The Greek Age of Bronze - Armour

45 Pages·2014·9.38 MB·English

by  Helmut Föll

The Greek Age of Bronze - Armour http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/weapons1.htm
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Swords/Daggers
In contrast to Anatolia and Near East, the earliest stages in the development of Mediterranean metallurgy appear only after about 5500 BC. During
the late Neolithic of Aegean (ca. 5500-4500 BC) pins of copper turn up at Dikili Tash, Paradeissos, and Kitsos Cave, while two small daggers have
been recovered from Aya Marina in Phocis. It was only during the following, Final Neolithic period (ca. 4500-3700 BC) however that Aegean
metallurgy began to flourish. Copper, Gold, silver and lead artifacts have been recovered at least twelve different sites of this period, including large
assemblages of metal finds at sites such as Zas Cave on Naxos and copper daggers from Dimini and Sesklo. The early swords of the Aegean Bronze
Age are some of the most striking artefacts from this epoch in terms of craftsmanship and opulence. Their perceived role has at various times ranged
from their being ritual objects, to being restricted in terms of modes and environments of use, to their being perfectly serviceable tools of war. The
early swords evolving out of the dagger. Before bronze, stone was used as primary material for cutting edged tools and weapons. Stone is however
very fragile, and therefore not practical to be used as swords. With the introduction of copper, and eventually bronze the daggers could be made
longer, and evolved into swords. The earliest Aegean/Anatolian swords were found at Arslantepe, Turkey, dating to ca. 3300 BC. Sword finds are
however very rare until around 2300 BC. In general, the evolution of blade weapons in the Aegean Bronze Age is from the dagger or knife in the
Early Bronze Age to the earliest narrow bladed "rapier" swords optimized for thrusting from the Middle Bronze Age to the typical leaf-shape blades in
the Late Bronze Age.
SWORDS
One of the earliest sword attested in the Aegean area is this copper specimen from Naxos
dated around 2800-2300 BC. Its design is similar to the early type of Aegean dagger. The
length of this sword is 35.6 cm
Cycladic copper sword from Amorgos. The length of this sword is 59
cm.
Very interesting bronze leaf-shaped sword dated EC II (about 2800-2300 BC)
from the Cycladic island of Amorgos. On this very primitive bronze
manufacture some traces of tin are still visible on the balde.
Cycladic copper sword from Naxos dated around 2500 BC. The length of this sword
is 35 cm.
Typical Cycladic copper sword dated around 2300 BC
These kind of early leaf-shaped swords or daggers were attached to a baldric as attested from this marble statue of
an hunter/warrior dated around 2300 BC from the Cyclad island of Naxos. Very interesting the incised
ornamentation of the baldric.
Group of Minoan bronze short swords from Iraklion and Ziba. The general design of these
weapons clearly evolved from the early leaf-shaped Aegean daggers
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Another interesting example of bronze short sword from Aghia Triada crete dated around 1600 BC.
These kind of short swords can be also interpreted as daggers
One of the early possible representation of Minoan short swords is on a seal from Haghia Triada Crete dated around
MM III- LM I (about 1600 BC). In this cult scene some swords and dagger blades seems to be placed with points
upward on the altar.
Some medium size early minoan swords are also
represented on a cup dated around 1700-1550 BC.
One of the most interesting inventions of the Aegean Bronze Age was the great sword. The weapons which appeared towards the middle of the
second millennium BC in Crete and mainland Greece differ from all the previously swords in the combination of length of blade, strength of midrib
and, in one type, the use of flanges for hafting, on tang or shoulder. The analysis of some specimens shows that the material is an alloy of copper and
tin or arsenic for making the bronze. When the percentage of copper or tin content is high the bronze blades have a reddish or silver color
respectively. Whether this was made intentionally to imitate costly metals like gold and silver and to give these swords or daggers a better and more
valuable appearance, or was simply the result of mis-calculation of the right quantities of alloy it is not possible to guess.The Bronze Age swords
findings in Greece occurred in the last years and the most recent publications have confirmed the evolutionary process and the swords classification
introduced by Sandars. The Sandars's classification catalogue the various type of Greek Bronze Age swords in eight main groups identified from the
letter A to H.
A link between the Minoan triangular small swords or
daggers and the long A Type sword can be represented
by the specimen found in Mallia Crete dated around
1700 BC. This sword shows a large and long blade with
a large and flat midrib. On its rounded upper part four
rivet holes are used to attach the blade to its decorated
hilt and two rivets holes are present on the tang.
The awesome part of this sword is represented by its
hilt which was covered with a gold engraved plate and
on its extremity a marvellous crystal rock was installed.
