The Dagger in History
A dagger is a fighting weapon, a short two-sided blade with a very sharp point used for thrusting or stabbing. Most daggers have a full crossguard to keep the hand from sliding down onto the sharp blade.
Its design dates back to human prehistory, and daggers have been used for close combat in many different civilizations throughout human experience. In Neolithic times, daggers were made of things like flint, bone, or ivory. The earliest metal daggers were made of copper, during theBronze age, in around 3000 BC. In pre-dynastic Egypt, elaborate daggers with golden hilts were worn by royalty as ceremonial or decorative objects: In Tutankhamun's tomb they found two daggers. In WWI, soldiers at the front used daggers in trench warfare; after the war, those daggers were displayed with pride as a sign of having served on the front line. During the Vietnam War, many US soldiers and marines carried daggers. Although today daggers are no longer carried openly, they are sometimes carried concealed. A sheathed boot knife, for example, might be be worn strapped to the lower leg.
Seppuku (切腹, "stomach-cutting", "abdomen-cutting") is a Japanese ritual suicide, originally reserved only for samurai, but later by anyone who wanted an honorable death. This ritual was carried out with a Japanese dagger called a tantō. Samurai used seppuku for two reasons: to ensure that they died with honor rather than fall into enemies' hands or to rectify dishonor or shame they had brought on themselves.
"Cloak and dagger" is a phrase that describes things that involve mystery, intrigue, or espionage. Because they are so easily concealed, daggers may be associated with deception, stealth, and treachery. Thus, the dagger makes an ideal weapon for a sneak attack and many assassinations have been done with daggers, including that of Julius Caesar. Alternatively, in some cultures, the dagger symbolizes bravery. Daggers are often seen in the insignias of elite military units or special forces, depicting extraordinary courage.
According to Arthurian legend, King Arthur himself wore a dagger named Carnwennan (or Little White-Hilt) which was said to have the magical ability to hide its user in shadow. And in Tolkein's stories, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins carried a long Elvish dagger he named Sting.
