Questions about Tabar axe

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

On the question as to if they were battle or parade items ...I think over time they were both but looking at the David Collection at https://www.davidmus.dk/en/collectio...ar/art/12-1979 and I note;

Quote“Blows were dealt with battle-axes tabar-i-zin, clubs, and swords. A red mist rose from the river.”
(Firdawsi, Shahnama, 10th century)" Unquote.

Certainly the Qajar Dynasty which only ended in about 1923 adds to the concept that axes were for parade work...Earlier, however, (though I still search for more facts ) it appears that Saddle Axes were meant as the antidote to Cavalry in heavy armour which were effective against swords were susceptible to a blow from a Saddle Axe...

What is interesting is what appears to be an early form of battle axe called a Parashu...which I will place in a fresh post.

Here is an axe from the David collection, they label this axe as a "parade weapon", this is a common mistake, there is absolutely no reason to assume that this axe is anything other than a weapon, just because it is decorated and has velvet on the haft does not take away from its ability as a weapon. Wealthy warriors / potentates of every culture owned and used these highly decorated weapons, it was expected of them.

Battle-axe, iron and gold damascening
India; c. 1800
H: 55; L: 13.1 cm
The short, elegant battle-axe (tabar-i-zin) comes from the Persian region, where it was already part of a horseman’s equipment in the early Islamic period. Not all battle-axes were velvet-clad parade weapons like this one, however.