Spanish Falcata sword - Woerden - Netherlands

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

I insist it can be a gladiatorial weapon.

We know thracian gladiators were armed with a kind of curved sword called sica. for the origins of that kind of gladiators, we can think initially they could use some sword close to a kopis or machaira.
At WISDOM 2001, Gladiators 100 BC-AD 200, Osprey editions, we can find a description of such a weapon:

"[...]sica, a scimitar-like curved blade, sometimes shown with a shell-shaped guard in wich he placed his hand. Variations of this shape are found on sculptures and mosaics, the blade shape being referred to as Danubian or Etruscan depending on the angle of the curvature. A remarkable curved-bladed weapon made of iron is preserved in the Romermuseum, Augst, Switzerland and it is generally believed to be of gladiatorial origin." P. 43

Or, if you look fot the voice falx at wikipedia, we found that:

"The Dacian falx came in two sizes: one-handed and two-handed. The shorter variant was called sica (sickle) in the Dacian language (Valerius Maximus, III,2.12). In Latin texts the weapon was described as an ensis falcatus (whence falcata) by Ovid in Metamorphose or falx supina by Juvenal in Satiriae."

And, look at the shape of that dacian weapon at the Trajan Column:




So, now we have a curved blade, near to a falcata/kopis in a context very posterior to the use of both weapons. What we have to do with it? Change all the cronology of falcata? Or think is another kind of weapon?

Why not a sica, or another kind of gladiator's weapon?

Generally, with ancient weapons, we have the tendence to think all of them are of militar origin. But a lot of weapons are made for hunting, self defence or, like probably that, fighting sports.

Regarding autorithy, probably Fernando Quesada is the scientific who knows more of falcata, because all the sistematitation and study of such weapon is made by himself, along a lot of articles and books about that kind of weapon and others of the iberian people. So, for me, if Fernando says it is'nt a falcata, i follow his opinion.