12-05-2007, 07:55 PM
Getting back to length, it would appear that historical sources are in agreement with practical experimentation, and archaeology ( with reservations because it is of limited assistance here) when it comes to a practical length for an Infantry spear ( defining spear as a single-handed weapon ).
Although evidence for Late Roman spears seems to be somewhat scarce, it appears that from Germany in the West to Anatolia in the East, the length of the Great Spear, across Time and different Cultures is remarkably uniform, at 8-9' (2.4-2.7 m) with most being at the lower end.
Sometimes 'experiments' such as Iphicrates, or certain tribes with exceptionally long spears are quoted ( up to 12' - 3'6m ), but Iphicrates reference may be to Marines ship-board Pikes, and tribal references are prone to exaggeration, or a unique style of fighting.
The significant point is that even if/where such experiments occurred, they did not lead to a wider adoption of such weapons.
Accordingly, I think we can say with reasonable certainty that Late Roman spears were around 8'-2.4m long.
D
Although evidence for Late Roman spears seems to be somewhat scarce, it appears that from Germany in the West to Anatolia in the East, the length of the Great Spear, across Time and different Cultures is remarkably uniform, at 8-9' (2.4-2.7 m) with most being at the lower end.
Sometimes 'experiments' such as Iphicrates, or certain tribes with exceptionally long spears are quoted ( up to 12' - 3'6m ), but Iphicrates reference may be to Marines ship-board Pikes, and tribal references are prone to exaggeration, or a unique style of fighting.
The significant point is that even if/where such experiments occurred, they did not lead to a wider adoption of such weapons.
Accordingly, I think we can say with reasonable certainty that Late Roman spears were around 8'-2.4m long.
D
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
