Window ax
The window ax , also known as the Syrian ax , is a weapon that was used at the end of the 3rd millennium BC. BC (Early Bronze Age IV) appeared in the Near East and until the middle of the 2nd millennium BC BC (Middle Bronze Age II) was used. Specimens come from Egypt, the Levant , Anatolia, Mesopotamia and western Iran. The window ax belongs to the genus of spout axes and is named after its characteristic openings or "windows" in the ax blade.
"Duck bill" and "eye" axes
A distinction is made between two types of window axes, the “eye ax” and the “duck bill ax”, which represent two different stages in development. The difference between the two types can mainly be seen from their proportions: the blade of the "duck bill" ax, which is very similar to the beak of a duck, is longer than that of the "eye" ax. Their terms overlap.
The window ax is related to the anchor ax, which was used in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC. Was in use. This experienced its peak phase (in Syria and Mesopotamia) in the Akkadian period . The origin of the anchor ax is controversial: According to various opinions, possible areas of origin are either Syria, Mesopotamia or Iran.
Locations
Several window axes come from the Levantine coast, from Ugarit (11 copies) and Byblos (25 copies). But they were also found in other places, such as Hama , Yabrud and Sin el-Fil in the Levant or Kültepe and Açem Höyük in Anatolia. A special “duck bill” ax find comes from the Middle Bronze Age cemetery in Baghuz , near Mari in Syria. A total of eleven axes were found there as grave goods, some with long wooden handles.
Functional aspect
It is often discussed whether the window ax was used for combat or for ritual purposes. The "duck bill" axes were found in the graves of warriors along with other weapons. The "eye" axes were light and small, so probably not really suitable for combat.
literature
- Eli Miron: Axes and Adzes from Canaan , Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1992.
