Gamma-shaped hilt dagger

The gamma-shaped hilt dagger ^[1] (in Italian: Pugnale ad elsa gammata) is a type of bronze dagger typical of the Nuragic civilization in Sardinia. It owes its name to the inverted gamma-shaped handle. Used for animal sacrifices, they are widespread in Nuragic sanctuaries. ^[1]

They are dated to the early Iron Age and are often represented in the Nuragic bronze statuettes on men's chests; according to some scholars they appeared as early as the Late Bronze Age. ^[2] It was a weapon with a strong symbolic value, a sign of belonging to the social body.

Gallery

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  gamma-shaped hilt daggers from Su Benatzu, Santadi. National Archaeological Museum, Cagliari
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  Chief with gamma-shaped hilt daggers on his chest, Fluminimaggiore, Antas
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  The "mother of the killed" bronze statuette from Urzulei, the young man has a gamma-shaped hilt dagger on his chest
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  Prince with a gamma-shaped hilt dagger, Torralba

Notes

1. Dagger with a gammadion-shaped hilt (Nuraghic complex of Albucciu) , retrieved 3 January 2024
2. MiBACT, Il pugnale ad elsa gammata nella civiltà nuragica (in Italian), archived from the original on 23 November 2023, retrieved 3 January 2024

Bibliography

• Nadia Canu, Antonella Fois, Il pugnale ad elsa gammata nella civiltà nuragica Nuove attestazioni iconografiche da contesti santuariali, 2016