Ankus

[ariel]

One of the problems was how to stop the elephant that went berserk on the battlefield. Mahouts carried a massive spike with them that they were supposed to hammer into the joint between the skull and the spine of the animal thus paralyzing them instantly.
The gun ( depending on the caliber) might have fulfilled the same role.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by ariel

One of the problems was how to stop the elephant that went berserk on the battlefield. Mahouts carried a massive spike with them that they were supposed to hammer into the joint between the skull and the spine of the animal thus paralyzing them instantly.
The gun ( depending on the caliber) might have fulfilled the same role.

Maybe that is what the hidden spike in some ankus is for and not a weapon at all, a last resort anti-elephant kill switch.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Maybe that is what the hidden spike in some ankus is for and not a weapon at all, a last resort anti-elephant kill switch.

Estcrh, I don't think the hidden spikes would be anywhere near strong enough for that task.
Miguel

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Estcrh, I don't think the hidden spikes would be anywhere near strong enough for that task.
Miguel

How would you like to be the one who has to "spike" the raging war elephant. I do not know anything about elephant anatomy, maybe it just took the ice pick type approach in the right spot and not a massive spike, the elephant Achilles heel.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by ariel

One of the problems was how to stop the elephant that went berserk on the battlefield. Mahouts carried a massive spike with them that they were supposed to hammer into the joint between the skull and the spine of the animal thus paralyzing them instantly.
The gun ( depending on the caliber) might have fulfilled the same role.

Hi Ariel, interesting but what a difficult job to carry out when on the back of a berserk elephant.
Miguel