Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
hooked sword
#1
[attachment=11680]sword-crescentmoon-star-sickle.jpg[/attachment]
I kind of randomly came across this mosiac with this groovy sword. What the heck is it? Any info on its legitimacy would be greatly appreciated.
Underhill Edge

Hand forged edged tools, blades, and functioning historical reproductions.

underhilledge.com

Jack McAuliffe
Reply
#2
Google image search is your friend :-)
It is part of a series of mosaic panels from a mithraeum at Ostia, cf. http://www.ostia-antica.org/regio5/9/9-1.htm
About the panel you posted it says:

Quote:In the fifth panel is a moon crescent, symbol of the moon, Luna. Below is Hesperos, the evening star. To the left is a hamatus ensis or falcatus ensis, a sword, the symbol of the grade Perses. It is usually seen in the hand of Hercules fighting the Hydra and of Perseus killing Medusa (thus creating the Gorgo-head). Perseus was the hero of the Persians. It was a weapon that was characteristic of people in Asia. It can be seen on coins of King Mithridates of Pontus with Perseus, but also only the weapon is depicted, as symbol of Perseus. Below the star is probably a scythe, also belonging to this grade. It might be a symbol of the rebirth of nature, and of new life.
Reply
#3
I've seen this type of sword before in art, but I don't know of any extant (actual) specimens. Here is fresco of Perseus from Villa San Marco in Stabiae. I have heard this type of sword was called a "harpē." I don't have a good source for that name. In fact, I think I read it on RAT!

UPDATE: A sword of this type is explicitly described as being used by Perseus in Achilles Tatius's "The Adventures of Leucippe and Clitophon" (Book III). Check it at http://books.google.com/books?id=szH1UVB...le&f=false. I also added a second fresco.


Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
       
Reply
#4
Thanks guys, sorry it seemed so fantastical that I wanted more educated opinions than google. Youre right though I could have found this on my own. Maybe ill make a reproduction, this is interesting and would be a really weird shape to forge.
Underhill Edge

Hand forged edged tools, blades, and functioning historical reproductions.

underhilledge.com

Jack McAuliffe
Reply
#5
wow check this out
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt6234/2...otostream/

EDIT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpe
It appears to have a few names
Underhill Edge

Hand forged edged tools, blades, and functioning historical reproductions.

underhilledge.com

Jack McAuliffe
Reply
#6
You may know this already, but that statue was made by Antonio Canova at the beginning of the 19th century. I would imagine that he based the sword on a design he had seen on a Roman fresco.
Reply
#7
The myth (at least one version of it) says that Hermes provided Perseus with a sickle to behead Medusa. Sickles show up a lot in ancient myth, probably because of the lunar crescent shape. A similar object is the labrys, an axe with a double crescent head.
Pecunia non olet
Reply


Forum Jump: