Ol Alem
The Ol Alem (also Seme or Sime ) is the traditional cutting sword of the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania . Similar swords can be found in East Africa in a wide band from Lake Victoria in the west to the Swahili on the east coast.
description
The Ol Alem has a heavy, double-edged blade . The blade is at the stitching (handle) is narrow and the peak widens. The booklet has no guard and no pommel . The total length is usually around 50 cm, but longer copies are also available.
The swords are traditionally made by local Maasai or Kikuyu blacksmiths . They have a pronounced central ridge on the blade. For newer swords often blades from Europe imported machete used. In contrast to the traditionally manufactured blades, these have a flat blade . The leather-covered handle is usually ribbed on old specimens, but smooth on new specimens. The scabbard consists of a wooden frame , a string forms a loop through which the belt of the hanger is pushed. The leather cover is colored red . Traditional sword belt made of ribbed leather and are sometimes with beads decorated . Newer belts are often much more colorful. There are loops at both ends of the belt. A soft leather strap was passed through this and knotted for carrying . The Moran , the Maasai warriors, wore the Ol Alem tied around their waist. In general, the spear was the more prevalent weapon among the Massei .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Manfred A. Zirngibl , Alexander Kubetz: panga na visu. Handguns, forged cult objects and shields from Africa. HePeLo-Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-9811254-2-9 . P. 317
- ↑ a b Christopher Spring : African Arms and Armor. British Museum Press, 1993, ISBN 0-7141-2508-3 . Pp. 107, 113-114
- ^ Nick Evangelista : The encyclopedia of the sword. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995, ISBN 978-0-313-27896-9 . P. 535 [1]
- ↑ Ol alem (sword) , Ol Alem in the Higgins Collection, Worcester Art Museum