Bear spear
Encyclopedia
Bear spear was a medieval type of spear
used in hunting for bears
and other large animals. The sharpened head of a bear spear was enlarged and usually had a form of a bay leaf
. Right under the head there was a short crosspiece that helped fixing the spear in the body of an animal.
Basically, the bear spear was close to boar spear
, but it had a longer and harder shaft and larger head. Often it was placed against the ground on its rear point, which make it easier to hold the weight of attacking beast.
Bear spear was used against the largest animals, not only bears, but also wisent
s and war horses, thus being used not only in hunting, but in warfare as well. It also could be used against the smaller animals such as boar
s, but in that case it was less wieldy than specialized boar spear
.
In the Slavic countries it was known as rogatina and used since at least 12th century. The Russian chronicles first mention it as a military weapon under the year 1149, and as a hunting weapon under the year 1255 (though it was used by Prince Daniel of Galicia in boar hunting
). In Germany
the bear spear or bärenspieß was known from at least the Late Middle Ages
, but was rather rare when compared to Eastern Europe
due to the much smaller population of bears.
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
used in hunting for bears
Bear hunting
Bear hunting is the act of hunting bears. Bears have been hunted since prehistoric times for their meat and fur. - Details :Bears are large mammals in the order Carnivora. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout...
and other large animals. The sharpened head of a bear spear was enlarged and usually had a form of a bay leaf
Bay leaf
Bay leaf refers to the aromatic leaf of the bay laurel . Fresh or dried bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavor and fragrance. The leaves are often used to flavor soups, stews, braises and pâtés in Mediterranean cuisine...
. Right under the head there was a short crosspiece that helped fixing the spear in the body of an animal.
Basically, the bear spear was close to boar spear
Boar spear
A boar spear is a spear used for boar hunting. It is relatively short and heavy and has two "lugs" or "wings" on the spearsocket behind the blade, which act as a barrier to prevent an injured and furious boar from working its way up the shaft of the spear to attack the hunter.The boar spear also...
, but it had a longer and harder shaft and larger head. Often it was placed against the ground on its rear point, which make it easier to hold the weight of attacking beast.
Bear spear was used against the largest animals, not only bears, but also wisent
Wisent
The wisent , Bison bonasus, also known as the European bison or European wood bison, is a species of Eurasian bison. It is the heaviest surviving land animal in Europe; a typical wisent is about long, not counting a tail of long, and tall. Weight typically can range from , with an occasional big...
s and war horses, thus being used not only in hunting, but in warfare as well. It also could be used against the smaller animals such as boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
s, but in that case it was less wieldy than specialized boar spear
Boar spear
A boar spear is a spear used for boar hunting. It is relatively short and heavy and has two "lugs" or "wings" on the spearsocket behind the blade, which act as a barrier to prevent an injured and furious boar from working its way up the shaft of the spear to attack the hunter.The boar spear also...
.
In the Slavic countries it was known as rogatina and used since at least 12th century. The Russian chronicles first mention it as a military weapon under the year 1149, and as a hunting weapon under the year 1255 (though it was used by Prince Daniel of Galicia in boar hunting
Boar hunting
Boar hunting is generally the practice of hunting wild boars, but can also extend to feral pigs and peccaries. A full-sized boar is a large animal armed with sharp tusks which it uses to defend itself. Boar hunting has often been a test of bravery....
). In Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
the bear spear or bärenspieß was known from at least the Late Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
, but was rather rare when compared to Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
due to the much smaller population of bears.