The sword from the collection of Azov Historical-Archaeological and Paleontological Museum-Reserve is a very rare sample of Sarmatian weapons. It would be attached to the warrior’s sword belt, on the right side according to Sarmatian custom. In Iranian-speaking nomads a sword, in addition to its primary function, had other functions as well. It was the embodiment of the god of war, it functioned as a social symbol, a sign of the warriors — the highest class even kings originated from, according to the legend.

The sword hilt, the scabbard and the sword belt are generously decorated with gold plates, turquoise, inserts of coral and carnelian. Weapons of this design, decorated with precious metals and semi-precious stones, were found in archaeological sites more than once. A sword of a similar shape, but with completely different images, was discovered in 1978 by archaeologists of the joint Soviet-Afghan expedition, when they were studying the rich burials of the Kushan nobility on the territory of modern Afghanistan.

The ancient master captured a very interesting plot on the sword hilt. On the front side of a round pommel there is a predatory two-humped camel in a fighting position with a leg raised and bent. The animal is shown side-on with its face upreared and its large-toothed mouth open, as if making a battle cry. The relief-designed figure is decorated with turquoise and carnelian inserts — the artist singled out the muscles of the hip, shoulder, both humps and the wool on the chest with them. Besides, the turquoise inserts highlight its ears and ribs, and carnelian attracts attention to its eyes.

The sword hilt is also decorated with gold plates on both sides. On the reverse side there is an embossed stylized floral ornament. In addition, the scabbard and the pommel tip of the hilt are decorated with a border of turquoise and carnelian in diamond-shaped collets.

This sword was not just a ceremonial weapon of a rich warrior, but most likely a symbol of the power of the Sarmatian ruler. The appearance of this subject on the Don is not connected with trade or even with political presents (the item is of too high a profile), rather with the arrival to the Don of a powerful Sarmatian horde, the ruler of which could possess such a high-profile weapon.