Ethnographic Arms & Armour - Swordbreakers: A Myth ?

Relief frieze of Roman soldiers from 100 CE, in Cuma, Museum of Roman Civilization (Naples), Italy.

Ethiopian ceremonial shield.

Late medieval arming sword.

Katana Bisyu Osafune Norimitu, Edo era 1470.

Arming sword in the early 15th century Italian manner, modeled on that of Estorre Visconti, signore of Milan (1346- 1413), 19th century. long sharply tapering blade of flattened diamond section inlaid with a small copper mark on both sides, gilt-iron hilt, the crosspiece faceted and tapering towards abruptly down-turned tips, the center encased in a copper panel turned outwards over both sides of the base of the blade and engraved with panels of scroll work.

On Lucius Quinctius’ rams is reproduced a helmet of the type called “montefortino“, used both by Samnites, Romans and other Italic peoples to the first century BCE. The details of the three feathers is significant as sources hand down the use to decorate the top of the helmets with three red or black swan feathers, straight on the top, with a length of about a cubit, so the soldier who wore it seemed much higher, and the sight of the enemy appeared more majestic and terrible at the same…

Image

15th century pavise.