction of their fellow-men, or used by the peaceable to oppose aggression, were naturally the most simple. Among these were the club and the throwing-bat. The first consisted originally of it heavy piece of wood, variously shaped, made to strike with, and, according to its form, denominated a mace, a bar, a hammer, or a maul. This weapon was in use among the Hebrews; for, in the time of the kings, wood had already been superseded by metal; and the rod of iron (Psa 2:9) is supposed to mean a mace, or gavelock, or crowbar. It is an instrument of great power when used by a strong arm. The throwstick, made of thorn-wood, is the same instrument which we see figured on Egyptian monuments. By the native Arabs it is still called lissan, and was anciently known among us by the name of crooked billet. These instruments, supplied with a sharp edge, would naturally constitute a battle-axe, and a kind of sword; and such in the rudest ages we find them, made with flints set into a groove, or with sharks’ teeth firmly secured to the staff with twisted sinews. On the earliest monuments of Egypt, for these ruder instruments is already seen substituted a piece of metal with a steel or bronze blade fastened into a globe, thus forming a falchion-axe; and also a lunate-blade, riveted in three places to the handle, forming a true battle-axe; and there were, besides, true bills or axes in form like our own.
Fig. 541. Horn Dagger
2, 3. Swords
4, 5. Tulwar Swords
6. Quarter-pike
Next came the dirk or poniard, the Hebrew name of which may possibly retain some allusion to the original instrument made of the antelope’s horn, merely sharpened, which is still used in every part of the East where the material can be procured. From existing figures, the dirk appears to have been early made of metal in Egypt, and worn stuck in a girdle; but, from several texts (1Sa 17:39; 2Sa 20:8; and 1Ki 20:11), it is evident that the real sword was slung in a belt, and that ‘girding’ and ‘loosing the sword’ were synonymous terms for commencing and ending a war. The blades were, it seems, always short; and the dirk-sword, at least, was always double-edged. The sheath was ornamented and polished. In Egypt there were larger and heavier swords, more nearly like modern tulwars, and of the form of an English round-pointed table-knife. But while metal was scarce, there were also swords which might be called quarter-pikes, being composed of a very short wooden handle, surmounted by a spear-head. In Nubia, swords of heavy wood are still in use.
Fig. 551, 2. Spear-heads
3, 4. Darts
5. Oryx horn spear-head
The spear was another offensive weapon common to all the nations of antiquity, and was of various size, weight, and length. Probably the shepherd Hebrews, like nations similarly situated in northern Africa, anciently made use of the horn of an oryx, or a leucoryx, above three feet long, straightened in water and sheathed upon a thorn-wood staff. When sharpened, this instrument would penetrate the hide of a bull, and, according to Strabo, even of an elephant: it was light, very difficult to break, resisted the blow of a battle-axe, and the animals which furnished it were abundant in Arabia and in the desert east of Palestine. At a later period, the head was of brass, and afterwards of iron. Very ponderous weapons of this kind were often used in Egypt by the heavy infantry; and, from various circumstances, it may be inferred that among the Hebrews and their immediate neighbors, commanders in particular were distinguished by heavy spears. Among these were generally ranked the most valiant in fight and the largest in stature; such as Goliath, ‘whose spear was like a weaver’s beam’ (1Sa 17:7), and whose spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; which by some is asserted to be equal to twenty-five pounds weight. The spear had a point of metal at the but-end to fix it in the ground, perhaps with the same massy globe above it, which is still in use, intended to counterbalance the point. It was with this ferrel that Abner slew Asahel (2Sa 2:22-23).
Fig. 561, 2, 3, 4. Bows
5, 6. Quivers
7, 8. Arrows
The javelins appear to have had different forms. In most nations of antiquity the infantry, not bearing a spear, carried two darts, those lightly armed using both for long casts, and the heavy-armed only one for that purpose; the second, more ponderous than the other, being reserved for throwing when close to the enemy, or for handling in the manner of a spear. While on the subject of the javelin, it may be remarked that, by the act of casting one at David (1Sa 19:9-10), Saul virtually absolved him from his allegiance; for by the customs of ancient Asia, preserved in the usages of the Teutonic and other nations, the custom of the East Franks, etc. to throw a dart at a freedman, who escaped from it by flight, was the demonstrative token of manumission given by his lord or master; he was thereby sent out of hand, manumissus, well expressed in the old English phrase ‘scot-free.’ But for this act of Saul, David might have been viewed as a rebel.
