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King Tut's Chariot a Marvel of Ancient Engineering

Posted by kdawson on from the ride-like-an-egyptian dept.

astroengine writes "King Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt over 3,000 years ago, looks as if he was chauffeured around the desert in one of the earliest-known high-performance vehicles. Tut's chariots surpass all monumental structures of the pharaohs in engineering sophistication. 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. 'These vehicles appear to be the first mechanical systems which combine the use of kinematics, dynamics and lubrication principles,' said Alberto Rovetta, professor in robotics engineering at the Polytechnic of Milan."

8 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. bwahahahahaha by Pojut · · Score: 5, Funny

    . 'These vehicles appear to be the first mechanical systems which combine the use of kinematics, dynamics and lubrication principles

    I combined your mom's use of kinematics, dynamics, and lubrication principles with my mechanical systems last night.

    OH SNAP!

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:bwahahahahaha by couchslug · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sounds like a slow, loose, and greasy event!

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    2. Re:bwahahahahaha by ultranova · · Score: 5, Funny

      I combined your mom's use of kinematics, dynamics, and lubrication principles with my mechanical systems last night.

      I see your ability to craft a joke is far inferior to ancient Egyptians's ability to craft chariots.

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  2. I would expect nothing less... by jaymzter · · Score: 5, Funny

    from our pyramid building, cat worshipping, space travelling, interstellar overlords.

    --
    If thou see a fair woman pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love
  3. Re:HOLY AMAZING! by vlm · · Score: 4, Funny

    And that easily makes these chariots "surpass all monumental structures of the pharaohs in engineering sophistication." Moving thousands of tons of rock without machinery is easy compared to slopping fat on a stick!

    The patent/copyright finally ran out on the chariot thing about 200 years ago, leading to the Industrial Revolution.

    When the patent/copyright runs out on "magically levitating giant stone blocks into pyramid shapes" sometime in the future, I think we're going to have a heck of a lot of fun.

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  4. Re:Um, Not? by Walt+Dismal · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, Egyptian Consumer Reports noted that "The Tut Chariot, made by Toyota, is prone to unexplainable sudden acceleration. However, it gets good hay mileage. And depending on the whip you use, it can do 0-60 in under 3 minutes."

  5. Just like modern Porche owner by Okonomiyaki · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds like more evidence for that small penis theory.

    http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/UnNews:King_Tut_had_a_small_penis

  6. Egyptians go home. by Pseudonymus+Bosch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, but apart from the Great Pyramid, prime and perfect numbers, the Sieve of Eratosthenes, linear equations, sequences, pi, surface areas and volumes, what have the Egyptians done for us?

    --
    __
    Men with no respect for life must never be allowed to control the ultimate instruments of death.
    GW Bu