spear or pilum?

[Paullus Scipio]

Robert wrote:-

Refresh my memory - what are you arguing that the lancea was? A thrusting or throwing spear?

....neither ! Rather a dual purpose weapon.... see my broad definitions ante...

short dual purpose spear; dual purpose weapon which may be thrown or used to thrust, generally 5-6 ft long, with a spear point and long wooden shaft, thicker and stiffer than javelins. A general purpose weapon.

.....as opposed to a longer thrusting spear over 7ft long, and generally 8 ft or so, such as the greek dory...'short' spear as opposed to 'long' spear, if you will.

You would have to prove at what point the kontos would start changing meaning from a thrusting spear to a throwing spear, if you want ancient authors to use it a translation for a pilum.

...that assumes that it meant 'thrusting spear' in the first place, which can't be right, because it doesn't allow for its 'civilian' meanings - remember its military use began as a nickname - whereas I think it probably originally meant 'any thick shafted pole' ( especially if iron tipped)...see above....the crucial characteristic is a (relatively) thick shaft.

And if you discount Arrian for the moment ..... are there occurances where we clearly can see that an author used the word 'kontos' for a 'pilum'without doubt?

....I don't think it fair to apply a 'proof beyond doubt' standard, for reasons stated previously....but as to other examples where 'kontos' most likely means pilum/spiculum/heavy throwing weapon, you have fortunately supplied several examples! ( see ante)
Lucian; usage of 'kontophroi' and 'longcophoroi' armed infantry guards seems identical to Arrian's........
Julius Africanus;'kontoi' in 217 AD, when pila were a major weapon of legionaries ( see e.g. Bishop and Coulston; Roman Military equipment p.122-123) along with lancea
Vegetius; barbarian infantry carrying 'kontoi' and 'kontoi' being thrown..........