SWORDS EXAMPLES

SWORDS 1

Reconstruction
Assurnasirpal II (889-859 B.C.) and attendant

In this hypothetical reconstruction, Assurnasirpal II and his attendants participate in the siege of a city. The King wearing the polo crown of Assyria, has joined his troops in firing arrows at the defenders on the battlement. In his belt his carries two daggers while a baldric slung over his right shoulder holds a straight bladed sword. Similar swords are carried by his helmeted shield bearers and by the 'Sa reshe', or eunchs of the imperial household.

---

SWORDS 2

Palace of Assurnasirpal II (880-859 B.C.)
Kalakh (Nimrud)
Bas relief, detail
British Museum, London

In this relief, we can observe how Assyrian soldiers carried their swords in combat. The swords are held in under-hand grip indicating they are intended as thrusting rather than slashing weapons.

---

SWORDS 3

Til Barsip (Tell Ahmar) wall painting in a palace
Execution of an enemy
8th century B.C.
detail

An Assyrian soldier having seized a prisoner by the hair prepares to cut off his head with a curved sword. The shape of the sword and the manner in which it is gripped indicate it was intended primarily as a slashing weapon.

---

SWORDS 4

Detail of slab 13
Room XXXVI, southwest palace, Nineveh
British Museum

Assyrian infantryman, his sword is suspended by a baldric over his left hip. In additon to his sword he is fitted out with a lamellar cuirass, jackboots, and conical helmet.

---

SWORDS 5

Nineveh, Palace of Ashurbanipal (668-627 B.C.)
Bas relief, detail
British Museum, London

With his sword, Ashurbanipal despatches a wounded lion. Note the fuller running down the center of the blade and how the King uses the sword in a thrusting rather than a chopping manner.