This large and impressive sword was made by a deeply inscrutable people of the Luristan area, Central Asia. The base of the blade is rounded into the U-shape of the handle. The blade narrows sharply, with a central double ridge that fortifies the blade, but which is also known as a “blood groove” in modern swordsmanship as it facilitates the penetration of adversaries. These swords were elite objects at the time of manufacture, and were usually buried with their high-ranking owners.


Luristan is the western region of modern Iran, which was a major crossroads in the development of Central Asian cultures in the 3rd to 1st millennium BC. While the earlier Bronze Age is known to have produced some notable sculptural art, the best-known objects date to the Iron Age (12th to 8th centuries BC). Despite being Iron Age, the items are made primarily from bronze.


The repertoire of these artists includes horse trappings, utensils, weapons, jewellery, belt buckles, and ritual and votive objects. Most pieces are not especially large, perhaps reflecting the Luristan groups’ fairly mobile lifestyle. The precise identity of the makers remains a mystery, which is why the culture is named for the area rather than a people: current candidates include the Cimmerians (nomads from southern Russia), the Kassites, Hurrians, Medes or the Persians. Whatever their identity, they are noted for their dynamic sculptural quality of their works, which are primarily zoomorphic or expressionistically anthropomorphic with abstract scrollwork. Imaginary animals such as winged human-faced bulls are also known, as well as the so-called “master of the animals” janiform human figure, who is usually depicted fighting two wild animals. Their weaponry, especially their swords and daggers, was also both sophisticated and desirable.


This is an impressive piece of ancient art.