The chariot represents the high level of engineering sophistication reached by the Egyptian chariot builders at King Tut's time. [Egyptian Museum]
Posted on 11/09/2010 7:10:27 PM PST by SunkenCiv
King Tutankhamun, the pharaoh who ruled Egypt more than 3,300 years ago, rode full speed over the desert dunes on a Formula One-like chariot, according to new investigations into the technical features of the boy king's vehicle collection.
Discovered in pieces by British archaeologist Howard Carter when he entered King Tut's treasure-packed tomb in 1922, the collection consisted of two large ceremonial chariots, a smaller highly decorated one, and three others that were lighter and made for daily use.
"They were the Ferrari of antiquity. They boasted an elegant design and an extremely sophisticated and astonishingly modern technology," Alberto Rovetta, professor in robotics engineering at the Polytechnic of Milan, told Discovery News.
Of the six chariots, one made its longest ride yet last week when it traveled outside Egypt for the first time in three millennia to the "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibit in New York's Discovery Times Square Exposition...
"These vehicles appear to be the first mechanical systems which combine the use of kinematics, dynamics and lubrication principles," Rovetta said.
Further studies, in collaboration with Nasry Iskander at the conservation department of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, showed the unique interplay of form and function in King Tut's chariots. These technical underpinnings involve the design of the wheels, the naves, the bearings, and the pole between the cart and the yoke.
"The wheels feature a real tire, made of a flexible wood rim, which adapts to soil irregularities. Moreover, the six-spoke wheels are made from elastic wood. This absorbs uniformly the loads transmitted by soil irregularity, so that the vibrations are damped by the wheel itself like the intelligent suspensions in modern cars," Rovetta said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
The chariot represents the high level of engineering sophistication reached by the Egyptian chariot builders at King Tut's time. [Egyptian Museum]
|
· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe · |
|||
Antiquity Journal & archive Archaeologica Archaeology Archaeology Channel BAR Bronze Age Forum Discover Dogpile Eurekalert LiveScience Mirabilis.ca Nat Geographic PhysOrg Science Daily Science News Texas AM Yahoo Excerpt, or Link only? |
|
||
|
· Science topic · science keyword · Books/Literature topic · pages keyword · |
|||
He got it from the Ancient Aliens.
That would explain his gold skin color as portrayed in his portraits.
“He gave his life for tourism.”
Sorry. Could. Not. Resist.
From the looks of the picture, those chariots boasted 2HP.
Spoilt rich teens and their fast vehicles.
You do have the most interesting posts, thanks!
The manpower costs were ENORMOUS!
Still, imagine what it would have been like if these guys were still using stone blades for carving.
The manpower costs were ENORMOUS!
Still, imagine what it would have been like if these guys were still using stone blades for carving.
Chariots of the Gods?
There was a TV show several years back about ancient chariots. I do remember them mentioning the Egyptian ones.
If my memory hasn’t gone bad, a lot of those chariots were well designed and made. Many were designed for two and some for three warriors. Some had quick change wheels, maybe for blowouts.
The various Greek and Persian ones were particularly well designed.
I read the amazing description, then I see a picture of something comparable to my granny’s garden cart.
Model mockup of the Warwolf Trebuchet built by Edward Longshanks King of England for the siege of the Scottish Castle Stirling 1304. Largest working Trebuchet ever made. He apparently wanted to impress the ladies.
That’s just what the Left wants us back into. I can see myself, and my honey pulling into Mel’s for a Burger, and a Malted.
One might legitimately compare this damping to a spring / shock absorber combination, but there is obviously nothing "intelligent" - that is reactive, about it.
Well, he's just a little overenthusiastic about his subject. It's a good thing, not a bad thing.
Hey, we all know what it would have been had it not been for Taita!
Translation: ♫ The wheels on the chariot go round and round. ♫
A real man would have rode on the back of his horse.
Its very lovely, of course...But really, (Whispers) Its just a little cart.
Nifty!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
