Ancient Steel Weapons

Title

Publication Type

Chart

Year of Publication

1999

Authors

Welch, John W. (Primary), and Welch, Greg (Primary)

Number

11-139

Publisher

Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies

City

Provo, UT

URL

https://byustudies.byu.edu/charts/11-139-ancient-steel-weapons

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

This chart compares a dagger of Hittite origin found in King Tutankhamen's tomb with Nephi's description of Laban's sword. The high-quality Middle Eastern sword found in the tomb compares with the description in 1 Nephi surprisingly well. Although not related to each other, these two swords both come from the ancient Near East before Lehi's departure from Jerusalem. Laban's sword, which lasted for thousands of years while the Nephite record keepers safeguarded it and used it ceremonially and in wars from generation to generation (see Words of Mormon 1:13), was reproduced "many" times by the Nephites as they prepared to defend themselves from the Lamanites (see 2 Nephi 5:14).

Old World

Steel

Weaponry