By the 1st century CE, the Pompeii gladius replaced the previous two types, having parallel cutting edges and a short triangular tip. Modern writers named it Pompeii after a few sword examples found in the city. The pilun was essentially a javelin, and it was sometimes referred to as such, but the pilum was traditionally a heavier throwing spear than normal javelins. This was used for throwing but not massively common in the amphitheatre. It would be about 2ft long around 60cm and fitted with an iron shank on the end. Tridents and Nets Fascina (trident) a b c d Quesada Sanz, F. "Gladius hispaniensis: an archaeological view from Iberia" (PDF) . Retrieved August 10, 2018. A small dagger used by various gladiators, who typically had weapons not suited for very close combat. While classed as a dagger it could be up to 28cm long with a wide leaf shaped blade. The pugio could be very usefully applied in close combat. Lances and spears Hasta (lance) The hoplomachii ("armored fighters") wore a helmet and basic arm and leg protection, a small round shield called a parmula, a gladius, a short dagger known as a pugio, and a gladius graecus, a leaf-shaped sword used only by them.

After feeding gladiators all that barley, plus housing and training them for months or even years, the trainers were reluctant to then have them all slaughtered during the course of a single afternoon. So most contests were not to the death. As long as the combatants were brave and entertaining, that was usually enough for the crowd. This sword has a recurved-shaped blade and, just like the Kukri or Machetes that are curved in a similar style, can be used in many types of daily activities. The Sica has been known to be used for cutting rope, clearing tall grass for roads, farming, and more. A basic farmer in the ancient Balkans could tend to their farms easily and also use them to protect themselves from bandits. Modern Gladiator battles were held at huge venues called amphitheatres. “Arena”, the word we use for this type of building today, actually referred to the floor of the amphitheatre that was covered in sand to soak up all the spilt blood. Because it had a recurved tip, it could easily cut the commonly used Roman wooden shields often wielded by gladiators in the arena. It could also be used to pull the shield away from the opponent, only to follow up with a deadly strike from the Sica or another weapon. Daily Activities CelticWebMerchant.co.uk, online shop in historical replica's for re-enactment, collectors & museums

As the popularity of gladiator battles grew, new varieties of warrior emerged. No longer did they dress according to where they came from. Now gladiators were identified by the sorts of armour and weapon they carried. In the early days, most gladiators were prisoners or enslaved people from places that Rome was fighting wars with. And what you wore when you fought in a gladiator contest depended on where you came from. There were three main sorts: Samnites (from Italy), Gauls (from France) and Thracians (from what is now Bulgaria). And they hadn’t quite made it to arenas yet. Those original funeral fights usually took place in Rome’s cattle market. Let’s hope they avoided a pat on the head. They were the pop stars of their day Gladii were two-edged for cutting and had a tapered point for stabbing during thrusting. A solid grip was provided by a knobbed hilt added on, possibly with ridges for the fingers. Blade strength was achieved by welding together strips, in which case the sword had a channel down the center, or by fashioning a single piece of high-carbon steel, rhomboidal in cross-section. The owner's name was often engraved or punched on the blade. a b c d e Quesada Sanz, F. "¿Qué hay en un nombre? La cuestión del gladius hispaniensis" (PDF) . Retrieved August 7, 2019.

The craftsmen with the strategic task of making the gladii were called gladiarii. They were part of the Roman legions as fabri, enjoying the status of immunes. There were also public workshops, fabricae, dedicated to the making of the gladii. Epigraphic attestations of the gladiarii have been found in Italy, especially in areas of ancient metallurgic tradition such as Capua and Aquileia. [18] Description [ edit ] The most common scabbard for the Sica sword was made out of leather since it was lighter to carry and could easily be hidden along your body. Today, some scabbards are made out of wood or even metal. The scabbard will always be curved to match the angled tip of the Sica sword. Length & Size A Sica shortsword, commonly used in combination with deadly and fast strikes – Credits: Supreme Replicas The imitation bone grip is another distinctive element of the Gladiator Spiculus. Contrasting beautifully with the dark-stained wooden pommel and guard, the hilt not only looks impressive, but also provides a firm and comfortable grip. The Sica is one of the many weapons that gladiators used, often by Thraex, gladiators from Thracia. These gladiators were often heavily geared with a small rectangular shield and a curved Sica sword. The Sica proved to be a lifesaver just as often as a lifetaker.Throughout history, the Roman gladius continued to reduce in size. The earliest type had a blade length between 64 and 69 centimeters, but later examples were about 42 to 55 centimeters long. The Pompeii gladius was the smallest and the lightest of the three blades. However, the blades of later Roman swords, such as the spatha, were significantly longer. Sword Mounting Mainz Gladius Sword Mounting ( Source) Penrose, Jane (2008). Rome and Her Enemies: An Empire Created and Destroyed by War. Osprey Publishing. pp.121–122. ISBN 978-1-84603-336-0. Not only the sword itself is impressive, but also its scabbard. The scabbard of the Gladiator Spiculus has been designed true to historical reproduction with wood and lined with reddish-brown dyed leather. Gold hardware adds a touch of elegance, while raised images of a lion and gladiator make it a truly unique piece.

However, experts argue that calling the gladius ‘Spanish’ is inaccurate, as the Celtiberian warriors who used the prototype swords were linked to broader Celtic technological traditions of central and western Europe. More than that, the double-edged short swords with a long point had a long history even before the Romans arrived in Spain. Evolution of the Gladius Sword ( Source) The differences between these varieties are subtle. The original Hispanic sword, which was used during the republic, had a slight "wasp-waist" or "leaf-blade" curvature. The Mainz variety came into use on the frontier in the early empire. It kept the curvature, but shortened and widened the blade and made the point triangular. At home, the less battle-effective Pompeii version came into use. It eliminated the curvature, lengthened the blade, and diminished the point. The Fulham was a compromise, with straight edges and a long point. [23] Gladius Hispaniensis [ edit ] The lasso was simply a rope with a loop that one latched onto a head or a limb could be pulled tight and would trap its wearer. This was used by the retiarius styled laquerius gladiator. Bow and arrows Arcus (bow) Livius, Titus. "The History of Rome, Vol. II". 7.10. Archived from the original on August 30, 2002 . Retrieved 25 November 2010.

Gladius Swords

A gladiator holding a Sica sword and a wooden shield in the other hand – Credits: Museum Replicas Limited

Luis, Salva (2013). Viriathus and the Lusitanian Resistance to Rome 155-139 BC. Great Britain: Pen & Sword. ISBN 978-1-78159-128-4. The sagita were the arrows used by the arcus bow and Roman archers. these were the arrows of choice for the sagittarius gladiators of Rome. Boxing Caestus (boxing glove)A scissor fought with a specialized short knife with two blades in the shape of an open pair of scissors without the hinge. If you want to shop a large selection of Celtic swords you have also come to the right place! Here you can find historical Celtic swords from the La Tene and Hallstatt period. design-wise, these swords are often decorated with spirals or with an anthropomorphic figure. The falcata is a Celtiberian sword with a curved blade. The Fulham gladius or Mainz-Fulham gladius was a Roman sword that was used after Aulus Plautius' invasion of Britain in 43 AD. [24] The Romans used it until the end of the 1st century. The Fulham gladius has a triangular tip. The length of the blade is 50–55cm (20–22in). The length of the sword is 65–70cm (26–28in). The width of the blade is 6cm (2.4in). The swords weighs 700g (1.5lb) (wooden hilt). [25] [26] A full size replica can be seen at Fulham Palace, Fulham.