Ankus

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by Ian

Is there any evidence that the ankus, or elephant goad, was actually used as a weapon?

Stone's Glossary and Egerton both include it; therefore, obviously a weapon! It even features as a weapon in the 1st editions AD&D Monster Manual.

More realistically, the ones with hidden spikes in the handle are clearly weapons. That doesn't mean that the ankus itself isn't a weapon; one sees such spikes in axes, for example.

It's carried as a weapon by Parvati in her aspect as Durga, goddess of the victory of good over evil. The whole set of weapons is the trisula, sword, chakram, bow and arrow, mace, shield, axe, noose, ankus. There's variation - sometimes I see a snake instead of the noose, a conch shell (i.e., a battle trumpet). Apparently, the weapons can include a javelin, but I don't recall seeing one in art. The picture below also includes what looks like a bell.

Which doesn't mean it was used as a weapon by humans (but surely it was, as an item of convenience), or designed for use as a weapon, except for gun/hidden spike versions. But it means it has some official status as a weapon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvati
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga
Pic from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:D...uramardini.JPG

[estcrh]

Here are a few of the more elaborate ankus.

[ariel]

One of the problems was how to stop the elephant that went berserk on the battlefield. Mahouts carried a massive spike with them that they were supposed to hammer into the joint between the skull and the spine of the animal thus paralyzing them instantly.
The gun ( depending on the caliber) might have fulfilled the same role.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by ariel

One of the problems was how to stop the elephant that went berserk on the battlefield. Mahouts carried a massive spike with them that they were supposed to hammer into the joint between the skull and the spine of the animal thus paralyzing them instantly.
The gun ( depending on the caliber) might have fulfilled the same role.

Maybe that is what the hidden spike in some ankus is for and not a weapon at all, a last resort anti-elephant kill switch.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Maybe that is what the hidden spike in some ankus is for and not a weapon at all, a last resort anti-elephant kill switch.

Estcrh, I don't think the hidden spikes would be anywhere near strong enough for that task.
Miguel

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Estcrh, I don't think the hidden spikes would be anywhere near strong enough for that task.
Miguel

How would you like to be the one who has to "spike" the raging war elephant. I do not know anything about elephant anatomy, maybe it just took the ice pick type approach in the right spot and not a massive spike, the elephant Achilles heel.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by ariel

One of the problems was how to stop the elephant that went berserk on the battlefield. Mahouts carried a massive spike with them that they were supposed to hammer into the joint between the skull and the spine of the animal thus paralyzing them instantly.
The gun ( depending on the caliber) might have fulfilled the same role.

Hi Ariel, interesting but what a difficult job to carry out when on the back of a berserk elephant.
Miguel

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Here are a few of the more elaborate ankus.

Estcrh, mouth-wateringly beautiful. They must have been carried as status symbols, the craftsmanship as with all Indian weapons of quality awesome.
Thanks for sharing these pics.
Miguel