A double-edged, curved blade that measured about 40 inches long, the shotel was famously wielded by Ethiopian warriors for centuries.
Public DomainPortrait of Chalaka Thaime, a nobleman and officer under the service of Dejazmach Wube Haile Maryam, holding a shotel.
Curved, with a double-edged blade, the shotel was one of the most impressive swords in the history of the world. Popular in the ancient kingdom of Dʿmt — present-day Eritrea and northern Ethiopia — it emerged as early as 980 B.C.E. and was wielded by warriors for centuries.
Under Amda Seyon I, who conquered Ethiopia in the 14th century, the sword became a hallmark of an elite military force known as the Axurarat Shotelai. The fearsome weapon was difficult to block, could reach around a shield, and was often brought straight down upon an enemy’s head.
But as the region transformed, the role of the shotel did too. Use of the sword declined as Europeans arrived in Ethiopia starting in the late 15th-century. Increasingly seen as unpractical, the sword became something of a status symbol instead. And though it’s been centuries since it was used in battle, it remains one of the most iconic weapons used in Africa.
The Curved, Double-Edged Blade Of Africa
The shotel first emerged during the time of the mysterious Dʿmt civilization, which existed from around 980 B.C.E. to 400 B.C.E. Though the Dʿmt people met an undetermined end in the fifth century B.C.E, the shotel endured.
About 40 inches long, shotel swords are curved and double-edged. They usually have a small, simple handle made out of rhino horns or wood and — unlike other swords — were not heavily decorated. The swords were sometimes lightly engraved or embossed but were mostly kept very simple.
Public DomainDejazmach Hailu, a 19th-century Ethiopian military commander, with a shotel.
Warriors wore them on their right sides, and kept them in long scabbards (the scabbards were impressive too, as they were nearly a foot longer than the sword itself). Though they required a wielder with powerful wrist control to manage the heavy blade, shotels were effective and deadly weapons. According to Oriental Arms, they were usually used in a sweeping, hooking motion, with the goal of fatally perforating an enemy’s kidney or lungs.
So who exactly used these fearsome swords?
The Wielders Of The Shotel, From The ‘Meshenitai’ To The Axurarat Shotelai
Public DomainA shotel and shield hang inside a shack in Ethiopia.
During the days of the Dʿmt civilization, the shotel was used by both calvary and infantry warriors. As the centuries passed, those who trained with the sword — and it did take training to effectively wield the heavy weapon — became known as meshenitai.
The best documented use of the shotel came in the 14th century, during the reign of Amda Seyon I. The ruler of Ethiopia between 1314 and 1344, Amda Seyon was also a fierce conqueror. A Christian, he triumphed over many Muslim territories on his borders, succeeding in spreading the religion.
The shotel played a vital role. Though Ethiopians used different kinds of swords, shotels were used by fierce warriors known as the Shotelai. Under Amda Seyon, they organized into the Axurarat Shotelai — one of the king’s fiercest fighting forces and the engine of his conquest.
However, the shotel did have its downsides. The handle of the sword was small and the blade was heavy, which made it difficult to yield. What’s more, removing the sword from its scabbard was often difficult and awkward.
Indeed, use of the double-edged blade began to wane, especially once Europeans reached Ethiopia in the late 15th century.
The Shotel Slowly Fades Away In Light Of Increased European Contact
Ethiopians had had contact with Europeans before, but Europeans began to voyage to Ethiopia in earnest starting in the 1490s. They were not especially impressed with the shotel. One European who encountered the weapon even sneered that it was so impractical that “such a sword never belonged to a race of Swordsmen.” Before long, use of it begin to decline.
But the shotel remained an important object in Ethiopian culture. Outside of warfare, the shotel was also popular as a domestic tool, often pictured inside homes or being used to cut pieces of food. One mid-18th century European visitor to Ethiopia and Eritrea described the shotel as a carving knife, possibly reflecting its increasingly domestic or commercial use.
Public DomainA man cuts a piece of meat with a shotel.
Additionally, some historians suggest that the shotel was less of a weapon of war, but rather a status symbol. The size and ornamentation of the sword denoted the wearer as important, strong, and capable — therefore increasing their desirability among potential love interests.
In the heart of Ethiopia, the shotel was slowly replaced with new swords like the “Gurade,” an Ethiopian fighting sword. This weapon was introduced in the 19th century, and is in the style of European sabers with a single edge blade. Some Gurade sabers even have European-made blades and bear motifs and other designs heavily influenced by European swords.
Oriental ArmsAn example of a Gurade, an Ethiopian single edge blade sword heavily influenced by European sabres.
By the late 19th century, the shotel was less of a practical weapon and more of a relic of times past. Largely consigned to museums today, it nevertheless speaks to an era of conquerors and warriors, elite swordsmen and deadly sharp double-edged blades.
After reading about the fascinating history of the Ethiopian shotel sword, dive into the true history of the Tummy Gun, the infamous Prohibition and the Great Depression weapon. Then, read about 21 of the world’s most bizarre weapons.
