ROMAN GLADIUS

ew weapons in history have the cultural iconicity of the Roman sword. For four centuries, the was one of the defining weapons of Rome as both a republic and an imperial power. It emerged in the 3rd-century bce, as Rome sought tactical and, although there has been lively academic debate about its origins. It was developed to be used by the infantryman in tactical combination with a (body shield) and a (javelin), the latter thrown at the enemy before the legionary charged in to close-quarters combat. The had a relatively short double-edged blade, narrowing slightly to a waist before flaring out from near its midpoint, then narrowing into a pronounced point. It was designed for both cutting thrusting; the legionary would often take enemy spear and sword blows on his , gripped in the left hand, then whip round the defensive barrier to deliver slashing or stabbing attacks, prime target areas being the stomach, groin or even knees, but also upper vulnerabilities such as the arms and neck. During the imperial age of Rome, the went through several recognized variants, including the with its long triangular point used to penetrate mail, and the , which emerged during the second half of the 1st-century CE with parallel cutting edges and a short, stronger point, better for close-range urban combat and for penetrating plate armor. The replacement of the with the longer, straight began in the 2nd-century CE, prompted by the rise of cavalry.