Scythian maces - the regalias of power
Scythian maces - the regalias of power

Summary/Abstract: To the typical types of Scythian weapons belong: the bows and the arrows, the spears, the javelins and the swords. Less commonly used axes and maces, intended to defeat heavily armed enemy. Because the findings of maces in Scythian graves are quite rare, let us focus on the little-known of them. It is found in a burial № 2 of kurgan IX of the Rogachik barrow cemetery, which is located near the Gyunovka village in the center of Scythia. We do not know the similar findings among the Scythian antiquities. Maces, which are relating to weapons of shock battle, are not widely known in the Scythian time. A small series of such findings consist of about a dozen copies. All of these findings, in general, are similar among each other, but entirely different from rogachikskyi specimen. Maces, along with battle-axes were intended for close combat on foot. Perhaps that's why they have not received wide acceptance in the mobile Scythian army, the major part of which was cavalry. On the other hand, most of these items especially in 5th-3rd c. BC serve as symbols or attributes of power. This fact explains their rarity in the Scythian complexes.

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