1883.] on the Forms< and History of the Sword. 379 



periods vre find the blades attaining almost or quite the length of a 

 modem sabre. And in like manner the bulging curvature towards 

 the point appears not to have been adopted in order to give cutting 

 power fwhich to some extent it does), but to be a mere imit ition of 

 the spear-head, which in turn owes its form to imitation of the earlier 

 chipped flint points. However produced, and for whatever reasons 

 retained, this leaf-shape is the continuing type of the Greek sword 

 throughout ancient Greek history ; and it is not only thus persistent, 

 but now and then recurs at much later times in unexpected ways. It 

 is exactly reproduced in a pattern of short sA'ord for the French 

 dismounted artilleryman, dated 1816, which may be seen in the 

 Musee d'Artillerie at the Invalides, and in some recent experimental 

 sword-bayonets.* As the blade lengthened, the leaf-shape was less 

 marked, and in the days of the Eoman empire, and the barbarian 

 dynasties which were built up on its ruins, the symmetrical curvature 

 had disappeared, leaving a straight and broad blade which became the 

 European sword of the middle ages. ]\Ieanwhile the leaf-shape had 

 thrown out other offshoots elsewhere. From the mediaeval type of 

 sword, or in some cases from one of these other forms, are derived all 

 the weapons of this class now employed by the European races of 

 man. 



Even in the prehistoric period the leaf-shape underwent varia- 

 tions. There have latelv been found at Mvcens several sword (or 

 rather dagger) blades of unknown antiquity, differing from the 

 common pattern in being straight-edged ; as likewise, it is worth while 

 to note, are the swords figured on Assyrian sculptures, narrow and 

 slender weapons mounted not unlike the Eoman army sword, and 

 apparently tapering to a point. These Mycenaean examples are 

 elaborately decorated, and of the utmost interest as specimens of early 

 artistic metal work. Two of them are considerablv shorter than the 

 others, and these are the most finely wrought.! The blades are covered 

 with hunting scenes and figures of animals, partly real and partly 

 fabulous ; the style of the work is archaic, and both the general style 

 and certain details suggest an Egyptian origin for the school from 

 which it came, if not for the artists themselves. The figures are not 

 wrought in one piece with the blades, but made separately and let in. 

 Some process of the nature of enamelliug is used in parts, and gold, 

 or alloys of gold and silver of difterent shades, are einployed to give 



* The Londoner need not even trouble himself to walk into a museum, for 

 the leaf-shaped Greek sword of classical times has been carefully copied from the 

 best authorities in the weapon held by the statue at Hyde Park Comer taken 

 from the group of the Dioscuri on Monte Cavallo, disfigured by a total perversion 

 of the original motive, and absurdly re-named Achilles. 



t Kumanudes, 'Adiivaiov, vol. ix. p. 162. and x. p. 309 ; Kohler, ' Mitthei- 

 lungen des deutschen archaologisclien Instituts in Athen,' vol. vii. p. 241. I am 

 indebted to Professor Colvin for the communication of these papers and tlieir 

 illustrations, as also the monograph on the Eoman soldier's equipment cited 

 below. 



