Yawara
It is a wooden cylinder, 10 - 15 centimeters long and about 3 centimeters in diameter. Yawara is clasped with fingers, and its ends protrude on both sides of the fist. It serves to weight and enhance the impact. Allows you to strike with the ends of the ends, mainly in the centers of the nerve bundles, tendons and ligaments.
Yawara is a Japanese weapon that has two versions of the appearance. According to one of them, the Japanese brass knuckles are like a symbol of faith, which was an attribute of Buddhist monks - vijra. This is a small shaft, reminiscent of the image of lightning, which the monks used not only for ritual purposes, but also as a weapon, since they needed to have it. The second version is the most plausible. An ordinary pestle, which was used for crushing cereals or seasonings in a mortar, became the prototype of the Javara.
Nunchaku
It represents sticks or metal tubes about 30 cm long connected to each other with a chain or rope. Flails used to thresh rice became the prototype of home-made weapons.
In Japan, threshing flails were considered a tool and did not pose a danger to enemy soldiers, so they were not seized from the peasants.
Sai
This is a stiletto-type piercing bladed melee weapon, outwardly similar to a trident with a short shaft (maximum one and a half palm width) and an elongated middle prong. The traditional weapon of the inhabitants of Okinawan (Japan) and is one of the main weapons of Kobudo. The lateral teeth form a kind of guard and can also play a striking role due to sharpening.
Unusual weapons of antiquityIt is believed that a fork for carrying bales of rice straw or a tool for loosening the soil became the prototype of the weapon.
Kusarigama
Kusarigama (kusarikama) is a traditional Japanese weapon consisting of a sickle (kama) and a chain (kusari) that connects it to a shock weight (fundo). The place of attachment of the chain to the sickle varies from the end of its handle to the base of the kama blade.
Unusual weapons of antiquity Kusarigama is considered to be a medieval invention of the ninja, the prototype of which was an ordinary agricultural sickle, with which the peasants harvested, and the soldiers cut their way through high grass and other vegetation during campaigns. It is believed that the appearance of the kusarigama was due to the need to disguise weapons as unsuspicious objects, in this case an agricultural implement.
Odachi
Odachi ("big sword") - one of the types of long Japanese swords. To be called an odachi, a sword must have a blade length of at least 3 shaku (90.9 cm), however, as with many other Japanese sword terms, there is no precise definition of odachi length. Usually odachi are swords with blades 1.6 - 1.8 meters.
Unusual weapons of antiquity Odachi completely fell into disuse as a weapon after the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War The Bakufu government passed a law according to which it was forbidden to have a sword of more than a certain length. After the law went into effect, many odachi were cut to fit the established norms. This is one of the reasons why odachi are so rare.
Naginata
Known in Japan at least since the 11th century. Then this weapon meant a long blade from 0.6 to 2.0 m long, mounted on a handle 1.2-1.5 m long. In the upper third, the blade slightly expanded and bent, but the handle itself had no curvature at all or it was barely scheduled. They worked with the naginata at that time in wide movements, holding one hand almost at the very edge. The shaft of the naginata had an oval section, and the blade with one-sided sharpening, like the blade of the Japanese yari spear, was usually worn in a sheath or case.
Unusual weapons of antiquity Later, by the XIV-XV centuries, the naginata blade was somewhat shortened and acquired a modern form. Now the classic naginata has a shaft 180 cm long, on which a blade 30-70 cm long is attached (60 cm is considered standard). The blade is separated from the shaft by an annular guard, and sometimes also by metal crossbars - straight or bent upwards. Such crossbars (jap. hadome) were also used on spears to parry enemy blows. The blade of the naginata resembles that of a common samurai sword, sometimes it was it that was planted on such a shaft, but usually the naginata blade is heavier and more curved.
Qatar
Indian weapons gave its owner the claws of a wolverine, the blade lacking only the strength and cutting ability of adamant. At first glance, the katar is one blade, but when the lever on the handle is pressed, this blade splits into three - one in the middle and two on the sides.
Unusual weapons of antiquityThree blades not only make the weapon effective, but also intimidate the enemy. The shape of the handle makes it easy to block blows. But it is also important that the triple blade can cut through any Asian armor.
Urumi
A long (usually about 1.5 m) strip of extremely flexible steel attached to a wooden handle.
Unusual weapons of antiquityThe excellent flexibility of the blade made it possible to wear the urumi discreetly under clothing, wrapping it around the body.
