macuahuitl

Aztec bladed club

A macuahuitl is a wooden sword used by Aztec warriors, lined along both edges with obsidian blades.

The volcanic glass created edges sharp enough to decapitate, though the weapon shattered on impact with Spanish steel armor.

It functioned as both slashing weapon and status symbol in Mesoamerican warfare.

weapon

war club

Handheld striking weapon

bladedHaving sharp cutting edges
meleeDisordered group skirmish
slashingCutting with force

combat · two-handed · one-handed · battlefield · warrior · shield · armor-piercing · wound · dismember · dueling

Aztec

Tenochtitlan

Aztec empire's central city

MontezumaAztec ruler, sixteenth century
NahuatlUto-Aztecan language of Mexico
conquistadorsSpanish colonial soldiers

Cortés · codices · Quetzalcoatl · Mesoamerica · military orders

construction

wooden

Made from timber

hardwoodDense deciduous timber
carvedCut to create form
handlePart for gripping

laminated · bound · lashed · adhesive · resin · bitumen · craftsmanship

obsidian

volcanic glass

Amorphous ignite rock

razor-sharpExtremely fine-edged
knappingFracturing stone for tools
cutting edgeMost advanced currently available

serrated · laceration · bloodletting · splinter · fracture · glassy

Categories

ancient weaponssword, swords, shield, shields, bow
bludgeonsclub, mace, cudgel, bludgeon, truncheon
Nahuatl wordsaxolotl, metate, Nahuatl, achiote, atole
Aztec weaponsobsidian blade, obsidian knife, sacrificial knife
Nahuatlchilli
ancient artifactsjade mask, Viking sword, bronze sculptures, antiquities, Roman coin

Opposites

weapon material/construction

macuahuitlkatana

Curved Japanese fighting blade

longsword · iron sword · broadsword · rapier · Toledo steel

weapon function

macuahuitlshield

Handheld defensive armor

armor · rapier · buckler · stiletto · breastplate

combat range

macuahuitlbow and arrow

Ranged weapon using tension

crossbow · arquebus · musket · rifle · sling

Familiarity: Top 2,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated PG