[Low-Tech] Labrys

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

According to Wikipedia it was used as a weapon

I'll note that Wikipedia cites a paper which was written in 1953 (so it's way, way behind current scholarship) and by Marija Gimbutas, whose work should be taken with a pillar of salt. A double-bitted axe of the sort you'll find in forestry can be pressed into service for fighting, though it provides no particular benefit. However, the Minoan labrys would be a ludicrous weapon. As usually illustrated, it would have a haft much too thin for its oversized head. It would most likely snap, be too heavy to pick up, or both.

[DanHoward]

Methinks the wikipedia article was written by someone desperately trying to find sources to justify the stoopid weapons in DnD.

[Peter V. Dell'Orto]

LTC2 will have rules for double-bitted axes. They don't do much beyond give you an extra edge in case one breaks, though.

[Joseph Paul]

Have the Byzantine iconagraphic works been shown to not support the use of a one-handed double bitted axe?

See this thread and look up Egfroth's post. He used to have a pic of this kind of axe in an illumination but I am not sure where his stuff is at these days.

[DanHoward]

Double-bitted axes exist. Woodcutters and carpenters use them. I'd be surprised if these were never used in battle. I've yet to see one specifically designed for combat though.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

Double-bitted axes exist. Woodcutters and carpenters use them.

In fact, I have one in my shed. Of course, the reason for using them on wood is because it lets you go twice as long before resharpening your axe, not because of any specific benefit of having two heads for any given strike.

[Joseph Paul]

I kind of doubt that the illuminations I have seen showing mounted and armored men brandishing double-bitted axes was referencing the Revolt of the Woodcutters in 1187. It looks like Egfroth's/Steve Lowe's, web page is not showing that article right now (you may know him - he is from your hemisphere). It may be on this Archive -web.archive.org/web/*/geocities.com/egfroth1/Labrys.html. - but I can't access it right now.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Joseph Paul

I kind of doubt that the illuminations I have seen showing mounted and armored men brandishing double-bitted axes was referencing the Revolt of the Woodcutters in 1187.

I apply the same sort of "grain of salt" filter to medieval art that I apply to modern action movies. Someday in the far future someone is going to be arguing that the Desert Eagle was a common police sidearm based on the "evidence" of the Governor of California's early career.

People in the visual arts sometimes choose things just because they look kewl. Double-headed axes, improbably large falchions, BFGs, etc.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Anthony

In fact, I have one in my shed. Of course, the reason for using them on wood is because it lets you go twice as long before resharpening your axe, not because of any specific benefit of having two heads for any given strike.

Also, it gives you two blades that can have different handling. As you don't normally need to cut your foes up to make furniture out of them, you don't usually need this feature in a combat axe.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Turhan's Bey Company

I'll note that Wikipedia cites a paper which was written in 1953 (so it's way, way behind current scholarship) and by Marija Gimbutas, whose work should be taken with a pillar of salt.

Moreso given that her work since 1953 has leaned heavily toward the cult symbol side, interpreting the double axe as a symbol derived from the butterfly. I think fairly convincingly myself - the double axes that actually have versions of insect winged goddess etched on them seem to be about as conclusive a proof of the linkage as you could reasonably expect.