Ilyrian Sica

**North Sea** · 03-31-2019, 05:26 PM

An ancient Ilyrian sword , later adopted by the Romans, and probanly Thracians and Dacians given that it originated in the Hallstatt though not sure about this one. Albanian 'thika' means knife . Possibly used by Celts too.

Thesica was a short sword or large dagger of ancient Thracians, Dacians and Illyrians, used in Ancient Rome too, originating in the Halstatt culture. It was originally depicted as a curved sword (see theZliten mosaicas well as numerous oil lamps) and many examples have been found in what are todayAlbania, Bosnia, Bulgaria,Serbiaand Romania. It is also depicted onTrajan's Column; notably the Dacian kingDecebalusis depicted committing suicide with one.

Possibly from Proto-Albanian* tsikā (whence Albanian thikë, "knife"), from Proto-Indo-European*ḱey- ("to sharpen") possibly viaIllyrian.[1][2]According to Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines[3]the nameSicacomes from Proto-Indo-European rootsek-, meaning "to cut", "to section", however De Vaandeclares any connection to Proto-Indo-European *sek- to be formally impossible.[4]

The Romans regarded the sica as a distinctive Illyrian weapon. The principal melee weapon of the Illyrianswas the Sica.[6]According to historian John Wilkes:[7]

Although a short curved sword was used by several peoples around the Mediterranean the Romans regarded thesicaas a distinct Illyrian weapon used by the stealthy 'assassin' (sicarius)

**North Sea** · 03-31-2019, 05:27 PM

Dacian Sica , 1st century BC

**North Sea** · 03-31-2019, 05:45 PM

Ilyrian helmet

**~~Albobalboa~~** · 03-31-2019, 10:16 PM

I prefer this helmet

**~~Bosniensis~~** · 03-31-2019, 10:20 PM

Sica is a Serbian word.

Even today we use it regularly for Short Sword-like Knife.

It's not Sica but Siča.

**~~Albobalboa~~** · 03-31-2019, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by Gedza

Sica is a Serbian word.

Even today we use it regularly for Short Sword-like Knife.

It's not Sica but Siča.

I press X for doubt on that one. But I'm open to see your arguments.

**North Sea** · 03-31-2019, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Gedza

Sica is a Serbian word.

Even today we use it regularly for Short Sword-like Knife.

It's not Sica but Siča.

Sica has no meaning in Serbo Croatian.

Sica was a short sword used by the ancient Ilyrians, thracians and Dacians ... the Albanian word for knife is from this word . proto Albanian tsika and later thika ... I dont see how this could be Serbian in origin ? Proto Serbs came to Balkans in 6th AD or 7 AD , they mixed with natives possibly and adopted it from them .. nor do I see how it is written Siča which is basically a slavicised version ... Sica has no meaning in Serbo Croatian

In Croatian knife means Noz , same in Serbian , Bosnian and many Slavic languages .., This word has only a meaning in Albanian ... the Albanian word for knife ''thika'' basically comes from this word

**~~Bosniensis~~** · 03-31-2019, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Albobalboa

I press X for doubt on that one. But I'm open to see your arguments.

The act of Cutting we call: Sići, Osići, Sjeći

I still call the long knife: Siča (it is a literal translation of a tool that cut's something)

When something is going through something (like chainsaw through wood) we say: Chainsaw "siče" wood.

I was surprised when I saw that those Ancient People use that word.

**Dick** · 03-31-2019, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by Gedza

The act of Cutting we call: Sići, Osići, Sjeći

I still call the long knife: Siča (it is a literal translation of a tool that cut's something)

When something is going through something (like chainsaw through wood) we say: Chainsaw "siče" wood.

I was surprised when I saw that those Ancient People use that word.

Yeah. Drvosece/Drvosjece. Lumberjack/woodcutter.

**North Sea** · 03-31-2019, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by Gedza

The act of Cutting we call: Sići, Osići, Sjeći

I still call the long knife: Siča (it is a literal translation of a tool that cut's something)

When something is going through something (like chainsaw through wood) we say: Chainsaw "siče" wood.

I was surprised when I saw that those Ancient People use that word.

That doesnt mean it is from Serbian.

The word to cut has an Indo European origin ... In Polish it means cecie similar to sjeca in Serbian ... in Scandinavian language it is skjære ... in english cut ... the s and i has disappeared in english ... the word to cut is similar in many indo european languages .. it is possible the word to cut in croatian and serbian is from slavic ''cecie''

even the words sword and knife is common in many languages ... in Albanian sword means Shpata , In English Sword, In Norwegian Sverd .. its also possible sica is related to this but in albanian thika means knife ... and comes from sica possibly .. word knife is also similar in many indo european languages. But in Slavic it seems different in this case . same way some Albanian words are different. And same way some Slavic and many other languages and Albanian words are similar which is why it is hard to also establish what is a loan word sometimes.

in Serbian sword is mac and knife means noz ... it is rather different. similar to German 'messer' meaning knife .

Sica only seems similar to Albanian thika and english knife and scandinavian kniv ... in slavic noz its possible the k was lost and the i and the v turned to noz