Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - German Made Ethiopian Officer's Sword? ---- Comments

roanoa · 25th May 2006, 03:28 PM

The LION OF JUDAH on one of the lanquettes is the symbol of Ethiopia, not of Haile Selassie. As a matter of fact, this sword pre-dates Haile Selassie of about 40 years. The other lanquette carries the Ethiopian alphabet letter M for MENELIK. The name MENELIK is written in full on one side of the blade. The writing on the other side is SAINT GEORGE. On the ricasso the writing is NIKOLA PROVIDER TO THE EMPEROR. This Nikola fellow was most likely the importer of these swords to Ethiopia at the time. Cheers.

25th May 2006, 03:28 PM	#5
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	The LION OF JUDAH on one of the lanquettes is the symbol of Ethiopia, not of Haile Selassie. As a matter of fact, this sword pre-dates Haile Selassie of about 40 years. The other lanquette carries the Ethiopian alphabet letter M for MENELIK. The name MENELIK is written in full on one side of the blade. The writing on the other side is SAINT GEORGE. On the ricasso the writing is NIKOLA PROVIDER TO THE EMPEROR. This Nikola fellow was most likely the importer of these swords to Ethiopia at the time. Cheers.