The Cellar - View Single Post

Urbane Guerrilla · 06-12-2008, 02:00 AM

Ceremonial maces at least in England have a somewhat curious design history.

Carrying a mace for opening Parliament, IIRC, the order of the day was to carry this weapon inverted -- peaceful intentions but royal muscle behind 'em, and all that. The mace also got fancy, and an ornamental knob or finial adorned the end of the haft.

Said finial was about the most visible part of a mace being ritually carried inverted.

Said finial got bigger and fancier. Eventually the base of the mace got bigger than the head was, which was shrinking, atrophying with time.

So guess what you're looking at now!

06-12-2008, 02:00 AM	#9
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Ceremonial maces at least in England have a somewhat curious design history. Carrying a mace for opening Parliament, IIRC, the order of the day was to carry this weapon inverted -- peaceful intentions but royal muscle behind 'em, and all that. The mace also got fancy, and an ornamental knob or finial adorned the end of the haft. Said finial was about the most visible part of a mace being ritually carried inverted. Said finial got bigger and fancier. Eventually the base of the mace got bigger than the head was, which was shrinking, atrophying with time. So guess what you're looking at now! __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.