The Pharaoh's war chariots featured bushings and suspension systems
The war chariots of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun were constructed with design principles and technological features reminiscent of modern Formula 1 cars. This is not a fanciful dream or a fictional tale but rather the result of research by Professor A. Rovetta. What began almost by chance has raised significant historiographical questions. What struck the researcher were the chariots' stability, flexibility, and elegance.
Rovetta observed:
"Egyptian chariots are distinctly different from Hittite and Roman chariots. The former are the result of innovative design, aimed at dynamic, lightweight, and efficient use, not just transportation."
Adding to these considerations is a historical mystery yet to be definitively solved: the outcome of the Battle of Kadesh in 1279 BCE. This famous battle, fought between the army of Ramses II and the Hittites in the ancient Syrian city of Kadesh, initially went poorly for the Egyptians but ended in a triumphant victory for the Pharaoh, as exploited by royal propaganda. This victory is depicted in bas-reliefs and frescoes celebrating Ramses II's courage, attributing his success solely to the thought of Amun, his divine father.
The scribe Pentaur recounts that after the Egyptian soldiers, along with their chariots and infantry, had fled, Ramses II donned the fierce armor of warriors, mounted his chariot pulled by two horses, and charged into the fray. Surrounded by 2,500 Hittite chariots, each manned by three soldiers attempting to block his path, Ramses stood fearless, without princes, generals, or soldiers by his side.
Kadesh was thousands of kilometers from the Egyptian capital, yet the chariots arrived fully functional. It is possible they were dismantled and transported on heavier wagons. What is certain is that the construction techniques and, so to speak, the "managerial" approach to the event were fundamentally different from those of the Hittites. Hittite chariots were robust, massive, with solid wheels of uniform thickness.
Rovetta highlights three discoveries:
- The concept of the bushing, typically dated to 800 BCE, was already perfectly applied in this type of technology.
- Adaptive suspension, with U-shaped spokes that created a flexible system integrated with the rim and hub.
- The double circumference of the rim, suggesting an early concept of a tire adaptable to uneven terrain.
The materials used were also significant: hard wood paired with softer wood to reduce friction, increase durability, and ensure smooth movement. Animal fats were placed between the bearings, resembling modern bushings, lubricants, and additives.
Egyptian chariots were extraordinary both in beauty and in the technical sophistication of their construction, offering comfort, mechanical strength, and impressive performance. Elements like wheel dimensions, frame shape, the center of gravity's position (both empty and fully loaded), air resistance, suspension rigidity, and terrain adaptability were key to their success. Remarkably, these features are comparable to modern-day race cars, though the means of propulsion have shifted from horses to engines.
Comparing Egyptian chariots to Sumerian ones—built with solid wheels attached to axles and heavy, rigid spokes—further highlights their superiority. Calculations of elastic deformability reveal that, using the same type of wood, the Pharaoh's chariot was four times more elastic than Hittite chariots.
In conclusion, Egyptian chariots, particularly those of Tutankhamun, displayed exceptional functional performance and dynamic characteristics, comparable to 19th-century European carriages. Were these advancements a fortunate series of coincidences or the inheritance of Hittite technological expertise?
What remains clear is that these chariots are among the first known mechanical systems to integrate principles of mechanics, kinematics, dynamics, and lubrication.
