Axes and spears in inventories, ambassadorial axes were decorative axes with coats of arms, which were used by two guards (gridnya) standing on either side of the tsar's throne during the reception of ambassadors. Drawing no. 77 depicts one of four such axes kept in the armoury chamber under no. 3-6. According to the inventories of 1687 and 1701, they were made in moscow: "four axes, moscow work, steel, decorated with gold, grass scattered on both sides, two lions in the grass, on the side in the middle in a circle, in the circles an eagle with crowns; on the right side in the eagle a man on a horse is stabbing a snake; and on the left side in the eagle an indrok (unicorn); "they are lined with gold, the butts are lined with gold, on the butts there are two apples, some are openwork, others have oblique edges, lined with gold; the handles of the axes are framed in silver, chased and gilded; at the end of the handles there are white silver crowns, in the tips there are ten turquoises, and on the other axe two turquoises are damaged. And according to the current census of the year and upon inspection, those axes matched the previous census books; in two axes there are four turquoises missing, one turquoise is broken in half, and half is missing. The price of those axes is seventy rubles per axe. " these four axes already existed under tsar mikhail fedorovich; they are mentioned in the inventory of the large outfit, compiled in 1642: "four axes that are in the rynda with the last ones; on both sides of the axes, in circles, there is a gold-plated eagle; on the axes, near the eagles and on the butts, grass is also stuffed with gold; the handles of the axes are set with chased gilded silver; the handles of the axes have an apple at both ends, in which the turquoise stones are damaged, and some have fallen out. The wooden sheaths of the axes are covered with leather, and inside with green cloth. " the ambassadorial axe, depicted in figure no. 76, is also one of four located in the armory chamber under no. 7-10. In the inventories of 16872 they are called "turkish". They have the coat of arms of the byzantine empire engraved in gold, and so it can be assumed that these axes, the weapons of the bodyguards of the greek emperors (relekptsyptspt), were sent during the first relations with turkey by the sultan from the constantinople armory: "two turkish axes, red damask steel, the borders and butts are outlined in gold on both sides; under the butt there are two targets on both sides; under the targets in the brands of an eagle with crowns; thin silver white handles, yes, and two tips, yes, and two ferrules, chased gilded. And according to the current census of the year and upon inspection, those axes matched the previous census books. The price of those axes is one hundred and ten rubles per axe. " "two turkish axes, red damask steel, the borders and butts are outlined in gold on both sides; under the butts of the target and under the targets by the brand, in the brands by the eagle from the crown on both sides and drawn in gold; in the middle of the axes burrs are cut; the handles of the axes are thin, white silver, with two tips, and two ferrules, chased and gilded. And according to the current census of the year and upon inspection, those axes matched the previous census books. The price of those axes is one hundred and ten rubles per axe. ". Date: before 1853.
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