04-29-2013, 12:36 AM
Magister Militum Flavius Aetius wrote:
Although I'd have to argue that in close quarters, a Gladius and a rectangular Scutum would be much more effective than a Spatha, which was not exactly a thrusting weapon.
Robert Vermaat wrote:
Beg to differ. A gladius is effective as a thrusting weapon, sure, but confronted with a solid wall of shields it's less effective.
That's why legionaries had pila, the javelins thrown against enemy lines was supposed to break their shield wall, pila will get stuck in the enemies shields, nailing some shields together, impaling some poor men through their shields and overall stuck into their shields, so they could't be pulled off of them, and the enemies had to abandon their shields. Then their bellies would be easy to pierce with gladii.
Although I'd have to argue that in close quarters, a Gladius and a rectangular Scutum would be much more effective than a Spatha, which was not exactly a thrusting weapon.
Robert Vermaat wrote:
Beg to differ. A gladius is effective as a thrusting weapon, sure, but confronted with a solid wall of shields it's less effective.
That's why legionaries had pila, the javelins thrown against enemy lines was supposed to break their shield wall, pila will get stuck in the enemies shields, nailing some shields together, impaling some poor men through their shields and overall stuck into their shields, so they could't be pulled off of them, and the enemies had to abandon their shields. Then their bellies would be easy to pierce with gladii.
Antonius Insulae (Sakari)