Tekkokagi
A device in the form of claws attached to the outer side (tekkokagi) or the inner side (tekagi, shuko) of the palm of the hand. They were one of the favorite tools, but, to a greater extent, weapons in the arsenal of the ninja.
Unusual weapons of antiquity Usually these "claws" were used in pairs, in both hands. With their help, one could not only quickly climb a tree or a wall, hang from a ceiling beam, or turn a mud wall, but also resist a warrior with a sword or other long weapon with high efficiency.
Chakram
The Indian throwing weapon "chakra" may well serve as a clear illustration of the saying "everything ingenious is simple." The chakra is a flat metal ring honed along the outer edge. The diameter of the ring on surviving specimens varies from 120 to 300 mm or more, the width is from 10 to 40 mm, and the thickness is from 1 to 3.5 mm.
Unusual weapons of antiquity One of the methods of throwing chakram was to unwind the ring on the index finger, and then throw the weapon at the enemy with a sharp movement of the wrist.
Skissor
the weapon was used in gladiator fights in the Roman Empire. The metal cavity at the base of the scissor covered the gladiator's hand, which made it possible to easily block blows, as well as inflict their own. The skissor was made of solid steel and was 45 cm long. It was surprisingly light, which made it possible to strike quickly.
Kpinga
A throwing knife used by experienced warriors of the Azanda tribe. They lived in Nubia, a region of Africa that includes northern Sudan and southern Egypt. This knife was up to 55.88 cm long and had 3 blades with a base in the center. The blade closest to the hilt was shaped like a male genitalia and represented the male power of its owner.
Unusual weapons of antiquity The very design of kpinga blades increased the chances of hitting the enemy as hard as possible on contact. When the owner of the knife got married, he presented the kping as a gift to the family of his future wife.
Today when military industry is evolving at a faster and faster pace, new types of weapons are being reported almost daily - armed drones, destructive missiles and many other mechanisms with which it is so easy to take a human life.
Here you will see more ancient types of weapons - not swords, axes and spears, but weapons that only the elite owned, they were so dangerous.
Madou
In ancient times, Hindus and Muslims were forbidden to carry weapons, so by improvising they created an object that looked like an ordinary working tool or utensil, but was actually a weapon that could be deadly. Madu was made from crossed antelope horns. The horns sticking out to the sides were ideal for attacking the enemy from behind, however, of course, those who carried mada with them claimed that this was a means of self-defense, and nothing more.
Haladiye
One of the most formidable weapons created in India is the haladiye dagger. These daggers were carried by the Rajputs, a class of warriors whose code of honor resembled that of the samurai. Haladiye resembles a small sword, but it has two blades, making it more difficult to use. However, those who have perfected their skills in battles with the help of chaladie can attack the enemy from both sides!
Kakute
Kakute is a spiked ring from ancient Japan. Although the kakute appears small and harmless, it was one of the most dangerous weapons of the female ninja. These rings have from 1 to 3 spikes, which makes a blow from the hand on which they are worn deadly - especially if it is applied to vulnerable parts of the body. Especially dangerous were kakute with poisoned spikes.
Sodegarami
Sodegarami was used by the Edo police to catch criminals. With the help of this spiked pole, the policemen could, by sharply throwing it forward, tangle the clothes of the criminal in order to make it easier to disarm him. The name "sodegarami" is translated as "sleeve tangler". It was convenient for them to separate the samurai during the battle - there was no other legal way: any other weapon could kill a samurai, which was prohibited by law (only another samurai could kill a samurai).
Atlatl
One of the oldest weapons, the atlatl is the ancestor of bows and arrows. The atlatl could only be used at a short distance, but the spears thrown with this simple mechanism developed high speed! The weapon was so effective that some scientists suggest that it was because of its use by man that the mammoth population died out. The atlatl is so fast because the weapon was made from remarkably flexible wood. It has been used on every continent except Africa; Europeans saw it used by the Aztecs in the 16th century.
Khopesh
An ancient Egyptian weapon, the khopesh is a mixture of a battle ax and a sword. Before the khopesh was used as a weapon, it was a symbol of the power of the pharaoh, but because of its effectiveness in battles, they began to arm the army and even cut down trees. Khopesh was made of bronze, so it was extremely heavy, and it was difficult to use it, but just because of the weight (and also because of the curved shape), its lethal force exceeded all the wildest expectations.
