The ceremonial sword is an important symbol of power and authority. High ranking individuals wear the udamalore, (a small, ornate ceremonial sword), during festivals to distinguish themselves as someone of importance. At Ilesha, (central Yorubaland), the chief strikes the blade of his sword on the earth three times when he greets Ogun, god of iron. Swords are not only emblems of wealth, but also of the power latent within the metal itself to cause either destruction, or to be used for protection. Just as an individual possessing power, both earthly and spiritual, may use the weapon for aggressive or passive purposes depending upon his judgment and wisdom.
Of the three main sections, the upper portion is the largest. It is comprised of four vertical bands curving with the blade; the inner being made of a series of concentric circles, then a band alternating circles and striations diagonally, followed by criss-crossing striated bands forming a row of triangles, and a series of very tiny incised triangles with circles on the top of each 'peak'. The lower two panels contain a mixture of striated semi-circles, triangles with concentric circles in the center, heavily incised ellipses and checkerboard patterns. The result is a complex network of geometric shapes which appear to represent dense undergrowth through clever abstraction.