#Ancient Daggers

[kultofathena]

Windlass – Peloponnesian Bronze Greek Dagger

In 431 BC, Sparta, a city on the Greek peninsula of Peloponnese, declared war on Athens and its growing power. Sparta and the Peloponnesian League encircled Athens and destroyed its food supply. Athens brought its population inside the city walls, creating a disastrous situation that resulted in a plaque wiping out a third of its people and army, including General Pericles and his sons. Sparta became a leading power in Greece. This dagger is copied from an original in our possession (which is pictured above) that dates from the 9th -7th century BC-older than the Peloponnesian War but a design that was still in vogue at the time.

This Greek dagger is based on an original and its blade is bronze with a full tang like its historical example. The original likely had wood scales (which would have rotted). Windlass has instead used bone because of how attractive the material and color contrasts with bronze. The handle is very slim, but surprisingly durable due to its full tang construction and the grip is scalloped to aid grip during a thrust. The crescent-shaped pommel is an integral part of the tang and is flush with the scales. Windlass designed the sheath to be worthy of nobility (the original dagger doesn’t have one), with a highly embellished bronze throat and tip and three square medallions. The scabbard has a wood core and is covered with leather. A bronze ring is attached for lashing the sheath to a belt. A truly unique weapon suitable for any historical collection!

Please Note: We can sharpen the blade, but please be aware that the edge of the blade will be bright and lighter in color than the rest of the blade. Also, even though it is sharpened it is bronze and will not stay sharp for as long as a steel dagger would and may dull quickly.

[alphie-in-the-sky]

[illustratus]

The Assassination of Julius Caesar by William Holmes Sullivan

[agendratum]

kiseki: dear to me as text posts (3/?)

[memories-of-ancients]

Bronze dagger with bone crescent pommel, Egypt, Middle Kingdom, 2033-1670 BC

from The Louvre

[23-tiny-wishes]

May your soul live, achieving millions of years, you who love Thebes, sitting with your face to the north wind, your eyes beholding happiness - inscription on the "wishing cup" lotus chalice, the first object encountered inside the antechamber of KV62

[peashooter85]

Roman pugio unearthed by archaeology intern in Germany, dates to the 1st century AD and underwent 9 months of restoration.

[blueiskewl]

A 4,000-Year-Old Dagger Discovered in Poland

A copper dagger more than 4,000 years old was found in a forest near the town of Jarosław on the San River in south-eastern Poland. This discovery is the oldest dagger made of metal found in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

In the 3rd millennium BC, objects made of copper were extremely rare in the area, Dr Elżbieta Sieradzka-Burghardt, an archaeologist from the Jarosław museum, told PAP.

This valuable object, dating back over 4,000 years, was discovered last November by Piotr Gorlach of the Jarosław Historical and Exploration Association, who – with the permission of the Podkarpacie Regional Historical Monument Conservator in Przemyśl – conducted a search with a metal detector in the forests in the area of the Jarosław Forest Inspectorate, near the village of Korzenica.

“I had already finished my search for the day. When I returned to the car, I left the detector on out of habit. At some point, there was a signal. When I was digging up the forest floor, I saw a flat metal object covered with a green patina. I quickly realized that I was dealing with something much older than the military items from World War I and II that I was looking for in this area,” Gorlach said.

Archaeologists from the Museum in Jarosław Orsetti House identified the artifact as an extremely rare 4,000-year-old dagger. The ancient weapon was made of copper and measured just over 4 inches (10,5 cm) in length.

According to archaeologist Dr. Marcin Burghardt from the Jarosław Museum, the dagger discovered in Korzenica can be dated to the second half of the third millennium BC.

“In Polish lands, this is a period of enormous changes related to, among others, with a change in the main raw materials for the production of tools. Instead of flint tools commonly used in the Stone Age, more and more metal products appear, heralding the transition to the next period – the Bronze Age,” noted Dr. Burghardt.

In contrast, the now-discovered dagger from Korzenica – as noted by Dr Elżbieta Sieradzka-Burghardt, an archaeologist from the Jarosław museum – was not cast in bronze, but is made of copper.

