akinakes, acinaces; (often misleadingly translated "scimitar") άκινάκης [Gk.]

A straight sword or dagger employed by Scythian and north Eurasian nomads; also, a two-edged sword used by Achameneid Persians, having bi-lobiform(shape of two leaves) crossguards and ornate hilt and scabbard. Below are some examples from bas-reliefs of the period^*1:

Persepolis reliefs (left) Persian acinaces; (right) dagger-forms from Persepolis.

§ as Persian weapon

In one instance, Herodotus recounts that the Persian general Intaphrenes used the akinakes to maim the gatekeeper and messenger who had denied him access to King Darius. Intaphrenes (Vindafranâ [O Pers.]), being one of the seven conspirators who murdered the Magian usurper and helped put Darius on the throne, claimed the right to enter unannounced^*1, and was angered when thwarted.

Although akinakes is frequently translated "scimitar" and this misleadingly evokes images of a curved sword; however, it is clear from Josephus' passage^*2 concerning the bandits who wielded weapons like the Roman sica that the akinekes is not curved.

A "gold dagger(akinakes)" is mentioned by Xenophon ^*3 as one of the gifts Cyrus gave to Syennesis.

Quintus Curtius describes the luxuriant attire of the Persian king (Darius)^*4: ]

Cultus regis inter omnia luxuria notabatur: purpureae tunicae medium album intextum erat, pallam auro distinctam aurei accipitres, velut rostris inter se concurrerent, adornabant et zona aurea muliebriter cinctus acinacem suspenderat, cui ex gemma vagina erat. — Historiarum Alexandri Magni Macedonis III.iii.17-18

..the middle of his purple tunic was woven in white, a gilt robe mounted(?) with gold hawks such that their beaks faced each other, provided with something like a golden woman's sash as a belt to suspend his akinakes, whose scabbard was made entirely of gems. — tr. mine

It is known that Alexander offered Persian arms to the Parthenon, and akinakes epichrusos άκινάκης έπίχρυσος "overlaid with gold" is mentioned in an inscription (Inscriptiones Graecae 1.170.17)

§ Representation of Scythian War-God

Herodotus also describes the akinakes sword being used by the Scythians in the worship of their war-god (Mars)^*1.
Unfortunately, he fails to record the Scythian name of the war-god, even though he gives the names of other deities (see table below).

Although Scythians sacrificed to various gods, they did so in a context without any shrines or icons, except in the case of their war-god.
Their shrine to Mars incorporated a mound made by piling brushwood, and on top of this mound they planted the akinakes sword which represented the god of war.

Attila the Hun received the gift of an unearthed sword from a shepherd, and he dubbed it «sword of Mars» (gladius Martis [L.]) because he believed it was an example of one such sword considered sacrosanct by the Scythians.

Table of Scythian deities

Greek/Roman equivalent	Scythic deity	description
Hestia / Vesta	Tabiti Ταβιτί	"whom they propitiate. . in particular"
Zeus / Jupiter	Papaios Παπαῖος	father of Targitaus, first inhabitant (?) (Hdt. 4.5)
Gaia "Earth" / Tellus	Apia Ἀπί	wife of Zeus
Apollo	Goetosyrus Γοιτόσυρος	—
Aphrodite Ourania /   "celestial" Venus	Argimpasa Ἀργίμπασα,	taught Enarees (* Ἐναρέης effeminate/hermaphrodite soothsayers) divination with linden bark (Hdt. 4.67)
Herakles / Hercules	??	father of Scythes, progenitor of Scythian royal line(?) (Hdt. 4.8~9)
Ares / Mars	??	Only to him do they make a shrine.
Poseidon / Neptune	Thagimasadas Θαγιμασάδας	sacrificed to by the "Royals" (Paralatae)

§ Chinese records

Also, archeologists have categorized as sub-class of "akinakes-type" the "⇒径路 jinglu dao ," which has been described by ancient Chinese historians as being used employed by the Huns.