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Ramsay, Syed (2016). Tools of War: History of Weapons in Ancient Times. India: Vij Books. ISBN 978-938-601-980-6. By the Early Imperial Period, the blade length of the gladius sword was reduced in size but retained the shape of the gladius Hispaniensis. The size reduction was probably due to the way the Roman infantry fought. These were the Mainz-Fulham gladii the Romans used through Augustus’ years of territorial expansion. The gladius Hispaniensis was a Roman sword used from around 216 BC until 20 BC. Its blade had a length of 60–68cm (24–27in), and the sword was 75–85cm (30–33in) long. The width of the sword was 5cm (2.0in). It was the largest and heaviest of the gladii, weighing 1kg (2.2lb) kg or 900g (2.0lb). This gladius was also the earliest and longest blade. It had a pronounced leaf-shape. The differences between these varieties are subtle. The original Hispanic sword, which was used during the republic, had a slight "wasp-waist" or "leaf-blade" curvature. The Mainz variety came into use on the frontier in the early empire. It kept the curvature, but shortened and widened the blade and made the point triangular. At home, the less battle-effective Pompeii version came into use. It eliminated the curvature, lengthened the blade, and diminished the point. The Fulham was a compromise, with straight edges and a long point. [23] Gladius Hispaniensis [ edit ]
The hilt of a Roman sword was the capulus. It was often ornate, especially the sword-hilts of officers and dignitaries. Throughout history, the Roman gladius continued to reduce in size. The earliest type had a blade length between 64 and 69 centimeters, but later examples were about 42 to 55 centimeters long. The Pompeii gladius was the smallest and the lightest of the three blades. However, the blades of later Roman swords, such as the spatha, were significantly longer. Sword Mounting Mainz Gladius Sword Mounting ( Source)Spartacus used a Sica sword as he was part of the Thraex, the ferocious gladiators that originated from Thracia. It is said that as soon as Spartacus entered gladiator school, he immediately made sure to get a Sica sword. He was well-skilled with it and made himself a fan favorite with his very deadly slashes and bloody fights. Conclusion As the popularity of gladiator battles grew, new varieties of warrior emerged. No longer did they dress according to where they came from. Now gladiators were identified by the sorts of armour and weapon they carried. The Sica sword is a very short sword that could have been considered a dagger or knife by the ancient Romans. It is slightly shorter than the Roman Gladius and is nearly perfectly straight for the first two-thirds. After that, it curves very strongly, giving it a unique and unusual characteristic. Blade Stabbing was a very efficient technique, as stabbing wounds, especially in the abdominal area, were almost always deadly. [20] However, the gladius in some circumstances was used for cutting or slashing, as is indicated by Livy's account of the Macedonian Wars, wherein the Macedonian soldiers were horrified to see dismembered bodies. [21] The short sword served as the primary blade of the Roman legionary and auxiliary infantry for more than three centuries. By the 2nd century CE, the spatha, a longer cavalry sword, replaced short swords of all kinds.
The Roman centurion was a commander of a centuria—a unit that consisted of 100 men. A Roman legion had 60 centurions, who distinguished themselves from lower-ranked soldiers by wearing their gladius on their left. A commander typically drew his centurion gladius across himself to achieve the same end. During the time of Julius Caesar, centurions already wore their gladius on the left side of their body, as shown on their gravestones the next century. The hoplomachii ("armored fighters") wore a helmet and basic arm and leg protection, a small round shield called a parmula, a gladius, a short dagger known as a pugio, and a gladius graecus, a leaf-shaped sword used only by them. Livius, Titus. "The History of Rome, Vol. II". 7.10. Archived from the original on August 30, 2002 . Retrieved 25 November 2010.
