Abyssinian shotel for coment

Jim McDougall · 16th November 2007, 08:43 PM

It seems clear that the blade form seen on Emanuel's example is of what appears to be a native made blade with cross section of earlier highly curved shotel's. I had not been aware of this much less curved form until seeing these, and think it would be interesting to look at examples of the early highly curved ones to compare with.

Could anyone share some of the other Ethiopian swords here; the shotels of high curve, the examples with trade sabre blades and the familiar gurade?
Sort of a review of Ethiopian swords for reference!

All best regards,
Jim

katana · 16th November 2007, 09:00 PM

Hi Jim,
try this thread...

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=ethiopian

Regards David

Jim McDougall · 16th November 2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Jim,
try this thread...

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=ethiopian

Regards David

Hi David,
Thanks very much! That thread was a lot of fun, and there were some interesting illustrations shown. I just wanted to develop this particular thread a little as far as illustrations and comments on variations that is a bit more focused and informational as well as current.
All the best,
Jim

Rod Charters · 17th November 2007, 02:32 PM

I have a similar shaped sword with a similar style brass cap on the pommel. Blade length measure 67 cm, double edged, and wooden hilt. I bought (3) from a fairly reputable dealler in Addis who swore they were coming from Afar and that the Afar were no longer using them. I have never seen any photo's of Afari's wearing such swords (always Gille's) however suppose its possible especially along areas where Afar borders Amhara and Tigray.

Jim McDougall · 17th November 2007, 07:53 PM

Hi Rod,
Thank you the response and excellent information. With your reference to the Afar, it prompted me to recheck Burton ("book of the Sword", p.164-65) where he refers to the 'Dankali' (Danakil, which is also the term for the Afar region of Ethiopia). On the same page in fig.177 he shows a 'smaller Abyssinian blade' shotel with similar shallow recurve and median ridge blade profile as seen on the discussed example.
Interestingly on p.165, Burton shows an illustration on what is clearly a kaskara and is captioned 'Dankali sword'.
The kaskara of course is from the Sudan, however is well known among Eritrean weapons, and Ethiopian in degree, which would include Danakil or Afar regions.
The diffusion of weapons in these regions is well established, and clearly while certain forms are more distinctly seen with certain tribes and regions, a degree of use of the weapons of congruent regions is to be expected. It seems quite reasonable that the Afar would have used shotels with these blades, and in limited degree so that illustrations or direct association would be unlikely. I think your suggestion of possible use of these by Afar tribes near the Ethiopan regions you note is well placed and quite likely.

It seems that shotels with this shallow recurved blade were in existence at the time of Burton's research, well before 1884 so probably as early as mid 19th century, so the period of such blade form is established. With the Afar provenance, those tribes as well as those of northern Ethiopian regions may be considered in those who might have used them, and it would seem the form continued in use well into the 20th century.

I'm still hoping those who have collected Ethiopian weapons will follow the lead and contribute examples of the early sickle form shotel as well as those with trade blades of sabre form (Wilkinson, Solingen) and possibly gurades.

Thank you very much Rod !

All very best regards,
Jim

Rod Charters · 18th November 2007, 09:31 AM

Hi Jim thanks very much for the further comments as it clarifies for me the origins. It also brings up a lot more questions. Why was the shotel not more widely adopted by the Afar given that according to your research it had been used by the Afari as far back as Burtons time? It would seem a more effective figting knife / sword than the Gille. Was it because the spear was widely used by the Afari instead of swords? Which came first the Shotel or the Gille.

As for your points on the regionalisation of the weapons, why has the Gille been widely adopted by the Isse but not by the other Somali tribes who tend to favour the Billao? A theory I have on this last point is that the Isse have been expanding their territory at the expense of the Afar for decades, possibly longer, and whilst capturing this territory they have captured and adopted the weapons of the Afar? There are also questions on the origins of the Isse as they somehow lie outside the 5 major Somali clans.

Rod

Emanuel · 18th November 2007, 03:16 PM

Hi Jim and all,

Thank you for the great information. Rod it's interesting that you bring up the Afar connection; some time ago Ron had posted some swords from the Oromo and Galla groups and the swords looked like a cross between a shotel and a gile. Here is the thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3245
Now the gile is still b eing produced and I saw pictures of Afar/Danakil tribesmen carrying a gile and an AK-47. It isn't hard to imagine that shotel were made well into the 20th century.