A sword with a similar blade with large flat midrib is probably the one represented in the egyptian fresco in
the tomb of Rekhmire in Thebes where Cretan tribute-bearers are shown.
Other examples of Cretan long bronze swords, which could be interpreted as
ancestors of the A Type and B Type swords, are attested from the palace of
Zakros.
Similar long early thrusting swords are also attested from Arkalochori.
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Some typical cross section of Cycladic and Minoan sword:
1) Sword from Amorgos, 3) sword from Amorgos, 4) Sword from Mesaria, 5) Sword
from Apeiranthos, 16) Sword from Mallia
A Type
The earliest of the Aegean long swords come from the palace of Mallia in Crete, and
the shaft-graves of Mycenae (*1). Furthermore specimens of the Type A swords are
also attested in the Cycladic islands, in the Ionian islands and in Central Europe.
These swords are sometimes a metre long; they have flat narrow tangs, either very
short with one rivet hole, or longer with two or three. The shoulder is rounded and
un-flanged, and two rivets are placed in the upper part of the blade about 3 cm under
the shoulder. There is a high midrib usually of rhomboid section, but occasionally
rounded, always abrupt, except in some cases when it carries an elaborate decoration.
The grip of these swords was made of wood or ivory sometimes decorated with gold applications. The hand-grip was completed by a knob which also
in this case could have been made of wood, ivory, amber or gold. It was worked separately and than applied on the dedicated extension of the tang.
The swords A type are dated from the MM II-III (about 1700-1600 BC) to the LM/LH I-II (about 1600-1500) and the most recent specimens to the
LH IIIA (about 1400 BC)
A very usefull summary table of the Achaean A Type swords has been made by Professor Kirk Spencer from the Sword Forum International
Some of the earliest A type bronze swords dated about 1700 BC from
Arkalochori Crete. The length of these sword is respectively 111 cm and
105.5 cm
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One of the earliest A type bronze swords dated about 1700
BC is attested from Aegina island. In This interesting
specimen the tang and the shoulders show eight rivets for the
fixation of the hand-grip and one rivet on the top of the tang
used for the upper knob. This sword is 79.1 cm long.
Other early examples of A type sword are attested in Crete like this bronze
sword from Mallia dated around 1700 BC. In the same excavation an Ivory
knob was also found.
Other very well preserved examples of Cretan A type bronze swords from the
palace of Zakros.
From the same palace of Zakros several specimen of A type swords dated
around 1700-1600 BC are attested.
A type sword from Thebes dated around MH III- LH I (about 1600 BC.).
The length of this sword is 87.7 cm
A type swords from Mallia with a gold decorated knob. This
specimen is 74.1 cm long
General assembly of the elements composing the knob of the above mentioned A type swords from
Mallia
A type swords are also attested from the shaft graves of the cirle B
from Mycenae dated around 1600 BC.
Several A Type bronze swords are also attested from the shaft-graves of the circle A in
Mycenae dated LH I-LHII (about 1550-1500 BC). Some of these swords found by Henry
Schliemann in the graves IV and V show very beautiful blade decorations representing
running horses, shields in figure of eight and spirales.
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A table showing the A Type blade cross section was also made by
Professor Kirk Spencer
In the shaft-grave Delta of the circle B from Mycenae dated around 1600
BC it was found a gold decorated hilt belongs to an A type sword. This
splendid spirals engraved golded handle also ended in a lions or dragons'
head. The pomel of this sword was probably a rock cristal.
Some A type swords were also equipped with a ":horned" hand-guard which covered the sword's rounded
shoulder like this interesting specimen from the shaft-grave V from Mycenae dated around 1500 BC
In the shaft-graves from Mycenae several gold and ivory elements have been
found together the A type and other eraly type of Achaean swords. These
elements have been clearly identified as parts of the swords' hand-grips and
upper knobs.
An A Type sword with gold hilt and pommel revetment decorated with repousse
spirals and concentric circles was found from a large rectangular stone-built tomb at
cape Staphylos , in south east Skopelos island. The site is named Staphylos from a
mythical founder of the island's first settlement, who originally came from Crete. The
opulent grave gifts show that this tomb belonged to a Mycenaean warrior of the
16th-15th. cent. Bc.
In the shaft-graves from Mycenae several A type sword have been found partially
covered with tubular thin gold plates. These parts were decorative elements applied
over the swords' wood scabbards. Very beautiful examples of these scabard's
decorative parts are the ones found in the shaft-grave V dated around 1500 BC. On
the last sword of this image the gold plate is part of the weapons covering its upper
rounded shoulder.
