Damascus Steel

[Kai]

Nice to see you on RAT, Jürgen!

I´m in some experiments on the effect that different natural european stones and mineral powders produce in the finish of blades of welded steel / iron construction.
But there is still very much work...

I am looking forward to see the results!

Indeed, in his letter to the Varni-King Theoderic mentions the splendidissimus pulvis, the most shiny/most famous powder/dust used to polish the swords to great effect, which was a natural resource of the Varni-country.
Unfortunately, it is unknown who the Varni were... Vandals and Thuringians are possible. (The 'schwarze Stämme' which can be found in a German translation hinting to the Vandal-Kingdom is a very... imaginative idea. To be sure, there are many imaginative ideas about what that means.)


This is the full text:

REGI VVARNORUM THEODERICUS REX.

[1] Cum piceis timbribus et pueros gentili candore relucentes, spathas nobis etiam arma desecantes vestra fraternitas destinavit, ferro magis quam auri pretio ditiores. splendet illic claritas expolita ut intuentium facies fideli puritate restituant, quarum margines in acutum tali aequalitate descendunt, ut non limis compositae, sed igneis fornacibus credantur effusae. harum media pulchris alveis excavata quibusdam videntur crispari posse vermiculis: ubi tanta varietatis umbra conludit, ut intextum magis credas variis coloribus lucidum metallum. [2] Hoc vestra cotis diligenter emundat, hoc vester splendidissimus pulvis ita industriose detergit, ut speculum quoddam virorum faciat ferream lucem, qui ideo patriae vestrae natura largiente concessus est, ut huius rei opinionem vobis faceret singularem: enses, qui pulchritudine sui putentur esse Vulcani, qui tanta elegantia fabrilia visus est excolere, ut quod eius manibus formabatur, non opus mortalium, sed crederetur esse divinum. [3] Proinde per illum et illum legatos vestros solventes debitae salutationis affectum arma vestra libenter nos accepisse declaramus, quae bonae pacis studia transmiserunt: vicissitudinem muneris pro expensarum vestrarum consideratione tribuentes, quae tantum vobis reddantur accepta, quantum nobis vestra fuere gratissima. praestent divina concordiam, ut haec inter nos grata mente facientes gentium nostrarum velle iungamus et invicem solliciti mutuis possimus utilitatibus obligari.