The Book of Mormon, Mexican Warriors and Uncovered Legs

[Olavarria]

Alma 49: 24

24) There were about fifty who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through the pass, but they were shielded by their shields, and their breastplates, and their head-plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of which were very severe.

The following are codices which picture warriors with uncovered legs.

[mfbukowski]

Alma 49: 24

24) There were about fifty who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through the pass, but they were shielded by their shields, and their breastplates, and their head-plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of which were very severe.

The following are codices which picture warriors with uncovered legs.

Bump

[katherine the great]

Bump

It seems quite reasonable to protect one's vital organs in battle while leaving limbs basically unencumbered for speed.

[John Larsen]

[Analytics]

[Confidential Informant]

Actually, I would like Brant to take a look at this codex and give his opinion. It's not the naked legs that draw my attention. It's the weapons they are holding. Is it just me, or do they look very ....sword-like?

C.I.

[Brant Gardner]

Actually, I would like Brant to take a look at this codex and give his opinion. It's not the naked legs that draw my attention. It's the weapons they are holding. Is it just me, or do they look very ....sword-like?

There are two major types of weapons depicted. The top and second graphic have macuahuitls. The third has spears (with obsidian blades around the "blade" at the top.

[Rommelator]

Is it just me, or do they look very ....sword-like?

No, its not just you. The Spanish thought that they looked like swords as well.

http://farms.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vo...um=1&id=118

But for some reason Joseph Smith is not allowed to call them swords in his own translation of a Mesoamerican document. Hmm....

[John Larsen]

No, its not just you. The Spanish thought that they looked like swords as well.

http://farms.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vo...um=1&id=118

But for some reason Joseph Smith is not allowed to call them swords in his own translation of a Mesoamerican document. Hmm....

Clearly patterned after the Sword of Laban.

[Rommelator]

Clearly patterned after the Sword of Laban.

Ah, true enough. But does this account for all Nephite and Lamanite weaponry? It says that Nephi did this, but what about later generations? Did they continue the practice or did they fall upon the usage of the much more convenient and possibly effective macuahuitl?

For example, what about the Anti-Nephi-Lehis? Lamanites converted to the Lord who gave up their swords. As Brant Gardner pointed out, if in fact they were wielding macuahuitls then the stain of blood being removed from a wooden weapon would be all the more miraculous.

[Olavarria]