This is a strange ancient "sickle" sword from either Afghanistan or NW Pakistan. It is bronze and is next to a 12 inch ruler for size comparison. It is has a tang on the top and was likely a burial, votive weapon rather than functional. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before? I would love more information on it. I vaguely recall seeing something like it in the past but cannot remember where. Maybe in some ancient texts or art depictions????

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks

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Where is the edge?

I have not handled this piece so I can only guess it is likely only on the tip. Sorry I do not have more info. I have been wondering that myself.

Resembles this "proto-khopesh"? in the British Museum.

I have a note in the file name that it is made of copper and was found in Northwestern Iran.

ks

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Hi Kirk,

I also posted this question in the Sword Forum and saw that photo of the piece in the Met Museum. I too, saw the resemblence. The one I submit seems to be a more dramatic version of the khopesh in the photo you show.

John

If it is a weapon then the angle of the tang suggests that the edge would be along the outer curve just like the "proto khopesh". It would not be classed as a sickle sword but somewhere between a sword and an axe.

I made some detail sketches of the one in the BM, estimating some dimensions.
It is not sharp, but is without much doubt a finished weapon. I think some kopesh swords also have a blunt edge.
This would categorize these somewhere between axe-sword-mace. The BM one is well made and has beautiful proportions and lines.

Interesting seeing another example that is even more extreme in shape than the BM one. There is a ancient Iranian relief of the hero Gilgamesh holding a weapon that must belong to this same group. It is less extreme in shape, but has the forward curve of the blade and is in size as a large knife or short sword.
Perfect for dealing stunning blows, breaking bones, heads and pulping muscle I would guess.

This one above and the BM one shares the thrusting point. Gilgamesh´s one was blunt ended. I´ll see if I can locate the pic.

EDIT: after a quick googling, here are some ancient images of the Hero Gilgamesh.
Both show him using a weapon that is shaped somewhat like a question mark. One is short, the other is much longer.

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I agree. I don't think you need a sharpened edge on this and in examination, I don't see one. This would be a stabbing weapon on par with the concept of an atlatl. Like the atlatl, you can build up speed to pierce an enemy by swinging with greater force, the stabbing point versus just a straight thrust. Think of what the atlatl does in concept of thrusting a spear versus basic throwing and this seems to utilize the same concept.

Much of the ancient art featuring gods shows stylized depictures. A man holding a globe, Zeus holding a club nearly as half as big as him, etc.

I am tending to think this was from a parallel culture that existed and had interaction with the peoples of Iran to the west of where it was found between northern Pakistan and Afghanistan border. Often, we see cultures copying other contemporary cultures. Look at the Nubians who mimicked (but not in the same great accomplishments!) the technology and styles of inventions of their northern Egyptian neighbors. Perhaps this piece is a reduced and stylzed version of a weapon that had seen coming from Bronze Age Iran??? I have not seen a piece like this before being found in the area where it comes from but I occasionally see what I call cross-over technology in the artifacts when comparing to their neighbors.

Timo: thanks!
This is great to know.
Makes the implement/weapon in the hand of the Louvre sculpture even more interesting.

I was not aware that Gilgamesh is never associated with a sword. So what we today name sickle-sword, may have been known as an axe in ancient times.
Unless of course the ancient sculptor took liberties and equipped the hero with a suitable sword/kopesh (or whatever it should be called) regardless of what the text has to say.
On the other hand, it is usually rather significant what kind of weapon the hero is told to have and what he does not have in the legends. His weapons reflect or illuminate his character.

The weapon that George translates as "dagger" or "dirk" is often "sword" in translations. From art, it's short and double-edged, I'd guess 20-30cm of blade. I like George's translation.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu have their axes and daggers for the quest to Humbaba's forest cast for them in their presence. The suitably heroic sizes are 3 talents for the axes, and 2 talents for the dagger blades, and another talent for the dagger fittings. Gilgamesh and Enkidu carry 10 talents each (I don't know what makes up the rest of the 10). 1 talent = 30kg? There's no mention of anything other than bronze (or copper?) going into the axe - what is a sickle-sword but a bronze-handled axe?

Gilgamesh was tall, with a 6 cubit stride according to the story. So the 4m sculpture, while maybe not life-size, is at least close to story-size.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu appear to wear their axe and dagger in/on/from their belts. The stock phrase is "he took up his axe in his hand, he drew forth his dirk from his belt".

Lots of info and pics of sickle-swords etc in this thread: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=9497