Night and Day: the Symbolism of Astral Signs on Later Iron Age Anthropomorphic Short Swords

Abstract

Anthropomorphic hiked short swords were a rare and specialised weapon whose size, style, and human symbolism altered little over some 300 years. A small proportion of these short swords are engraved or stamped with designs inlaid with gold or other metals which are suggested to represent different stages of the lunar cycle. The measurement of time in nights is evidenced by later Gallo-Latin calendars written in Gaulish and this is endorsed by literary evidence for Late Iron Age France which points to the association of this knowledge with a specialist religious class. It is suggested that the swords were used in practices or ceremonies associated with making and keeping the time by counting nights, and determining what was a propitious day.