Fig. 57Egyptian Slingers and Sling
But the chief offensive weapon in Egypt, and, from the nature of the country, it may be inferred, in Palestine also, was the war-bow. From the simple implements used by the first hunters, consisting merely of an elastic reed, a branch of a tree, or rib of palm, the bow became in thy course of time very strong and tall, was made of brass, of wood backed with horn, or of horn entirely, and even of ivory; some being shaped like the common English bow, and others, particularly those used by riding nations, like the buffalo horn. There were various modes of bending this instrument, by pressure of the knee, or by the foot treading the bow, or by setting one end against the foot, drawing the middle with the hand of the same side towards the hip, and pushing the upper point forward with the second hand, till the thumb passed the loop of the string beyond the nock. The horned bows of the cavalry, shaped like those of the Chinese, occur on monuments of antiquity. This was the Parthian bow, as is proved by several Persian bas-reliefs, and may have been in use in the time of the Elamites, who were a mounted people. These bows were carried in cases to protect the string, which was composed of deer sinews, from injury, and were slung on the right hip of the rider, except when on the point of engaging. Then the string was often cast over the head, and the bow hung upon the breast, with the two nocks above each shoulder, like a pair of horns. The arrows were likewise enclosed in a case or quiver, hung sometimes on the shoulder, and at other times on the left side; and six or eight flight-arrows were commonly stuck in the edge of the cap, ready to be pulled out and put to the string. The infantry always carried the arrows in a quiver on the right shoulder, and the bow was kept unbent until the moment of action. On a march it was carried on the shield arm, where there was frequently also a horn bracer secured below the elbow to receive the shock from the string when an arrow was discharged. The flight or long-range arrows were commonly of reed, not always feathered, and mostly tipped with flint points; but the shot or aimed arrows, used for nearer purposes, were of wood tipped with metal, about 30 inches long, and winged with three lines of feathers, like those in modern use: they varied in length at different periods, and according to the substance of the bows.
Defensive Arms
Fig. 581. The Tzenna, or Great Shield. 2. Common Egyptian Shield. 3. Target. 4, 5. Ancient Shields of unknown tribes. 6. Roundel
The last missile instrument to be mentioned is the sling (Job 41:28), an improvement upon the simple act of throwing stones. It was the favorite weapon of the Benjamites, a small tribe, not making a great mass in an order of battle, but well composed for light troops. They could also boast of using the sling equally well with the left hand as with the right. The sling was made of plaited thongs, somewhat broad in the middle, to lodge the stone or leaden missile, and was twirled two or three times round before the stone was allowed to take flight. Stones could not be cast above 400 feet, but leaden bullets could be thrown as far as 600 feet. The force as well as precision of aim which might be attained in the use of this instrument was remarkably shown in the case of David; and several nations of antiquity boasted of great skill in the practice of the sling.
All these hand-weapons were in use at different periods, not only among the Hebrews and Egyptians, but likewise in Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Macedonia. The Roman pilum was a kind of dart, distinguished from those of other nations chiefly by its weight, and the great proportional length of the metal or iron part, which constituted one half of the whole, or from two and a half to three feet. Much of this length was hollow, and received nearly twenty inches of the shaft within it: the point was never hooked like that of common darts.
The most ancient defensive piece was the shield, buckler, roundel, or target, composed of a great variety of materials, very different in form and size. The Hebrews had the word tsenna, a great shield for defence and protection (Gen 15:1; Psa 47:9; Pro 30:5), which is commonly found in connection with spear, and was the shelter of heavily-armed infantry; and the magin, a buckler, or smaller shield, which, from a similar juxtaposition with sword, bow, and arrows, appears to have been the defense of other-armed infantry and of chiefs: a third called sohairahor roundel, may have; been appropriated to archers and slingers; and there were others called shelatim, apparently similar to the magin, and only differing from it in ornament. In the more advanced eras of civilization shields were made of light wood not liable to split, covered with bull-hide of two or more thicknesses and bordered with metal: the lighter kinds were made of wicker-work or osier, similarly, but less solidly covered; of double ox-hide cut into a round form. There were others of a single hide, extremely thick from having been boiled; their surface presented an appearance of many folds, like round waves up and down, which yielded, but could rarely be penetrated. We may infer that at first the Hebrews borrowed the forms in use in Egypt, and had their common shields, a kind of parallelogram, broadest and arched at the top, and cut square beneath, bordered with metal, the surface being covered with raw hide with the hair on. The lighter shields may have been soaked in oil and dried in the shade to make them hard. During the Assyrian and Persian supremacy the Hebrews may have used the square, oblong, and round shields of these nations, and may have subsequently copied those of Greece and Rome. The princes of Israel had shields of precious metals: all were managed by a wooden or leathern handle, and often slung by a thong over the neck. The tsenna was most likely what in the feudal ages would have been called a pavise, for such occurs on the Egyptian monuments. This was about five feet high, with a pointed arch above and square below, resembling the feudal knight’s shield, but that the point was reversed. Shields were hung upon the battlements of walls, and, as still occurs, chiefly above gates of cities by the watch and ward. In time of peace they were covered to preserve them from the sun, and in war uncovered; this sign was poetically used to denote coming hostilities, as in Isa 22:6, etc.
