DecimusCaesar Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 I think the illustration is rather specalutive. Nicholas Sekunda says that there is no 100% confirmed evidence of the type of swords used by hastati and Triarii during the Punic wars, but he does mention that they probably used the 'Spanish sword' which is no doubt the early type Gladius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 There's an illustration of it in the book 'The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine' by Michael Simkins, it's a reconstruction as the one in the museum is in extremly poor quality (it had been broken in half) - Here is a picture of the sword, have archaeologists found other similar type of swords since the book's publication in 1979? Bangor Museum 'Pompeii' Gladius Note the very short handle...Simkins says it is very difficult to handle and even more difficult to weild in battle. I've found another site on the Pompeii Gladius, it has quite a bit of information on the sword as well as the opportunity to buy an imitation for a measly $600!!! http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion...man-pompeii.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pertinax Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 GPM -im sorry but you have an inoperative link again! Please fix it and ill tidy the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 There is definitely a question of where the swords were obtained, and who owned them. After Marius threw open the doors to army service for any Tom, Dick, or Harrius it forced the legions to supply weapons. Previously you turned up with anything you could afford to some extent, but now a poor man had to be armed. I understand that the cost of a sword could be subtracted from your pay, but did the legionary own it when the sword was paid for? Individual soldiers were still at at liberty to buy their own weapons provided they conformed to standard pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 ok, i fixed now the link... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecimusCaesar Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 I have added a second scavanged image :http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1242 which does say "triarius, hastatus and principe " to my non-specialised eyes.These look like conventional armour/sword configurations.Would anyone now care to comment on the gladius in this illustration? Is this the "hispanic" sword that Caldrail is commenting upon? I have checked and the sword used is a Gladius hispanienses. The sword handle of the Triarius is very celtic looking, although the scabbard looks like those carried by Iberians. A Celt-Iberian weapon perhaps? I understand that the cost of a sword could be subtracted from your pay, but did the legionary own it when the sword was paid for? Individual soldiers were still at at liberty to buy their own weapons provided they conformed to standard pattern. Seeing as the state manufactured the weapons in the Fabricae during the later period, I would think that perhaps earlier on (especially before the establishment of the Imperial Legion (1st Century BC-AD) the men were allowed to keep the weapons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiochus of Seleucia Posted October 5, 2006 Report Share Posted October 5, 2006 Veterans most certainly kept their weapons. After they retired, they usually stored their equipment away in case they had to be recalled for an emergency situation. A great example of this is during the Boudicca rebellion. [sarcasm]I think they hung their gladii over the fireplace as we do guns. [/sarcasm] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted October 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Or was this simply because they'd bought the things in the first place? After all, it was theirs and not the states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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