Stan S.
25th November 2011, 03:43 AM
Here is an Indian elephant goad (Ankus) I recently purchased. While not a weapon per se, these could be used mush like a warhammer to deliver a nasty skull-piercing blow. So I suppose it can be discused here :)
As you can see this is a purely utiletarian piece without any imbelishments. Therefore I assume that every part of it is designed to be usefull in some way. I know that the downcurved hook is what drives an elephant, and a straight spike is used as a kill-switch of sorts - if the elephant panics and becomes violent, mahaut could drive it between the neck vertibrae with a small mallet (a rarely discussed piece of equipment carried by most "elephant drivers") to severe the spine. But what is the purpose of a small up-curved hook often seen on many ankuses including thsi one (circled in red)? The only guess that I would dare to venture is that when when ankus is tucked under a belt/sash in an upright position, the little hook catches to the bottom of the belt, which prevents it from sliding over the top. What are your thoughts on this?
As you can see this is a purely utiletarian piece without any imbelishments. Therefore I assume that every part of it is designed to be usefull in some way. I know that the downcurved hook is what drives an elephant, and a straight spike is used as a kill-switch of sorts - if the elephant panics and becomes violent, mahaut could drive it between the neck vertibrae with a small mallet (a rarely discussed piece of equipment carried by most "elephant drivers") to severe the spine. But what is the purpose of a small up-curved hook often seen on many ankuses including thsi one (circled in red)? The only guess that I would dare to venture is that when when ankus is tucked under a belt/sash in an upright position, the little hook catches to the bottom of the belt, which prevents it from sliding over the top. What are your thoughts on this?