Ornamented Egyptian bronze sword blade

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Title

Ornamented Egyptian bronze sword blade

Description

Bronze age, decorated bronze short sword blade of Ur type. North West Persian or Egyptian 2nd-1st millennium BC. A bronze short sword with short tang to be inserted into an organic hilt, the slightly concave blade is showing multiple ornamental grooves which form a pronounced mid-rib spanning roughly three-quarters of the blade.

Catalogue Number

1202

Category

Swords & Daggers

Period

2000-1650 BCE

Culture

Egyptian

Material

Bronze

Dimensions and weight

L: 360 mm, Weight: 287 g

Reference Items

Cf. Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 2, London, 2004, item 36, p.33 Length 360 mm, width 74 mm, thickness 7 mm Weight 287 g Petrie: D8, Egyptian XIV Dynasty dagger (1725-1650 BC)

Historical Significance

Bronze swords represent the pinnacle of pre-iron weapon technology. Casting a long blade required precise control of the copper-tin alloy ratio (typically ~10% tin), mould design, and cooling rate. This metallurgical knowledge, developed over centuries of empirical practice, represents one of the great achievements of ancient technology.

Curator Rating

5.0

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