Thexiphos (Ancient Greek:ξίφος[ksípʰos]; pluralxiphe,Ancient Greek:ξίφη[ksípʰɛː])[1] is a double-edged, one-handedIron Age straight shortsword used by theancient Greeks. It was a secondary battlefield weapon for the Greek armies after thedory orjavelin. The classicblade was generally about 45–60 cm (18–24 in) long, although theSpartans supposedly preferred to use blades as short as 30 cm (12 in) around the era of theGreco-Persian Wars.
Stone'sGlossary hasxiphos being a name used by Homer for a sword. The entry in the book says that the sword had a double-edged blade widest at about two-thirds of its length from the point, and ending in a very long point.[2]
The word is attested inMycenaean GreekLinear B form as𐀥𐀯𐀟𐀁,qi-si-pe-e.[n 1] A relation to Arabicsaifun ('a sword') and Egyptiansēfet has been suggested, although this does not explain the presence of alabiovelar in Mycenaean.[10] One suggestion connects Osseticäxsirf "sickle",[11] which would point to a virtualIndo-European*kwsibhro-.
Mostxiphe handles followed a two-piece construction (similar to a knife) using either native woods or, for more exotic imports, ebony and animal bone. The two slabs were attached to the tang of the sword, secured via two or three pins and then made smooth via filing giving the characteristic oval shape of axiphos grip. Hand guards usually followed a "bridge" shape and were either also of organic material or iron or a combination of both, also secured via pins on each point. Some swords found in Italy or Macedonia tended to have an iron extension/reinforcement running along the handle (see picture of modern reconstruction of axiphos made by Manning Imperial above).
There have been finds ofxiphe with hilts decorated with gold foil. These swords were most likely ceremonial since they are always found in burial sites.
Survivingxiphe are relatively rare, but appear alongside iron weapons in burial sites, indicating both a household status and continued use into the Iron Age.[12]
The period between the Classical and Iron Ages is often referred to as a "dark age", but it featured important developments and innovations in metal casting, alloy construction, and procurement as widespread use of metallurgy slowly spread out of Iberia.[13]
The xiphos sometimes has a midrib, and is diamond or lenticular in cross-section. It was a rather light weapon, with a weight around 450–900 g (0.99–1.98 lb). It was generally hung from abaldric under the left arm.[14] Thexiphos was generally used only when the spear was broken, taken by the enemy, or discarded for close combat. Very fewxiphe are known to have survived.
Thexiphos's leaf-shaped design lent itself to both cutting and thrusting. The origin of the design goes back to the Bronze Age; the blade of thexiphos looks almost identical to the blade of the Mycenaean Naue II sword, which itself transitioned from having a blade of bronze into a blade of iron during the Archaic period. It is likely that thexiphos is the natural evolution of the iron version of the Naue II but with a more sophisticated handle design.
The leaf-shaped short swords were not limited to Greece, as mentioned, but can be found throughout Europe in the late Bronze Age under various names.[15]
The early CelticLa Tène short sword, contemporary with thexiphos, had a virtually identical blade design as thexiphos.[16]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Contrary to popular belief, no example of axiphos made frombronze has ever been found. The several whole or partialxiphe blades found in places such as Olympia, Macedonia and Southern Italy were all made exclusively from iron. Furthermorexiphos swords only began to appear centuries after typical Bronze Age weapons — such as the Naue II — had transitioned from bronze to iron. In reality theBronze Age sword during theBronze Age was a completely different weapon, andxiphe were not developed until after the end of the Bronze Age circa 1200 BCE. Researchers think the misidentification of Bronze Age ornaments has created the modern-day myth that thexiphe were ever cast in bronze.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)