The strength of the Egyptian army consisted mainly in archers.  They fought either on foot or in chariots; cavalry was not much relied upon, although mention is frequently made of horsemen as well as of chariots.  The Egyptian infantry was divided into regiments, and Wilkinson tells us that they were named according to the arms they bore,—­as “bowmen, spearmen, swordsmen, clubmen, slingers.”  These regiments were divided into battalions and companies, commanded by their captains.  The infantry, heavily armed with spears and shields, formed a phalanx almost impenetrable of twelve men deep, who marched with great regularity.  Each company had its standard-bearer, who was an officer of approved valor; the royal standards were carried by the royal princes or by persons of the royal household.  The troops were summoned by the sound of trumpet, and also by the drum, both used from the earliest period.  The offensive weapons were the bow, the spear, the javelin, the sword, the club, or mace, and the battle-axe.  The chief defensive weapon was the shield, about three feet in length, covered with bull’s hide, having the hair outward and studded with nails.  The shape of the bow was not essentially different from that used in Europe in the Middle Ages, being about five feet and a half long, round, and tapering at the ends; the bowstring was of hide or catgut.  The arrows of the archers averaged about thirty inches in length, and were made of wood or reeds, tipped with a metal point, or flint, and winged with feathers.  Each bowman was furnished with a plentiful supply of arrows.  When arrows were exhausted, the bowman fought with swords and battle-axes; his defensive armor was confined chiefly to the helmet and a sort of quilted coat.  The spear was of wood, with a metal head, was about five or six feet in length, and used for thrusting.  The javelin was lighter, for throwing.  The sling was a thong of plaited leather, broad in the middle, with a loop at the end.  The sword was straight and short, between two and three feet in length, with a double edge, tapering to a sharp point, and used for either cut or thrust; the handle was frequently inlaid with precious stones.  The metal used in the manufacture of swords and spear-heads was bronze, hardened by a process unknown to us.  The battle-axe had a handle about two-and a-half feet in length, and was less ornamented than other weapons.  The cuirass, or coat of armor, was made of horizontal rows of metal plate, about an inch in breadth, well secured together by bronze pieces.  The Egyptian chariot held two persons,—­the charioteer, and the warrior armed with his bow-and-arrow and wearing a cuirass, or coat of mail.  The warrior carried also other weapons for close encounter, when he should descend from his chariot to fight on foot.  The chariot was of wood, the body of which was light, strengthened with metal; the pole was inserted in the axle; the two wheels usually had six spokes, but sometimes only four; the wheel revolved on the axle, and was secured by a lynch-pin.  The leathern harness and housings were simple, and the bridles, or reins, were nearly the same as are now in use.