Knowledge (XXG)

Kopis

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36: 20: 44: 126:, but swelling to convexity towards the tip. This shape, often termed "recurved", distributes the weight in such a way that the kopis was capable of delivering a blow with the momentum of an axe, whilst maintaining the long cutting edge of a sword and some facility to execute a thrust. Some scholars have claimed an 234:". The precise wording of Xenophon's description suggests the possibility that the kopis was regarded as a specific variant within a more general class, with the term makhaira denoting any single-edged cutting sword. 171:
word, meaning "chopper" or "short sword", "dagger") is not entirely clear in ancient texts, but modern specialists tend to discriminate between single-edged cutting swords, those with a forward curve being classed as
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tended to be shorter with a blade length of about 48 cm (18.9 inches). The kopis had a single-edged blade that pitched forward towards the point, the edge being concave on the part of the sword nearest the
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The Ancient Greeks often used single-edged blades in warfare, as attested to by art and literature; however, the double-edged, straight, and more martially versatile
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The kopis sword was a one-handed weapon. Early examples had a blade length of up to 65 cm (25.6 inches), making it almost equal in size to the
430: 1796: 325: 309: 63:) in Ancient Greece could describe a heavy knife with a forward-curving blade, primarily used as a tool for cutting meat, for 890: 450: 1821: 1300: 118: 1816: 1395: 474: 443: 1811: 500: 495: 490: 470: 435: 1733: 1659: 1225: 613: 605: 56: 1196: 127: 35: 1526: 932: 1577: 28: 1215: 252:, used in the Balkans and Anatolia during the Ottoman Period, was a direct descendant of the kopis. 1572: 1456: 1273: 1253: 856: 788: 724: 648: 1627: 1466: 1440: 197: 1582: 1521: 927: 1643: 1371: 1163: 523: 96: 68: 64: 1551: 27:(standing) fighting against a Persian archer. Both are using a kopis. Depiction in ancient 1541: 1178: 1129: 1109: 966: 538: 466: 196:
favored straight swords, but the downward curve of the kopis made it especially suited to
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origin for the sword, as such swords have been found as early as the 7th century BC in
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recommended the single edged kopis sword (which he did not distinguish from the
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soldiers wielding the kopis or an axe rather than the straight-bladed Persian
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feminine singular noun. The difference in meaning between kopis and
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Greek kopis, 5th–4th centuries BC, iron, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Gordon, D.H. (1958) "Scimitars, Sabres and Falchions". in
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For a good summary of the evidence, see F. Quesada Sanz: "
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Gordon, D.H. (1958) "Scimitars, Sabres and Falchions". in
226:, because from the height of a horse’s back the cut of a 71:, or refer to a single edged cutting or "cut and thrust" 405:
Continuum International Publishing Group, pp. 33–34.
1732: 1711: 1704: 1679: 1672: 1652: 1636: 1620: 1604: 1595: 1560: 1403: 1394: 1349: 1308: 1299: 1272: 1224: 1177: 1156: 1147: 1102: 1076: 1067: 1032: 1011: 975: 954: 945: 915: 899: 883: 874: 849: 818: 797: 776: 767: 700: 647: 604: 537: 516: 509: 192:is more widely represented. Greek heavy infantry 451: 390:The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms and Weapons 8: 358:. Macdonald Phoebus, London, pp. 63 and 99. 230:will serve you better than the thrust of a 1708: 1676: 1601: 1400: 1305: 1153: 1073: 951: 880: 773: 513: 458: 444: 436: 431:Illustration of Kopis in Ancient Greek Art 105:for a cutting sword has been postulated. 