His name may not sound so familiar. It is not as well-known as Genghis Khan, the ruler who laid the cornerstone of The Mongol Empire, but Saladin is still recognized as a beloved historical figure among Muslims. He is the one who fought for the Holy Land of Jerusalem on behalf of Islam during The Crusades, a fierce 200-year-war between European Christianity and the Islamic world in the 11-13^th centuries.

A noticeable part in the front of the statue of Saladin is the sword that he is holding with his right hand, pointing it up towards the sky. It may seem like an ordinary sword, but this blade, also known as the Damascus blade, contains an interesting history in relation to iron. Let us appreciate a part of the history of iron, through following the footsteps of this sacred weapon.

An invincible sword made of Wootz steel, captivates everyone’s heart

Firstly, one cannot help to wonder how the sword ended up with the name of Syria’s capital. It does not have obvious ties to Damascus, and its origins actually bring it back to ancient India.

Take a moment to look at the column in the photo above. It is made with steel, weighs six tons and measures 10 meters high. Judging from its pristine condition, which does not have a lot of rust, one may think it was made rather recently; however, it was erected 1700 years ago, during India’s Gupta Dynasty. Many scholars have conducted investigations on its composition to solve its mysteries, but they were not able to discover a definite reason as to how it has been able to remain rust-less.

This column, called “the iron pillar of Delhi”, is made with something called Wootz steel. Because of its durability, even to hammering, Wootz steel was mainly used for making sharp blades. It is unreasonable to think swords made with such an outstanding material to remain only in India; it was exported worldwide, to Russia, China and even to Persia. Eventually, swords made with Wootz steel captivated the hearts of the Damascus people in Syria.

But why is this specific sword called the “Damascus blade”, and not the “Indian sword” or the “Wootz steel sword?”

Damascus used to be the trade center of West Asia. Wootz steel blades were exported through the city and due to its high demands, it is predicted that a shortage in supply shortage must have occurred. At around 300 B.C., the spread of the Wootz steel blade began when merchants started to produce swords directly by hiring artisans. That is when the storied blade got its name as the “Damascus blade” – born and raised by India, but rising to fame only after it reached Damascus, Syria.

Strong and beautiful, the Damascus sword

Beginning with its manufacturing process, the Damascus blade was an extraordinary tool. While its blade is solid due to a mixture of carbon that allows it to maintain an even level of solidity, its body has a distinct pattern due to differences in carbon distribution that enables it to be shock absorbing. That is why a writer once described the sword as “a shining wave in a breezy pond.”

Because of its strength and beauty, the Damascus blade was a weapon coveted by many. One person who especially wanted one of the valuable swords was Mutawakkil, a caliph of Abbasid who ruled the Islamic world from the 8^th to 13^th centuries. He had heard of its reputation from southern India where it was being produced at the time, and eventually succeeded in obtaining this legendary weapon, after various attempts and paying a huge sum of money – only to lead him to his death.

He assigned his adjutant Bagyr as a keeper of the sword, and it just so happened Mutawakkil’s subordinate was planning a revolt against his leader. Bagyr later murdered Mutawakkil with the Damascus blade, his most precious treasure – ending his quest for the sword in an ironic fate.

A weapon that defeated the Crusades

It was not until the Crusades that the fame of the Damascus blade spread to Europe from Asia; it was Saladin’s army’s use of the Damascus blade that pierced crusaders’ thick armor and severed their swords in one swing.

However, there is another reason why this particular sword is incredible; it is not only strong and sharp, but also light and slim. One may think that the sword featured in Saladin’s statue is undersized. It’s almost hard to believe that a hero who once ruled over the world was wielded such a small sword, but not everything that is bigger is necessarily better. Saladin’s army was much more advanced in battle because of their mobility, than the crusaders who used heavy swords.

There are some urban legends of the lithe and powerful blade that exist from its heyday. When King Richard I, who lead the Crusades, showed off his sword, Saladin responded by throwing a piece of silk over his Damascus blade, which apparently finely sliced through the cloth.

There were also rumors such as that the devil taught humans how to make the Damascus blade, and while one can only wonder how reliable this tale to be, it surely reaffirms the blade’s reputation as tremendous weapon.

The Crusades eventually ended in defeat, and from an Islamic perspective, the Damascus blade is considered to be what successfully prevented the invasion of Christianity.

Since then, the Damascus blade has fought in battlefields around the world. But around 250 years ago, the manufacturing technique faded from the generations of artisans, and since then, it has not been restored. Even though we develop other weapons of mass destruction using steel at this day and age, the craft of making the historically significant blade has evaporated into a memory.

Will there be another day in the future when we will be able to appreciate the Damascus blade’s legendary pattern of “a shining wave in a breezy pond” once again?

Written by Changhoon Kang, author of ‘Era of Steel’

The opinions expressed in this POSCO Report piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of POSCO.

The blades wielded by the Game of Thrones characters have become synonymous with the show itself, and hardcore fans across the world pay a lot of money to get their hands on replicas of the iconic swords, which each have their own special characteristics and names, like Blackfyre, Dark Sister and Longclaw. But, what makes these weapons so extraordinary?

A Mythical, Magical Metal  

The secret behind the swords’ superiority is the material of which they were forged: Valyrian steel. This mythical alloy, manufactured in the ancient empire of the Valyrians, is noted to be exceptionally sharp and tremendously strong, yet lightweight, making it an ideal metal for a sword. Its rippled patterns make it distinctive from other metals, and because of these properties, the steel is quite scarce and very expensive. Yet what makes Valyrian steel swords most unique and powerful is the fact that they are forged with magic spells and dragonfire in a sword making process that was all but lost over the ages.

While the fictitious alloy was more than likely the result of imaginative thinking than the consultation of chemistry books, George R. R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series on which the show is based, drew inspiration from real-life ancient weaponry, more specifically Damascus steel, to dream up the material.

Real-life Inspiration

Similar to its imaginary predecessor, Damascus steel, which originated in South India before the Common Era, was primarily used to make long-bladed weapons which were reputed to be tough, shatter-resistant and able to be honed to a sharp, resilient edge.

Additionally, the blades possessed the distinctive rippled patterns which resembled flowing water. It is said that Islamic knights would look at these patterns before a battle to be reminded of the flowing waters of the rivers of paradise, and be reassured that should they fall, their place in paradise would be secured.

Of course, there were no fire-breathing dragons or wizardry involved in the forgery of these blades, and the metal’s properties weren’t as ideal as those of Valyrian steel. The material did give rise to a number of legends, however.

It was believed that a blade made of Damascus steel could effortlessly cut through a rifle barrel, or cut in half a silk scarf falling across the blade. Some even say that Damascus steel swords were the strongest blades used in the Crusades. Whether there is any truth to these legends or not, the swords were undoubtedly extraordinary for their time.

Also like Valyrian steel, the original method of production of Damascus steel was eventually lost, and the manufacturing of the patterned swords ceased around 1750.

Although Damascus steel blades may be long gone, these intricate swords have been reincarnated, albeit fictitiously, and can continue to be admired, thanks to the Game of Thrones series, which airs on Sundays at 9PM Eastern Standard Time on HBO.

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