Dacian - Romanian - Falx sword

[Radu Transylvanicus]

To Romanian hystorians this weapon, is known more as "sica" version, and in this country is accepted that it has evolved directly from the agricultural implements, likely a sickle. Normally "sica" is accepted as being the short, or one hand falx but I think little distinction was made in size than it is paraded now.
The THRAEX, a classic type of gladiator impersonating the Thracian warrior (the Dacians were of course of Thracian familly) character from the gladiator arenas of Roman Empire was carrying a well sized sica curved dagger as main weapon. As a side note the famous Spartacus was one of these, a Thracian himself from the southern parts.
Peasant rebelions were known as far 18th century in Romania to use agricultural tools as weapons and according to sources quite succesfully from sickles to bills. Specially when serfs were not allowed to carry or own weapons.
Manolo, you should try to find lectures of Hadrian Daicoviciu or Constantin Daicoviciu, like chapters on Dacian weaponry on their books. I'll se what I can dig for you but its hard being away from the homeland's libraries and museums.
If you want more graphic (and real contemporary with the times) you should look for an album or "googlise" on Trajan's Column (known to us Romanians as the Columna lui Traian) from Rome. It is a monument in Rome erected by the Trajan himself in 113 to comemorate his conquest of Dacia and Sarmisegetusa (the capital), his great victory against local king Decebalus.
Is that you on that furious reenactment picture, taking a plunge in the poor Roman shield ? If thats you, you should grow a beard, tie some "opinci" and youre a true Dacian, my brother!

[Radu Transylvanicus]

Other excellent graphic sources, contemporary with those times, are the bass-relief of Tropaeum Traiani, from Adamclisi in Romania, where you can exactly see what you are looking for, I believe, scene fights with large falx between Romans and Dacians.
The sica is eventually a Dacian word, while falx (correctly "falx dacica" ) is a Latin one.
Here is a short, approximate translation from Roman work of FRONTO, named "PRINCIPIA HISTORIAE II”:
"He left for war with seasoned soldiers, him, (ann. Emperor Trajan) that hated the Parts (ann. ancient Persians), our enemies, and would not care much for their arrows, after the terrible wounds inflicted by the curved swords of the Dacians..." The translation is provided by me.
The changing in Roman armour in arder to respond the devastating blows of the falx dacica was adding transversal strips of thick metal on the shields and helmets of the Roman legionars and there are well mentioned.
The falx dacica as we know it is probably a development, so proud to say it, a Northern Dacian development, inside the Carpathians, right in the Middle of my Transylvania.
Interesting to mention, so powerful was the myth of this weapon, that after the integration of Dacians in the Roman Empire, those who would leave their homelands and die somewhere else or fight as dispatched officers would use an image of a falx next to their name and title, to mark their ethnical heritage.
Here is an excellent article on the matter, assuming you can read Romanian, if not, just enjoy the images :
http://www.gk.ro/sarmizegetusa/ranistorum/arma.html

[Emanuel]

Salutari, Radu

Since I started this thread I have got my hands on whatever could be found on the net, and I did read the article you posted, thank you. I was confused as some point about the sica, as it was identified as a short sword http://www.dacia.co.ro/am.html
I will ask the family back home to look into the local libraries for good material on this.

When I was a child, I remember visiting a museum in Bucuresti -no idea which one- and seeing the copy of Trajan's Column. Although a tribute to Trajan's victory, it is indirectly a tribute to Dacia and the valour of her people. I must admit that I see this weapon as as symbol of one of the highest points of Dacia/Romania, a time when we held our own against foes like mighty Rome
My misfortune is that I was brought to Canada early in life and I did not learn the history of the Dacians, or of Romania for that matter. What I know now is but a fraction.

The man in the picture is not me , I believe he was a member of a group of smiths and historical re-enactors in the US. He had it custom made and there was talk of commercializing the replica...unfortunately nothing came of it. I contacted a smith here in Canada to forge a falx, but, estimated at 1000USD and based on a doubtful model lacking accurate dimensions and characteristics, the idea had to be scrapped.

I would very much enjoy chatting with you on this topic, especially as few people - Romanians included - seem to know of this weapon.
Ragards.

[Radu Transylvanicus]

Good to see you understand Romanian, because I have a gift for you in regards to your nostalgic wish on Trajan's Column. The museum you saw it in is actually part of "crème de la crème”: Muzeul National de Istorie Bucuresti (The National History Museum of Bucharest, like no one can understand that ) and I have the perfect link for you if you have lots of patience: the museum has documented every sequel of the column on their website in serial imagery.
Fair warning: their server is pretty slow due to traffic.
As for your information the copy that is in the museum now has been executed in 1938 by Italian artists contracted by Romanian government at the time ... sweet Monarchy times, boy, wish that was still the case... not bad though still right now, the country is exploding with a passionate frenzy rediscovering its colorful and interesting history... Old castles and fortresses have never seem more restoration mobilized... Anyhow, back to your link:
http://www.mnir.ro/expozit/columna/columna2.htm
Just click on the little numbers...