DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55202#0173
HYKSOS IMPORTATIONS INTO EGYPT
153
after Christ. The first probably came before the dawn of history into
the Nile Valley and was the invention of the simple, long bow. The
second was the introduction of the horse into what was then the
western world by the Hyksos invaders. The first of these two inno-
vations made warfare something beside the hand to hand struggle
between foes in actual, bodily contact with each other, while the
horse helped man make rapid, irresistable movements whenever he
came in contact with his enemy. And most important, its introduc-
tion is definitely dated to the wars with these invaders. There can be
no doubt that the use of chariots was among the very first innova-
tions adopted by the Thebans from the enemy.
The horse4 was probably a native of the highlands of central Asia
which lie east of the Caspian Sea. When we first read about it in
Babylonia during the days of Hammurabi it is as the eastern or
mountain ass. Within another century the invading Kassites had
made of it a common sight in Mesopotamia, and since wheeled carts
drawn by donkeys were already in use in those parts, the little, light-
boned horse became an instrument of prime importance in the waging
of war, once it had replaced the plodding ass. The Hyksos invasion
of Egypt may be looked on as having been only a continuation of the
movement of peoples which brought on the Kassite overrunning of
Babylonia, and introduced the horse to the banks of the Nile within
a century, driven by the invaders of this last in 1675 b.c. The road
which was travelled by the horse and the chariot across Syria and
Palestine is clearly shown by the adoption in Egypt of words used
to describe them both in the languages of the latter country. Long
after the horse and chariot had been introduced on the banks of the
Nile foreign words were still used to describe them.
When we first meet it in Egypt, very soon after its introduction,
the horse was a small and very lightly built animal which was rarely
mounted except by stable boys who rode it bareback to water or
who exercised it around the paddock. Even now the Arab horse is a
very light, riding steed which is ill adapted to heavy draught work.
The early horse was not built for carrying a rider any distance, being
little more than a pony. The wooden figure of a mare which is in
New York is somewhat sway-backed, with a rather large head ending
in a big muzzle, and probably with a very short mane, which in that
4 Myres, Hall, and Campbell Thompson in Cambridge Ancient History, 1, index under
“horse.”
153
after Christ. The first probably came before the dawn of history into
the Nile Valley and was the invention of the simple, long bow. The
second was the introduction of the horse into what was then the
western world by the Hyksos invaders. The first of these two inno-
vations made warfare something beside the hand to hand struggle
between foes in actual, bodily contact with each other, while the
horse helped man make rapid, irresistable movements whenever he
came in contact with his enemy. And most important, its introduc-
tion is definitely dated to the wars with these invaders. There can be
no doubt that the use of chariots was among the very first innova-
tions adopted by the Thebans from the enemy.
The horse4 was probably a native of the highlands of central Asia
which lie east of the Caspian Sea. When we first read about it in
Babylonia during the days of Hammurabi it is as the eastern or
mountain ass. Within another century the invading Kassites had
made of it a common sight in Mesopotamia, and since wheeled carts
drawn by donkeys were already in use in those parts, the little, light-
boned horse became an instrument of prime importance in the waging
of war, once it had replaced the plodding ass. The Hyksos invasion
of Egypt may be looked on as having been only a continuation of the
movement of peoples which brought on the Kassite overrunning of
Babylonia, and introduced the horse to the banks of the Nile within
a century, driven by the invaders of this last in 1675 b.c. The road
which was travelled by the horse and the chariot across Syria and
Palestine is clearly shown by the adoption in Egypt of words used
to describe them both in the languages of the latter country. Long
after the horse and chariot had been introduced on the banks of the
Nile foreign words were still used to describe them.
When we first meet it in Egypt, very soon after its introduction,
the horse was a small and very lightly built animal which was rarely
mounted except by stable boys who rode it bareback to water or
who exercised it around the paddock. Even now the Arab horse is a
very light, riding steed which is ill adapted to heavy draught work.
The early horse was not built for carrying a rider any distance, being
little more than a pony. The wooden figure of a mare which is in
New York is somewhat sway-backed, with a rather large head ending
in a big muzzle, and probably with a very short mane, which in that
4 Myres, Hall, and Campbell Thompson in Cambridge Ancient History, 1, index under
“horse.”