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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
The Howard Carter Archives
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Carter No.: 582

Handlist description: Group of sticks and other weapons

Card/Transcription No.: 582-2


Note

Upon the Ancient Egyptian Single-Stick. (See Nos. 582 and 619.)

A slender round stick, ranging from 60 to 95 cms. long, thicker at one end than the other, and used apparently as a weapon of attack and defence. In contradistinction to the modern form of single-stick the thicker end of the ancient Egyptian weapon formed the point-end, ferruled with metal, and the thinner end the handle. Protection for the hand was furnished by a leather 'guard', somewhat like the 'basket-hilt', made rigid by means of wire and adorned in some cases with open gold-work ornament (see 619, A to D). The handle or 'grip' of the single-stick was packed with leather bound with string in order to insulate and prevent the passage of repercussion passing to the hand (see 582, C). From scenes upon the monuments depicting a king of 'cudgel-play' or 'single-sticking', guards, cuts and parries appear to have formed at least part of the play, but a short stick bound to the left forearm was also used to ward off strokes not parried with the single-stick and which obviously served as a shield to ward off the adversary's blows.

Card no. 582-2 relating to Carter no. 582
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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
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