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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread spatha #124667 03/05/2004 9:09 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 I've never seen a picture of one of these. The article says that only a few without handles have been found. The Romans' close order and discipline made the short gladius superior to the Gaul's long two handed swords used with little discipline. But the short sword would have been useless on horseback. Spatha: The cavalry sword of the romans, between 36" - 40" in length, made from iron. The shape of the hilt is unknown to us, as only a few blades have survived. These blades can easily be confused with their Medieval counterparts, which were of approximately the same length and shape. The Roman footsoldier wielded a much shorter chopping and thrusting sword called the gladius. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: spatha #124668 03/06/2004 12:20 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 This is probably a modern reproduction: http://www.armor.com/2000/catalog/item902.html Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: spatha #124669 03/06/2004 12:41 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Dear Faldage: I wonder when curved blades for cavalry came into use. I don't know the physics involved, but somehow more energy can be stored in a curved blade so that the blow is more effective. Looks like a typo in the description "linticular" I think should be "lenticular". A custom made spatha, of a type for an average auxillary calvary trooper. The blade is of linticular section and the hilt is made from walnut. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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