One of the probably A Type sword found inside the shaft-grave V still had wood remains of its scabbard which was covered by a very rich
ornamentation. It was adorned in its entire length, on both sides, with a series of large golden buttoms with a magnificent intaglio work of spirals. The
sheath was also adorned with the above mentioned tubular golden plate. The upper sword of the above image was also found with its sacabbard
remains and decorations. It is a B type which is descibed in the dedicated section.
In the same shaft-grave a gold fringed tassel was found. This decorative element was attached on the lower end
of the sword's scabbard.
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In the same sepulchre, near a bronze sword, a golded shoulder-belt was also found . It was
about 130 cm (4 ft.) long and about 3 cm (1 3/4 in.) broad. In the extremity of the
shoulder-belt are two perforations; at the other end there has probably been a clasp, because
no perforations are present. Near this shoulder-belt a gold decorated disk similar to the ones
covering the sword's scabbard was also found. This golden belt was the covering decorative
element of a leather baldric used for the sword's scabbard suspension.
Based on the above mentioned elements a reconstruction of a Mycenaean A Type sword
with its scabbard can be reasonably made. The bronze sword has a decorated blade and
gold covered shoulder, grip and knob. Its wood scabbard is decorated with the large
golden buttoms and the tubular golden plates, it has the gold fringed tassel and it is
suspended with a leather belt covered with a golden sheet decoration.
A very Intersting reconstruction of an Achaean A type bronze sword is displayed at the Mycenae archaeological museum. The sword has been
represented with a wood "horned" hand-guard and an amber knob
This type of early long sword was more likely used by the warriors depicted in the
Akrotiri fresco dated around 1600 BC. Behind the warriors the lower part of a long
scabbard is clearly visible. It ended with a fringed knob.
More likely a A type sword is represented in this seal from Haghia Triada Crete dated MM III- LM I ( about
1600-1550 BC). The warrior is using its long and narrow sword in a thrusting action.
In this seal from the shaft-grave III from Mycenae dated LH I (about 1550 BC) the warrior on the right side is
thrusting his enemy with an A Type sword represented the typic "horned" flange.
Also in this seal coming from the same shaft-grave an A Type sword is more likely represented. It is used
in a thrusting action by the warrior on the left side. behing him the scabbard of the sword is also visible. It
seems decorated with four small bands (or two ridged plates) and a lower tassel with fringed elements.
In this gold ring from the shaft-grave IV of Mycenae the warriors fighting in central position seem
equipped respectively with an A Type sword (the warrior on the right side) and a B type sword (the
warrior on the left side).
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On this seal from Knossos dated LM IA (ABOUT 1500 BC) the goddess is represented with a long sword with "horned"
shoulder and a knob. Because of its general design and the seal datation it is probably an A type sword.
An A Type sword is probably also handled by this warrior represented in the "Chieftain cup" from Haghia Triada Crete dated LM I
(about 1550 BC).
Also the two long swords used by the two warriors in the lions hunting scene represented in this gold
ring from Salonicos dated LH II seem to be A type swords
An A type is probably also the one represented in this seal from Mallia showing an athletic performance.
Some swords with the typic A type design survived untill the LH III period
(about 1400 BC) as attested by this example found in Corfù
A very interesting bronze sword has been found in a tholos tomb in Nichoria (Messenia). This specimen dated around LH IIIA (about 1400 BC)
because its unusual shape does not fit neatly into any of the categories. Indeed it shows some similitudes both with the Type A and Type B swords.
The total length of the sword can be extimated in 69 cm with a blade length 60.5 cm. Traces of ivory have been found on hilt. A pomel of lapis
lacedaemonius and gold plated rivest also survived. The midgrib is decorated with double line of running spirals decreasing in size from hilt to tip, a
feature especially popular on Type Ci and Type Di swords from the Zafer Papoura Cemetery.
Outside the Greek mainland and Crete the A type swords are in fact attested in
the Cycladic islands, in the Ionian islands and also in Central Europe, like this
interesting specimen found in Transilvania.
B Type
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The B Type swords are shorter and stouter with rather broad, long tangs, with
several rivet holes in the tang, which is sometimes also flanged. They have square
or slightly pointed flanged shoulders, and rivets placed horizontally across just
below the top of the blade, with sometimes an additional river below the central
one. The rib is usually abrupt as on the A Type sword but always larger and
higher. This kind of sword is attested in the Argolid, mainly in Mycenae, and in
the Dodecanese. The B Type swords measured 40 to 60 cm and are dated from
LH I to the LH II/IIIA-B.
A very usefull summary table of the Achaean B Type swords has been made by Professor Kirk Spencer from the Sword Forum International
The B Type swords are well attested in the shaft graves of both cirle B and A from
Mycenae dated around 1600-1500 BC. In some cases also these sword have been
found complete with gold nails, gold hilts and part of the scabbards.
