What is a Scimitar Sword?
The term scimitar is a broad term that encompasses all thin, curved swords from Southwest Asia and the Middle East. The name is thought to be derived from the Persian word shafsher which means “lion’s claw,” due to its long, curved design. The word has been translated through many languages to end at scimitar. Varieties include the Arabian saif, the Persian shamshir, the Turkish kilij, the Indian tulwar, the Moroccan nimcha, and the Afghan pulwar. The scimitar sword is an ancient sword, dating back to 1600 BCE by Egypt’s 18th dynasty. Egypt used the scimitar sword, then new technology, to dominate nearby rivals and spread their influence. The scimitar gradually spread throughout the regions, and each culture made their own adaptation.
