18th century BC Khopesh found in Shechem, Israel (West-Bank); the blade is decorated with electrum inlays.

Khopesh (ḫpš) is the Egyptian name of the Canaanite "sickle-sword". Its origins can be traced back to third millennium Sumer. A typical khopesh has about 18 cm of hilt, with the blade extending some 40 cm from the hilt before curving into a slight crescent shape for another 15 to 30 cm. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 246 pixelsFull resolution (2235 × 687 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sichelschwert (Khopesh) aus Sichem (Nablus); Einlagen aus Elektron, um 1750 BC, Staatl. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 246 pixelsFull resolution (2235 × 687 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sichelschwert (Khopesh) aus Sichem (Nablus); Einlagen aus Elektron, um 1750 BC, Staatl. ... Shechem is a name of geographical places. ... Electrum coin of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus. ... It has been suggested that Hieroglyph (French Wiki article) be merged into this article or section. ... // [[Image:]] Map of Canaan For other uses, see Canaan (disambiguation). ... The 3rd millennium BC spans the Early to Middle Bronze Age. ... Sumer (or Å umer) was the earliest known civilization of the ancient Near East, located in lower Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), from the time of the earliest records in the mid 4th millennium BC until the rise of Babylonia in the late 3rd millennium BC. The term Sumerian applies to all speakers...

The khopesh was initially used against the Egyptians in war, but as the kingdom of Egypt improved trade relations with other kingdoms, eventually it adopted the khopesh. It seemed to have been most popular during the New Kingdom under the united Egypt. Ramses II was the first pharaoh to have used the khopesh in warfare. The New Kingdom is the period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BCE and the 11th century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of Egypt. ... Usermaatre-setepenre The Justice of Re is Powerful, Chosen of Re Nomen Ramesses (meryamun) Born of Re, (Beloved of Amun) Horus name Kanakht Merymaa Nebty name Mekkemetwafkhasut Golden Horus Userrenput-aanehktu Consort(s) Isetnofret, Nefertari Maathorneferure Issues Bintanath, Khaemweset, Merneptah, Amun-her-khepsef Meritamen Father Seti I Mother Queen Tuya...

Surviving examples have a single-handed grip followed by a blade about three grip-lengths. The blade was straight at the base, but the lower 3/4 curved into a broad-bladed shallow curve. Surviving examples show that, unlike a sickle, the weapon was edged on the outer side of the curve. Using a sickle A sickle is a curved, hand-held agricultural tool typically used for harvesting grain crops before the advent of modern harvesting machinery. ...

References

See also

• Falx
• Sappara
• Kopis