The Persians used a number of various weapons for hand-to-hand combat. These were borrowed or adapted from Median, Greek, Egyptian, Scythian or semetic origins.
Akinakes
The characteristic Persian sidearm was the akinakes, which was short in length but could be used for both cut and thrust. It is of Scythian origin, adopted by both the Medes and Persians from at least the seventh century until the second century B.C.
The akinakes shown above, has the characteristic mount which allowed the wearer to suspend the weapon from a belt on the right side. The sword had a short, straight, double-edged iron blade, 34-45 cm (14-18") in length.
Median & Persian officials are pictured wearing the akinakes on the stone reliefs of Persepolis. Interestingly, only a small number are shown with sidearms. It could be supposed that only the most trusted officials were allowed be bear arms in the presence of the King.
Greek art, however, does not show the akinakes but rather protrays Persian figures weilding an axe or kopis.
The kopis sword was predominantly a cutting weapon, similar to a machaira, but with a convex cutting edge of the blade, much like the modern Ghurka kukri. Its heavy, curved blade was large enough to make it the ideal weapon for both infantry and cavalry.
Although the kopis was used by the Greeks, the classical Greek weapon was the phasganon/xiphos, a straight-bladed and double-edged. cut-and-thrust sword.
Xenophon (Anabasis 1.8.7) describes Cyrus the younger's (401 BC.) Persian guard cavalry as carrying Greek style swords.
"and the men carried, besides their other weapons, Greek sabres."
The Alexander Mosaic portrays Persian cavalry carrying the Greek straight sword.
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