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Old 12th November 2010, 02:54 PM   #60
stephen wood
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...yes it does look like the Moa Anbessa - Conquering Lion.

Have a look at this thread: one blade obviously Ethiopian, the other strongly possible.

An account of Addis Ababa in the late 19th century mentions:

"In the crowded corner devoted to the sword-sellers you may see a petty chief, with one or two trusty followers, testing the blade of the big, straight sword taken from the Dervishes, which will fetch as much as ten to fifteen dollars. Close by, other purchasers are examining the curve of an Ethiopian sword in its bright red scabbard, or perhaps choosing one from a pile of French blades made for the Ethiopian market. . . ."

The Ethiopian wall painting shows an Archangel with an interesting sword with the moon marking and a brass(?) hilt rather like the one posted.

The use of captured blades evidently worked both ways during the struggle between The Caliphate and Ethiopia.
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