Written by Petrit Latifi

Albanian swords (Alb. shpatat shqiptarë) were the type of swords manufactured in Albanian inhabited regions through out Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman period. There were different types of swords used by Albanian civilians and soldiers, such as the yatagan, Goorkha or Kukri and the Jambiya (dagger).^[1][2] Other swords where the “Arnaut sword” recognised by a peculiar shape of the handle and sheath is inlaid with bright embossed silver.^[3] The blade is damascened and straight in shape.^[4]

Archeological studies of swords found in Albania is dated to Illyrian times where a Mycenean sword was found in the Mati valley.^[5] The Albanian word for sword is shpatë deriving from the latin spatha. There is also the name of Shpat. There are cultural proverbs related to the sword in Albania such as “ku esht shpata esht feja” (religion goes with the sword).^[6]

References

1. ^ The Met. Läst 11 december 2019.
2. ^ Corporation, Bonnier (1882) (på engelska). Popular Science. Bonnier Corporation. Sid. 83. Läst 11 december 2019.
3. ^ Demmin, Auguste; Black, Charles Christopher (1877) (på engelska). An Illustrated History of Arms and Armour from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. G. Bell & sons. Sid. 395. Läst 11 december 2019.
4. ^ Albanian Or Arnaut Sword – Images of Ancient Swords (Weapons and Warfare at Bible History Online). Museum of Paris: Bible History. Läst 11 december 2019.
5. ^ Harding, Anthony F. (1976). Illyrians, Italians and Mycenaeans : Trans-Adriatic contacts during the Late Bronze Age. Sid. 157–162.
6. ^ Bayraktar, Uğur Bahadır (2011) (på franska). Mythifying the Albanians : A Historiographical Discussion on Vasa Efendi’s “Albania and the Albanians”. Läst 11 december 2019.