Best regards,
Emanuel

17th November 2007, 02:32 PM	#4
Rod Charters Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 48	I have a similar shaped sword with a similar style brass cap on the pommel. Blade length measure 67 cm, double edged, and wooden hilt. I bought (3) from a fairly reputable dealler in Addis who swore they were coming from Afar and that the Afar were no longer using them. I have never seen any photo's of Afari's wearing such swords (always Gille's) however suppose its possible especially along areas where Afar borders Amhara and Tigray. Attached Images

16th November 2007, 08:43 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,469	It seems clear that the blade form seen on Emanuel's example is of what appears to be a native made blade with cross section of earlier highly curved shotel's. I had not been aware of this much less curved form until seeing these, and think it would be interesting to look at examples of the early highly curved ones to compare with. Could anyone share some of the other Ethiopian swords here; the shotels of high curve, the examples with trade sabre blades and the familiar gurade? Sort of a review of Ethiopian swords for reference! All best regards, Jim

16th November 2007, 09:00 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Jim, try this thread... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=ethiopian Regards David

17th November 2007, 07:53 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,469	Hi Rod, Thank you the response and excellent information. With your reference to the Afar, it prompted me to recheck Burton ("book of the Sword", p.164-65) where he refers to the 'Dankali' (Danakil, which is also the term for the Afar region of Ethiopia). On the same page in fig.177 he shows a 'smaller Abyssinian blade' shotel with similar shallow recurve and median ridge blade profile as seen on the discussed example. Interestingly on p.165, Burton shows an illustration on what is clearly a kaskara and is captioned 'Dankali sword'. The kaskara of course is from the Sudan, however is well known among Eritrean weapons, and Ethiopian in degree, which would include Danakil or Afar regions. The diffusion of weapons in these regions is well established, and clearly while certain forms are more distinctly seen with certain tribes and regions, a degree of use of the weapons of congruent regions is to be expected. It seems quite reasonable that the Afar would have used shotels with these blades, and in limited degree so that illustrations or direct association would be unlikely. I think your suggestion of possible use of these by Afar tribes near the Ethiopan regions you note is well placed and quite likely. It seems that shotels with this shallow recurved blade were in existence at the time of Burton's research, well before 1884 so probably as early as mid 19th century, so the period of such blade form is established. With the Afar provenance, those tribes as well as those of northern Ethiopian regions may be considered in those who might have used them, and it would seem the form continued in use well into the 20th century. I'm still hoping those who have collected Ethiopian weapons will follow the lead and contribute examples of the early sickle form shotel as well as those with trade blades of sabre form (Wilkinson, Solingen) and possibly gurades. Thank you very much Rod ! All very best regards, Jim

18th November 2007, 09:31 AM	#6
Rod Charters Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 48	Hi Jim thanks very much for the further comments as it clarifies for me the origins. It also brings up a lot more questions. Why was the shotel not more widely adopted by the Afar given that according to your research it had been used by the Afari as far back as Burtons time? It would seem a more effective figting knife / sword than the Gille. Was it because the spear was widely used by the Afari instead of swords? Which came first the Shotel or the Gille. As for your points on the regionalisation of the weapons, why has the Gille been widely adopted by the Isse but not by the other Somali tribes who tend to favour the Billao? A theory I have on this last point is that the Isse have been expanding their territory at the expense of the Afar for decades, possibly longer, and whilst capturing this territory they have captured and adopted the weapons of the Afar? There are also questions on the origins of the Isse as they somehow lie outside the 5 major Somali clans. Rod

18th November 2007, 03:16 PM	#7
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Jim and all, Thank you for the great information. Rod it's interesting that you bring up the Afar connection; some time ago Ron had posted some swords from the Oromo and Galla groups and the swords looked like a cross between a shotel and a gile. Here is the thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3245 Now the gile is still b eing produced and I saw pictures of Afar/Danakil tribesmen carrying a gile and an AK-47. It isn't hard to imagine that shotel were made well into the 20th century. Best regards, Emanuel