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Post by The Eshva on Dec 5, 2020 18:48:12 GMT
Although no longer important implements on the battlefield, swords hold a significant place within Arashin culture going back nearly as far back as they have existed. While bronze weapons were used by the Arashin, due to the unique factors in play in the region that they had inhabited at the time, ironworking was able to take root somewhat earlier among them than others in the region, with the earliest iron artifacts being found as early as the mid-17th century BCE and iron weapons by the mid-13th. By the late-1st millennium BCE, steel-working had become fairly common, though it would only be in the 2nd century CE that steel weapons had largely replaced iron.
Below are some examples of Arashin swords based on the era.
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Post by The Eshva on Dec 6, 2020 1:06:26 GMT
Bronze-age Swords of the Arashin
Tikari'Kosai Swords
The swords found at the Tikari'Kosai site in south-western Ikhan are often described as a sort of "Bronze Rapier" due to their characteristic thin blade which, based on this fact, would almost entirely be used for thrusting rather than slashing. The weapons are dated to between the 19th and 17 centuries BCE and are among the first swords that were not used solely for a ceremonial purpose.
Kintsei Swords
The Kintsei swords are a set of three bronze swords found near the village of Kintsei in the Vakhet Province of Southern Ikhan. Typical of late-bronze age Arashin swordmaking, they feature a wide blade and a flat pommel made in cast bronze. These swords are remarkable for how well-preserved they are, as well as the circumstances in which they were discovered. It is rather clear that, though they certainly saw use in combat, they were almost ritually disposed of, possibly pointing to an early sense of reverence for such weapons by the Arashin. It is believed they date to around the 15th century BCE.
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Post by The Eshva on Dec 17, 2020 19:44:21 GMT
Early Iron-age Swords of the Arashin (13th century BCE - 1st Century CE)
Tiket (1253 - 606 BCE)
The Tiket was an early design of an iron-age sword of the Arashin, being a double-edged sword suited both for cutting and thrusting. The example above is a well-preserved example of the weapon dating to around 713 BCE. They notably lack a significant cross-guard, though this was made up for them being paired with a shield to go alongside them. This would set a pattern for future Arashin swords, which would mostly lack such a complicated cross-guard themselves as well. Future Arashin swords would gradually require the use of both hands in combat, which would further make such designs less and less important.
Tekhos (368 BCE - 419 CE)
The Tekhos was a precursor to the Sikhos used during the late Pentarchical until the mid-Imperial Era. The blades are single-edged and typically straight, though curved examples do exist as well. Like the Tikhet, they were typically used alongside a shield and were designed to be used in formation. Curiously, weapons of a similar design were adopted by the armies of the Second Empire of Ikhan during the reign of Arkan IV, a testament to their design.
Kolkhos (633 BCE - 188 CE)
The Kolhos was a type of sword that was significantly related to the Tiket, sharing many of the same basic design features. However, it differs notably in it's length, with it being on average 13 cm longer on average than it's predecessor. Despite the Tekhos proving the superior weapon, the Kolhos was still used as late as the early second century CE.
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Post by The Eshva on Feb 26, 2021 5:40:31 GMT
Swords of the Arashin Pentarchy (196 - 1042)Tasai (196 - 986, 1591 - 1871) The Tasai was a type of single-edged sabre commonly used during the Pentarchical era, seeing use among cavalry and infantry alike. Later on, the Sikhos would largely supplant the weapon, though it would see a brief revival during between the 16th and 19th centuries due to its ease of manufacture. It does not hold the same cultural significance that the aforementioned Sikhos does, as it was almost never used by the Zharai which came to define Arashin warfare for a millennium.
Sikhos (400 CE - 1889/Present Day)
The Sikhos is a straight, single-edged sword used initially by cavalry and infantry alike, though it would by the 9th century come to be viewed as a weapon closely associated with the Zharai. As is tradition, each Sikhos is tied to a lineage, passed down from father to son across generations. That said, it was often the case that, before the father died, the son would have his own forged, which ultimately led to the occasional anecdote of a Zharai eventually inheriting more swords than they would ever need. Nonetheless, every Sikhos is forged in such a way that it will be different; no two Sikhoi are identical, even among those used by the Imperial Guard of the present. The weapon could be wielded with or without a shield, though the heavily-armored Zharai of the Imperial era would find it unnecessary to do the former. By the 16th century, however, though the Sikhos maintained it's status as the weapon of the Zharai, many would find themselves using weapons of Toshikawan, Ardian, and even Aranyean design when on the battlefield, though not without a certain "Arashin flair". Despite this, the Sikhos remains the first weapon most would think of when they think of the Zharai.
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