302: 328:, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, 312:, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, 141:is often compared to the contemporary 403:Warhorse: Cavalry in Ancient Warfare. 330:An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon 314:An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon 7: 388:Tarassuk & Blair, s.v. "kopis", 117:. Later examples of the kopis from 1802:Ancient Greek military terminology 148:and the more recent, and shorter, 14: 1807:Ancient Greek military equipment 248:It has been suggested that the 75:with a similarly shaped blade. 47:Modern reproduction of a kopis 1: 501:Straight swords (Double-edge) 900:Iron Age – Three Kingdom Era 377:Homenaje a Francisco Torrent 496:Curved swords (Single-edge) 491:Thrusting swords (Edgeless) 87:word κοπίς (kopis), plural 16:Greek curved knife or sword 1838: 379:, Madrid, 1994, pp. 75–94. 83:The term derives from the 60: 481: 218:; saying, "I recommend a 200:. The general and writer 976:Heian – Kamakura periods 1797:Ancient European swords 1660:Phra Saeng Khan Chai Si 1033:Meiji period and beyond 1012:Muromachi – Edo periods 155:. The word itself is a 891:Liaoning bronze dagger 614:Migration Period sword 356:Greece and Rome at War 48: 40: 32: 1226:Post-classical period 916:Goryeo and Joseon era 884:Bronze Age – Gojoseon 606:Post-classical period 46: 38: 22: 1561:Spanish colonization 955:Yayoi – Nara periods 354:Connolly, P. (1981) 1822:Single-edged swords 1274:Early modern period 1197:Parthian Long Sword 1103:Medieval and modern 725:Basket-hilted sword 649:Early modern period 401:Sidnell, P. (2006) 176:, those without as 1621:Post-Classic stage 1254:Turko-Mongol Sabre 702:Late modern period 49: 41: 33: 1784: 1783: 1780: 1779: 1700: 1699: 1680:Pre-Columbian era 1668: 1667: 1591: 1590: 1390: 1389: 1295: 1294: 1143: 1142: 1063: 1062: 941: 940: 870: 869: 763: 762: 1829: 1817:European weapons 1709: 1677: 1644:Preah Khan Reach 1602: 1401: 1372:Langgai Tinggang 1306: 1164:Bronze Age sword 1154: 1074: 952: 933:Four Tiger Sword 881: 774: 524:Bronze Age sword 514: 460: 453: 446: 437: 419: 412: 406: 399: 393: 386: 380: 365: 359: 352: 346: 339: 333: 323: 317: 307: 237:Greek art shows 214:use in his work 97:Ancient Egyptian 69:animal sacrifice 65:ritual slaughter 62: 1837: 1836: 1832: 1831: 1830: 1828: 1827: 1826: 1812:European swords 1787: 1786: 1785: 1776: 1728: 1696: 1664: 1648: 1632: 1616: 1597: 1587: 1556: 1386: 1345: 1291: 1268: 1220: 1173: 1149: 1139: 1130:Kayamkulam vaal 1098: 1059: 1028: 1007: 971: 937: 911: 895: 866: 845: 814: 793: 759: 696: 643: 600: 533: 505: 477: 471:classifications 464: 427: 422: 413: 409: 400: 396: 387: 383: 366: 362: 353: 349: 345:, Vol 58, p. 24 340: 336: 324: 320: 308: 304: 300: 258: 216:On Horsemanship 198:mounted warfare 186: 111: 109:Characteristics 81: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1835: 1833: 1825: 1824: 1819: 1814: 1809: 1804: 1799: 1789: 1788: 1782: 1781: 1778: 1777: 1775: 1774: 1769: 1764: 1759: 1754: 1749: 1744: 1738: 1736: 1730: 1729: 1727: 1726: 1721: 1715: 1713: 1706: 1702: 1701: 1698: 1697: 1695: 1694: 1689: 1683: 1681: 1674: 1670: 1669: 1666: 1665: 1663: 1662: 1656: 1654: 1650: 1649: 1647: 1646: 1640: 1638: 1634: 1633: 1631: 1630: 1624: 1622: 1618: 1617: 1615: 1614: 1608: 1606: 1599: 1598:Southeast Asia 1593: 1592: 1589: 1588: 1586: 1585: 1580: 1575: 1570: 1564: 1562: 1558: 1557: 1555: 1554: 1549: 1544: 1539: 1534: 1529: 1524: 1519: 1514: 1509: 1504: 1499: 1494: 1489: 1484: 1479: 1474: 1469: 1464: 1459: 1454: 1449: 1444: 1438: 1433: 1428: 1423: 1418: 1413: 1407: 1405: 1398: 1392: 1391: 1388: 1387: 1385: 1384: 1379: 1374: 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735:Hunting sword 733: 731: 728: 726: 723: 721: 718: 716: 713: 711: 708: 707: 705: 703: 699: 693: 690: 688: 685: 683: 682:Espada ropera 680: 678: 675: 673: 670: 668: 665: 663: 662:Spada da lato 660: 658: 655: 654: 652: 650: 646: 640: 637: 635: 632: 630: 627: 625: 622: 620: 617: 615: 612: 611: 609: 607: 603: 597: 594: 592: 589: 587: 584: 582: 579: 577: 574: 572: 568: 565: 563: 560: 558: 555: 553: 550: 548: 