- Acinaces
The acinaces, also spelled akinakes (Greek ἀκινάκης) or akinaka (unattested Old Persian "*akīnakah") is a type of
dagger orshort sword used mainly in the first millennium BC in the eastern Mediterranean region, especially by theScythians and Persians, then by theGreeks .The acinaces is of Scythian origin, but was made famous by the Persians, and rapidly spread throughout the ancient world. Its influence can even be seen in the design of Chinese weapons such as the "jinglu" sword. [http://home.ix.netcom.com/~kiyoweap/myth/arms-weap/jinglu.htm] The Romans believed this weapon originated with the
Medes .The acinaces is typically 35-45 cm. (14-18 in.) in length and double-edged Blair, Claude and Tarassuk, Leonid, eds. (1982). "The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms and Weapons". p.17.
Simon & Schuster . ISBN 067142257X.] , and although there is no universal design, the guard may be lobed [http://www.hixenbaugh.net/gallery/detail.cfm?itemnum=1881] with thehilt resembling that of abollock dagger , or the pommel may be split [http://www.jfsantiquearms.com/edged_weapons/2.html] or of the "antenna" type. [http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/5793/dscn5905er5.jpg] Interestingly, thescabbard as much as anything else defines the acinaces and usually has a large decorative mount near the opening allowing it to be suspended from a belt on the wearer's right side. [http://www.livius.org/a/1/iran/sword.jpg]Since the acinaces seems to have been a thrusting weapon, and since it was typically worn on the right, it was likely intended to be suddenly drawn with the blade facing down for surprise stabbing attacks. Fact|date=July 2008
Identification
Ancient texts say very little about the acinaces, other than that it was a type of "Persian sword." Because of this, authors writing in
Latin throughout history tended to equate the word with whatever type of weapon the contemporary Persians were using. Thus, it is frequently used inmedieval Latin texts to meanscimitar or the like, a meaning it still retains in scientific Latin.Paulus Hector Mair even goes so far as to translatedussack as "acinaces", because it is curved like a scimitar, and likewise in the works of Jesuit authors describingJapan , "acinaces" is used forkatana .However, the Persian
shamshir is a relatively recent weapon, and did not exist inantiquity . The Achaemenid-era Persians made use of more than one kind of sword. Ancient Persian art typically shows the king's bodyguards and important nobles wearing ornate diagonal daggers.Greek art , on the other hand, frequently shows Persian soldiers using thekopis . One must therefore do some detective work to figure out which type is the acinaces.One useful bit of evidence is that Greek and Roman texts sometimes mention the acinaces being given out by the king as a sign of favor. This would tend to point to the dagger.
A
ritual use of "acinaces", offered as a gift to the sea by the Persian king Xerxes, is also mentioned byHerodotus ("History", VII, 54), in the ritual contrition scene following the episode known as "Flagellation ofHellespont ".A very revealing passage is found in
Josephus ' "Jewish Antiquities" 20.186, where the weapons used by thesicarii are described::And the so-called "sicarii", which were a type of bandit, were at that time reaching their greatest number, making use of small swords, which were like the Persian acinaces in respect to their size, but curved like the Romansica , which is where these bandits got their name.This also seems to indicate that it is the dagger which is properly called the acinaces though there are those who deny this, translating the above passage as "convex like the Roman sica".ee also
*
List of daggers References
External links
* [http://home.ix.netcom.com/~kiyoweap/myth/arms-weap/akinakes.htm Akinakes]
* [http://www.hixenbaugh.net/gallery/detail.cfm?itemnum=1881 Akinakes at Hixenbaugh gallery]
* [http://www.jfsantiquearms.com/edged_weapons/2.html Akinakes at JFS Antiques]
* [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ancientpersia/weapons.html Ancient Persian swords]
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