Sarmatian origins of the spatha?

[diegis]

One thought - Spartacus was supposedly a Thracian auxiliary of some sort before 70BC. Might steppe influence have passed indirectly via the Thracians, who did indeed contribute to early Roman cavalry formations, and possibly development? {edit: cross-posted with Razvan here!}

Hi Nathan

This is another posibility, Thucidides said in his Peloponnesian Wars, Book II - that "[Getae] border on the Scythians and are armed in the same manner, being all mounted archers"

Getae/Dacians are the northern branch of Thracians, they was obviously closely related and conected with southern Thracians (as those too Spartacus belong too)
Thracian cavalry was employed as auxiliars and they can influence the weaponry of this troops in Roman Army.
The use of "draco" flag was as well introduced in Roman cavalry after Dacian wars of Trajan, and after employing of Dacian auxiliares in Roman army

But i believe the most logical origin of spatha is from gladius, spatha being just a longer and little more refined version of the shorter gladius