“So it predates the development of bronze metallurgy,” the archaeologist noted. “In the third millennium BC, objects made of copper were extremely rare, so only people of the highest social status could afford them. There is rather no doubt that the dagger is not a local product,” Dr Burghardt-Sieradzka added.

During this period, metal products were imported from modern-day Ukraine or Hungary and only available to elites who could afford them. Links to the ancient weapon’s origin will be determined in the future through special metallurgical analysis.

By Leman Altuntaş.

[disease]

TUTANKHAMUN’S IRON-BLADED DAGGER [EGYPTIAN MUSEUM, CAIRO]

[thesilicontribesman]

Bronze Age Daggers and Replica, Stonehenge Visitor Centre, nr. Salisbury, Wiltshire

[treasure-of-the-ancients]

Minoan bronze dagger with gold hilt, 18th-15th century BC

[kultofathena]

Windlass Peloponnesian Bronze Greek Dagger

In 431 BC, Sparta, a city on the Greek peninsula of Peloponnese, declared war on Athens and its growing power. Sparta and the Peloponnesian League encircled Athens and destroyed its food supply. #Athens brought its population inside the city walls, creating a disastrous situation that resulted in a plaque wiping out a third of its people and army, including General Pericles and his sons. Sparta became a leading power in Greece.

[bradshawsbaby]

Si Vis Amari Ama

A Roman Guide to the Daggers

Author’s Note: As previously mentioned, for the sake of authenticity and historical accuracy, the characters in this AU series will be going by Latinized versions of their names. In some cases, that means literal Latin translations. In other cases, I chose popular Roman names that begin with the same letter as the characters’ call signs.

I put this little guide together as a reference so that it’s easy for people to identify each of the Dagger Squad members in this story. I also included a small glossary of Roman terms that will be used frequently throughout the story. I’ll continue to add to it as necessary!

Trust me when I say that I love chatting about this stuff, so if you ever have any questions, feel free to ask!

Gallus (Rooster) - The top gladiator in the private ludus of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. Fights in the Thracian style. Originally from Britannia.

Carnifex (Hangman) - A champion gladiator in the ludus of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. Fights in the Murmillo style. Originally from Gaul.

Felix (Fanboy) - A champion gladiator in the ludus of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. Fights in the Retiarius style. Sometimes paired to fight with Pollux. Originally from Hispania.

Pollux (Payback) - A champion gladiator in the ludus of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. Fights in the Murmillo style. Sometimes paired to fight with Felix. Originally from Africa.

Caius (Coyote) - A champion gladiator in the ludus of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. Fights in the Secutor style. Originally from Egypt.

Magnus (Maverick) - A former champion gladiator. Earned the title of Rudiarius after being granted his freedom. Magnus now trains the young gladiators in the ludus of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. Originally born into slavery in Rome.

Hrodebert (Bob) - A steward in the household of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. Handles money and accounts, particularly accounts related to the ludus. Originally from Germania.

Phoenix - A slave girl in the household of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. In addition to daily household chores, assists the ludus’ medicus, Titus in the care of wounded gladiators. Originally from Greece.

Key Roman Vernacular:

Ludus - A gladiator school

Lanista - The manager of a team of gladiators

Medicus - Doctor or physician

Dominus - Master (titled used by slaves for the male head of household)

Domina - Mistress/Lady (title used by slaves for the female head of household)

Pugiones - Daggers (the nickname used by Atticus Cornelius Juventus for his champion gladiators)

Rudiarius - A gladiator who has earned his freedom

[illustratus]

The Death of Caesar by Jean-Léon Gérôme

[huseyinozdemirerk]

Horse Handle Lapis Lazuli Dagger, Persia, 19th Century CE, The Al Sabah Collection, Kuwait

At Kolu Lapis Lazuli Hançer, İran, MS 19. Yüzyıl, Al Sabah Koleksiyonu, Kuveyt

[memories-of-ancients]

Bronze dagger, Egypt, circa 2055-1650 BC

from The National Museum of Scotland