Weapons
Aspis: The Iconic Shield of the Ancient Greeks
The Greek hoplites and cavalry frequently used the aspis (also known as the hoplon) between the 8th and 4th centuries…
Lantern Shield: A Gauntlet Combined with Shield and Sword
You would use the lantern to blind your opponents at dawn or during nighttime battles, and it would hook onto…
Sword of Charlemagne: The Joyeuse Sword of the Frankish King
The Sword of Charlemagne is one of the oldest surviving regalia of the Kingdom of France.
Karabela: A Polish Saber That Means “Black Scourge”
The name is associated with the color of the handle of the first Turkish combat karabela, made of black horn.
Shepherd’s Axe: The Favorite Walking Stick of the Carpathians
Shepherds and nomads used it for the first-time centuries ago in what are now Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine,…
Heater Shield: The Story of a Legendary Shield Design
The heater shield gets its name because of its resemblance to a clothes iron. Later variations included curvier edges.
Shield Boss: A Small Piece of Metal That Changed Battles
The shield boss was a smart piece of design intended to strengthen the construction of ancient shields, which were mostly…
Parma Shield: The Iconic Disk Shield of the Ancient Romans
The parma shield was used by the lowest-ranking troops in ancient Rome.
Tetsubo: An Ancient Club Made of Metal, Too Heavy to Wield
Tetsubo is often mentioned in mythological texts. The Japanese believed that the brutal demons "oni" preferred them because of their…
Bo Staff: Martial Arts Weapon of a Legendary Style
The bo staff is one of the most popular and plain striking weapons from Okinawa, Japan.
Rohatyn: A Slavic Bear Spear of the 12th Century
Since a rohatyn was meant to cause a broad and deep wound, it was only used on big and potentially…
Ranseur: A 15th-Century Polearm in the Shape of a Trident
The ranseur polearm originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. The trident-like crossguard of the ranseur served the purpose of…