Which Ancient Weapon Will Your Heart Summon?

By: Raj Chander
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Which Ancient Weapon Will Your Heart Summon?
Image: sutiporn somnam/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

When many people think of "warfare," modern conflicts like the Battle of Normandy, the War in Iraq or the invasion of Afghanistan come to mind. We think of young men in camo outfits, using sophisticated technology and cutting edge weapons to find and attack their foes.

But when you look at human history on a larger scale, some of the most epic battles actually happened hundreds of years before any of us were around.

Take Achilles, the famous Greek warrior. While many might know him best for being played by Brad Pitt in the feature film "Troy," the man himself was quite remarkable. Using only a sword, shield and some expert battle skills, he single-handedly changed the course of Greek history.

You can go even further back than that, to the Battle of Kadesh, the most famous conflict between two well-known ancient states: Egypt and the Hittite Empire. Using tools that are today considered rudimentary, like chariots and bows, tens of thousands of soldiers battled to preserve the boundaries of their respective kingdoms.

We don't talk much about the tools that were used during these historic battles. While we may have been focused more on famous military leaders like Hannibal and Julius Caesar, ancient weapons had plenty of personality and often reflected the nature of the soldiers who wielded them.

Which kind of ancient fighting equipment would you ride into battle with? We'll tell you after you finish this quiz. Mount up and prepare for glory!

Which ancient warrior society do you admire the most?
Spartans
Samurai
Mongols
Greeks
What do you think your best skill as a soldier would be?
Accuracy
Courage
Stealth
Strength
If you could travel to any of the countries below, which would you choose?
Ethiopia
Japan
France
Greece

Advertisement

How do you usually handle conflicts that arise in your life?
Tackling them one step at a time
I use skill and agility to overcome them.
Overwhelming them with strength
I use stealth to sneak around the issue.
Let's say someone criticizes you at work — what is your response?
Try to intimidate them
Secretly sabotage them
Outperform them in the office
Take them on face-to-face to address the problem
Many of history's warriors are known for their elaborate garb. What are you wearing into battle?
High-quality pants and a nice shirt
Black jumpsuit
Camouflage
Shorts and a helmet

Advertisement

Which of these reasons is the best to fight a war?
For your country
For your beliefs
To conquer other lands
To keep the peace
Do you think soldiers should rely on sophisticated battle plans from their generals?
Yes, they know best.
Yes, based on stealth and deception
No, battle skill is most important.
If the formation is right, the odds of winning are better.
If you could use some form of transportation in battle, what would it be?
Horse
Chariot
Elephant
Scooter

Advertisement

Who is your favorite ancient military leader?
Sun Tzu
Genghis Khan
Alexander the Great
Achilles
What would you depend on to give you good fortune in battle?
Desire to win
The element of surprise
My high skill level
Strength
How would you treat captured enemy soldiers after the fighting ended?
Keeping them captive yet comfortable
Making them slaves
No quarter
Releasing them without weapons

Advertisement

How would you get fired up to win an important ancient battle?
Talking with my fellow soldiers
Meditation
Practicing my skills
Partying
How would your friends describe your problem-solving skills?
I prefer to avoid conflict.
I'm the one who uses fairness to resolve things.
I'm the one who uses skillful conversation to disarm conflicts.
I use strength and force to keep the peace.
What would be the first thing you do after winning a battle?
Celebrate with my fellow warriors
Continue on with my mission
Take care of my equipment
Honor my fallen comrades

Advertisement

Is it more important to fight for your fellow countrymen, or the country itself?
Doesn't matter much to me, I just like to fight.
Country
Both should be equally on my mind.
My fellow soldiers
Which of these is the most dishonorable act in battle?
Surrender
Fighting dishonorably
Treason
Abandoning your fellow soldiers
What's your favorite famous battle cry?
"This is Sparta!"
"Banzai!"
"Remember the Alamo!"
"Deus hoc Vult!"

Advertisement

If you suddenly lost your weapon in the heat of conflict, what would you do?
Use my fists
Find another one
Retreat, at least temporarily
Rely on my secondary weapon
How would you face a battle where your side was extremely outnumbered?
I'd try to take out as many enemies as possible.
I'd try to use stealth and cunning to overcome the odds.
I'd find higher ground and let the terrain even things out.
I'd attempt to motivate my troops more than the other side.
What kind of meal do you want at the post-battle banquet?
A massive sandwich
A roasted turkey
A juicy steak
Fish, rice and vegetables

Advertisement

Who should be the first to congratulate you on winning a battle?
My general
My own sense of duty
My king or leader
My spouse
How much skill do you want your weapon to require?
More strength than skill
A decent level of skill
A high level of skill
Not much skill at all
If you could choose, which modern-day weapon would you want to do battle with?
Sniper rifle
Crossbow
Shotgun
Assault rifle

Advertisement

Which of these famous battles is most impressive to you?
Battle of Thermopylae
Sack of Troy
Battle of Shrewsbury
Battle of Gettysburg
Which of these jobs is closest to your current occupation?
IT professional
Creative designer
Accountant
Sales professional
As a warrior, what would you want your legacy to be?
Being the strongest and most powerful fighter
Having the most influence over victory
Taking down the most enemies
Fighting with the most honor

Advertisement

What do you think is the key to being a successful fighter?
Stealth and cunning
Being highly skilled
Strength
Honor
Which modern sport do you admire most?
Football
Fencing
Archery
Baseball
What's your favorite movie about ancient warfare?
"300"
"13 Assassins"
"Braveheart"
"Troy"

Advertisement

You Got: