Scimitar

This article refers to the scimitar sword. For other uses, see Scimitar (disambiguation).

The term scimitar refers to a sword with a curved blade from western Asia (Middle East).

The name is quite prevalent when speaking of Arabian swords. In reality, however, there is no such "historic sword" called a scimitar. The word "scimitar" is most likely a derivative from the Persian shamshir. This is indeed a deeply curved sword found in Middle Eastern history; however, "scimitar" has become a catch-all with a thin blade (shamshir)

Scimitars in fiction

In fiction, warriors of Middle Eastern cultures often use scimitars.

A notable example of a character who does not come from a Middle Eastern culture who uses scimitars is Drizzt Do'Urden, a drow who is the main character of several Forgotten Realms fantasy novels by R. A. Salvatore. Drizzt Do'Urden is a master of the use of scimitars; a pair of them, Twinkle and Icingdeath, are his preferred weapons. On the covers of the Hunter's Blades Trilogy softcovers, the pictures of Drizzt fighting orcs has lent credibility that his scimitars are Shamshir.

Scimitar is also a fictional character in Tom Filsinger's Champions of the Galaxy wrestling game. Filsinger Games Scimitar is a knife thrower in a circus act who also wrestles part time for Vin Strutter's "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy".

In C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, the Calormen warriors and royalty fight with scimitars.

In the popular MMORPG RuneScape, the Scimitar is one amongst an array of available weapons, and is one of the most widely used. Non-Player character warriors in the fictional desert town, Al Kharid, use steel Scimitars.

In Journey to the West, the fiend Yellow Robe uses a giant scimitar.

In the MMORPG "Maplestory", the scimitar is a chooseable weapon for warriors. It is also the most expensive weapon for its level.

The scimitar is also used in Raymond E. Feist's The Prince of the Blood by Prince Borric, the main character on the world of Midkemia.

Scimitars are often used by orcs and Uruk-hai in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Elven blades also resembles scimitars in the Lord of the Rings series.

Scimitar was the name of the Reman war ship in Star Trek: Nemesis. A Bat'letH (also from Star Trek) has been described as a crescent-shaped, two-ended scimitar.

The Broadsword was the name of a fighter class in the original Wing Commander game. The Scimitar class fighter was slow but heavily armed and armored.

The scimitar is also used in the MMORPG World of Warcraft. The World of Warcraft scimitar is also a common item.

The scimitar is also prevalent in the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI, where it's used mostly by Thieves and Blue Mages.