Two-Headed Spear (Homer)

[Hjorimir]

In the Odyssey, Homer (and others) sometimes mentioned a weapon he described as a two-headed spear. Would anybody know (or have a reference book) that would better describe the weapon (including a proper name if one exists) and what the assumed advantages of such a weapon?

I belive Minerva (who I think was later transformed into Athena), the goddess, had one as well.

I know it seems like an obscure question, but the knowledge pool of ENWorld never disappoints.

 

[hong]

Those wacky kung fu people!

http://www.google.com/search?q="double headed spear"
http://images.google.com/images?q="double headed spear"

 

[Hjorimir]

Yeah, I tried those searches, but it looks like the are focusing on asian martial arts weapons. However, I do think I found what I was looking for here.

Thanks anyway!

 

[pawsplay]

In the Odyssey, Homer (and others) sometimes mentioned a weapon he described as a two-headed spear. Would anybody know (or have a reference book) that would better describe the weapon (including a proper name if one exists) and what the assumed advantages of such a weapon?

I belive Minerva (who I think was later transformed into Athena), the goddess, had one as well.

I know it seems like an obscure question, but the knowledge pool of ENWorld never disappoints.

Most games refer to it as a military fork, or a pronged spear. It looks and is similar to a trident (the weapon, not the fishing tool).

 

[Boss]

Looking at the second link Hong provided there was this spear that was not so wacky-asian... a spear of african design:

African Double Headed Spear

 

[pawsplay]

Yeah, I tried those searches, but it looks like the are focusing on asian martial arts weapons. However, I do think I found what I was looking for here.

Thanks anyway!

That actually has one head, and a butt-spike. Still, that article is an interesting find.

 

[Hjorimir]

Most games refer to it as a military fork, or a pronged spear. It looks and is similar to a trident (the weapon, not the fishing tool).

Hrm, when I looked up military fork on the good'ol wik (here), both the period and the weapon seems different (as it doesn't say anything about being a two-headed weapon).

Regardless, thank you paws.

 

[freyar]

I
I belive Minerva (who I think was later transformed into Athena), the goddess, had one as well.

A little tangential, but I think Minerva is the Roman name for Athena.

 

[Hjorimir]

He-he, I think I must not have been clear enough. I wasn't asking about a two-pronged spear, but a double-weapon, effectively. I'm pretty sure, now, that what Homer was calling a two-headed spear was the doru.

 

[Hjorimir]

A little tangential, but I think Minerva is the Roman name for Athena.

Thank you for the clarification. I knew the two names were connected somehow!

My 1,000th post! Whoot!