Smallest gladius?

[Tarbicus]

Simple question: Does anyone have any idea of the size of the smallest gladius ever found?

[FAVENTIANVS]

In Pompey they found a very small gladius but they call it pugio... but looks a gladius to me... :?

[Tarbicus]

Thanks Favientianus. Any idea on the length of the blade?

[FAVENTIANVS]

As short as a pugio I think... I couldn't find any link yet.

[FAVENTIANVS]

Or was it Herculaneum? :?

[Tarbicus]

LOL Thanks. I'll just have to keep digging, and if anyone can point me to any published material that may help that would be very kind of you.

I found one dated to the 3rd C. in a paper Roman Inlaid Swords by Horbacz and Oledzki (JRMES Vol. 9), which is roughly 40 cm from the point to the end of the tang, found at Walldurn-Rheinhardsachsen. I doubt you could call it a spatha, considering the size. There's also another in Vol. 5 that's around 38 cm. Other papers have great illustrations and no scales or sizes ( :roll: ).

[FAVENTIANVS]

That could be called a semispatha.

[Tarbicus]

Well pointed out. It does seem to have a curved tip.

[Tarbicus]

Militaria Sisciensa cites 35cm as a figure. I've gone and lost my B&C RME! :evil:

[Caballo]

In David Hare's excellent article in Exercitus Spring 2005, the shortest was 484mm by 38-41mm wide (Mainz), and the narrowest from Grimbergen at 38mm wide by 486 mm length. The main point of the article is that most re-enactment gladii are too wide, and that a more "spatha" type width is correct.

Cheers

Caballo

[kuura]

Simple question: Does anyone have any idea of the size of the smallest gladius ever found?

I have a copy of the RB tools and weapons from the British museum in front of me which happens to have two possible candidates.

One is approximately 43cm long from tang to blade tip (31cm long blade) and looks like a gladius in plan, straight sides, triangular tipped blade end.

The other is slightly larger at 49.4cm tang to blade tip (36cm long blade).

This looks like an elongated Pugio but without the flaring mid section. It tapers down to a dagger like point with a central ridge.

Hope this helps :?:


Kuura/Jools Sleap

''Let us measure our swords, appraise our blades'' The Kalevala.

[Conal]

http://www.legionsix.org/lorica.jpg

These are stated as Gladii .... look quite short to me ??

[kuura]

These are stated as Gladii .... look quite short to me ??

The one on the right looks similar to the first Brit museum one i mentioned but with a more triangular shaped blade profile at the end.


Kuura/Jools Sleap

''Let us measure our swords, appraise our blades'' The Kalevala.

[Tarbicus]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated.