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[[File:Arakh.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Arakh, Dothraki weapon.]]
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[[File:Arakh.jpg|thumb|350px|right|The arakh; the traditional Dothraki weapon.]]
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{{Quote|Their blades are more scythe than sword... the better to cull the infantry ranks without breaking stride.|Ser Jorah Mormont|The Unsullied (Histories & Lore)}}
The '''arakh''' is the standard weapon used by [[Dothraki]] warriors. It is a long blade, making a semi-circular curve in its lower half, making it half-sword and half-scythe.
 
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The '''arakh''' is the standard weapon used by [[Dothraki]] warriors. It has a crescent moon-shaped, curved blade about two and a half feet long and a thick handle almost the same length, making it half-sword and half-scythe. Although unable to penetrate armor, the arakh gives the wielder tremendous maneuverability of wrists.
   
[[Jorah Mormont]] notes that while the sweeping blade is necessary and effective for a warrior on horseback, the arakh pales in comparison to the sword for battling without a mount or at penetrating armor.<ref>"[[Lord Snow]]"</ref>
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[[Jorah Mormont]] notes that while the sweeping blade is effective and indeed necessary for a warrior on horseback, the arakh pales in comparison to the [[Westerosi]] double-edged sword for battling without a mount or at penetrating armor.<ref>"[[Lord Snow]]"</ref>
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Although a Dothraki weapon, it is occasionally employed by non-Dothraki, such as the [[Tyrosh]]i mercenary [[Daario Naharis]], captain of the [[Second Sons]].<ref>"[[Second Sons (episode)|Second Sons]]"</ref>
   
 
==In the books==
 
==In the books==
   
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The weapon overall is an original invention of [[George R.R. Martin]] , but does bear some similarity to ancient "sickle-swords" such as the [[wikipedia:Khopesh|khopesh]] and the [[wikipedia:Falx|falx]]. Martin's description of arakhs in the books (''A Game of Thrones'', chapter Daenerys II) is: "...in the blink of an eye the arakhs were out, long razor-sharp blades, half sword and half scythe."
The ''arakh'' is similarly described in the books.
 
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Martin's conception of arakhs, however, actually differs from the arakhs produced for the TV series. When Martin described arakhs as "half-sword and half-scythe", he meant a curved blade similar to a scimitar. The TV series took his description literally, making a blade that starts out as a straight sword before turning into a circular, curved scythe-shape halfway through.
   
 
According to the TV series official pronunciation guide developed for the cast and crew, "Arakh" is pronounced "Ah-rock", as opposed to "Ah-RACK".[[File:Arakh1.jpg|thumb|A collection of Arakhs behind the scenes.]]
 
According to the TV series official pronunciation guide developed for the cast and crew, "Arakh" is pronounced "Ah-rock", as opposed to "Ah-RACK".[[File:Arakh1.jpg|thumb|A collection of Arakhs behind the scenes.]]
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*{{AWOIAF}}
*[http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Arakh Arakh at A Wiki of Ice and Fire.]
 
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*{{WP}}
   
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 13:18, 15 June 2014

Arakh

The arakh; the traditional Dothraki weapon.

"Their blades are more scythe than sword... the better to cull the infantry ranks without breaking stride."
―Ser Jorah Mormont[src]

The arakh is the standard weapon used by Dothraki warriors. It has a crescent moon-shaped, curved blade about two and a half feet long and a thick handle almost the same length, making it half-sword and half-scythe. Although unable to penetrate armor, the arakh gives the wielder tremendous maneuverability of wrists.

Jorah Mormont notes that while the sweeping blade is effective and indeed necessary for a warrior on horseback, the arakh pales in comparison to the Westerosi double-edged sword for battling without a mount or at penetrating armor.[1]

Although a Dothraki weapon, it is occasionally employed by non-Dothraki, such as the Tyroshi mercenary Daario Naharis, captain of the Second Sons.[2]

In the books

The weapon overall is an original invention of George R.R. Martin , but does bear some similarity to ancient "sickle-swords" such as the khopesh and the falx. Martin's description of arakhs in the books (A Game of Thrones, chapter Daenerys II) is: "...in the blink of an eye the arakhs were out, long razor-sharp blades, half sword and half scythe."

Martin's conception of arakhs, however, actually differs from the arakhs produced for the TV series. When Martin described arakhs as "half-sword and half-scythe", he meant a curved blade similar to a scimitar. The TV series took his description literally, making a blade that starts out as a straight sword before turning into a circular, curved scythe-shape halfway through.

According to the TV series official pronunciation guide developed for the cast and crew, "Arakh" is pronounced "Ah-rock", as opposed to "Ah-RACK".

File:Arakh1.jpg

A collection of Arakhs behind the scenes.

See also

References