An urumi (Malayalam: uṟumi; Sinhalese: ethunu kaduwa; Hindi: āra) is a sword with a flexible, whip-like blade, originating in modern-day Kerala in the Indian subcontinent. It is thought to have existed from as early as the Sangam period. [~600BC-300AD]

The urumi is handled like a flail but requires less strength since the blade combined with centrifugal force is sufficient to inflict injury. As with other “soft” weapons, urumi wielders learn to follow and control the momentum of the blade with each swing, thus techniques include spins and agile manoeuvres.

These long-reaching spins make the weapon particularly well suited to fighting against multiple opponents. When not in use, the urumi is worn coiled around the waist like a belt, with the handle at the wearer’s side like a conventional sword.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urumi

  • FPSkra@lemmy.worldEnglish
    421·
    8 months ago

    While Urumi did exist, this is not a picture of one. This is a Celtic sword likely bent when placed in the grave of a dead soldier. Ancient celts would bend the swords before burying the soldiers with them so, they couldn’t be used again.

    • FireTower@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
      24·
      8 months ago

      Updated the image. Had seen the original one labeled as such elsewhere. I’m far from sword expert but I recognize there’s a big number of sword fans here so I try to share when I come across odd ones.

      For anyone curious this was the original:

  • gullible@fedia.io
    7·
    8 months ago

    Given that spears and halberds exist, what’s what’s the utility? Hidden for assassin shenanigans?

    • Shirasho@lemmings.worldEnglish
      10·
      8 months ago

      Same reason cannons exist when guns also exist. They serve different purposes by having different profiles.

      • gullible@fedia.io
        4·
        8 months ago

        I mean, if a military were to have the financial means to offer a cannon to every soldier, they would. Economics are the backend of every war. In 600 BC, a flexible sword would be both far more expensive and less effective than a spear, which is the crux of my question. I only read the wiki after my comment so I take back halberds. 7355608 proposed an interesting use case in a casual carry belt that feels reasonable.

          • gullible@fedia.io
            3·
            8 months ago

            “Thaddiffer, I do say, what are those Frenchmen doing across the hill?”

            “My dear Billiam, I believe they’re attempting to flank us. Shall we preemptively prepare a ceaseless 500 grape shot barrage to render them, the landscape, and everything else within a quarter mile into an unidentifiable vapor?”

            “No, no, we shan’t be rude, we simply must offer them first volley. Anyone for tea in the meantime?”

            *raucous agreement*

            (Yes, I know what you’re referencing but this is magic “everyone gets a cannon” canon)

        • GiveMemes@jlai.luEnglish
          3·
          8 months ago

          It was basically a weapon so that when you got in a bar fight, you could grab the band saw off your waist lol

    • 7355608@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      8 months ago

      You could use it as a belt maybe?

      Like the canesword, it’s a belt first and when hooligans are up to hooligan things you can give them what for. . .

      . . .as your pants fall down.

    • GiantRobotTRex@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      6·
      8 months ago
      • Easy to carry
      • Easy to conceal
      • When slashed around, creates a very dangerous bubble around the user that can keep multiple enemies at bay
      • Can be several meters long, giving it more reach than most polearms
      • Effective against shields since the end can wrap around the shield to hit the enemy
      • Look badass

      It’s not meant to be a mass produced weapon that gets distributed to everyone in the militia. Spears are far and away a better choice for that. It takes years and years of training before a fighter should even consider learning how to use one. But in the hands of an elite warrior they can be incredibly deadly.