05-24-2007, 10:25 PM
During Alexander's reign the former pattern still holds true.
If you mean after Alexander, i.e., during the third and second centuries BS, hard archaeological data is scarce for Successor armies but:
a.-there is evidence for the continued use of a pistiliform blade xiphos
b.-Sidonian stelae show a peculiar short sword with a short, triangular blade tapering from shoulders to a long point. But this peculiar shape could well be an artistic licence.
c.-Also Guy Stiebel has very recently published a gladius hispaniensis of 2nd c BC date from Jericho that seems to show that Roman-style offensive weapons were being introduced in Seleucid armies together with armour by the end of the 2nd C BC
d-Also, there is iconographic evidence for short daggers
e-Very little evidence -if any- for the continued use of kopides, both in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Italy (except for that odd relief at the tomb from Perugia), while the westrern version -the falcata- continued in use in Iberia.
If you mean after Alexander, i.e., during the third and second centuries BS, hard archaeological data is scarce for Successor armies but:
a.-there is evidence for the continued use of a pistiliform blade xiphos
b.-Sidonian stelae show a peculiar short sword with a short, triangular blade tapering from shoulders to a long point. But this peculiar shape could well be an artistic licence.
c.-Also Guy Stiebel has very recently published a gladius hispaniensis of 2nd c BC date from Jericho that seems to show that Roman-style offensive weapons were being introduced in Seleucid armies together with armour by the end of the 2nd C BC
d-Also, there is iconographic evidence for short daggers
e-Very little evidence -if any- for the continued use of kopides, both in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Italy (except for that odd relief at the tomb from Perugia), while the westrern version -the falcata- continued in use in Iberia.
