“Send the Archers”: Archery’s Primary Role in Canaanite-Levantine Military Thought“Enviar a los arqueros”: el rol central de la arquería en el pensamiento militar cananeo-levantino

Resumen

This article explores the importance and reliance that rulers in the Canaanite – Levantine region attached to archery during the Amarna period. It argues that the Amarna Letter correspondence of these kings reveals a dependency on archery that was unmatched by Egypt and that was unique, especially in this period. The title phrase of the article or some form of it, “send the archers” is found in the Amarna Letters 84 times. The article demonstrates how this was an exceptional number of requests which far exceeded any request for any other form of military weapon assistance, including troops or chariots, which was minimal and often asked for until archers could arrive. The article examines several representative Amarna letters, both from the International correspondence of the kings outside of Canaan and the Levant and those in Canaan and the Levant, and uses these to demonstrate the contrast between the Canaanite king’s perception and that of the Egyptians and those outside of the region in regards to the use of archers. The examination considers both sides of the correspondence as well as touching on the importance that chariotry had in New Kingdom Egyptian military philosophy and how it came to eclipse other forms of military arms. The article looks at annals, iconographic and orthostatic representations of Egyptian military campaigns to demonstrate that there was a preponderance of reliance on the chariot in the Egyptian military mentality that was not shared by the Canaanites or the Levantine rulers. Canaanite kings sought after the protection of Pharaohs Amenophis III and Amenophis IV (also known as Akhenaten) archers and regularly sent requests asking for their support in facing down an invasion or insurrection of the ‘Apiru. These requests were heavily biased in language and construction towards an emphasis on archers as opposed to charioteers or infantry.