Bow
Unknown Artist
ca. 1492–1473 B.C.
Medium
wood
Dimensions
Length tip to tip 178.3 cm (70 3/16 in.); Length of outer curve 185.5 cm (73 1/16 in.); Greatest diam. 2.9 cm (1 1/8 in.)
Classification
Bow
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1936
Accession Number
36.3.212
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of ancient Egypt's New Kingdom with this remarkable wooden bow, crafted around 1492–1473 B.C. during Dynasty 18—a golden age of imperial expansion under pharaohs like Those III and Hatsheut. Measuring an impressive 178.3 cm from tip to tip (with an outer curve of 185.5 cm), this slender weapon (just 2.9 cm in diameter at its thickest) exemplifies the engineering prowess of Egyptian artisans. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 6, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian Art collection. Made entirely of wood, this self-bow represents a foundational technolo...