04-15-2009, 10:34 PM
To continue the digression on the adoption of the "Gladius Hispaniensis", one may wonder if it was that radically different to the Greek-style xiphos that seems to have preceded it, other than having a 'sharper' point.
The real difference was in the balance.The xiphos was broadest/heaviest toward the point, hence the 'balance point' was also forward, optimising the weapon for cutting, like a machete or the even more extreme kopis/falcata
The gladius hispaniensis, with it's (relatively) tapered point, had it's balance point further back toward the hilt, optimising the sword for a thrust.......
The real difference was in the balance.The xiphos was broadest/heaviest toward the point, hence the 'balance point' was also forward, optimising the weapon for cutting, like a machete or the even more extreme kopis/falcata
The gladius hispaniensis, with it's (relatively) tapered point, had it's balance point further back toward the hilt, optimising the sword for a thrust.......
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff