The history of the Slavs dates back to the middle of the first millennium of our era. And almost immediately they began to be described in medieval chronicles as excellent warriors capable of handling any kind of cold weapon: from a knife to an ax. But the most important thing in the arsenal of the Slavic hero was still a sword, which was not only a means of protection, but also an indicator of status.
To match the formidable and strong Slavic hero, his weapons were heavy and impressive, so the warrior's blows were strong and crushing. The blade was rather wide, tapering towards the end, and had the famous "dol" along its entire length - a depression in the center, which, according to ancient legends, served to drain the blood of a defeated enemy.
Interesting fact: today, historians look at the function of the "dale" differently - it is believed that this groove was made to reduce the weight of the sword, as well as increase its maneuverability in battle.
If they tried to make the blade as functional as possible, then there was a different approach to the handle of the Slavic sword - an artistic one. This weapon was a kind of symbol of a warrior's valor, and, moreover, quite often indicated his noble origin. Therefore, the handle was sometimes decorated no worse than works of art: ornaments from ancient pagan symbols were applied to it. And the swords of princes and wealthy persons were inlaid with precious stones.
The sword was a special and very important attribute of every Slavic warrior, not only in battle, but also in life. There were certain rules for handling these weapons in everyday life. So, in Russia, only the Prince and his squad could constantly keep the sword with them. If an ordinary person carried a blade with him every day in non-war times, then this was considered a sign of bad taste, and in addition, a manifestation of disrespect for other soldiers.
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The sword in Russia was more than just a means of defending the Fatherland. There were traditions in the Slavic families of passing it on by inheritance, from father to son. In this case, the sword acted as a symbol of the transfer to the heir of the courage and valor of the ancestors, so that in battle he could reveal his strength and, having passed the baptism of fire, become a real man.
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Source: https://novate.ru/blogs/290919/51904/