Study Shows Unique African Swords Were Locally Made - Archaeology Magazine

Study Shows Unique African Swords Were Locally Made - Archaeology Magazine

19th-century Dahomean swords (1–6) and an 18th-century European cutlass (7) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—From the early seventeenth to the late nineteenth century, the West African Kingdom of Dahomey, now part of the Republic of Benin, was renowned for its legendary female fighting force known as the Dahomean “Amazons,” who served as soldiers and palace guards. The kingdom was also known for its artistic and aesthetically pleasing swords. Since Dahomean ru…

AFP: Finland returns sacred stool looted by France to Benin | ResearchBuzz: Firehose

AFP: Finland returns sacred stool looted by France to Benin. “Benin on Tuesday received from a Finnish museum a sacred ‘katakle’ three-legged stool, symbol of the African nation’s artistic wealth looted by French colonial troops in the late 19th century. The stool was the missing piece from 27 items of cultural treasure from the royal palaces of Abomey, inhabited by the kings of the west African kingdom of Dahomey, known for its vibrant artistic…

Examination Of Six 19th-Century Remarkable Dahomean Swords Crafted From Locally Smelted Iron - Ancient Pages

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - Antique swords from the pre-colonial West African kingdom of Dahomey are distinguished by their unique aesthetic qualities.  However, these masterpieces also contain numerous design elements influenced by European, Islamic, and other sword-making traditions. Dating from the early 17th to the late 19th century, the kingdom of Dahomey was situated on […]