«——[·Preface·] ——»
Egypt's metal craft and metallurgy technology is an important part of ancient civilization, which dates back to the early dynastic period around 4000 BC, and over the past few thousand years, the Egyptians have developed many highly sophisticated metal processes and metallurgical techniques that have influenced not only Egypt but also metal processes and metallurgical technologies around the world.
In this article, we will take a closer look at metal craftsmanship and metallurgical techniques in Egypt, including the tools, materials, and techniques used by the Egyptians, as well as the historical development and influence of these technologies.
«——[·Tools·] ——»
In the early days, the main tools used by the Egyptians were stone and wood products, stone products were one of the earliest tools, because stone was hard, durable and easy to process, so it was widely used, Egyptians used tools such as stone knives, stone axes and stone hammers for activities such as hunting, gathering and building.
Stone knives are one of the most commonly used tools for cutting meat, gathering fruit, and cutting down trees, stone axes are used to cut trees and make wood, and stone hammers are used to strike and polish other stones or wood.
Over time, wood products were also gradually used, wood products due to the soft, light and easy to process material, so became another important source of Egyptian tools, wooden hammers and chisels are one of the earliest wood products, used for carving and punching, in construction projects, wooden hammers and wooden chisels are widely used to make connecting parts of stone and wood, the use of wooden hammers and wooden chisels not only improved the construction techniques of the Egyptians, but also made it possible to make more precise tools.
Stone and wood products were an important part of early Egyptian tools, and their use played an important role in the development and construction of Egyptian civilization, however, with the progress of the times, Egyptians began to use metal tools, which greatly changed their production and manufacturing methods, so that Egyptian metal craftsmanship and metallurgical technology gradually developed and expanded.
In the early days, the main tools used by the Egyptians were stone and wood products such as stone knives, wooden hammers and wooden chisels, however, over time, they began to use metal tools such as copper and iron products, copper products were one of the first metal tools used, and the Egyptians used copper products to make various objects, including weapons, tools, ornaments, and furniture.
The production of copper products requires multiple links such as ore mining, refining and processing, and the development of these technologies has gradually promoted the development of metal technology in Egypt.
Over time, the use of copper became more widespread and began to be used to make money such as shells, fish scales, and ebony, and the use of copper products continued until the advent of iron products.
The use of iron products began in the Iron Age around 1200 BC, when Egypt began to use iron to make weapons and tools, and iron products had a higher hardness and durability than copper products.
However, its manufacturing process is more complex and difficult than copper products, and iron needs to go through multiple steps such as ore mining, refining, refining and processing, and the processing is more difficult than copper.
However, with the passage of time and technological progress, the Egyptians gradually mastered the manufacturing technology of iron products and applied them to weapons, tools, ornaments and furniture, and the use of iron also promoted the development of agriculture and construction, bringing the Egyptian economy to a higher level of development.
In general, the emergence and use of copper and iron products promoted the development of Egyptian metal craftsmanship, and made important contributions to the prosperity of Egyptian culture, and they also had a profound impact on the development of metal technology and metallurgical technology in the world, becoming an important part of the history of human civilization that cannot be ignored.
In Egyptian metal craftsmanship and metallurgy, tools were a very important component, and over time, Egyptians switched from using stone and wood products to using metal tools, which can be divided into different kinds such as weapons, tools, ornaments, and furniture, with their own uses and characteristics.
Weapons are one of the earliest metalwork, the Egyptians used copper and iron weapons to defend their territory and people, the Egyptians made a very wide variety of weapons, including knives, swords, arrowheads, tomahawks, war hammers, etc., the most famous of which are the symbolic weapons used by pharaohs and high-ranking officials, such as the pharaoh's metal rod and the metal statue on the throne.
In Egypt's metal craftsmanship and metallurgical technology, tools are also a very important part, Egyptians use copper and iron tools to mine and process ore, build buildings and carve crafts, etc., Egyptians make a very rich variety of tools, including planers, chisels, shovels, lawn mowers, abrasives, etc., these tools are not only used in daily production and life, but also in the construction of temples and pyramids.
Ornaments are another important component in Egyptian metalwork and metallurgy, and the Egyptians used metalwork to make various ornaments, such as metal garlands, metal earrings, metal necklaces, etc., which were not only used to beautify the appearance but also to symbolize status and wealth.
Finally, furniture is another important part of Egyptian metal craftsmanship and metallurgy, Egyptians use copper and iron furniture to make various items, such as beds, chairs, tables, lamps, etc., these furniture are used in addition to living and working, but also for the decoration of temples and noble residences, in terms of furniture manufacturing, Egyptians used various techniques such as forging, casting and carving, etc.
