---
title: Assyrian Sickle Sword
author: Metropolitan Museum of Art
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13504/assyrian-sickle-sword/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2024-09-17
---
# Assyrian Sickle Sword
_Authored by Metropolitan Museum of Art_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/13504.jpg)
## Image Caption
A [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) Assyrian sickle sword that is believed to have belonged to the Assyrian king [Adad Nirari I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Adad_Nirari_I/) (r. 1307-1275 BCE), made in northern [Mesopotamia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamia/), c. 13th century BCE.
The blade bears the [cuneiform](https://www.worldhistory.org/cuneiform/) inscription: "[Palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) of Adad-nirari, king of the universe, son of Arik-den-ili, king of [Assyria](https://www.worldhistory.org/assyria/), son of [Enlil](https://www.worldhistory.org/Enlil/)-nirari, king of Assyria". The inscription appears on both sides of the blade and along its non-cutting edge. Both sides of the blade bear an engraving of an antelope reclining on a platform. The sword likely served a ceremonial purpose as a symbol of royal power, and may not have been used in actual [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/).
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Art, M. M. o. (2021, February 27). Assyrian Sickle Sword. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Art, Metropolitan Museum of. "Assyrian Sickle Sword." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 27, 2021. .
### MLA
Art, Metropolitan Museum of. "Assyrian Sickle Sword." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 Feb 2021, .
## License & Copyright
© [Metropolitan Museum of Art](http://metmuseum.org/), NY. As part of the [Met's Open Access policy](https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/open-access), the Metropolitan Museum of Art has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this dataset. [Original image](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/322443) by [**Metropolitan Museum of Art**](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/322443). Submitted by [Arienne King](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/ava.spartan.117/ "User Page: Arienne King"), published on 27 February 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.