Fig. 591. Of Rushes
2. Egyptian
3, 4. Western Asia
5. Carian
6, 7. Egyptian
8. Assyrian
9. Greek
10. Ionian
11. Parthian
12, 13. Other Asiatic tribes
The Helmet was next in consideration, and in the earliest ages was made of osier, or rushes, in the form of a beehive, or of a skull-cap. The skins of the heads of animalsof lions, bears, wild boars, bulls, and horseswere likewise adopted, and were adorned with rows of teeth, manes, and bristles. Wood, linen cloth in many folds, and a kind of felt, were also in early use, and some of them may be observed worn by the nations of Asia at war with the conqueror kings of Egypt, even before the departure of Israel. At that time also these kings had helmets of metal, of rounded or pointed forms. The nations of farther Asia used the woollen or braided caps, still retained, and now called kaouk and fez, around which the turban is usually wound; but these: were almost invariably supplied with long lappets to cover the ears and the back of the head, and princes usually wore a radiated crown on the summit. This was the form of the Syrian, probably of the Assyrian helmets, excepting that the last mentioned were of brass, though they still retained the low cylindrical shape. Some helmet of this kind was worn by the trained infantry, who were spearmen among the Hebrews; but archers and slingers had round skull-caps of skins, felts, or quilted stuffs, such as are still in use among the Arabs.
Fig. 601. Egyptian tigulated
2. Sleeve of ring-mail, Ionian
Body ArmourThe most ancient Persian idols are clad in shagged skins. In Egypt cuirasses were manufactured of leather, of brass, and of a succession of iron hoops, chiefly covering the abdomen and the shoulders; but a more ancient national form was a kind of thorax, tippet, or square, with an opening for the head in it, the four points covering the breast, back, and both upper arms. This was affected in particular by the royal band of relatives who surrounded the Pharaoh, were his subordinate commanders, messengers, and body-guards, bearing his standards, ensign-fans, and sun-screens, his portable throne, his bow and arrows. Beneath this square was another piece, protecting the trunk of the body, and both were in general covered with a red-colored cloth or stuff. On the oldest fictile vases a shoulder-piece likewise occurs, worn by Greek and Etruscan warriors. It covers the upper edge of the body armor, is perforated in the middle for the head to pass, but hangs equal on the breast and back, square on the shoulders, and is evidently of leather. By the use of metal for defensive armor, the Carians appear to have created astonishment among the Egyptians, and therefore to have been the first nation so protected in Western Asia; nevertheless, in the tombs of the kings near Thebes, a tigulated hauberk is represented, composed of small three-colored pieces of metal; one golden, the others reddish and green. It is this kind of armor which may be meant by the Hebrew word techera, the closest interpretation of which appears to be a tiling. In 2Ch 18:33, Ahab may have been struck in one of the grooves or slits in the squares of his techera, or between two of them where they do not overlap; or perhaps, with more probability, between the metal hoops of the trunk of the tippet before mentioned, where the thorax overlaps the abdomen. The term ‘scales,’ in the case of Goliath’s armor, denotes squamous armor, most likely where the pieces were sewed upon a cloth, and not hinged to each other, as in the techera. The techera could not well be worn without an undergarment of some density to resist the friction of metal; and this was probably the dress which Saul put upon David before he assumed the breastplate and girdle.
Fig. 611, 2. Early Greek
3. Greek
4, 5. Roman
6. Barbarian
The Cuirass and Corslet were, strictly speaking, of prepared leather, but often composed of quilted cloths: the former in general denotes, in antiquity, a suit with leathern appendages at the bottom and at the shoulder, as used by the Romans; the latter, one in which the barrel did not come down below the hips. In later ages it always designates a breast and back piece of steel. It is, however, requisite to observe, that in estimating the meaning of Hebrew names for armor of all kinds, they are liable to the same laxity of use which all other languages have manifested.
The Girdle, or more properly the baldric or belt, was of leather, studded with metal plates or bull; broad when the armor was slight, and then might be girt upon the hips; otherwise it supported the sword scarf-wise from the shoulder.
Greaves were likewise known, even so early as the time of David, for Goliath wore them. They consisted of a pair of shin-covers of brass or strong leather, bound by thongs round the calves and above the ankles. They reached only to the knees, excepting among the Greeks, whose greaves, elastic behind, caught nearly the whole leg, and were raised in front above the knees.