Ankus

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Ian

Jens and Miguel:

Is there any evidence that the ankus, or elephant goad, was actually used as a weapon?

Ian.

Ian, this one was obviously intended as a weapon.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Ian, this one was obviously intended as a weapon.

Nice combination Ankus gun. Obviously the purpose of the gun was a weapon but it does not signify that the normal Ankus was used as a weapon although it certainly could be.
Regards
Miguel

[Jens Nordlunde]

Yes ancuse' could have fire arms attached, although it was not the norm. However, should someone directing an elephant feel attached, he would use the ancus to defend himself and his master, as he would likely not be armed with anything other than a dagger. The ancus would have been a rather good weapon, as it had the spikes. Getting a blow if one of these spikes would not have been very pleasent.
It is, however, likely that the elephant would have run away before such a thing happend, due to the battle noice and the firering of guns and cannons.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Nice combination Ankus gun. Obviously the purpose of the gun was a weapon but it does not signify that the normal Ankus was used as a weapon although it certainly could be.
Regards
Miguel

Miguel, your right, I just had to throw it in, although ankus were associated with weapons I think they were usually more of a tool.

Here are a group of interesting weapons from Junagarh Fort, on either side are what has to be the largest ankus I have seen.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Miguel, your right, I just had to throw it in, although ankus were associated with weapons I think they were usually more of a tool.

Here are a group of interesting weapons from Junagarh Fort, on either side are what has to be the largest ankus I have seen.

Hi estcrh,

The Mahouts must have arms like Tarzan and I feel sorry for their elephants.

The weapons in that case are interesting, I have not seen some of them before. The Smiths were certainly good at their jobs.
Regards
Miguel

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hi estcrh,

The Mahouts must have arms like Tarzan and I feel sorry for their elephants.

The weapons in that case are interesting, I have not seen some of them before. The Smiths were certainly good at their jobs.
Regards
Miguel

Miguel I have some images of very nice ankus but nothing as massive as those ones, I just found some high resolution images from the fort, I will post them.

[estcrh]

Study for Rao Ram Singh I Hunting Rhinoceros on an Elephant, Attributed to The Kota Master (active early 18th century) Date: ca. 1690–1700, Western India, Rajasthan, Kota. Medium: Ink with touches of color over charcoal underdrawing on paper. An elephant holding a rhinoceros with its trunk. Two huntsmen, one of whom is the ruler of Kota, Ram Singh I (r. 1667–88), hold tenaciously onto the elephant’s harnesses as they thrust a lance and shoot arrows into the distressed rhino. An ankus (elephant goad) is secured to the elephants harness.