Central Asia, Scytho-Siberian, ca. 5th century BCE. A large, well-preserved, forged iron sword with a flat, broad blade with a series of six narrow, low ridges that run down the center of the blade. The sword was forged with an integrated handle that is a simple, flat grip made to have wood, bone, ivory, or leather wrapped around it and an elongated ovoid pommel. The Scythians lived in the rich grazing lands of the Caucasian steppes, and were nomadic warriors on horseback who fought with iron swords like this one, battle-axes, spears, and javelins. According to Herodotus (so take it with a grain of salt as being ancient hearsay, though it is a good story), each year Scythian settlements erected a pyramid-shaped altar and placed an ancient iron sword atop it; the people of the settlement then brought offerings of horses, sheep, and goats as well as human sacrifices to the sword, which represented the god of war. Size: 26.875" L x 2.5" W (68.3 cm x 6.4 cm); 27" H (68.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Much of what we know of this culture comes from the incredibly rich burials of elite Scythians. Burial structures during this time were ovoid or rectangular pits, sometimes with wooden structures and, in the region of the North Black Sea, catacombs. Packed inside these tombs were a profusion of rich items, including an array of weapons like this one. For example, the Ukrainian tomb of a female Scythian warrior who died in combat - with a battle axe through the skull and a bronze arrowhead in her leg - contained a massive armored belt, a quiver with twenty bronze arrows with painted shafts, glass beads, pearls, silver and bronze bracelets, a bronze mirror, a tray filled with food for the afterlife - and, close to her body, two weapons.

Provenance: private J. Connell collection, Massachusetts, USA; ex-Hermann Historica International Auctions, Munchen, Germany

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#127393

Very nice condition given that it is made of iron, with tiny losses to edges, clear detail remaining on much of the blade, and excellent form. Encrusted patina on surface.