545: 544: 542: 540: 536: 530: 527: 525: 522: 521: 519: 515: 512: 508: 502: 499: 497: 494: 492: 489: 487: 486:Swordsmanship 484: 483: 480: 476: 472: 468: 461: 456: 454: 449: 447: 442: 441: 438: 432: 429: 428: 424: 417: 411: 408: 404: 398: 395: 391: 385: 382: 378: 374: 370: 364: 361: 357: 351: 348: 344: 338: 335: 331: 327: 322: 319: 315: 311: 306: 303: 297: 293: 290: 288: 285: 283: 280: 278: 275: 273: 270: 268: 265: 263: 260: 259: 255: 253: 251: 246: 244: 240: 235: 233: 229: 225: 221: 217: 213: 209: 208: 203: 199: 195: 191: 183: 181: 179: 175: 170: 166: 162: 158: 154: 151: 147: 144: 140: 135: 133: 129: 125: 120: 116: 108: 106: 104: 103: 98: 94: 91:from κόπτω – 90: 86: 78: 76: 74: 70: 66: 58: 57:Ancient Greek 54: 45: 37: 30: 26: 21: 1452:Dahong palay 1377:Parang Nabur 1357:Keris bahari 1309:Early period 1206: 1150:Central Asia 740:Pistol sword 624:Arming sword 619:Viking sword 566: 415: 410: 402: 397: 389: 384: 376: 372: 368: 363: 355: 350: 342: 337: 332:, on Perseus 329: 321: 316:, on Perseus 313: 305: 247: 236: 231: 227: 223: 219: 215: 205: 187: 177: 173: 164: 138: 136: 112: 100: 92: 88: 82: 52: 50: 1673:Mesoamerica 1396:Philippines 1350:Late period 1148:Western and 923:Bonguk geom 907:Hwandudaedo 819:Ming – Qing 730:Small sword 687:Swiss degen 467:Sword types 1791:Categories 1687:Macuahuitl 1443:(Binangon) 1234:Arab sword 1157:Prehistory 1055:Shikomizue 805:Hook sword 667:Katzbalger 657:Zweihänder 517:Prehistory 298:References 167:, another 1568:Balisword 1467:Ginunting 1411:Balasiong 1404:Classical 1301:Indonesia 1019:Wakizashi 841:Yanmaodao 810:Zhanmadao 672:Cinquedea 629:Longsword 591:Rhomphaia 178:makhairai 119:Macedonia 79:Etymology 51:The term 1734:Mainland 1724:Acinaces 1653:Thailand 1637:Cambodia 1596:Mainland 1527:Sansibar 1487:Karambit 1477:Kampilan 1441:Binagong 1431:Batangas 1416:Bangkung 1244:Shamshir 1239:Scimitar 1192:Acinaces 998:Nagamaki 836:Changdao 826:Liuyedao 798:Medieval 750:Spadroon 639:Falchion 634:Claymore 576:Makhaira 369:Máchaira 262:Makhaira 256:See also 243:akinakes 228:machaira 207:makhaira 202:Xenophon 194:hoplites 161:makhaira 150:Nepalese 128:Etruscan 1747:Kaskara 1719:Khopesh 1583:Tenegre 1578:Hagibis 1542:Talibon 1537:Susuwat 1532:Sundang 1522:Sanduko 1502:Panabas 1367:Sundang 1362:Klewang 1287:Kindjal 1259:Yatagan 1211:Falcata 1169:Khopesh 1115:Kastane 1110:Firangi 1077:Ancient 1050:Ninjatō 993:Kodachi 967:Tsurugi 962:Chokutō 928:Wungeom 862:Miaodao 777:Ancient 745:Shashka 720:Cutlass 692:Colhona 571:Falcata 557:Gladius 529:Khopesh 392:, 1979. 292:Yatagan 277:Falcata 272:Khopesh 250:yatagan 239:Persian 212:cavalry 174:kopides 165:μάχαιρα 146:falcata 143:Iberian 132:Etruria 102:khopesh 89:kopides 25:hoplite 1772:Takoba 1767:Billao 1762:Shotel 1757:Flyssa 1752:Nimcha 1705:Africa 1692:Macana 1517:Pinuti 1507:Parang 1497:Laring 1462:Gayang 1436:Bicuco 1426:Barong 1421:Banyal 1331:Balato 1326:Parang 1321:Niabor 1316:Mandau 1202:Xiphos 1125:Pulwar 1120:Talwar 1094:Aruval 1084:Khanda 1024:Katana 988:Ōdachi 850:Modern 710:Rapier 581:Spatha 562:Xiphos 510:Europe 267:Xiphos 232:xiphos 224:xiphos 210:) for 190:xiphos 115:spatha 23:Greek 1552:Wasay 1512:Pirah 1492:Lahot 1482:Kalis 1472:Gulok 1457:Garab 1341:Surik 1249:Kilij 1207:Kopis 1089:Urumi 1069:India 1045:Iaitō 1040:Guntō 1003:Tantō 983:Tachi 947:Japan 876:Korea 857:Dadao 831:Wodao 769:China 715:Sabre 677:Estoc 567:Kopis 552:Harpe 373:kopís 326:κόπτω 310:κοπίς 282:Kukri 220:kopis 169:Greek 157:Greek 153:kukri 139:kopis 99:term 93:koptō 85:Greek 73:sword 61:Κόπις 53:kopis 29:kylix 1547:Utak 1447:Bolo 1336:Gari 1282:Qama 1135:Pata 784:Jian 596:Falx 586:Sica 469:and 287:Falx 137:The 124:hilt 67:and 1742:Ida 1612:Dha 789:Dao 416:Man 343:Man 184:Use 134:. 1793:: 371:, 245:. 180:. 59:: 1209:/ 569:/ 459:e 452:t 445:v 163:( 55:(

Index


hoplite
kylix


Ancient Greek
ritual slaughter
animal sacrifice
sword
Greek
Ancient Egyptian
khopesh
spatha
Macedonia
hilt
Etruscan
Etruria
Iberian
falcata
Nepalese
kukri
Greek
makhaira
Greek
xiphos
hoplites
mounted warfare
Xenophon
makhaira
cavalry

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