The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.378

v1.c10.378

**Spears, lances &c. :** Under the head of *muktāmukta* or optional missiles, come the various forms of spears and lances. They were highly important weapons, and Sanskrit writers are full of their praise. They were made of bamboo, pointed with blades of steel, iron or copper, and balanced with an iron knob or spike at the lower end. The light ones like that shown in Illustration No. 204, from the Great Tower of Bhuvaneśvara, were probably used as javelins, while the heavy ones were reserved for thrusting. Occasionally they were made entirely of iron, when they were known [ 122 ] by the name of *tomara*. In some instances they had a small pennon below the blade. Illustration No. 177 shows a copper blade now in the Museum of the Asiatic Society; and Illustration No. 198, from Sāñcī, shows a pennon. These weapons are, however, not well represented in sculptures, except as tridents, of which there is a great number and of different forms. ( Illustrations Nos. 193, 195 and 196 ). One of a short mace-like form, mounted with three prongs and a small axe blade, is peculiar, and a drawing of it is given in Illustration No. 190. It may be compared to a European halberd, except in its shaft which is not near as long.