01-20-2006, 07:13 PM
Conal, you can find some basic information on average spatha dimensions in Bishop&Coulston, 1993, p. 126.
A short summary:
Ulbert has placed swords from the (late 2nd?) and 3rd century into two basic categories.
a) Straubing/Nydam = long and slim, blade length 65 to 80 cm (26 - 31 inches), max. width of ca. 4,4 cm (1 3/4 inches).
Length to breadth ratio 15-17 : 1.
a typical sword for cavalry ?
I have seen one of them at the Straubing museum, and they look rather like two-edged straight sabres than swords [I have got a few images - not very good, but if someone is interested, send me a pm].
b) Lauriacum/Hromowka = shorter and broader, blade length ca. 55,7-65,5 cm (22-26 inches), width 6,2-7,5 cm (2 1/2 - 3 inches).
Length to breadth ratio 8-12 : 1.
better suited for infantry ?
Cowan, R., 2003, Imperial Roman Legionary 161 - 284, Oxford (Osprey)p. 60 shows a nice drawing of different sword finds from bogs in Denmark. Some of the blades look totally different in shape, length, width, etc.
Now to give a contrast, a hellenistic gladius found at Jericho had a blade length of 76 cm, and an blade width of ca. 5,1-5,3 cm !
(cp. Stiebel, G.D., 2004, A Hellenistic Gladius from Jericho, in: Netzer, E., Hasmonean and Herodian Palaces at Jericho, Final Reports of the 1973-1987 Excavations, Vol. II, Jerusalem, 2004, pp. 229-232).
This is certainly not a short sword ! In fact, it was definitely longer than a number of swords from the 3rd century which we would call a spatha (although - as has been pointed out - their technical term was most likely still gladius).
On the other hand... there is a scene in 'The Golden Ass' by Apuleius, where a soldier loses his 'spatha' (not his 'gladius').
But I am more in with footwear, and don't know too much about swords.
Therefore...
Come ye experts, who love to describe swords, assist me here !!!
(= Caius and/or Sassanid, I know you have much more detailed information about swords than I have, can you help ?)
A short summary:
Ulbert has placed swords from the (late 2nd?) and 3rd century into two basic categories.
a) Straubing/Nydam = long and slim, blade length 65 to 80 cm (26 - 31 inches), max. width of ca. 4,4 cm (1 3/4 inches).
Length to breadth ratio 15-17 : 1.
a typical sword for cavalry ?
I have seen one of them at the Straubing museum, and they look rather like two-edged straight sabres than swords [I have got a few images - not very good, but if someone is interested, send me a pm].
b) Lauriacum/Hromowka = shorter and broader, blade length ca. 55,7-65,5 cm (22-26 inches), width 6,2-7,5 cm (2 1/2 - 3 inches).
Length to breadth ratio 8-12 : 1.
better suited for infantry ?
Cowan, R., 2003, Imperial Roman Legionary 161 - 284, Oxford (Osprey)p. 60 shows a nice drawing of different sword finds from bogs in Denmark. Some of the blades look totally different in shape, length, width, etc.
Now to give a contrast, a hellenistic gladius found at Jericho had a blade length of 76 cm, and an blade width of ca. 5,1-5,3 cm !
(cp. Stiebel, G.D., 2004, A Hellenistic Gladius from Jericho, in: Netzer, E., Hasmonean and Herodian Palaces at Jericho, Final Reports of the 1973-1987 Excavations, Vol. II, Jerusalem, 2004, pp. 229-232).
This is certainly not a short sword ! In fact, it was definitely longer than a number of swords from the 3rd century which we would call a spatha (although - as has been pointed out - their technical term was most likely still gladius).
On the other hand... there is a scene in 'The Golden Ass' by Apuleius, where a soldier loses his 'spatha' (not his 'gladius').
But I am more in with footwear, and don't know too much about swords.
Therefore...
Come ye experts, who love to describe swords, assist me here !!!
(= Caius and/or Sassanid, I know you have much more detailed information about swords than I have, can you help ?)
Florian Himmler (not related!)
