Originating in ancient Ethiopia, the shotel is a curved sword, similar to the Near Eastern scimitars. Its curve, however, is much more prominent with an almost semi-circular shape. They were also used differently. Abyssinian warriors, fighting behind large shields, did not use fencing techniques. Instead, the shotel's main purpose was not to cut and slice; it was used to hook mounted warriors off their rides as well as to reach behind the enemy's shield when fighting on foot. Unlike the Afar guile, the shotel's upper edge is unsharpened and can be used braced against the swordsman's shield for strength. Collectively the shotel and the other Ethiopian swords are known as Han'e.