Cestus
Although the cestus is not a deadly weapon, it deserves a mention: it perfectly protected the hands of fist fighters during fights in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, and was also used by the fighters as a shield. The difference between the cestus and modern boxing gloves is in the materials from which they were made: the Greeks used leather belts, as well as iron plates, spikes and blades, which turned the protection tool into a deadly weapon.
Hotel
This sword-like weapon originated in ancient Ethiopia; it was very difficult to use because of its shape. At first, shotels were very popular, but later both in Ethiopia and in Europe they realized that not only was it difficult to make, it was also ineffective in close combat due to its excessive length. The only good thing about this weapon is that they are hard to deflect with a shield!
Tychkovy knife
This dagger with a short T-blade was designed for close combat and surprise attacks. The poke knife is taken in the hand so that the blade protrudes from the fist between the index and middle fingers. There is a sword design similar to it, which is more suitable for long fights than for fast attacks. The poke knife is still used in different corners world for self-defense, but this is a very ancient type of weapon.
Bagh nakh
Bagh nakh, also known as tiger claws, is a weapon that comes from ancient India and Japan. It has 4 to 5 curved blades that are designed to tear the opponent's muscles - they are too short to reach internal organs. The weapon was popular among assassins who used deadly poisons coupled with "tiger claws" for an accurate and deadly strike. In addition, such weapons were carried by women for self-defense from strangers and wild animals.
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"Clip Consciousness". It's a disease" modern man. It arises as a result of fragmentation of the “disk” (brain) with information garbage. A person can no longer generalize data and build a single sequence from them. Most people don't remember long texts. They don't see the connection between time-separated historical events because they understand them figuratively and in fragments.
Having learned to think in clips, a person began to put together a mosaic of the overall picture from small pieces. Now he does not have time to move away from the created picture, and look at it from afar to see the whole picture.
To prevent the computer from getting into such a state, it is defragmented, that is, files (data) are redistributed on the disk (history) so that there is a continuous sequence.
Visual information provides much more information than 1000 words. And sometimes such information is even more accurate. You can't "buy" an eye for poetic metaphors and near-scientific terms.
Somehow I came across a picture of a bas-relief of Mitra from Modena.
AT right hand Mitra - some kind of object. I have not seen this bas-relief, but similar item seen in the hand of the statue of Zeus. The guide said it was "lightning". Like Zeus the Thunderer! To the question: “why is lightning such a strange shape?” the guide hovered, and then said that it was not possible to convey the type of thunder and flash of light, because the marble is fragile ...
Maybe. I do not argue. So, Zeus, after a couple of thousand years, passed this object - "lightning" into the hands of Mithra. At the same time, this device has not changed in any way externally. And if this "lightning" would be drawn the same way only among the Romans and Greeks, then this could be at least somehow explained. But how to explain that exactly the same object is held in the hands of the gods of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Sumerians, Egyptians, Hindus and Chinese. And with a time difference of thousands of years and kilometers. Should this device at least somehow differ in the hands of completely different gods and at completely different times?
Here is the item:
Why do lightning occur? There are many versions. And if we assume that everything is clear with ordinary lightning and “linear lightning is just a long spark” (Lomonosov), then few people understand what ball lightning is. Scientists even subdivide them into species and subspecies, like animals.
To be honest, not everything is clear with ordinary (linear) lightning. I read here about the physical properties of lightning and realized that this phenomenon is still only at the stage of study, and even worse, scientists are already beginning to understand the futility of efforts.
And there are also "bead" lightning. They seem to be made of beads with constrictions - a rosary, hence the name.
What “squeezes” lightning is not known to science. This could not be repeated in laboratory conditions. In principle, it has not yet been possible to reproduce ordinary lightning in laboratories.
Sometimes the behavior of lightning is generally difficult to explain. There are many examples. You can google. Take Roy Sullivan for example. He was struck by lightning seven times. He had already begun to protect himself: he walked in rubber boots and did not take metal objects with him. But in the end he hesitated and during the next thunderstorm committed suicide. So what? Lightning struck his grave. It is not joke. This is a real story))
It is possible that similar cases in ancient times provoked people to invent all sorts of stories about their origin. But, given that such cases are very rare, then this option is no longer possible. This myth is too widespread. There are other hypotheses that lightning is nervous system planets, and fireballs it's the immune system. But no one has been able to prove it yet.
Therefore, the Thunderer Zeus is quite understandable and there is no need to condemn people for inventing him. instead, you need to look at it all from afar.
What could be easier than drawing zigzags, thus expressing lightning? In principle, they did this when they wanted to show a thunderstorm. But if they drew gods, and not only thunderers, then in their hands was no longer a zigzag, but some strange object.