It was a full day
The sagita were the arrows used by the arcus bow and Roman archers. these were the arrows of choice for the sagittarius gladiators of Rome. Boxing Caestus (boxing glove) However, experts argue that calling the gladius ‘Spanish’ is inaccurate, as the Celtiberian warriors who used the prototype swords were linked to broader Celtic technological traditions of central and western Europe. More than that, the double-edged short swords with a long point had a long history even before the Romans arrived in Spain. Evolution of the Gladius Sword ( Source) Gladius ( Classical Latin: [ˈɡɫadiʊs]) is a Latin word properly referring to the type of sword that was used by ancient Roman foot soldiers starting from the 3rd century BC and until the 3rd century AD. Linguistically, within Latin, the word also came to mean "sword", regardless of the type used. The “ Spanish sword” of the Republican legionary, the gladius Hispaniensis was the earliest type of Roman short sword. It was the longest of the three blades, measuring between 64 and 69 centimeters long and around 4 to 5.5 centimeters wide. It had a narrow blade with a long point and a large pommel at the end of the hilt which served as a counterweight. 2. Mainz Gladius ( Source)
The crowds weren’t just offered sword-fighting. The day would start with men, called venatores, fighting wild animals such as bears and lions. Then there would be public executions of criminals at noon, with the gladiator battles taking place in the afternoon. Some Emperors, including Caligula and Hadrian, would actually enter the arena and fight, though these were staged battles using wooden weapons and the Emperor always won. Of course. The cross-sections of the gladius blade suggest that there was no way of forging it. The Roman swordsmiths used the so-called piling technique by forge-welding harder high carbon steel edges to softer cores to create a strong and flexible blade. Blade Shape and AppearanceM. C. Bishop (2016). The Gladius: The Roman Short Sword (in Spanish). Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-14-728158-6-6. The articles in the links below often differ both in theory and in detail. They should not necessarily be understood as fully professional articles but should be appreciated for their presentational value. The lancea was a short javelin used to throw easily without having to carry to much weight around. Pilum (spear/javelin) However, the shorter sword was less efficient to cavalrymen who needed a long reach. So, they adopted the spatha with a longer blade. The spatha was simply a Romanized version of the long Iron Age swords of the Gallic and Iberian cavalrymen. During the High Imperial Period, the Pompeii gladius with parallel edges emerged. Gladius in the Gladiatorial Arena
The imitation bone grip is another distinctive element of the Gladiator Spiculus. Contrasting beautifully with the dark-stained wooden pommel and guard, the hilt not only looks impressive, but also provides a firm and comfortable grip. The standard weight of the Sica sword was anywhere from 0.9 to 1.6 lbs (400 to 750 grams). This means that this shortsword was a very light weapon to use compared to other weapons at the time. The low weight combined with the deadly curved blade makes it a fast weapon that can easily cut or pierce flesh. Uses of the Sica Sword A Sica being used to behead a ballistic gelatin dummy- Credits: Forged in Fire Gladiator battles were held at huge venues called amphitheatres. “Arena”, the word we use for this type of building today, actually referred to the floor of the amphitheatre that was covered in sand to soak up all the spilt blood. But the story of the Gladiator Spiculus is what makes it even more special. Adored by the crowds that attended the Gladiator Games, this sword was a personal favorite of the Roman Emperor Nero. Spiculus was handsomely rewarded for his fighting skills and received gifts and palaces from the emperor. Even when Nero tried to kill him when he learned that he would be sentenced to death, Spiculus managed to escape his fate. Below are the weapons used by the gladiators or their foes in the amphitheatres of Rome. Swords Gladius (sword)Soon gladiators became more professional, and people volunteered to fight as it provided good food, a place to live and – if you survived – fame. Emperors didn’t select who lived or died depending on which way their thumb was pointing. That’s just a myth. With a blade length of about 48 centimeters, it is similar to its Roman predecessor but with a heavy blade, making it used less for combat. In 1831, the French produced a new version and it was later copied by the Americans. The Roman Gladius Sword in Modern Times The biggest thing this word was used for was, of course, fighting. It is a very light sword that is easy to operate, even for novices. When combined with a shield, it can easily become a very deadly tool. Sometimes it was dual-wielded with a larger sword or even a long spear.
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