01-20-2006, 01:46 PM
Pompeius
I think you have hit the nail on the head as I have seen the term semi-spatha bandied about.
The glaidius Hispaniesis was a develpement of a Cetlic type sword of a about 65cm in lenghth .... a cut and thrust sword. It was shortened to 55cm for Mainz/Fulham & Pompeii types ... in my view due to use of body armour making it possible to reduce scutum size and a preference for thrust over cut as this was best way in defeating spear armed Phalanx and wild tribesmen. This as Vorty says is a battlefield developement so we need to look for a similar reason for a move to the spatha. Could it be an increased need to deal with horsemen from foot .... i.e. spear and longer sword better than short sword ?
Has anyone doen a study of the mean/average lenghth of spathas? To me they seem to to vary in size and width an awful lot ?
I think you have hit the nail on the head as I have seen the term semi-spatha bandied about.
The glaidius Hispaniesis was a develpement of a Cetlic type sword of a about 65cm in lenghth .... a cut and thrust sword. It was shortened to 55cm for Mainz/Fulham & Pompeii types ... in my view due to use of body armour making it possible to reduce scutum size and a preference for thrust over cut as this was best way in defeating spear armed Phalanx and wild tribesmen. This as Vorty says is a battlefield developement so we need to look for a similar reason for a move to the spatha. Could it be an increased need to deal with horsemen from foot .... i.e. spear and longer sword better than short sword ?
Has anyone doen a study of the mean/average lenghth of spathas? To me they seem to to vary in size and width an awful lot ?
Conal Moran
Do or do not, there is no try!
Yoda
Do or do not, there is no try!
Yoda
