Grand Hairy One

Sword from Italy dated to the 17th Century on dislplay at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, Scotland

In Spetmeber 1943, SOE agent Malcolm Munthe and his team rescued Benedetto Croce, Italy's leading anti-fascist senator and respected liberal philosopher and his family from Nazis troops. In thanks for this, Croce would later present Munthe with this Andrea Ferrara sword. Ferrara was a famed Italian swordsmith whose weapons were highly prised especially in 16th century Scotland. The method of his smithing continued into the 17th century as well.

Croce had the weapon inscribed, saying:

"With the true thanks of the Italians which fight against Fascism and which always loved British freedom and courage. To the British officers and men who saved them at Sorrento 22nd Sept 1943 led by Major Malcom Munthe of the Gordon Highlanders."

Rapier Sword from Solingen, Germany dated to 1640 on display at the Royal Armouries in London, England

The blade bears the name of Hermanus Keisser, one of the Keisser family of swordsmiths based in Solingen. Solingen was one of the centres for swords in the Holy Roman Empire and the blades were highly prized throughout Europe from the 17th century to the 18th century.

Rapier Sword from Italy dated to 1610 on display at the Royal Armouries in London, England

Dragoons Sword from England dated to 1690 on display at the National Army Museum in London, England

During the British Civil Wars the army reforms under Oliver Cromwell resulted in the rise of dragoon regiments in the English army and the Scottish army following suit. This was mirroring the rise of dragoon regiments in France. Dragoon cavalry were equiped to be able to fight as both ccavalry and infantry with swords and early flintlock muskets. In Britain, the majority of cavalry regiments were converted to dragoon and by the time of the Glorious Revolution and Queen Mary Stuart II taking the throne with her husband, William III, they were very common.

The army during this time had dragoon regiments from not only parts of Britain but also exiled Protestant Huguenot's from France as well as Dutch dragoons. The Dutch had come over with William of Orange to support the deposing of King James VII/II, William's father in law.

Black Figure Amphora from Athens, Greece dated to 500 BCE on display at the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm, Sweden

The amphora depicts the mythological figure of Heracles fighting the Amazons, mythical female warriors and daughters of Ares, the god of war. One of Heracles' labours was to steal the magical belt of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. The Amazons were often depicted wearing a mixture of Greek and Eastern fashions when it came to armour and weapons. Here they are armed in the manner of Greek hoplites with a large shield (hoplon) and spear (dory).