This item consists of three to nine rods. One central one is straight, the rest are bent at the ends, and are arranged straight around. One or two spherical centers are also depicted on the "handle".
This item can be seen everywhere: in sculptures, frescoes, on clay, on stone, on coins. In completely different places on the planet. As if everyone conspired to portray him that way. Or… they had a pattern. Indeed, in order to depict something with such repeatable accuracy, this “something” must be seen.
These images come across even on petroglyphs:
The ancients clearly saw this item-weapon. This is not a figment of the imagination of artists who did not know how to draw lightning. It's something they saw. The fact that this is a weapon is clear from the description of the application. The gods could strike enemies with both linear lightning and throwing "fireballs". It could also be an instrument. For example, cutting, like a drill or a lagoon.
As a result, any device of any good weapons usually kept secret. And lightning is no exception. The gods did not reveal their secrets to the slaves.
In Buddhism and Hinduism, this item is called Vajra, or Rdorje (Skt. vajra, Tibet. rdo rje). Translated, these words mean "lightning" or "diamond"
Information from modern dictionaries and encyclopedias:
Vajra - a short metal rod that has a symbolic analogy with a diamond - can cut anything, but not itself - and with lightning - an irresistible force.
- In Hindu mythology - a jagged disk, Indra's thunder club
- Vajra is the magic wand of Initiated adepts
- It was forged for Indra by the singer Ushana.
- Vajra was forged for Indra by Tvashtar
- It is made from the skeleton of the sage - the hermit Dadhichi.
- There is a version that originally the vajra symbolized the phallus of a bull.
- Vajra was associated with the sun.
- Quaternary or crossed vajra has a symbolism close to that of a wheel.
- Vajra represents the five bodies of the Dhyani Buddhas.
- Vajra means skill, or Upaya.
- Vajra symbolizes the strength and firmness of the spirit.
- Vajra symbolizes the masculine principle, the path, compassion.
- Vajra is interpreted as a sign of fertility.
- Vajra embodies the absolute and indestructible being as opposed to the illusory idea of reality.
- Vajra in combination with a bell implies the merging of male and female nature.
- Vajra symbolizes the indestructible state.
- Vajra is a symbol of the luminous indestructible nature of the mind.
- Vajra is a symbol of Buddha's power over evil spirits or elementals.
That is, the vajra is a simple and necessary item in the household.
I want to remember again about those who like to compare everything with the phallus. One of the items at the top, if you've read carefully. It seems that some art historian climbed high into the Tibetan mountains with his translator, where he found an enlightened lama, whom he began to torture, saying, “Well, tell me, what kind of garbage is this vajra?”, And the lama, who swore an oath not to talk about the secret, just showed them the well-known American "fuck". The translator translated as best he could, and the art critic wrote: “Vajra symbolizes the phallus. And bullish." Although there may be more true story occurrence of such a statement.
Be that as it may, it is hard to imagine how Indra kills the giant snake Vritra with an ordinary, albeit bullish, member. As I said in another topic, art historians generally have a strange fantasy about this. They have a little something, so the symbol of the phallus. And for greater truthfulness, they add the word-connection - “represents” Perhaps Muldashev actually found a real vajra in India, but what you see in the pictures above are just models. As they say, the fuse is removed, the shutter twitches, but ... does not shoot. Although it can hurt to hit.
Let me remind you of one incident that happened to the natives of an island that the Americans left after World War II. The natives began to build airplanes out of straw. The planes were very similar, but they did not fly. But this did not stop the natives from praying for these planes and hoping that the "gods" would return and bring even more chocolate and fire water. In the world, such cases are called - "cargocult"
With "vajras" a similar story. Having read the manuscripts and seen enough of the ancient sculptures, the Indians in all seriousness tried to use them as weapons in battle. Type of brass knuckles. They even called some of their brass knuckles vajra mushti. But, most likely realizing that the vajra will not achieve much superiority over the enemy, they modified it. Apparently this is how the “six-fingers” appeared
But the shestoper is also not very perfect. A regular iron mace is much more effective. Therefore, the shestoper can hardly be called a weapon. Rather, it is a symbol of weapons. A weapon with meaning. For example, the vajra model is a symbol of an ancient weapon that emits lightning. And the shestoper is the rod of military leaders.
But this ancient thing is supposed to work not only as a meditation bell, and therefore they made a knife out of it. And a knife is a knife. After all, they can not only kill.
