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Dagger TD002

It is a copy of the VIII-VI cent. BC artifact.

Item – dagger
Material – bronze
Method of manufacturing – casting
Dimensions:
Overall length of dagger – 41 cm
Blade length – 25 cm
Blade width – 2.5-6 cm
Blade thickness – 0.5 cm
Ricasso height – 1,4-2,3 cm
Ricasso width – 6,5 cm
Hilt diameter – 3.3-3.4
Protomos height – 3.6 cm
Hilt length – 8 cm
Total width of protomoses – 11.3 cm
Weight 1200g.
Type – Third

A dagger is not a huge but an effective weapon. It was originally used by shepherds and cattle-breeders. Since the end of the IV millennium BC, the period when Kura-Araxes culture reigned in the Armenian highlands, tanged daggers, made of arsenical bronze, were widely spread over the present territory of Armenia. Later on the daggers made of tin bronze appear. Not only in the era of the middle and late Bronze Age were the bronze daggers common in the Middle East and the Caucasus, but in the early Iron Age as well, before the VIII cent. BC inclusive.

Bronze daggers found in Armenia are divided into seven types and many subtypes. Dagger TD002 can be attributed to the integral daggers, i.e. to the “Lchashen” type of daggers with a tubular hilt (type N3). However, it differs greatly from the usual forms of this type of Armenian daggers by its shape and design. The main difference can be found in the design of the hilt, which is molded in the “animal style” traditions and looks like the items from Luristan and Urartu regions. Marks of stabs can be seen on the blade, the original of this weapon was used in battles. The dagger has a clearly distinguished medial rib. The blade of the dagger is of an elongated triangular shape.

The quillion is small, in the shape of two triangles with contiguous edges. The knob is casted in the form of two symmetrically arranged predators looking at different directions. The neck, the jaw and the muzzle with nostrils, protruding eyes and the ears of the animals are set out. On both sides of the hilt there are high relief images of the animals, possibly lizards, moving towards each other. The heads and the tails of the animals are clearly marked out. From the blade side a quadruped creature “creeps”, and from the side of the knob – a hexapod one. There are similar animals curved on the back of the hilt, but the hexapod animal “approaches” from the side of the blade. The first relief images of lizards in the Armenian highlands are known from the relief images found in Göbekli-Tepe (Portasar). The orthostat, that represents the animal, refers to the New Stone Age. The dating of this item which is unique for Armenia in VIII-VI cent. B.C. is based on the presence of symmetrical set of protomoses known from the archaeological excavations of the burial places of ancient Shirakavan, Lori Berd and found on the Urartu products from Western Armenia, having however other purposes.

During the early Iron Age the modern territory of Armenia was called Etiuni. The warrior from Etiuni, in addition to a dagger, could also carry a spear, an ax, a bow and arrows on the battlefield. In the VIII-VII cent. BC people of Etiuni fought against the Cimmerians, the Scythians, and the Medes with the help of these weapons.

PhD in History, Prof S.G. Hamayakyan

hand made


Every item is produced manually. After casting the craftsmen do their best to make the copy look like the original. We do not only want to convey every notch and curve to the connoisseurs of the antiques, but also to reveal the spirit of that mysterious and legendary epoch.

The original packaging box made of natural wood with company logo is also finished off manually and serves as a reliable storage for our products.

limited edition

Every item of «Torgom-S» Company has its identification number, which is engraved on the handle and declared in the certificate. The letters and numbers of the personal identification number specify the firm-manufacturer, whether the original of the model is a swоrd or a dagger, and the order number of the item in its model range, indicating its classification in the Company’s Catalogue.

For instance, TD006 / 112 means – T – «Torgom-S» Company, D – (dagger), 006 – (№6 in the daggers’ model range) and 112 is (personal identification number).

Depending on the product the maximum number of copies of each model will vary from 200 to 2000 units, which is initially stated in the certificate. After producing the last unit the forms will have been destroyed and the Company guarantees the limitation on this very unit.

ORDER AND DELIVERY

You can order either by phone or e-mail. Our managers will contact you for the details of the delivery and payment. The products are also available at pick up points, Yerevan, Armenia.

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