Double Axes II: Is History Weirder Than Fantasy? (Not so Stupid After All)

Watch part 1 first: Are Double Axes REALLY That Stupid? (Reply to Shadiversity)
   • Are Double Axes REALLY That Stupid? (...  

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...
https://www.megalithic-visions.org/wp...
https://tinyurl.com/chalcolithiccoppe...
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/2874505...
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collect...

Minoan bronze axe heads
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/weap...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.pilotguides.com/study-gui...

https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/rec...
https://antiquatedantiquarian.blogspo...
Another great example of a functional double bitted tool with evidence of wear from use
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collect...
About Minoan religion
https://tinyurl.com/minoaninscription
https://www.degruyter.com/document/do...

Luristani bronze axe-adze hybrid
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/...

Other examples from ancient Greece
http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/weap...

Scythian axe head
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...

Alani axes
http://neolitica.ru/index.php?r_id=37
English auto-translation from Russian
https://translate.google.com/translat...

Crimean examples
https://swordmaster.org/forum/cat-Oru...

Byzantine axes
https://protostrator.blogspot.com/201...

Great source for medieval imagery
https://manuscriptminiatures.com/tags

Double halberd, 1600
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
French halberd, 17th century
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
French halberd, 1712
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...

Indo-Persian ceremonial or battle axes (uncertain)
https://www.militariahub.com/indo-per...
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos...
Fascinating all-steel axe with hidden stiletto
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...

From the Sudan
https://auctionsimperial.hibid.com/lo...
https://www.ashokaarts.com/shop/fasci...

Various types from China
https://wukong.toutiao.com/question/6...
The Fang Tian Ji
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/方天戟


Native American finds
https://www.bradfordsauction.com/auct...
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/...

Roman historian Quintus Curtius
https://www.loebclassics.com/view/qui...

18thC Spanish war axe (potentially questionable source)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb...


** Music **

Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/littl...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)

Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission


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