Roman spatha found in Poland

[guy]

 

A Roman spatha has been found (in three pieces) in Southern Poland.

 

Quote

The Roman spatha was used in war and in gladiatorial fights. The spatha of literature appears in the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD as a weapon used by presumably Celtic auxiliaries and gradually became a standard heavy infantry weapon by the 3rd century AD. The Spatha apparently replaced the gladius in the front ranks, giving the infantry more reach when thrusting. While the infantry version had a long point, versions carried by the cavalry had a rounded tip that prevented accidental stabbing of the cavalryman's own foot or horse.

 

 

 

https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/02/13/roman-sword-discovered-in-poland/#:~:text=A Roman sword dating back,Częstochowa after undergoing conservation work.

 

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/02/detectorists-find-roman-sword-while-searching-for-ww2-relics/154561

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatha

Edited Sunday at 10:26 PM by guy

[guidoLaMoto]

Gladius is the Latin word for sword. We usually use the word gladius when referring to the gladius Hispaniensis adopted by the Romans after being exposed to it in the hands of Hannibal's Spanish mercenaries in the 3rd century BC. Short, sharp and light (<2 lb), it was particularly efficient when being thrust and slashed from between scuda held in tight formation by well disciplined legIonaires.....The spatha was a variation, lighter, a little more narrow and only a little longer than the gladius Hispaniensis.

The efficiency of the gladius Hispaniensis and the terror it struck in enemies newly exposed to it is attested by Livy-- Ab Urbe Condita-- XXXI: 34 line 4 https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0164%3Abook%3D31