It was curved at its striking point, making it ideal for powerful hacking blows, and acutely pointed on the tip, making it efficient as a thrusting weapon. ![]() Its leaf-shaped blade had a flattened diamond cross-section. The xiphos had a waist-like neck and swelled on a third of the blade from the tip, mirroring the leaf-shaped blades of the Greek Bronze Age. Leaf-shaped Xiphos Xiphos sword with no handle – Credits: HistoricalCraftsman The shapes of ancient Greek swords ranged from straight to curved and leaf-shaped. Technical manuals on using the Greek swords did not survive, though some utilize battle-ready swords in test-cutting practice. Greek swords are also not uncommon in historical reenactment and LARP, often with blades designed for safe sport. Today, replicas of Greek swords are often equipped with damascus steel or high-carbon steel blades, but those designed for display often have stainless steel blades. The Greek xiphos had an iron blade and was the peak of the development of sword design. In post-Homeric times, swords were mostly made of iron, not of bronze or copper alloy, though the older metal did not entirely go out of use. The art of smelting the ore was not uncommon to the Greeks of Homer’s time. Thrace produced the largest of Greek blades, including the xiphos. Some accounts suggest that copper was first found on the Greek island Euboea, in the town of Chalcis. During the early periods, copper was one of the most abundant metals that originated from Cyprus-from which the modern name of copper is derived. Here are the unique characteristics of Greek swords: Type of MetalĪncient Greek swords were made of copper, bronze, and iron. The most popular type of Greek hoplite sword is the leaf-shaped xiphos, followed by the recurved kopis or makhaira sword. The term hoplon is Greek for weapon, so hoplite means something like man-at-arms. If they were once more specific terms, their differences have been lost. Some argue that the kopis sword was used generically to refer to any type of curved sword, dagger, or knife, while others suggest that there are differences between the two based on the shape of the curved blade. The Greek kopis comes from the term kopto, meaning cut. Also, its weight leaned heavily towards the tip.Īnother term associated with makhaira is kopis. The blade shape of the makhaira would be a more efficient cutting sword when fighting from horseback. Having lived just a generation before Alexander the Great, the Greek historian Xenophon had cavalry experience in the battlefield and recommended the use of the makhaira by the cavalry troops. Its recurved blade made it versatile for thrusting, chopping, and drawing cuts. It was a weapon that would lop off the head of enemies, but was also designed as a cut-and-thrust sword. It was used like an ax, due to its heavier and broader blade. ![]() – Credits: Met Museumīy the 6th century BCE, the makhaira was introduced and became known for its recurved blade. Makhaira or Kopis Makhaira sword, 5th-4th century B.C. It was an efficient weapon for thrusting, hacking, and allowed powerful slashing attacks against ranks of enemy infantry. The xiphos also served as the Spartan sword of Spartan warriors, who utilized it as soon as their spears had broken off. ![]() It was the archetypal sword of both Classical and Hellenistic Greece, recognized for its distinctively leaf-shaped blade. The term xiphos is a generic name for a sword and eventually became associated with the classic sword of the Greek and Macedonian hoplites. Xiphos Xiphos sword with leaf shaped blade – Credits: The British Museum The uppermost flare of the blade and the underside of the cross combine to offer a smooth, rounded corner from which to hook a finger. The hilt design of the bronze sword could reduce the risk of dropping it during the battle. The Mycenaean short sword was made of bronze and had cross hilts with lugs, like half finger loops. Mycenaean Short Sword A replica of an ancient Mycenaean short sword – Credits: Numizmat20, Todoleccionĭerived from the archeological site of Mycenae in Peloponnese, the term Mycenaean refers to the late Bronze Age civilization of ancient Greece from around 1600 to 1100 BCE. These cutting swords later influenced Roman and Middle Eastern sword designs. The xiphos and kopis were the principal swords of Greek hoplites, though each had its own purpose and advantages on the battlefield. Let’s explore the different types of Greek swords, their historical uses, and how they compare to Roman swords. They initially fought with their spears, but relied on these swords well-suited to close-quarters fighting. The classic Greek sword was the xiphos, a double-edged leaf-shaped sword, though the hoplites also used the kopis as a powerful chopping weapon. The Greek hoplites were the finest foot soldiers of their time and fought with several types of swords and weapons in warfare.
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