Greek Swords
Ancient Greek terms for swords include:
- xiphos ξίφος
- makhaira μάχαιρα
- rhomphaia ῥομφαία: broadsword used by the Thracians
- kopis κοπίς
- aor ἄορ (Homeric Greek, poetic)
- phasganon φάσγανον (Homeric Greek, poetic)
- spathē σπάθη: the term for a sword blade, which was loaned into Latin as spatha
- engkhos ἔγχος: properly "lance", but also "weapon" generically, and sometimes "sword" specifically (e.g. in Pindar)
Terms attested in Mycenaean Greek, thus establishing continuity from the Bronze Age sword, are xiphos (Mycenaean qsiphos, attested as qi-si-pe-e) and phasganon (Mycenaean phasgana, attested as pa-ka-na).
Read more about this topic: Iron Age Sword
Famous quotes containing the words greek and/or swords:
“That is a very good question. I don’t know the answer. But can you tell me the name of a classical Greek shoemaker?”
—Arthur Miller (b. 1915)
“If all would lead their lives in love like me,
Then bloody swords and armor should not be;
No drum nor trumpet peaceful sleeps should move,
Unless alarm came from the camp of love.”
—Thomas Campion (1567–1620)