jewish short swords refs anyone?

[tDub248]

Hey, I'm doing an illustration and I need a picture of a Jewish short sword. I tried looking but couldn't find anything... I tried using "maxairan" but still nothing. Does any one have link to a site or some picture references of one -preferable early 1st Century? Do any exist today? Or is it only mentioned in the Bible? Thanks!

[tDub248]

sorry, i guess this should go in allies n enemies of rome...

[Carlton Bach]

A straight-edged sword with a metal disc pommel was excavated at Jerusalem, but the only reference I can find to it right now is an unscaled drawing in Peter Connolly: The Holy Land.

[Matthew Amt]

Huh, I thought that was just a gladius with a carbonized wooden ball-shaped pommel! Have to look again.

My guess is that Jewish swords followed military fashion. Greek or Hellenistic by the time of Alexander, then changing over to Roman or Roman-influenced styles by the first century BC. That's what most other Mediterranean cultures seemed to be doing! But I haven't studied specifically Jewish weapons.

Valete,

Matthew

[brennivs - tony drake]

By the 1st AD the state of Judea had no army, Rome did not require Jews to serve in the army, you would have to look back to king Herods time for that so a sword from that period Roman/Greek style. However if you are talking 66 AD onwards then Roman gladivs type would be used. Judea was at least making swords for the Roman army, which in 135 AD thousands were sent back to Judea as being sub standard, hence the Jews re armed themselves for the second revolt.
You could also look at swords from around the region that are not Roman as any sword is a sword and anything may have been used.
Regards Brennivs

[Dutchhoplite]

Hmm, i know there was a Jewish Royal Army Under Agrippa II fighting alongside the Romans during the Jewish rebellion. I'm wondering what kind of equipment they used...