Laconian short sword

[Dithrambus]

Well,the point is that it is Plutarch who writes these anecdotes,some 4-5 centuries after the supposed events happened. This makes them very dubious of course.

Yes, that was my point. :-) I do enjoy reading Plutarch, but I think he must be read with caution. If these particular quotes could be substantiated by more contemporary sources such as Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon etc, then that could lend some validity to the theory.

[hoplite14gr]

Spartan art from 700 to 600 B.C depicts swords with blades between 60 to 70 cm
But a couple of art examples are not the norm. The shorter versions as I said before co existed and in Corinth Acheological Museum exist a bronze dagger with a wide flat blade reminding of a puggio (800 B.C)and it is clearly a military weapon as it comes from a warrior's grave. Fragments of a similar dagger exist in Rhodes,
Both places share doric heritages as does Sparta. So combat dagger was used by Greek warriors from Late Geometric era at least.
Except Plutaechs anectode there is no reference to "Laconian sword".

Kind regards

P.S. attached shord sword from Hermitage mid 5th cent BC.
[attachment=1017]stpererermitag.jpg[/attachment]
The Vienna example is shorter.

[hoplite14gr]

8th century funeral. Piraeus Museum.

Very short swords compared with the "Naue".

[KrimzonKnight]

Id like to thank everyone thats contributing to this thread!