In summary, the variety of tools in Egyptian metal craftsmanship and metallurgical technology is very rich, including weapons, tools, decorations and furniture, etc., which play an important role in the daily production and life of Egypt, and also show the technical level and creativity of the Egyptians.
«——[·Material·] ——»
Metal ore is an important raw material for the manufacture of metal products, and the development of metal technology and metallurgical technology in Egypt is inseparable from the development of its metal mineral resources, in the early days, Egyptians mainly mined copper ore from the surface and shallow.
They use stonework and woodwork tools to mine copper ore in open-pit deposits at the foot of the mountain, which are usually located at a depth of 1 to 2 meters below the ground, so the mining process is simpler and does not require the use of large machinery.
Over time, the Egyptians began to mine deep copper ore, which required more sophisticated mining tools and techniques, and around 2600 BC, the Egyptians began to use mining tools for bone and copper products, including pickaxes, iron picks, hammers and chisels, etc., and as mining technology developed, they began to use wooden lifting devices and slopes of stones to make the ore easily transported to the ground.
In addition, the development of metal technology and metallurgical technology in Egypt is also affected by their geographical environment, Egypt is located in a desert area, lack of rich mineral resources.
As a result, they often needed to import metal ores from other regions, and during the New Kingdom, the Egyptians began to obtain metal ores through exchange and trade, they imported copper ore from the southern Nobia region, chalcopyrite from the Arabian Peninsula, and lead, tin and zinc ore from the Mediterranean region.
In short, the development of metal technology and metallurgical technology in Egypt is closely linked to the development of its metal mineral resources, and the Egyptians use different tools and technologies to mine copper ore and obtain other metal ores through exchange and trade, and these efforts have laid a solid foundation for the development of metal technology and metallurgical technology in Egypt.
The processing and smelting technology of metal ore is a vital part of Egyptian metal technology and metallurgy, in the early days, the Egyptians used grinding tools to process the ore into powder, and then wash it with water to separate the metal and ore, and over time, the Egyptians began to use more sophisticated smelting techniques to extract metals.
For example, they invented a technique called "smelting" to separate metals from ore by mixing ore and carbon at high temperatures.
When smelting metal ores, the Egyptians used raw materials and tools adapted to the level of technology at the time, they used various fuels, including charcoal, grass and animal dung, etc., for making fires and making charcoal, and they also used various tools such as hammers, chisels, saws, pliers and pickaxes for processing ores and metal products.
The Egyptians also invented a technique called "cupellation" for purifying metals, which involves heating an alloy mixed with multiple metals to a high temperature and passing oxygen in it to oxidize and remove impurities from it, in this way, they were able to obtain a purer metal.
Overall, metal ore handling and smelting technology in Egypt was considered quite advanced in its time, and Egyptians are constantly innovating and improving on the development of these technologies, which not only provide raw materials for their metal processes, but also enable them to manufacture high-quality, long-lasting, and exquisite metal products.
Copper:
Copper was one of the earliest metals used in ancient Egypt and was widely used because of its abundant resources, copper products were used not only to make weapons and tools, but also to make ornaments and furniture, copper is a metal with good electrical and thermal conductivity.
It also has good toughness and malleability, which allows it to be processed into a variety of shapes and sizes, and the Egyptians also invented the technique of using copper products to make gold leaf and copper foil, which can be used to make beautiful works of art and ornaments.
Iron:
Iron is a harder, stronger and more durable metal than copper, the Egyptians began to use iron products around 1200 BC, iron products can be used to make weapons, tools, ornaments and building materials, etc., iron can also be quenched and heated to change its properties, making it harder and more durable.
The use of iron in Egypt was an important technological advance, as it allowed Egyptians to produce stronger and more durable weapons and tools.
Gold:
Gold was a valuable metal in Egypt and was widely used to make valuable ornaments and temple decorations, and the Egyptians discovered that gold could be hammered into thin flakes, which allowed gold to be used to make fine jewelry and ornaments.
The Egyptians also developed a inlay technique to embed pieces of gold into other materials to make more complex ornaments, and the use of gold in Egypt was a symbolic act reflecting its cultural and religious importance.
Silver:
Silver is a more common metal than gold, widely used in Egypt in decorations and furniture, silver has good toughness and malleability, can be processed into various shapes and sizes, Egyptians invented a technique called "silver foil technology", can beat silver into very thin foil.
These foils were then used to make elaborate ornaments and crafts, and silver was also used to make coins, which was an important form of currency exchange in the early days.