Kopis
Encyclopedia
The kopis was a sword
with a forward-curving blade, primarily used as a tool for cutting meat, for slaughter
and animal sacrifice
, but also as a weapon.
It is a one handed weapon with an average length of about 3 feet, making it equal in size to the spatha
. It is often compared to the shorter Nepal
ese kukri
and the Iberian
falcata
. The word itself is the Greek
feminine singular noun. The difference in meaning between kopis and makhaira
(μάχαιρα, another Greek
word, meaning "broad knife" or "short sword", "dagger") is not entirely clear in ancient texts, but modern specialists tend to use both terms referred to a class of curved weapons, the only real difference being the direction of the blade curvature.
The ancient Greeks did often use curved blades in warfare, as proved by ancient Greek art and literature; however, they rather preferred the straight, more martially versatile xiphos. The Greek hoplites favored straight swords for infantry, but the downward curve of the kopis made it especially suited to mounted warfare against infantry. Xenophon
recommended using the curved makhaira
for cavalry
in On Horsemanship 12:11.
Greek art shows Persian soldiers wielding the kopis or an axe rather than the straight-bladed Persian akinakes.
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
with a forward-curving blade, primarily used as a tool for cutting meat, for slaughter
Ritual slaughter
Ritual slaughter is the practice of slaughtering livestock for meat in a ritual manner. Ritual slaughter involves a prescribed method of slaughtering an animal for food production purposes...
and animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing of an animal as part of a religion. It is practised by many religions as a means of appeasing a god or gods or changing the course of nature...
, but also as a weapon.
It is a one handed weapon with an average length of about 3 feet, making it equal in size to the spatha
Spatha
The spatha was a type of straight sword, measuring between , in use throughout first millennium AD Europe, and in the territory of the Roman Empire until about 600 AD. Later swords from 600 AD to 1000 AD are recognizable derivatives, though they are not spathae.The spatha was used in gladiatorial...
. It is often compared to the shorter Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
ese kukri
Kukri
The kukri is a curved Nepalese Knife, similar to the machete, used as both a tool and as a weapon...
and the Iberian
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
falcata
Falcata
The falcata is a type of sword typical of the pre-Roman Iberian Peninsula , similar to Greek kopis or Nepalese kukri.-Name:...
. The word itself is the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
feminine singular noun. The difference in meaning between kopis and makhaira
Makhaira
Makhaira is a term used by modern scholars to describe a type of ancient bladed weapon, generally a large knife with a slight backwards curve...
(μάχαιρα, another Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word, meaning "broad knife" or "short sword", "dagger") is not entirely clear in ancient texts, but modern specialists tend to use both terms referred to a class of curved weapons, the only real difference being the direction of the blade curvature.
The ancient Greeks did often use curved blades in warfare, as proved by ancient Greek art and literature; however, they rather preferred the straight, more martially versatile xiphos. The Greek hoplites favored straight swords for infantry, but the downward curve of the kopis made it especially suited to mounted warfare against infantry. Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
recommended using the curved makhaira
Makhaira
Makhaira is a term used by modern scholars to describe a type of ancient bladed weapon, generally a large knife with a slight backwards curve...
for cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
in On Horsemanship 12:11.
Greek art shows Persian soldiers wielding the kopis or an axe rather than the straight-bladed Persian akinakes.