By the way, this is the original. In the movie The Shadow with Alec Baldwin, you can see a flying version of this knife.
In simple terms, if something barks and bites like a dog, and it looks like a dog, then it is a dog. But if it does not bark, does not bite, but is called a dog, then this is a model of a dog, a stuffed animal, or a sculpture, but not a dog.
Can a dog model be the dog itself? That is, will it perform the same functions? Why do you need a dog? To protect. And why did they create those “molded gods” about which the Scriptures quite clearly speak?
Somewhere I read that the form itself still has an impact on the content. The article wrote about the "cardiole", a body of revolution, which in 3-d form has a section of the "heart". And the type of liquid that you pour into it acquires special properties. By the way, the same applies to the pyramids. You can find a lot of information that if you put something in the center of the pyramids, then a miracle happens. One type even patented a permanent razor blade that would not blunt when placed in a pyramid. I did not check it, but everyone can be convinced that the domes of churches are similar to a cardiole and are made according to the principle of a vajra-lightning.
Or here's another. Everyone knows the thing. Crown. Symbol of power. The oldest image of the crown is Sumerian.
Take a closer look. This is the same "vajra". The main thing, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Italian crown, the Spanish, Austrian or Jewish “Torah crown”, which is in the last picture. Basically the same design.
He is the One Who shows you the lightning (Quran 13:12)
So what was in the hands of the gods?
The northern gods had their own "lightning" of a very original form. "Hammer of Thor"
It looks like this:
Looks like a stun gun.
This is the oldest symbol of Lightning and Heavenly Fire. It is known throughout northern Europe. This is God's Thunder Weapon. The hammer.
The German Donar-Thor called the hammer "Mjolnir". the origin of the word is considered unknown. Etymologists distinguish the Icelandic word milva (to crush), the Lithuanian malti (grind), and the Welsh mellt (lightning). The Russian "lightning" is also mentioned, but is not considered the main one. Most likely because Perun (the Russian version of the god of thunder) was written off by the Russians from the Lithuanian Perkunus. Therefore, "Mjolnir" most likely comes from the Lithuanian "malti" than from "lightning". Logically...
Thor is the son of the supreme god Asov Odin. Lord of Thunder and Lightning. He is subject to rain and wind. His mission is to fight the giants Turses. Giants are the oldest race that descend directly from Chaos. Giants about opponents of gods and people. And in this war, Thor's hammer - Mjolnir - is the most powerful and important weapon.
This lightning was made by a certain Brokk from a race of dwarfs who were once created from the blood of Ymir. Brokk also built other high-tech "innovations". For example, Odin's spear is Gungnir or Draupnir's ring.
AT " technical specifications"This Mjolnir-class device is designed to return the lightning bolt back to its owner. That is, like a boomerang, God threw lightning at the target, and it reached the target and returned to the owner. If we remember that lightning starts moving in the form of ionized particles of the "leader" and returns as a spark discharge (source), then there is nothing contradicting physics in this story. Everything is fine. The ancients did not fantasize. They knew 100% about the properties of lightning firsthand.
The myths say that when the god Thor dies in battle with the Midgard Serpent in the "End Times", the joy of evil forces will not last forever. The Lost Hammer will be found by Thor's children. This will be the beginning of the "New Times" and the gods of Light will rule again.
Below, in the pictures, coins different countries Mediterranean region. Dated from 500 to 200 BC. e. On all coins, the lightning-vajra is clearly visible. There are many, many of these coins. And that means in ancient world everyone knew perfectly well what it was and understood the significance of this subject.
Notice the "zipper" on the last coin. Doesn't it remind you of anything? This is the "lily" - the heraldic symbol of the power of European kings. Why is she everywhere.
Let's look at two of them:
In the left picture, the "lily" is slightly older than in the right. Does it look like a lily? Most likely it is some kind of device. For example, this sign never seemed to me a flower. And not me alone. The lily is so unlike a lily that some even considered it a special Masonic sign, which is more correct to consider turned upside down. And like then we'll see a bee. William Vasilyevich Pokhlebkin wrote that the lilies of European courts are of eastern origin, “as a constant, indispensable element of ornament, often reproduced on fabrics on roads. It was these fabrics, and then the expensive clothes that came through Byzantium from the East to Europe, that introduced the European feudal lords, the main consumers of luxurious fabrics, to the lily already in the early Middle Ages.
The right image is stylized. Since 1179, under Louis, it was included in the coat of arms of the French kings, and this version of the lily became the main emblem of the French monarchy. Official name this lily on the French coat of arms of the Bourbons ... fleur de lis.
