The Scimitar sword stands as both a formidable weapon of war and a symbol of nobility across many medieval Eastern cultures. With its gracefully curved blade, this sword was engineered for slashing attacks—perfect for mounted warriors who needed speed, efficiency, and reach. More than just a tool of battle, the Scimitar became embedded in folklore and visual art, revered for its elegant shape and cultural significance. From Persian cavalry to Ottoman elites, the Scimitar reflects the power, precision, and prestige of the medieval Islamic world.
Not so with the scimitar, which only has one edge and curves outward, allowing you to use all the force of your swing to cut rather than slice yourself in half if you happen to miss.
What Types of Scimitars are There?
Scimitars are associated with Middle Eastern, South Asian, or North African cultures and have a convex curved blade.
Scimitars were originally used for cutting, chopping, and slashing opponents in horse-mounted combat. Later, they were incorporated into close-combat fighting on foot and become popular among the Ottoman army of Turkey.
There are two main types of scimitars
1. Egyptian shamshir
2. Ottoman kilij
When Was the Scimitar Invented?
The scimitar was invented during the Middle Ages in the Islamic Empires, where it is thought to have been adapted from a type of broadsword that became popular at the time.
The scimitar spread throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa and was used by many people including Turks, Persians, Arabs, Mughals and Ottomans.
Why was the weapon made?
A scimitar is a curved sword that can be used for both slashing and thrusting. It was made to deal the most amount of damage in the shortest amount of time, which is why it has no crossguard.
The weapon was primarily made to be used on horseback, but also saw use on foot when soldiers were dismounted. As times changed and armor became more common, the curved blade style began to fall out of favor as it could not pierce through armor effectively.
