Top 7 Oldest Swords In The World

The sword was considered one of the earliest weapons to be used by mankind while on the battlefield. Every discovery of these ancient swords has gotten many historians' attention to unravel the mystery behind those swords.

Here we would like to share with you the top 7 oldest swords in the world to ever be found. Not only are they old, but the swords were also the most renowned. Although not all of them were used in war, some of them were used in royal ceremonies long ago.

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7. Saints Cosmas and Damian Sword

The St Cosmas and Damian sword or also known as the Essen sword has been used in a ceremony in Biara Essen. The sword itself originated in the midst 10th century with the gold added between the 10th and 11th centuries.

The mounting with the inscription was later added in the 15th century. It was believed that this sword has been used in battle before it was decorated to commemorate the death of Saints Cosmas and Damian who were both considered protectors of the Essen people in Germany.

The Essen sword was believed to be a gift from Otto III, King of Rome to Biara Essen, the location where the sword is currently being kept.

6. Saint Peter's Sword

Saint Peter's sword is a sacred sword that is kept at the National Museum of Poznań. It was said to be the sword that Apostle Petrus used to cut the right ear slave of the great priest during the capture of Jesus in Gethsemane.

This sword has a wide end similar to a machete. The replica of the sword made by Bogdan Puchalski is now being displayed at the Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul. Even though St. Peter did not use the sword himself, it is still the oldest sword to be documented in Poland.

5. Kogarasu Maru

Kokarasu Maru is a unique Japanese sword that combines the earliest design of Japanese swords and the traditional tachi weapon used by samurai which was later developed into a katana. This sword was believed to have been made in the 8th century.

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Despite the Kogarasu Maru did not have a complete inscription, the legend behind this masterpiece was Amakuni. He created the first curved Japanese sword as the Kogarasu Maru had such a feature.

4. Seven-Branched Sword

The Seven-Branched sword or known in Japanese as shichishitou and in Korean as chiljido originated in Korea in the 4th century. The sword was a gift from King Baekje for an emperor during Yamato's reign in Japan.

This metal sword is measured at 74.9 cm with six sharp branches along the middle blade. The golden inlay inscription on the side of the sword is a crucial source of understanding the relationship between the Korean and Japanese governments at the time.

3. Goujian Sword

The Goujian sword is one of the most mesmerizing ancient swords on this list due to its perfection. Despite being buried in a temple filled with water for more than 1,000 years, the Goujian sword is still in good condition and most importantly sharp as ever.

The chemical composition of Goujian includes copper, lead, sulfur, and arsenic. This explains why the sword is still in good condition without much wear. The sword was found in 1965 in an ancient tomb along the waters of Zhang River in Jingzhou, China.

2. Nebra Sky Disk Sword

The Nebra Sky Disk sword is one of the greatest archeological findings of the 20th century which is supported by the UNESCO Memory of World Register. The middle part of the blade has the bronze Sky-Disk disc with golden symbols inlay.

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The bronze sword and the whole parts of it were buried around 1600 BC but it seems that scientists were not able to identify the time it was made. This means that this artifact might have been much older than expected.

1. Arslantepe Sword

Before the discovery of several swords at the Arslantepe archeological site in Turkey, many archeologists believed that the earliest sword only existed between 1600 to 1500 BC. However, an archeologist, Marcella Frangipane from Rome University later found 9 swords that were made in 3300 BC.

Frangipane stated that the Arslantepe sword is the first and oldest sword in the world to ever be found. The sword was made from arsenic-copper alloy and was surprisingly in good condition.

These weapons measured between 45 to 60 centimeters long.

Source:

• World History

• Wikipedia

• Iluminasi

Also read: Top 5 Most Expensive Sword In The World