Sickle

Basic Information

A sickle is a short, one handed blade with a strong curve - in some cases two thirds of a circle or more - and sharpened on the inner edge. Of very limited use as a weapon, it's primary application is for cutting plants - reaping grain as a less efficient precursor of the scythe, or for smaller jobs even where the scythe is present. The earliest sickle blades seem to be made of flint edged wood or sharpened bone, but somewhat predictably metal blades take precedence wherever available. The fascine knife and similar short cutting hooks are closely related.

Due to its quasi-lunar shape, the sickle may be of some interest to moon worshipping cults as a ritual tool. One tradition with particular attachment to the sickle was said to be (historical) Druidism in which a sickle made of gold or silver was the preferred tool for cutting sacred mistletoe whilst preserving its sanctity. Suggestions of the druids using their sickles for animal or human sacrifice are much less well attributed¹.

Sources

Bibliography

1. full source reference

Game and Story Use

• Like the scythe, "some RPGs" have a tendency to depict this as a viable weapon. It really isn't.
  • Unless you happen to be Cronus, for whom it's probably quite a sensitive issue.
• Sickle like weapons were made, but they were different beasts.
• Still actually an important part of travel kit for anyone who needs to cut forage for mounts or similar things.

Footnotes

1. It's considered pretty likely that the druids engaged in both forms of sacrifice, but whether they used their sickles for it or not is a whole other question.