Ancient weapon: Slavic sword

The Slavic sword is a weapon, which in our time is considered a real relic and is in great demand among collectors. But not everyone knows that once there was such a cold weapon.

Historical reference

Official historical science claims that the Russian State was formed in 862. However, some sources try to refute this fact, as if in reality pre-Christian statehood among the Eastern Slavs arose at the beginning of our era. Our distant ancestors well mastered the art of war, and even from childhood. To this forced a harsh life, the specifics of that environment.

Mentally returning to that era, one can imagine the conditions under which our ancestors had to live: wildlife, small settlements, separated by long distances and bad communication. How to protect yourself from numerous raids, to escape from internecine conflicts? The Slavic sword had to protect the ancient people from enemies.

Ancient tool

All the types of cold steel, common in that era, be it spear, ax or ax, the ancient Slavs mastered perfectly. But still the preference was given to the sword. In skilled hands, this was a formidable weapon, which was associated not only with power, but also with power and valor.

The impressive size and considerable weight of the Slavic sword required his possessor to have physical training in order to be able to crush opponents with accurate and powerful blows. Every boy of that time dreamed of it. The Slavic sword was made by the smiths and special craftsmen. He was presented as a gift in honor of respect. Only brave men could boast such weapons in their home.

Device

What was the Slavic sword? The wide warhead, called the blade, near the point itself had some narrowing. Often there were swords, along the middle line of the blade of which was a shallow and narrow groove. According to the version based on the traditions of the Slavs, the blood of the defeated enemy flowed along this very "dale". More plausible is the explanation of the role of this element: less weight of the sword, it was easier for them to wield.

The detailed description of the sword of Russians by scholars from Khorezm, who lived in the Middle Ages, Biruni, is considered interesting. The fighting part was made of hard steel, called Shapurkan. The middle part, where the dolt passed, on the contrary, should be plastic, ie, with the content of soft iron. It was thanks to this cleverly designed device that the Slavic sword was very strong to withstand powerful blows, but also not fragile.

Original design

You can not ignore the appearance. Admirable handles and gardes in terms of design. Garda - the element of the sword in the form of a cross, which was located between the handle and the blade, protected the warrior's hand from the blows of the enemy. The sword, in the manufacture of which the master invested the whole soul, was a truly masterpiece, a work of art. The jeweler's precision and complexity of the patterns, whose elements were such popular symbols of the time as Inglia (Primary Fire), the holy, the Kolovrat (solstice), are surprising.

Magic drawings were also present on the blade itself. Inlaying the handle with precious stones underscored the fact of how anxious the owner treated him. The Slavic sword is the guardian of its owner. It was an honor to take the cannon from the enemy, but sometimes such trophies brought only misfortunes. People believed that it was because of sorcery.

Who and when was it allowed to wear a sword?

Everything indicates that the Slavic sword was not perceived as a weapon in the usual sense. His daily wear only representatives of the elite - the prince and his vigilantes. The usual privilege was not extended to ordinary citizens during the period between military operations. Ignoring this rule of etiquette indicated bad manners, and this could be interpreted as a disrespect to those who held high positions in society.

The sword is not a piece of jewelry that can be displayed, but above all, weapons to protect the native land from the encroachment of enemies. A true warrior must have such a weapon. Women tried not to touch the "toys" of men. A special place was occupied in the life of every prince by the Slavic sword. Photo of the cold cannon is published by many archaeologists who discovered this expensive find.

The Meaning of the Sword in the Life of the Slavs

The sword of the Slavs was a kind of family relic, which representatives of the strong half of the older generation passed on to their heirs. Moreover, often the father almost with beggarly prosperity could leave nothing else but a sword to his son after himself. Terrible weapons made it possible for a brave and valiant warrior to become famous in battle and, if lucky, improve his material situation.

It is characteristic that Russian speech abounds with a multitude of verbal revolutions containing the term "sword", the use of which emphasized the significance of the Slavic sword. Here are some examples. From mouth to mouth the legendary phrase pronounced by Alexander Nevsky that waits for the enemy who has come with a sword on the Russian ground is transferred. Thus, the great commander not only warned the Teutonic Knights. The phrase became not only winged, but also prophetic, which is proved by the centuries-old history of Russia. Less well known are the following phrases: "to use the sword against" was used as a sign of the call for the beginning of hostilities, and the concise phrase "to go by the sword" served as a call to capture the fortress of the enemy or foreign territory with subsequent strengthening of positions.

Approximately from the beginning of the 13th century, the following trend is traced. Weaponsmiths from different regions of Russia in the manufacture of swords ceased to adhere to uniform standards, there appeared versions of a sword that differed in weight and shape. This continued until the 19th century.

The Slavic sword is often used as a tattoo. The image symbolizes steadfastness, power, strength of spirit, in a sense serves the patriotic education of the present and all subsequent generations of the Russian people.