Double Axes II: Is History Weirder Than Fantasy? (Not so Stupid After All)
12,095Watch part 1 first: Are Double Axes REALLY That Stupid? (Reply to Shadiversity)
https://youtu.be/IHvgG3UsYqI
What we armchair enthusiasts think about realism and practicality is one thing, but what about real-life historical people? What did they consider practical? Well, intentions are hard to deduce, especially the further back in time you go, but we can at least look at available evidence.
Did double headed axes exist for real? Yes. They weren't common by any means, but there are some archaeological finds, mentions in ancient texts, and depictions in medieval imagery. Let's take a closer look... Some of these will probably surprise you with how strange they seem.
If you expect double-edged Viking axes you'll be disappointed... but ironically they did exist in what is now Scandinavia, just made of stone, and much earlier (Neolithic / Chacolithic).
*** Sources ***
Neolithic / chalcolithic stone / copper axes
https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-science/battle-axe-culture-0013895
https://www.megalithic-visions.org/wp/2018/05/15/stone-axe/
https://tinyurl.com/chalcolithiccopperaxe
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/2874505-neolithic-stone-battle-axe-20-5-cm
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1888-0901-1
Minoan bronze axe heads
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252389
http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/weapons4.htm
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252403
https://www.pilotguides.com/study-guides/the-mystery-minoan-civilization/attachment/img_3154/
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A197517&dswid=-1538
https://antiquatedantiquarian.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-minoans-warfare.html
Another great example of a functional double bitted tool with evidence of wear from use
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1954-1020-1
About Minoan religion
https://tinyurl.com/minoaninscription
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/kadm.2002.41.s1.137/html
Luristani bronze axe-adze hybrid
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/60141837_ancient-luristan-large-bronze-double-bladed-axe
Other examples from ancient Greece
http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/weapons4.htm
Scythian axe head
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/325704
Alani axes
http://neolitica.ru/index.php?r_id=37
English auto-translation from Russian
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://neolitica.ru/lot.php?lot_id%3D794
Crimean examples
https://swordmaster.org/forum/cat-Orujieauktsionyichastnyiekollektsiiiskateli/topic-34.html
Byzantine axes
https://protostrator.blogspot.com/2011/02/byzantine-axe.html?m=1
Great source for medieval imagery
https://manuscriptminiatures.com/tags
Double halberd, 1600
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/25916
French halberd, 17th century
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/25852
French halberd, 1712
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27026
Indo-Persian ceremonial or battle axes (uncertain)
https://www.militariahub.com/indo-persian-18th-century-double-headed-war-axe
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=3396
Fascinating all-steel axe with hidden stiletto
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/30821
From the Sudan
https://auctionsimperial.hibid.com/lot/8054450/a-rare-sudanese-double-headed-axe/
https://www.ashokaarts.com/shop/fascinating-group-of-mahdist-sufi-moslem-weapons-from-the-sudan
Various types from China
https://wukong.toutiao.com/question/6610658090670883085/
The Fang Tian Ji
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/方天戟
Native American finds
https://www.bradfordsauction.com/auction-lot/vintage-native-american-double-headed-war-axe_5E24E81B27
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7638614_683b-woodland-period-native-american-stone-war-axe-c
Roman historian Quintus Curtius
https://www.loebclassics.com/view/quintus_curtius-history_alexander/1946/pb_LCL368.73.xml
18thC Spanish war axe (potentially questionable source)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/19408666_18th-c-spanish-war-axe-iron-from-museum
*** Music ***
Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/little-people-at-work-loop
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee/
Used with artist's permission
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