Indian sword
There are a number of swords that originated in India and have seen their usage throughout the history of warfare.
Overview
[edit]In theIndian subcontinent,one of the earliest availableBronze age swordsof copper was discovered by the period ofIndus Valley civilization.Swords have been recovered in archaeological findings throughout theGanges-JamunaDoabregion of Indian subcontinent, consisting ofbronzebut more commonlycopper.[1]Swords have been also discovered inFatehgarh,where there are several varieties of hilt.[1]These swords have been variously dated to times between 1700 and 1400 BC. Other swords from this period in India have been discovered fromKallur, Raichur.[2]
In general, Indians have significantly used one-handed swords in order to carry the shield along with them. Nevertheless, there has been use of two-handed swords in India, such as byNaga peopleofAssam.[3]
The Indian swords have been also used by Arabians[4]andEuropeanssince medieval times.[5]
Swords have culturally influenced the iconography and culture of India.[6]Sikhs consider sword to be holy and the Sikh emblem (Khanda (Sikh symbol)) depicts a doubled-edged sword surrounded by a circle and two curved swords.[7]
List of Indian swords
[edit]- Aruval
- Asi
- Ayudha katti
- Bichuwa
- Firagi
- Gupti
- Hengdang
- Katar
- Kayamkulam vaal
- Khanda
- Kirpan
- Kukri
- Malappuram Kathi
- Moplah sword
- Pata
- Pesh-kabz
- Pichangatti
- Ram-dao
- Talwar
- Urumi
See also
[edit]References
[edit]
- ^abAllchin, pp. 111–14
- ^Allchin, F. R. inSouth Asian Archaeology 1975: Papers from The Third International Conference of The Association of South Asian Archaeologists in Western Europe, Held in Paris(December 1979) edited by J. E. van Lohuizen-de Leeuw. Brill Academic Publishers, Incorporated. 106–18.ISBN90-04-05996-2
- ^Hank Reinhardt's The Book of Swords,Hank ReinhardtBaen Publishing Enterprises, p. 201-202
- ^Indian Warfare: An Appraisal of Strategy and Tactics of War in Early Medieval PeriodSurinder Kumar Bhakari, p. 101
- ^The Sword and the Crucible: A History of the Metallurgy of European Swords Up to the 16th Century,p.35, Alan Williams,BRIL
- ^The Indian Sword,p. 29-40
- ^How and why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?,Jean Mead, 2008, p. 29