Concerning battles there is some evidence regarding arab participation with spears and I have selected one in particular as interesting in this regard~

See below; In 1529, Imam Ahmad's Adal troops defeated a larger Ethiopian contingent at the Battle of Shimbra Kure. The victory came at a heavy cost but it solidified the Adal forces' morale, providing proof that they could stand up to the sizable Ethiopian army.
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shimbra_Kure

This thread only just sticks its toe into the mystical and very current world of magic symbols across the Arabian regions for which I recommend the book below . Morocco probably more than any other country in Arabia lives with its traditional signs and magical traditions today and the passed down secret and revered details are part of the rich history of its people. It cleverly combines the Jewish close traditions and Islamic religious Saints structure in such a way that it seems to exist alongside all the other participants in a seamless and continuous way... Read this book for an insight into how this all works and the amazing disclosures of the structure affecting artifacts and antiques of all types...

On the subject of the strange geometrical shaped design on the Spear I was looking through Omani Silver and found the rectangle similar to it on jewelery from the Sharqiyyah... (Eastern Oman) which represents a devil or evil spirit worn to ward that off from the wearer. It looks quite similar to the shape sometimes used for the Evil Eye which may have a central cross which is there to scatter any evil spirit in The Four Directions... or dots often in a 5 geometry configuration which you can also see at the Khanjar a few posts back.

The item is top right below.. :shrug:

If I can throw more light on the magical or Talisman effect of this very extensive sign across the Islamic stratum and up the silk road toward the Frontiers of China.

As expected these signs appear on textiles and carpets as well as tribal Jewelery and even on door supports on African/Omani hand carved doors. It was interesting that it occurs on weapons as well.

Below a few textile and rug examples from Morocco and Afghanistan.

1. On the picture with the Hand. Follow the top of the thumb right to the line of panels . There is an exact demon rectangle as in the above post Jewelery item. While the Jewelery is Omani this textile is Moroccan. It has a cross in the centre ..see note 3 below.
2. a six inch long design on an Afghan tent wall hanging. Identical to the jewelery and 1 above.
3. Kilim textile with repeat pattern evil eye motifs . Sometimes the shape includes a cross which in Morocco is a magic sign to disperse evil in the 4 directions. picture 1. refers above.

Most interesting entry of the numeric five and the Hand of Fatima, which is an apotropaic defense against the evil eye. Clearly there are numerous devices and motif on weaponry which corresponds to folk religion and superstition as Colin has noted on the butt of one of the spears in the OP.

As Ibrahiim has explained, the lozenge shape on the spear butt has certain possible association with similar geometric shapes and dots in various number on many items of material culture in Arab regions. I believe the reference to the talismanic nail with the lozenge pattern had to do with placing this above the door of new home to ward off evil spirits.

With the butt of a spear, a similar application may well be that as the spear is 'planted' in the ground outside the tent with the same purpose.

Having noted the pertinence of the look into talismanic decoration found on some examples of spears, it does seem that amulet devices found on these an other weapons provides a good topic that may be pursued in depth on its own thread.

Returning to spears, a reference in "Armies of the Caliphs"
(Hugh Kennedy, 2001, p.175) says that "...we are told of spears which were 13 and 14 cubits long (6 to 7 m) but these were unusually long ones, chosen to hold banners aloft). This was the case in 7th c. but of course it is hard to say how the tradition held in various circumstances in more recent times.


It seems like one of the notable characterizations of Arab spears was their unusual length. In the same reference by Kennedy, he notes that in use of the spear there were side to side slashes, not just the thrust.