03-03-2008, 02:04 PM
Certainly a difficult one to be certain either way, but a parallel with the rhomphaia from the same region springs to mind..........the weapon was certainly in use but apparently restricted in time and space to certain peoples, and not in widespread, or general, use among the peoples of the region.
Furthermore, I don't think it ridiculous to consider 'sicae' and 'falxes' two different weapon types......one is a single-handed weapon used in conjunction with a shield and in widespread use by Thracian and Illyrian peoples for centuries, and represented later as the 'Thrax' gladiator type, the other a specialised two-handed weapon used in a very limited time and space by one people only ( like the rhomphaia)
While varying sizes were doubtless in use, as per the archaeology, it would be wrong to totally ignore the iconographic evidence.....at least until better evidence comes along. :? ?
Furthermore, I don't think it ridiculous to consider 'sicae' and 'falxes' two different weapon types......one is a single-handed weapon used in conjunction with a shield and in widespread use by Thracian and Illyrian peoples for centuries, and represented later as the 'Thrax' gladiator type, the other a specialised two-handed weapon used in a very limited time and space by one people only ( like the rhomphaia)
While varying sizes were doubtless in use, as per the archaeology, it would be wrong to totally ignore the iconographic evidence.....at least until better evidence comes along. :? ?
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
