Illustration
A bronze Assyrian sickle sword that is believed to have belonged to the Assyrian king Adad Nirari I (r. 1307-1275 BCE), made in northern Mesopotamia, c. 13th century BCE.
The blade bears the cuneiform inscription: "Palace of Adad-nirari, king of the universe, son of Arik-den-ili, king of Assyria, son of Enlil-nirari, king of Assyria". The inscription appears on both sides of the blade and along its non-cutting edge. Both sides of the blade bear an engraving of an antelope reclining on a platform. The sword likely served a ceremonial purpose as a symbol of royal power, and may not have been used in actual battle.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Related Images
Stone Foundation Document of King Adad-Nirari I
Foundation Inscription of Adad-nirari I
Stela of the Assyrian King Adad Nirari III
Tablet of Adad-Nirari II
Stele of Adad-Nirari III
Clay Tablet of Adad-Nirari II from Assur
Cite This Work
APA Style
Art, M. M. o. (2021, February 27). Assyrian Sickle Sword. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13504/assyrian-sickle-sword/
Chicago Style
Art, Metropolitan Museum of. "Assyrian Sickle Sword." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 27, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13504/assyrian-sickle-sword/.
MLA Style
Art, Metropolitan Museum of. "Assyrian Sickle Sword." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 27 Feb 2021. Web. 21 Feb 2025.
