Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 1:30:00 GMT
Hey all, During the same journey this spring where I visited The Cluny Museum in Paris and The Tower of London I also visited the British Museum. I snapped a few photos of the swordly stuff and thought I'd share them here.  (Click to enlarge) *WARNING* To say this post is pic-heavy is a bit of an understatement.Just letting you know it's a long way down.  Here we go! The entrance to the museum, then the great courtyard within.   One of my favorite halls (on the east side) where they preserved the look of some of the earliest days of the collection. Lots of dusty old books behind glass and random instruments placed next to unrelated things in display cases, with a marble sculpture thrown in here and there. Sheer madness.  One of the aforementioned nifty instruments, sharing a case with a nice mace.    Onward to swords and stuff! A couple African sword-like implements  A carved ivory Roman sword hilt. Spatha, probably.  Bronze spearheads and engraved spear butt, Greek.   Corinthian helm, Greek  cuirass  Roman helm, for a gladiator  Scabbard fittings  ...More in a moment. |
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Jun 18, 2011 1:46:05 GMT
Yummy.
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 2:13:43 GMT
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Lunaman
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Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 2:34:02 GMT
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Lunaman
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Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 2:46:43 GMT
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Lunaman
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Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 2:58:41 GMT
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Lunaman
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Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 3:16:13 GMT
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Lunaman
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Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 3:19:45 GMT
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Lunaman
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Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 3:43:19 GMT
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 18, 2011 4:04:38 GMT
One mean-looking dagger.     A sword-hilted polearm of sorts.     One of those executioner "swords of justice."   Now here's something fun--you can get a sense of how thick the blade is at the base by the depth of the fuller. Fairly robust...  But look at the taper down to the thickness at the cutting area. Amazing.   .................................................................................. The British Museum is an awesome place to visit, though a bit exhausting (I'm sure it was a bit exhausting just scrolling through all these pictures! ). I've visited it about 5 times and I still don't think I've seen everything they have there. It's really something. Thanks for looking! --Luna |
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Post by Brett Whinnen on Jun 18, 2011 10:22:12 GMT
Fantastic Zach, have you got anymore on the River Witham Viking sword? I love that sword!
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Post by chopper on Jun 18, 2011 11:51:34 GMT
Once again, Awesome pics Luna!! Take me with you next time... I would love to see stuff like this first hand. There is nothing like this near where I live. I would have to travel a loooooong ways to see that kind of stuff. +1 |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2011 15:51:53 GMT
PAHAHAHAH, got a good laugh outta the random skeleton there.
You always manage to go beyond the call of duty, bringing us absolutely fantastic photographs from your trips. Much love, brah. +1 from me as well.
I've always thought ancient Greek helmets were pretty cool looking, but their preoccupation with male nudity has always disturbed me. Like... that Corinthian cuirass has perky nipples, for crying out loud. Them crazy ancient Greeks. :lol:
But yeah, some amazing exhibits there. Feel like I've learned something just by looking at those pictures. Thanks again, Lunaman- er, Zach!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2011 16:36:34 GMT
Perky nipples?
Hmmmmm :twisted:
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 19, 2011 17:02:21 GMT
Haha, thanks guys. (Dom, :roll: :lol: ) brett, unfortunately that's the only one I took. I didn't realize it was the River Witham until after I got back from the museum--agh--and then kicked myself for not taking a few more shots. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2011 21:36:08 GMT
That caught your attention, didn't it?  I love my ability of phrasing things awkwardly... randomly. You never know what you might get from me in a conversation (I don't know either). Keeps people on their toes, myself included. That dagger to the right of the... ear-dagger-sword looks interesting. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, wouldja, Luna? |
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Post by Enkidu on Jun 20, 2011 15:41:32 GMT
I'd love to see this one in person, its also one of my favorites.
You got any more pics of this one by any chance ?
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Jun 21, 2011 5:04:46 GMT
Honestly, I haven't a clue. :lol: It does look interesting--appears to be bronze. I was running around like a maniac around one of the biggest museums in the world, so many of the info cards were missed. I took a bunch of shots, but most of them came out blurry and were deleted. That was a tough one to photograph because it's about seven feet up and the glass case is very deep-- I had to use the zoom in order to frame anything close up, at that just makes it that much easier to blur the pic with handshaking.  My apologies. There are a couple decent full-length pics in "Records," it's listed as X.15 and shows the inlay on the other side of the blade. And here are some shots of Albion's repro, customized by Brian of DBK with an etch to match the pattern:     |
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Post by Brian Kunz on Jun 22, 2011 0:06:33 GMT
It is not only fascinating to look at & admire, but it's truly marvelous to wield. An exquisite sword.
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(Click to enlarge)
My apologies.
