In ancient Ethiopia, few swords were as fearsome as the shotel, a curved, double-edged blade. Warriors who wielded it, known as "meshenitai," wore the weapon on their right side and developed powerful wrist control so that they could swing their sword around their enemy's shield and perforate his lung or kidney. But the shotel wasn't only used in battle. Some Ethiopians used it for practical purposes like cutting meat, and men who wore the impressive sword on the hip often did so in the hopes of attracting potential lovers. Discover the history of the shotel, Ethiopia's legendary curved blade: