The "Myth" of the "Dacian Falx" as a super weapon

[Paullus Scipio]

Sitalkes/Chris W. wrote:-

I have a complete collection of the two-handed Dacian/Bastarnae blade depictions (there are several that are not usually seen) but I'm saving them for my book,

I can match that boast......and I've had it for over 30 years !! As the old Yorkshire saying has it, "There's nowt new under the sun! "

The problem is, as was explored on the thread, coin depictions are small and lacking in detail generally, and the soldiers seem to have shields - which means their 'falxes' (curved blades) are probably single-handed 'sicas' - which we know were in use by Dacian auxiliary troops. Whatever object the figure is holding on the Marcus Aurelius 'adlocutio', it doesn't bear much resemblance to the two-handed 'falx' of Adamklissi - the shape is different, the handle 'flares out' to a thickness too big to grip, there seems to be a small handle on the end of the object etc. and, as was noted in the thread, this is long after the Dacian Wars ( but then Caracalla wanted to revive the Macedonian phalanx!) Furthermore even if Imperial Guards DID carry a two-handed 'falx', where is the link to 'Dacia' ? It could have been adopted from a 'Bastarnae' weapon/tool....... ( it is the single-handed 'sica' type that is clearly linked to Dacia). The Adamklissi 'two-handed chopper' is not 'derived from' or 'adapted from' or anything else - it IS the tool pure and simple, as can be seen by comparisons.

Nor does the presence of a mark ( and that on only one or two examples) "prove" it is a weapon....the mark could be anything, and most likely a maker's mark! There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest it is some 'mystical warrior' mark....

Nina wrote:-

You have here two types of Dacian scythes (older and newer discoveries):

To avoid confusion, it must be pointed out that while 'falx'( latin: 'curved blade') could be used to describe a scythe, no-one, as far as I know links the Adamklissi 'chopper' to scythes in any way.....but it is identical to a completely different tool universally used for coppicing, hedge trimming and the like which is still in use today, referred to by various names - 'slashing hook', 'splashing hook', 'hedge trimmer' etc ( see previous posts)

An object used bouth as tool and weapon in the same time??

Agricultural tools have been used as weapons all through history......and I gave the example of even well-equipped Roman Legionaries resorting to a tool - a "two-handed chopper" - the 'dolabra'/pickaxe, against well-armoured opponents.......