Bent Roman sword found in Thessaloniki

[guy]

I had to review the role Thessaloniki had in the Roman Empire and the development of the early Christian church that Saint Paul visited.

Quote

“THESSALONIKI, GREECE—Live Science reports that Errikos Maniotis of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and his colleagues have uncovered seven graves, including a 1,600-year-old soldier’s arch-shaped grave, in an early Christian basilica discovered in 2010 ahead of subway construction in northern Greece. The soldier was buried with a shield, a spear, and a spatha, a type of long straight sword used from about A.D. 250 to 450, that had been bent. “Usually, these types of swords were used by the auxiliary cavalry forces of the Roman army,”

https://www.archaeology.org/news/9690-210513-greece-christianity-army

Quote

Folded swords are usually excavated in sites in Northern Europe,' he said. 

'It seems that Romans didn't practise it, let alone when the new religion, Christianity, dominated, due to the fact that this ritual [was] considered to be pagan.'

Archaeologists are yet to assess the remains of the soldier, described as likely a 'Romanized Goth or from any other Germanic tribe who served as a mercenary'.”

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9578541/Folded-iron-sword-discovered-Roman-soldiers-grave.html

 

Summary: Below are two videos reviewing the importance of Thessaloniki with the early Christian church and Saint Paul.

 

 

 

Edited January 28 by guy

[guy]

Another interpretation of the story:

Quote

“One of the most well-preserved of his weapons was an iron sword that was found bent, or ”folded” as described by archaeologist Melina Paisidou. The astonishing part of this discovery was the fact that despite the burial taking place in a Christian basilica, the folded sword is a sign of ancient pagan rituals. This gives archaeologists evidence that this warrior, despite the fact that most probably embraced Christianity and the Roman customs of the time, did not forget his Gothic roots, as his burial included a custom embedded in pagan tradition.”

 

https://greekreporter.com/2021/05/16/gothic-warrior-found-buried-greece-thessaloniki/

Edited October 11, 2021 by guy

[caldrail]

The Romans did not exclude foreign religions (although christianity had a bad rep in its early existence). We see tribal beliefs and customs impinging on daily life in the imperial period - but then, Rome was not the massive exercise in assimilation most people perceive it as. 'Romanisation' is more of a modern concept than ancient. To be Roman meant loyalty, allegiance, and tax. It was not about stereotypes.