There are a number of swords that originated in India and have seen their usage throughout the history of warfare.
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Overview
editIn the Indian subcontinent, one of the earliest available Bronze age swords of copper was discovered by the period of Indus Valley civilization. Swords have been recovered in archaeological findings throughout the Ganges-Jamuna Doab region of Indian subcontinent, consisting of bronze but more commonly copper.[1] Swords have been also discovered in Fatehgarh, where there are several varieties of hilt.[1] These swords have been variously dated to times between 1700 and 1400 BC. Other swords from this period in India have been discovered from Kallur, Raichur.[2]
In general, Indians have significantly used one-handed swords in order to carry the shield along with them. Nevertheless, there has been use of two-handed swords in India, such as by Naga people of Assam.[3]
The Indian swords have been also used by Arabians[4] and Europeans since medieval times.[5]
Swords have culturally influenced the iconography and culture of India.[6] Sikhs consider sword to be holy and the Sikh emblem (Khanda (Sikh symbol)) depicts a doubled-edged sword surrounded by a circle and two curved swords.[7]
List of Indian swords
editSee also
editReferences
edit
- ^ a b Allchin, pp. 111–14
- ^ Allchin, F. R. in South Asian Archaeology 1975: Papers from The Third International Conference of The Association of South Asian Archaeologists in Western Europe, Held in Paris (December 1979) edited by J. E. van Lohuizen-de Leeuw. Brill Academic Publishers, Incorporated. 106–18. ISBN 90-04-05996-2
- ^ Hank Reinhardt's The Book of Swords, Hank Reinhardt Baen Publishing Enterprises, p. 201-202
- ^ Indian Warfare: An Appraisal of Strategy and Tactics of War in Early Medieval Period Surinder Kumar Bhakari, p. 101
- ^ The Sword and the Crucible: A History of the Metallurgy of European Swords Up to the 16th Century, p.35, Alan Williams, BRIL
- ^ The Indian Sword, p. 29-40
- ^ How and why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?, Jean Mead, 2008, p. 29