sagaris

Sagaris is the name given in ancient sources to a weapon associated with Iranian and steppe peoples, particularly Persians and their neighbors. The exact form of the sagaris—whether it was a long spear, a curved-blade polearm, or a type of battle-axe—has long been debated, and no consensus exists.

The term appears in Classical texts, where it is described as part of the equipment of Persian or Scythian troops. The linguistic origin of the word is uncertain; it is generally treated as an Iranian loan into Greek, but its precise etymology remains unclear.

Because surviving, clearly identified artifacts are scarce, historians rely on textual descriptions and occasional iconography from Persian and Hellenistic contexts. Reconstructions vary: some scholars depict the sagaris as a curved blade attached to a long shaft for cutting or chopping, while others interpret it as a form of spear or polearm.

The sagaris is discussed in studies of ancient Persian military technology and the broader Eurasian steppe warfare milieu, illustrating the diversity of weapons among Iranian and neighboring peoples. Rather than representing a single standardized weapon, the sagaris likely referred to a range of regional variations over time.

In modern reference works, sagaris remains a topic of scholarly inquiry and is sometimes treated as a generic label for uncertain armaments within Iranian and Steppe contexts. Further archaeological finds and textual studies are often cited to clarify its precise nature and usage.