Well, what kind of ornament was on the fabrics that were imported to Europe? And here, something like this:
The most common medieval ornament of oriental fabrics was the "vajra", which Europeans mistakenly took for a lily. That is, the Europeans forgot about their "lightning" and adopted the eastern vajra as a symbol of power. Moreover, they considered the weapon of the gods to be a lily flower. But do historians tell the truth that the Europeans were wrong. Why would Louis, who personally led the troops in crusade and was not at all sentimental, to draw flowers on his shield?
Quote: Within the framework of Buddhism, the word “vajra” began to be associated, on the one hand, with the originally perfect nature of the awakened consciousness, like an indestructible diamond, and on the other hand, awakening itself, enlightenment, like an instant thunderclap or a flash of lightning. The ritual Buddhist vajra, like the ancient vajra, is a type of scepter, symbolizing awakened consciousness, as well as compassion and skillful means. Prajna and emptiness are symbolized by a ritual bell. The combination of the vajra and the bell in the ritually crossed hands of the priest symbolizes awakening as a result of the integration of wisdom and method, emptiness and compassion. Therefore, the word Vajrayana can be translated as "Diamond Chariot". (club.kailash.ru/buddhism/)
Whatever we are rubbed, the original meaning of the word vajra is a weapon. Why some people constantly start the topic in the wrong direction is not entirely clear.
Crowns existed in parallel. These, for example, are of Sumerian origin. The Jews took this type of crown from the Sumerians, and the Christians adopted it from the Jews. It `s naturally.
But the barbarians had other crowns. Like these ones:
Take a closer look. If the "imperial" crowns are exactly like a vajra, then the "royal" ones are very similar to Thor's hammer. Compare yourself.
Cambodia
We love antiquity, and we love antiquity and the Middle Ages even more. People were different then, and the ability to properly hold a sword in one's hands meant much more than the ability to write, count, or think about art. To some extent, the world was devoid of pathos, deceit, doublethink. Everything was very clear: you have a family, and you have a sword to protect it, the rest is unimportant. Perhaps that is why so many modern guys dream of that distant dark time when they could easily be stabbed with spikes and thrown into cesspool near the city gates. The cruelty of the times went hand in hand with the truth. Who determined the truth, you ask Brodude? And Brodude will answer you: "Of course, the sword!"
Below we will describe the most interesting, in our opinion, edged weapons of antiquity.
1. Khopesh
Ancient Egypt is, of course, one of the oldest and most unique civilizations in the world. And although the former greatness has long gone along with the life and ambitions of the pharaohs, the memory of Egyptian weapons is unlikely to ever sink into oblivion.
Let's take khopesh (khopesh) as an example, which became a real symbol of the New Kingdom. Khopesh consists of two parts: a sickle-shaped blade and a handle 60 centimeters long. This blade was common among the elite units of Egypt, could have both single and double sharpening ... There is an opinion that this weapon came from an older Sumerian counterpart. The ancient Egyptians were famous for their ceremonial, and therefore such weapons could often be found in tombs.
Technically speaking, khopesh is famous for its penetrating ability. They were attacked by both foot wars and those who were in chariots (the length allowed). The weight of this weapon (reached two kilograms) and the unique shape allowed the ancient Egyptian warriors to vary the style of attack depending on the conditions. Simply put, they could chop, or they could prick with special skill.
2. Xiphos
The Greeks adopted a lot from the Middle Eastern peoples, but their military tactics were unique.
Of course, it is impossible to single out from such a fateful people any specific weapon that compares favorably with others. And although the Greeks are better known as spearmen, we chose the xiphos, which is a characteristic auxiliary weapon of the hoplite or phalangite.
We use short swords in war because we fight close to the enemy.
– Antalactid –
Xiphos is a real forerunner of the Roman gladius. It was a straight double-edged sword, 50 to 70 centimeters long. This Greek blade had its own bronze ancestor, which belonged to the Mycenaean civilization. But the xiphos was made not of bronze, but of iron, and it was shorter. The handle was made of bone, wood or bronze, and the scabbard was made of two wooden planks, which were covered with leather and decorated in various ways. This sword was used, as a rule, only when the spear broke or the formation was broken. By the way, the Spartans, who terrified their enemies, shortened the already short blade almost to the state of a dagger, and all because they loved to fight close to the enemy.
