axle for increased stability. The sides of the chariots were
normally made of stretched canvas, reinforced by stucco.
The floors were made of leather thongs, interlaced to pro-
vide an elastic but firm foundation for the riders.
Asingle pole, positioned at the center and shaped
while still damp, ran from the axle to a yoke that was
attached to the saddles of the horses. A girth strap and
breast harness kept the pole secure while the vehicle was
in motion. Originally, the two wheels of the chariot each
hadfour spokes; later six were introduced. These were
made of separate pieces of wood glued together and then
bound in leather straps.
KAMOSE(r.1555–1550 B.C.E.) was the first Egyptian
ruler to use the chariot and cavalry units successfully. The
Hyksos, dominating the northern territories at the time,
were startled when the first chariots appeared against
them on the field at NEFRUSY, led by Kamose. The horses
of the period, also introduced to Egypt by the Asiatics,
were probably not strong enough to carry the weight of a
man over long distances, a situation remedied by the
Egyptians within a short time. The horses did pull chari-
ots, however, and they were well trained by the Egyptian
military units, especially in the reigns of TUTHMOSISI,
TUTHMOSISIII,RAMESSESII, and RAMESSESIII. These warrior
pharaohs made the chariot cavalry units famed through-
out the region as they built or maintained the empire.
Charonnophis(fl. third centuryB.C.E.)Native ruler of
Thebes during the reign of Ptolemy IV Philopator (221–205
B.C.E.)
He rebelled against ALEXANDRIA. Theban rebels attempted
to oust the Ptolemaic Period rulers but were unsuccessful.
See also REBELS OF EGYPT.
Chemmis This was the legendary sacred floating island
in the western Delta, near BUTO, that was the mythologi-
cal site of the lovely legend concerning the goddess ISIS
and her infant son, HORUS. Isis, impregnated by the corpse
of the god OSIRIS, whom she buried, retired to the sacred
island to give birth to the child who would avenge Osiris’s
assassination. SET, the murderous brother of Osiris, also a
god, sought Isis and Horus, but at Chemmis the mother
and child remained in hiding. The goddess WADJETwas in
attendance, arranging reeds and foliage to keep Isis and
Horus out of sight. The legend, recounted each year in
Egypt, was one of the greatest examples of the maternal
and wifely instincts of Isis, who embodied the ever-faith-
ful spouse and the mother ready to sacrifice herself for
her offspring. Isis was beloved in Egypt and throughout
much of the inhabited world because of this and other
tales of her suffering and endurance.Cheops See KHUFU.Chephren See KHAFRE.Chremonides(fl. third century B.C.E.)Athenian politi-
cian aided by Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 B.C.E.)
Chremonides studied philosophy with Zeno of Citium
and entered Greek politics. Around 266 B.C.E., he was
accredited with starting a war over an anti-Macedonian
alliance. As a result of Athens’s surrender, Chremo-
nides fled to ALEXANDRIA. He served as an admiral of the
Egyptians during the Second Syrian War and was
defeated in battle by ANTIOCHUS II THEOS, the Seleucid
ruler.Chronicle of Prince Osorkon This is a mysterious text
dating to the reign of SHOSHENQ III(835–783 B.C.E.) that
describes a civil war in Egypt, situated in the Upper
Egyptian regions. Shoshenq III lost control of many
southern areas as a result. Another crisis caused his king-
ship to be divided, giving rise to the Twenty-third
Dynasty.
See also OSORKON III.Cippus of Horus A form of STELA popular in the
Ptolemaic Period (304–30 B.C.E.) featuring the god Har-
pocrates (HORUSas a child) standing on a crocodile and
holding scorpions and other dangerous creatures, magical
texts accompanied the image and provided protection
against the beasts displayed. Water was poured over the
Cippus, and by drinking the water a person was rendered
invulnerable. The Cippus was reportedly created by an
Egyptian named Psammeticus-Ankh, and it stood in
prominent sites throughout the Nile Valley. Originally the
Cippus was a protective monument with powers to repel
SETand the beast APOPHIS(1).82 CharonnophisA chariot design from a New Kingdom temple relief
the relief depicts a pharaoh in combat.