Ascimitar (/ˈsɪmətər/ or/ˈsɪmətɑːr/)[1] is a single-edgedsword with aconvex curved blade[2][3][4] of about 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 inches) associated with Middle Eastern, South Asian, and North African cultures. A European term,scimitar does not refer to one specific sword type, but an assortment of different Eastern curved swords inspired by types introduced to the Middle East by Central Asianghilmans (enslaved soldiers). These swords include the Persianshamshir, the Arabsaif, the Indiantalwar, the North Africannimcha, the Turkishkilij, and the Afghanpulwar.[4][5] All such swords are originally derived from earlier curved swords developed inTurkicCentral Asia (Turkestan).[6]
The English termscimitar is attested from the mid-16th century and derives partly from the Middle Frenchcimeterre (15th century) and partly the Italianscimitarra.[7] The ultimate source of these terms is possibly corruptions of the Persianshamshir; however, this is still debated.[8][9]Scimitar became used to describe all curved blades, in contrast to thestraight and double-edged European swords of the time.[note 1]
The termسَيْفsaif in Arabic can refer to any Middle Eastern (or North African, South Asian) sword, straight or curved.Saif cognates with the ancient Greekxiphos, which may have been borrowed from aSemitic language, as bothsaif andxiphos go back to an old (Bronze Age)wanderwort of theEastern Mediterranean of unknown ultimate origin.Richard F. Burton derives both words from theEgyptiansfet.[11] In Ethiopia, the generic word for sword, "seif", (Amharic: ሰይፍ) inEthio-Semitic languages is mainly used to refer to a straight bladed, double edged sword but can also be applied to theshotel.
Arabs with scimitars fromBoulanger's paintingA Tale of 1001 Nights
The earliest evidence of scimitars is from the 9th century among soldiers inKhurasan.[12] They were used in horse warfare because of their relatively light weight when compared to larger swords and their curved design, good for slashing opponents while riding on a horse.Nomadic horsemen learned from experience that a curved edge is better for cutting strikes because the arc of the blade matches that of the sweep of the rider's arm as they slash the target while galloping.[13] Turks, Mongols,Rajputs andSikhs used scimitars in warfare, among many other peoples.
The scimitar was widespread throughout theMiddle East from at least theOttoman period until the age of smokeless powder firearms relegated swords to dress and ceremonial function. The Egyptiankhopesh, brought to Egypt by theHyksos, resembled scimitars.[14] The khopesh is sometimes considered a scimitar.[2][15]Early swords in Islamic lands were typically straight and double-edged, following the tradition of the weapons used by the Islamic prophetMuhammad.[16] Though the famous double-edged sword,Zulfiqar wielded byAli was of a curved design, the curved design was probably introduced into central Islamic lands byTurkic warriors from central Asia who were employed as royal body-guards in the 9th century[16] and anAbbasid era blade has been discovered fromKhurasan.[16][12] These Turkic warriors sported anearly type of sabre which had been used in central Asia since the 7th century, but failed to gain wider appeal initially in Islamic lands. There is a single survivingSeljuk saber from approximately the year 1200, which may indicate that under that empire curved blades saw some popularity.[17] Following the Mongol invasions of the 13th century the curved swords favored by the Turkic cavalry, formed lasting impacts across much of the Middle East. The adoption of these swords was incremental, starting not long after Mongol conquest, and lasting well into the 15th century.[13] During Islamization of the Turks, thekilij became more and more popular in the Islamic armies. When theSeljuk Empire invaded Persia and became the first Turkic Muslim political power in Western Asia,kilij became the dominant sword form.[18] The Iranianshamshir was created during the Turkic Seljuk Empire period of Iran.
The sword (orsaif) is an important symbol inArab cultures, and is used as ametaphor in many phrases in the Arabic language. The word occurs also in various symbolic and status titles in Arabic (and adopted in other languages) used in Islamic states, notably:
In the Yemenite independent imamate:
Saif al-Haqq, meaning "Sword of Truth".
Saif al-Islam "Sword of submission to Allah" or "Sword of Islam", was a subsidiary title borne (after their name and patronym) by male members of the al-Qasimi dynasty (whose primary title, before the name, wasAmir), especially sons of the ruling Imam.
Sayf al-Dawla and variations mean "Sword of the State".
Saif ul-Mulk "sword of the realm" was an honorary title awarded by the Mughal Padshahs of Hind (India), e.g. as one of the personal titles (including Nawabbahadur, one rank above his dynasty's) conferred in 1658 by the Mughal emperorAurangzeb toNawab Muhammad Bayazid Khan Bahadur, a highmansabdar, whosejagir ofMalerkotla was bysanad raised to Imperial riyasat, thus becoming an independent ruler.
Saif ul-Ali, "Sword of Ali", referring to arguably most famous sword in Islamic history, belonging to both Muhammad, and later, Ali, Zulfikar, and with which Ali slew a Makkan foot soldier, cleaving both his helmet and head, at the Battle of Uhud, and with which he (Ali) slew Amr, a ferocious and devastating Makkan soldier at the Battle of the Trench at Madinah.
Saif andSaif al Din "Sword of the religion" are also common masculine (and male)Islamic names.
InIslamophobia: Making Muslims the Enemy, Peter Gottschalk and Gabriel Greenberg argue that the scimitar has been appropriated by Western culture andHollywood to symbolize Arab Muslims in a negative light. Even though Muslims used straight-edge swords for the first two centuries of theCrusades, European Christians may have more closely tied theChristian cross-like shape of the swords to their cause. The authors commented that American cartoonists use the scimitar to symbolize "Muslim barbarity", despite the irony in scimitars being worn with some American military uniforms.[19]
In Shakespeare's works, the scimitar was a symbol for the East and theIslamic world.[20]
Scimitars were used in 19th century orientalist depictions of Middle Eastern men.[21] In the 20th century, they were often used to indicate that a character was Middle Eastern and occupying a villain role.[21]
In the 1975 filmMonty Python and the Holy Grail, a character says: "If I went 'round, sayin' I was an emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!" This is in satirical reference to the legend ofKing Arthur and theLady of the Lake.
Scimitars are a popular weapon in theRuneScape franchise.
Curved swords are a staple weapon category in theDark Souls andElden Ring franchises. In each game the scimitar, which most closely resembles ashamshir, appears as the most basic curved sword.
^This is apparent in Thomas Page'sThe Use of the Broad Sword (1746).
"The Sword was of enormous length and breadth, heavy and unweildy, design'd only for right down chopping by the Force of a strong Arm; till Time and Experience discovering the Disadvantages, by Degrees contracted its Length and lighten'd its Weight in to the more handy Form of theScymitar; which was first invented by the Eastern Nations, and has continued to be their principal Weapon to this Day:....""The Saracens, Turks and Persians, made use of but three different Throws with theScymitar, and one of those, only on Horseback; the other two on Foot."[10]
^Haase, Clause-Peter; et al. (1993).Oriental Splendour: Islamic Art from German Pvt. Collections. Hamburg : Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe.ISBN3861085070.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
^Gottschalk, Peter (2008).Islamophobia : making Muslims the enemy. Gabriel Greenberg. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 46–48.ISBN978-0-7425-5286-9.OCLC87130031.
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