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Warmatrix

War Matrix - Sickle sword

Early Bronze Age 3000 BCE - 2200 BCE, Weapons and technology

Egyptian khopesh from the tomb of Tutankhamen
Egyptian khopesh from the tomb of Tutankhamen
The sickle sword was developed by the Sumerians out of the battle axe. Its construction was made possible by the invention of bronze, the strength of which allowed for longer blades than were previously possible. From Sumer the sickle sword spread over all of the Middle East. It was popular in Egypt, where the sword was called a "khopesh". Many sickle swords were ceremonial weapons, symbols of royal power and not sharpened. When iron working was invented, iron sickle swords appeared too, but other swords types supplanted it around 1300 BCE.
The sickle sword has a peculiar convex shape. Only the convex edge is sharpened. It is usually 50 - 60 cm long, though shorter examples exist too. It can be used to slash, hook or bludgeon.