In one of the shaft-grave of the circle B from Mycenae dated about 1600 BC
a very beautiful example of B Type sword was found. It has a richly
decorated golden hilt, a round knob also made of decorated golden elements.
In the shaft-grave V from Mycenae dated about 1500 BC a very interesting example of B
Type sword was found. It has a richly decorated golden hilt, a large conical knob also made
of decorated golden sheets and a golden cover which was the upper part of the scabbard.
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In the same sepulchre a B Type sword was found together wood remains of the sheath, which was ornamented with a long plate with a ring and much
resembling the shape of a man. The sheath must have been further adorned with the golden button, with engraved concentric circles, which was found
close to the blade and the wood remains.
Based on the above mentioned elements a reconstruction of a Mycenaean B Type sword with its
scabbard can be reasonably made. The bronze sword has a gold covered shoulder, grip and knob.
Its wood scabbard is decorated with the golden buttoms and the golden plate much resembling the
shape of a man, it has the gold fringed tassel and it is suspended with a leather belt covered with a
golden sheet decoration.
Evidence of a golden decoration bands of some baldrics are also attested from the
shaft-grave IV where three gold shoulder belts have been found. One was broad without
any ornamentation, the other two had on either side a small border produced by the
turning down of the gold plate, and were ornamented with an uninterrupted row of
rosettes. These "Telamon" were about 140 cm (4 1/2 ft.) in length and 4 to 5.5 cm (1 7/8
to 2 1/3 in.) broad. Of course these kind of shoulder belts could also have been used for
the shields suspension (see also the page dedicated to the body shields). Splendid baldrics
are also attested in the Iliad (*2)
These thin gold bands have to be intended as the decorative elements of some thicker leather
baldric. At one extremity of these belts there are two apertures in form of keyholes, which served
to fasten the clasp which was attached to the other extremity, as is shown by two small cuts and a
small hole. Of course as attested in other findings this fastening system was also used for the belts
or in some other "telamon".
A sword telamon is also attested from the palace in Pylos (*2a)
A B Type sword with large knob, relevant scabbard and decorated baldric it is probably the one
represented in this stone relief from Phaistos Crete, dated 16th century BC
On a gravestone from the royal Shaft-grave V in Mycenae dated LH II (about 1500
BC) there is one of the earliest depiction of the chariot in Achaean art. This sculpture
shows a single man driving a two-wheeled small box chariot. The man on the chariot
holds in his left hand a sword which is still in the sheath. Because its general shape
this sword is more likely a B Type sword.
In this gold ring from the shaft-grave IV of Mycenae the warriors fighting in central position seem
equipped respectively with an A Type sword (the warrior on the right side) and a B type sword (the
warrior on the left side).
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On a questionable seal stone from Creta dated around LM II (about 1500 BC) the warrior on the left is using in a
thrusting action a sword which could be inerpreted as a B Type sword.
It has been suggested that this inscribed bronze sword dated around 1370 BC
found at Hattušas Anatolian, is a Mycenaean B Type sword. The present
independent investigation of the sword indicates that it may well be a variant
of an Aegean B type sword, but might reflect Achaean influence rather than
outright manufacture.
The inscription on the blade is dedicated to the god of the storm by the Hittite king
Tuthalia II after the conquest of the Assuwa land (*3). A variety of evidence
suggests that the sword must be interpreted in the light of events occurring some two
hundred years prior the Homeric Trojan war. As recorded in contemporary Hittite
documents It is possible that Ahhiyawa (Achaean) involvement in the Assuwa
rebellion in 1400-1375 BC (see also the page dedicated to the Trojan war).
On this Hittite fragment of clay vessel from Bogazkoy dated around 1350 BC. there is a warrior, who
because of his general outfit has been inerpreted by the scholars as one of the Ahhiyawa (Achaeans)
warlord mentioned on several Hittite tablets (see also the page dedicated to the Trojan war) who has a long
swords with upper knob on grip which could be identify as a possible Aegean B Type sword.
Long swords with upper knob on grip are also used by two warriors In this achaean krater from Pyla-kokkinokremos
Cyprus dated LH IIIB Because their length and being the B type sword still attested in the Dodecanese area during
this period, some scholars identify the swords represented in this vase as possible B Type. This crater also attested as
in some cases (more likely in non-combat situation) the swords were also carried on the back.
Outside the Greek mainland, Aegean islands and Anatolian some long swords similar
in design to the B Type seem handled by the " Sea Peoples" Shardana as well
represented in the "Sea battle" relief from Medinet Habu dated about 1180 BC. (see
also the page edicated to the Sea Peoples).
C Type
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