The art of the sword

A sword fundamentally consists of a blade, a hilt, and a crossguard, typically with one or two edges for cutting, and a point for thrusting. The basic intent and physics of swordsmanship have remained fairly constant through the centuries, but the actual techniques vary among cultures and periods as a result of the differences in blade design and purpose. Unlike the bow, spear, axe or knife, the sword is a purely military weapon, and this has made it symbolic of warfare or naked state power in many cultures.The names given to many swords in mythology, literature, and history reflect the high prestige of the weapon and the wealth of the owner.^{[2]In addition there are about 154 different styles of swords.}