Art in an Early Global World at WAM: A WAM/College of the Holy Cross CollaborationMain MenuAmanda Luyster17d39c1ecea88fb7ff282fe74a410b89478b8327Created by the Worcester Art Museum and the College of the Holy Cross, with the Worcester Public Schools AP Art History class of 2024. Financial support provided by the Medieval Academy of America and "Scholarship in Action" at Holy Cross.
Freydal 1882_Page_255
1media/Freydal 1882_Page_255_thumb.jpg2024-03-30T16:02:23-07:00Amanda Sopchockchaic166c893d3f8e85f5083bab6661445b2a8c3894a448014Freydal: des Kaisers Maximilian I, Turniere und Mummereien; mit einer geschichtl, Einleitung, Tafeln, Wien, 1882, Exemplar der UB Tübingen (Faksimileedition des Turnierbuchs Freydal, Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Signatur: K.K. 5073), page 255.plain2024-08-18T09:45:12-07:00Zoe Zimmer726b0bce27fe407b566d2fd9122871e9e9ddcf50
Amanda Sopchockchai, Class of 2027, College of the Holy Cross
This pollaxe was made for a knight or other man-of-arms to bring into battle. A pollaxe was designed for armored combat on foot, which might take place either during war or a tournament. The blade could deliver a powerful blow to cleave or pierce steel, the hammer could dent or break armor, and the spear tip could thrust between the steel plates. These plates were not the knight's only defense: mail armor was worn underneath to cover the gaps at places like the armpit and elbow, and the knight also wore a padded jacket underneath for additional cushioning. Below is an illustration of a knight besting his opponent with the thrusting tip of a pollaxe.
