Ancient Thracian Dagger found in Bulgaria

Laurie W · 16th August 2006, 07:00 AM

By the way, I just checked the AFST Group site (have not been there since Mr. Piscopo died) and found the Rhomphaia photo folder is now gone. This showed two different ones he had. The longest one was 65 inches long overall. The 45 inch long blade ended at a fingerstop which a 20 inch long rounded bare shank started. The last four inches was formed for two piece rivetted "grip". This was the one we replicated and can be found on MyArmoury website.

The other was shorter and was 35 inches overall.

Fortunately, I did save his photos when they were first posted in the AFST "photo" folder. If it's ok. I would like to post them here to pass along? Or create a new thread.

Emanuel · 22nd September 2006, 10:32 PM

Greetings, back from my visit to Romania!
I've seen the collection of the Military Museum in Bucharest, and they had some examples of these daggers -called sica, also knows as falx. Two of them are remarkably similar to the first machaira posted by Laurie, and also similar to the one that was on ebay. These were identified as Dacian, of course, and dating from around the 2nd century bce I believe. The third blade is dagger-sized, while the other two are larger. I think it also has a star close to the fullers along the spine.

Emanuel

Laurie W · 25th September 2006, 08:56 PM

The Dacians were much later than the Thracians and were in a different area. However the weapons of the latter would no doubt be influenced by former's legendary effectiveness. The Romans certainly found this out during the Dacian Wars.

The Falx is not a Rhomphaia, however. But you can see the similar correlation between the Sica and Macheria. The Falx was designed differently from the earlier Rhomphaia to fit the Dacians' needs in combat. There is not as much ironwork in the Falx as there was with the Rhomphaia, for one. As for tactics, they were probably similar to the Rhomphaia though.

Nice photos.

22nd September 2006, 10:32 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Greetings, back from my visit to Romania! I've seen the collection of the Military Museum in Bucharest, and they had some examples of these daggers -called sica, also knows as falx. Two of them are remarkably similar to the first machaira posted by Laurie, and also similar to the one that was on ebay. These were identified as Dacian, of course, and dating from around the 2nd century bce I believe. The third blade is dagger-sized, while the other two are larger. I think it also has a star close to the fullers along the spine. Emanuel Attached Images

16th August 2006, 07:00 AM	#1
Laurie W Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SW Arizona Posts: 11	By the way, I just checked the AFST Group site (have not been there since Mr. Piscopo died) and found the Rhomphaia photo folder is now gone. This showed two different ones he had. The longest one was 65 inches long overall. The 45 inch long blade ended at a fingerstop which a 20 inch long rounded bare shank started. The last four inches was formed for two piece rivetted "grip". This was the one we replicated and can be found on MyArmoury website. The other was shorter and was 35 inches overall. Fortunately, I did save his photos when they were first posted in the AFST "photo" folder. If it's ok. I would like to post them here to pass along? Or create a new thread.

25th September 2006, 08:56 PM	#3
Laurie W Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SW Arizona Posts: 11	The Dacians were much later than the Thracians and were in a different area. However the weapons of the latter would no doubt be influenced by former's legendary effectiveness. The Romans certainly found this out during the Dacian Wars. The Falx is not a Rhomphaia, however. But you can see the similar correlation between the Sica and Macheria. The Falx was designed differently from the earlier Rhomphaia to fit the Dacians' needs in combat. There is not as much ironwork in the Falx as there was with the Rhomphaia, for one. As for tactics, they were probably similar to the Rhomphaia though. Nice photos.