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Swords and Weapons by
Historical Period - Roman
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Brief History about Roman Gladius Sword - Gladius
is a Latin word for sword. Early Roman swords were similar to those used
by the Greeks. From the 3rd century BC the Romans adopted swords similar
to those used by the Celtiberians and others, during the Conquest of Hispania.
This kind of sword was known as the Gladius Hispaniensis, or "Hispanic
Sword". It was once thought that they were similar to the later Mainz types,
but the evidence now suggests that this was not the case.[1] Rather these
early blades followed a slightly different pattern, being longer and narrower,
and were probably those that Polybius[2] considered good for both cut and
thrust. Later extant Gladii are now known as the Mainz, Fulham and Pompei
types. In the late Roman period Vegetius[3] refers to swords called semispathae
(or semispathia) and spathae, for both of which he appears to consider
gladius an appropriate term.
A fully equipped Roman soldier would have been armed with a shield
(scutum), several javelins (pila), a sword (gladius), probably a dagger
(pugio) and perhaps a number of darts (plumbatae). Conventionally, the
javelins would be thrown before engaging the enemy, at which point the
gladius would be drawn. The soldier generally led with his shield and thrust
with his sword. Contrary to popular belief, all types of gladius appear
to have also been suitable for cutting and chopping motions as well as
for thrusting.
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