Kopis: the Ancient Greek Sword
The kopis is an ancient Greek sword with a forward-curving blade. It is primarily used as a tool to cut meat for slaughter and animal sacrifice, but is also used as a weapon.
The word “kopis” is a Greek feminine singular noun. The difference in meaning between makhaira (another Greek word with a meaning of “broad knife” or “short sword“, “dagger“) is not explicitly defined in ancient texts. Modern specialists tend to use both terms as a class of curved weapons. The only difference between kopis and makhaira is the direction of the blade curvature.
It is a one-handed weapon with an average length of about 3 feet. The size of kopis is equal in size to the spatha. Just like other swords that have a predecessor. Kopis is believed to come after Iberian falcata. It is often compared to the shorter Nepalese kukri.
As mentioned in ancient Greek art and literature, Greeks in those times did often use curved blades in warfare. They preferred the straight and more martially versatile xiphos. The Greek hoplites opt for straight swords for infantry, but the downward curve of the kopis made it especially adept to mounted warfare against infantry. The kopis has a tilt that is similar to a hook. In most cases, this sword would be swung over the shoulder so the attacker could attack with the most force against their opponent. In fact, Greek art shows Persian soldiers wielding the kopis or an axe rather than the straight-bladed Persian akinakes.
February 23 2010 06:19 am | antique swords