3. Gladius
This sword, which made Rome famous, is by and large an interpretation of the xyphos. However, Livy, one of the most famous Roman historians, has a different opinion on this matter. His conclusion was that the gladius originated from the Celtic periods of the La Tène and Hallstatt cultures. But the controversy on this issue does not subside, and this is not the main thing. Anyway, this sword will remain in history as a symbol of the main argument of any Roman.
Gladius were made of higher quality metal than xiphos. In addition, the point had a wide cutting edge, and the center of gravity was balanced by the pommel, which fell on the handle and was a ball. The blade was, of course, short, and it was intended for combat. Roman soldiers tended to use stabs, while slashes were left to recruits. The latter were considered ineffective and characteristic more for an inexperienced boy than for a Roman legionnaire.
4. Carolingian sword
It is a shame not to know who Charlemagne is, and why the sword, which was common in the early Middle Ages, is named after the dynasty he founded. However, the name is very arbitrary. It's just that historians found it necessary to name the weapon by the name of the dynasty that left a huge mark on the history of Europe and formed, roughly speaking, the first kingdoms in the west. By the time this sword was spread, the Carolingians were already obsolete. But the Vikings flourished and terrified the Christian settlements.
So, the great migration of peoples was completed, the construction of states began. People needed a sword that was practical, of high quality and accessible to everyone. The Carolingian sword possessed all these qualities: the hilt was easy to assemble, no decor was required, there was a double-edged blade, 70-80 centimeters long, with a wide fuller, as well as a short handle with a small guard. The weight of such a sword did not exceed one and a half kilograms.
5. Roman sword
Perhaps the most famous sword of the Middle Ages. It was used only by elite troops, and to be more precise, by knights. But even in Russia, the Romanesque sword was distributed mainly among the princely squad. It was this weapon that was an attribute of any nobleman, it was a real status thing, access to which was closed for commoners. It is from this sword that the concept of honor appears in the most titled military class of the Middle Ages. Romanesque swords could be decorated with stones and gold, but more modest swords were used for combat, because the sword is primarily a weapon that kills for the glory of the overlord, the king or the Lord.
This personification of the High Middle Ages has a very broad classification. Hilts and blades could differ from each other, but they were always wide (about 4 centimeters) blades. One-handed Romanesque swords were a meter long, of which 7-12 centimeters fell on the hilt. Two-handed or, as they are also called, "combat" Romanesque swords had only one blade of at least 100 centimeters, and the length of the handle was in the range of 15-25 centimeters. The weight of such a monster sometimes reached 2-3 kilograms. The pommel was a knob made of iron or bronze, which was sometimes decorated with emblems, engravings, precious stones. The Romanesque sword had a guard, which helped to protect the hand during the battle, which favorably distinguished this sword from the Carolingian, where the guard was excessively wide and short.
Any weapon is made for a specific purpose: some are defensive, some are offensive. And there is one that was made specifically in order to deliver as much suffering as possible to the enemy. It is about such a unique weapon of antiquity that will be discussed in this collection.
Khopesh
Khopesh is a type of cold weapon of Ancient Egypt with a sickle-shaped blade. In form and function, it is something between a sword and an axe. Khopesh quite successfully combines the features of both of these weapons - with this weapon you can chop, cut, stab. The first mention of it appears in the New Kingdom, the last - about 1300 BC. e. Most often, the khopesh worked like an ax; in practice, it is impossible to stop its blow with just one blade - it breaks through. When experimenting on a 10 mm thick plywood shield without a binding, a training khopesh with a blade thickness of 4 to 8 mm and a weight of 1.8 kg pierced it through without any problems. Blows with the back of the blade easily pierced the helmet.
Kakute
A fighting ring or kakute is a non-lethal type of Japanese weapon that consists of a small hoop around the finger and riveted / welded spikes (usually from one to three). A warrior usually wore one or two rings - one on the middle or index finger, and the other on the thumb. Most often, the rings were worn with spikes inside and were used in cases where it was necessary to capture and hold a person, but not kill him or cause deep damage. However, if the kakute were turned with spikes outward, they turned into jagged brass knuckles. The purpose of the kakute was to subdue the enemy, not to kill him. These battle rings were especially popular among kunoichi - female ninjas. They used poison-coated kakute for quick, fatal attacks.
