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Monday

#1

Monday

This will be a month long expedition into ancient Egypt. From every Egyptian movie as well as pictures in the books we all are aware that Egypt built chariots. We now know that these little monsters took approximately 600 hours to build (using old methods and modern German craftsmen) and from 1600 BC they were improved upon (solid wheels to four, six, or even eight spokes) to 1000 BC when armed cavalry took their place, Egypt had over 1000 war chariots in his standing army. Almost all of the wood was imported for the chariots because Egypt grew only low grade wood not fit for battle conditions with one or two horsepower engines moving over rough terrain at 10-15 miles per hour (The chariots were the advance shock troops and in the opening charge soldiers ran beside them in battle line�that�s another story.) A chariot of the time was equivalent to owning a airplane today (expensive and maintenance heavy). With metal available for only the more recent versions of a chariot of what woods was the majority of existing chariots made?

Re: Monday

#2

Re: Monday

I'm going with Colorado Blue Spruce wood? Maybe curly sassafras?

T.

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#3

Re: Monday

The low rider models were make of cocobolo.

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#4

Re: Monday

Lebanon Cedar? Cyprus? Or is it something from Ethiopia?

Wilbur Smith has a great book about ancient Egypt called River God.

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#5

Re: Monday Answer

Chariots were first used in the North around the Eurasian Steppes in Russia and Kazakhstan then in the north mid east in Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria. Gradually their use worked its way south mostly through spoils of war. Two wheels were easier to make than four and it also became a status symbol of victory. To a large extent the idea of a war chariot had to take time to allow for the development of the horse. For the Egyptian chariot to function as it did, the horse had to be bred from the short powerful steppes ponies to the tall large, quick Arabian style breed. Anyway the imported wood was from the north, (oddly no indication of African wood) Elm and Ash for axles, Sycamore for floorboards and Birch for the frame. The hub was long and slender with bushings of dry intestine and leather to keep axles and hubs as round as possible to extend the length of time in a sandpaper environment. Later copper and bronze was used at wear points. Unlike the northern chariots that were tank-like the Egyptian chariot was lighter and more maneuverable. They did this by shedding weight and also putting the occupants only slightly forward or directly over the axle. Egyptian chariots were a weapon meant to protect the infantry and to mop up stragglers at high speed using arrows or spears as they sped by fleeing troops. Similar to knocking off mailboxes with a bat and a car. Chariots in Egypt required massive bases just for the storage of parts because of severe flaws of strength/application problems. More next week.

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#6

Re: Monday Answer

The first ones were made from early California Hardwood (particle board) and later upgraded to OSB

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