In the 3rd century of the current era the term "Frank" was used by Romans and others to describe a group of Germanic tribes living in the Rhine valley. In the 4th century Franks settled within territory ruled by the Romans and were a recognised kingdom. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire the Frankish kingdom under their Merovingian kings spread over all of France (which to this day is named after this confederation of Germans).

The Middle Eastern two-edged curved dagger is one of the most recognizable weapon forms. Typically it is known by the Arab term djanbīyya sometimes Anglicised as "jambiya", or also often the Arabic term khandjar, but these curved daggers are found across the Middle East.

In July, ROM Assistant Curator Dr. Kevin Seymour offered an enthusiastic group of 25 ROM members a guided tour of the famous fossil site at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto’s Don Valley. Beautiful weather was the order of the day (after days of rain), giving all participants an enjoyable if somewhat muddy outing.

A look at a cast bronze sword hilt, acquired before 1910 in Cairo by Charles Currelly and presently in the Eaton Gallery of Rome.