Shuangou
Shuangou is a sword with a hook-shaped tip, a pommel in the form of a dagger-point and a sickle guard. As a result, a warrior armed with such strange weapons was able to fight at different distances, both close and at a distance from the enemy at the distance of the tip of the sword. The front part of the blade, the concave part of the "guard", the pommel of the handle and the outer side of the hook were sharpened. Sometimes the inner side of the hook was not sharpened, which made it possible to grip this part of the weapon and strike, like with an ax, with the same “month-shaped guard”. All this variety of blades made it possible to combine techniques, both at a long distance and up close. With a dagger handle, you can beat with reverse movements, with a sickle - a guard, not only cut the enemy, but also beat like a brass knuckles. The toe - the hook of the sword made it possible not only to hit with chopping or cutting movements, but also to cling to the enemy, grab limbs, hook, pinch and block the weapon, or even pull it out. It was possible to hook the shuangou with hooks, and thus suddenly increase the attack distance.
Zhua
Another Chinese weapon. The iron "hand" of the zhua was a long stick, at the end of which a copy of a human hand with huge claws was attached, which easily tore off pieces of flesh from the body of opponents. The sheer weight of the zhua (about 9 kg) was enough to kill the enemy, but with claws, everything looked even more creepy. If the zhua was used by an experienced warrior, he could pull the soldiers off their horses. But the main goal of the zhua was to snatch the shields from the hands of opponents, leaving them defenseless against deadly claws.
Skissor
In fact - a metal armlet, which ends with a semicircular tip. Served for protection, successful blocking of enemy blows, as well as for inflicting one's own blows. Scissor wounds were not fatal, but very unpleasant, leading to profuse bleeding. The skissor was light and had a length of 45 cm. The Roman gladiators were the first to use the skissor, and if you look at the images of these battles, you can definitely distinguish the skissor from most of the warriors.
scythed chariot
It was an advanced war chariot with horizontal blades about 1 meter long on each side of the wheel. The Greek commander Xenophon, a participant in the battle of Kunaksa, tells about them this way: “They were thin braids, expanded at an angle from the axis, and also under the driver’s seat, turned to the ground.” This weapon was used mainly for a frontal attack on the enemy's formation. The effect here was calculated not only on the physical elimination of the enemy, but also on the psychological moment that demoralizes the enemy. The main task of the scythed chariots was the destruction of infantry battle formations. During the fifth century before the advent of our era, the Persians were constantly at war with the Greeks. It was the Greeks who had heavily armed infantry, which was difficult for the Persian horsemen to overcome. But these chariots literally instilled fear in opponents. Archers raced on chariots, who struck the enemy with well-aimed arrows.
Archery is quite popular these days. Hunting with a bow, sports shooting - these are truly male entertainments. It is very important to choose the right arrows for the bow in order to become a real master in this activity.
Greek fire
A combustible mixture used for military purposes during the Middle Ages. It was first used by the Byzantines in naval battles. The installation with Greek fire was a copper pipe - a siphon, through which a liquid mixture erupted with a roar. Compressed air, or bellows like blacksmith's bellows, was used as the buoyant force. Presumably, the maximum range of the siphons was 25-30 m, so initially Greek fire was used only in the fleet, where it posed a terrible threat to the slow and clumsy wooden ships of that time. In addition, according to contemporaries, the Greek fire could not be put out by anything, since it continued to burn even on the surface of the water.
Morgenstern
Literally from German - "morning star". Melee weapons of shock-crushing action in the form of a metal ball equipped with spikes. It was used as a pommel of clubs or flails. Such a pommel greatly increased the weight of the weapon - the morning star itself weighed more than 1.2 kg, which had a strong moral impact on the enemy, frightening him with his appearance.
Kusarigama
Kusarigama consists of a sickle kama, to which a shock weight is attached with a chain. The length of the handle of the sickle can reach 60 cm, and the length of the blade of the sickle - up to 20 cm. The blade of the sickle is perpendicular to the handle, it is sharpened from the inside, concave side and ends with a point. The chain is attached to the other end of the handle, or to the butt of the sickle. Its length is about 2.5 m or less. The technique of working with this weapon made it possible to strike the enemy with a weight, or confuse him with a chain, and then attack with a sickle. In addition, it was possible to throw the sickle itself at the enemy, and then return it with a chain. Thus, kusarigama was used in the defense of fortresses.
Macuahutl
Aztec, resembling a sword. Its length, as a rule, reached 90-120 cm. Sharpened pieces of volcanic glass (obsidian) were attached along the wooden blade. The wounds from the use of this weapon were horrendous due to the combination of a sharp edge (enough to decapitate an opponent) and barbs that tore at flesh. The last mention of makuahutla dates back to 1884.
