Scythian Black Sea Iron Akinakes Dagger

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Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 24, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-03-24 10:00:00 2022-03-24 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
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• Lot Description
  Eastern Europe, Black Sea Region, Danube River Valley, Scythian Empire, ca. 7th to 6th century BCE. A rare and well-preserved iron akinakes (acinaces) dagger with an asymmetric blade. The weapon has a classic design similar to published weapons of the western ancient Scythians of the Black Sea region, but unusual as it features a unique "kris dagger style" blade of alternating angles that is not only unusually aesthetic but would have inflicted a much wider stab wound than caused by a normal straight blade, with a simple straight thrust into an enemy. A double-lobed guard and intact hilt with a T-shaped pommel is prominent and intact. While it is especially rare for a 2000-year-old ancient iron weapon to have survived burial in Europe, the additional rarity of this being of Scythian origin makes this a piece of great importance to the most advanced collections. Size: 12" L (30.5 cm)
  
  The akinakes or acinaces is usually 12 to 18 inches long, like this one, and is most famously associated with the Persians, who also give us the word for this type of dagger; however, like many things from the 1st millennium BCE, we associate it with the Persians because Classical authors noted its use (and the word continued to be used into the medieval period by authors in Latin to describe any weapon used by the Persians, including the scimitar). In reality, the akinakes, whatever it was called by the local population, was used throughout a vast swath of territory encompassing the eastern Mediterranean, the Near East and central Asia, by such diverse cultures as the Persians, the Parthians, the Medes, the Greeks, and the Scythians. As shown in artwork from the period, the Siberian Scythians wore them hanging from a belt; in Kazakhstan they wore them strapped to the leg. Although horse warfare is what the Scythians are famous for, their weapons and saddles, lacking hard stirrups, seem better suited to dismounting and melee fighting; the akinakes would have been a primary weapon in that kind of situation.
  
  Provenance: ex-private Pennsylvania, USA collection, formed in the 1960s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #170572

  Condition

  Complete and unbroken, no repair or restoration. Rare preservation with conservation treatment to prevent flaking. Heavy patina throughout.
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