09-18-2009, 07:53 AM
As I could have expected, I received expert advise within a couple of hours. The possibilities of the www continue to impress me.
Quote:I think that the Mainz would be better both for slashing and thrusting while the Pompeii would be better for thrusting.In any case, it may have something to do with a change in tactics; that's already quite something.
Quote:Note that we get an cavalry spatha developed simultaneously with the pompeiiThis is very interesting; is this "common knowledge" or Jurjen's own observation?
Quote:I think the most important point is that the Pompeii-type was easier to manufacture, and the scabbards were also more basic. I would guess that the shift in use was more cost-related.This is indeed relevant; yet, it may be the other way round. Someone (Claudius?) decided that legionary tactics had to change, so new swords had to be mass-produced, so the quality declined.