Billao
A horn-hilted Somali shortsword used by the Dervish State.
Last updated
Pere prlpz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The blade, constructed from iron or steel, has a length of 10.5 inches and a width of 2.5 inches, while the handle is usually fashioned from buffalo horn.[1] This dagger measures 17.25 inches in total length and is carried in a sheepskin sheath attached to a waist belt.[1]
How it changed
Ancient rock engravings at the archaeological site Bur Eibi in southern Somalia are believed to be an early depiction of the billao's unique blade design, particularly the hilt.[2] According to Georges Révoil, the blades shown on the belts of Punt chiefs in the Deir-el-Bahri wall paintings were billao.[2] The circumference of the billao's grip and pommel together is 6.75 inches.[1] Even with the increased length, this extended version keeps the same hilt shape.[3]
There are also accounts of pommels with a single prong, where the metal tang sticks out from the hilt's center.[4] The longer variant is occasionally called a sayf.[3]
What the maker and period sources say
The blades on billao are always asymmetrical in this fashion.[5] That listing also states the sword has a horn grip with wire binding and a wide flat pommel with a traditional three-pronged butt.[6]
References
- Wikipedia, "Billao" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Somali billao with sheath and belt; Somali billao short sword; Somali warrior; Somali billao with sheath and belt; Somali warrior (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Billao" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Graziosi, "L'età della pietra in Somalia", G. C. Sansoni editore, 1940; Grottanelli, "Asiatic influences on Somali culture 1", Ethnos, 1947, p. 153–181; Georges Révoil, "La vallée du Darror: voyage aux pays çomalis (Afrique orientale)", Challamel ainé, 1882 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Billao" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Graziosi, "L'età della pietra in Somalia", G. C. Sansoni editore, 1940 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Billao" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Spring, "African arms and armour", published for the Trustees of the British Museum by British Museum Press, 1993, p. 104-106 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Somali billao with sheath and belt. facts only, no text reused. therionarms.com
- Somali billao short sword. facts only, no text reused. therionarms.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Billao (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Billao (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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