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Soon gladiators became more professional, and people volunteered to fight as it provided good food, a place to live and – if you survived – fame.
The Romans believed that their short sword originated in Iberia, a region in Europe occupied by Portugal and Spain. Hence, the name “ gladius Hispaniensis ” suggests its Spanish origin. The Celtiberian ‘antenna’ swords, along with a Castilian La Tène sword, were likely the inspiration for the Roman short sword. A recent metallurgical study of two Etrurian swords, one in the form of a Greek kopis from 7th century BC Vetulonia, the other in the form of a gladius Hispaniensis from 4th century BC Clusium ( Chiusi), gives insight concerning the manufacture of Roman swords. [17] The Chiusi sword comes from Romanized etruria; thus, regardless of the names of the forms (which the authors do not identify), the authors believe the process was continuous from the Etruscans to the Romans.The Roman gladius was the sword that had conquered the world. Interestingly, the Romans likely adopted the short sword from their enemies and used them in building an empire. The Spanish Origins of the Gladius Sword 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. Today we don't have gladiatorial combat in the same way as they did in ancient Rome but the rudis tradition has adapted and become a right of passage symbol for someone who has reached the end of their career and earned a retirement. It is a symbol of pride and recognition for a lifetime of achievement. It represents the freedom from your employment, your employer and the independence that you have fought many years for. A wonderful gift idea for the retired or someone choosing a new career path or self employment. The rudis was a wooden version of a Gladius (sword) because of it's Roman origin but today it's meaning can be passed down through a wooden katana, broadsword, saber or European arming sword to match your families origins. Priscus and Verus Ramsay, Syed (2016). Tools of War: History of Weapons in Ancient Times. India: Vij Books. ISBN 978-938-601-980-6. Schrijver, Peter, The Reflexes of the Proto-Indo-European Laryngeals in Latin, Rodopi, 1991, p. 174.
Luis, Salva (2013). Viriathus and the Lusitanian Resistance to Rome 155-139 BC. Great Britain: Pen & Sword. ISBN 978-1-78159-128-4. In this article, we will explore the curved Sica Sword. We shall start off by going over its very unusual and unique characteristics. Then we shall explain the many uses this sword has and whether it is really as deadly as it looks. Finally, we will discuss its very interesting history and some famous people who used it. Characteristics of the Sica Sword The Sica Sword with details – Credits: WikiMedia 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
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In Roman times, workers reduced ore in a bloomery furnace. The resulting pieces were called blooms, [16] which they further worked to remove slag inclusions from the porous surface. Gladiators (Latin for Swordsman) were armed combatants from the Roman Empire who entertained audiences in the amphitheatre, the most famous of which was the Colosseum in Rome. Some gladiators were Roman citizens who desired fame and glory but most were slaves or criminals. Gladiators symbolised Rome’s martial ethics in fighting and dying well and they were celebrated in both high and low art. There are 19 amphitheatres in Britain, some of the most famous and best preserved are at Chester, Caerleon and St. Albans. Modern English words derived from gladius include gladiator ("swordsman") and gladiolus ("little sword", from the diminutive form of gladius), a flowering plant with sword-shaped leaves. 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 ]
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 But the story of the Gladiator Spiculus is what makes it even more special. Adored by the crowds that attended the Gladiator Games, this sword was a personal favorite of the Roman Emperor Nero. Spiculus was handsomely rewarded for his fighting skills and received gifts and palaces from the emperor. Even when Nero tried to kill him when he learned that he would be sentenced to death, Spiculus managed to escape his fate. The Roman gladius underwent a series of changes during the years of Republican and then Imperial Rome. It evolved from the long-pointed variant into a short-pointed type with parallel edges. Here are the three types of the Roman short sword: 1. Gladius HispaniensisThe blade length for the Sica sword is usually around 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38 cm), making it a fairly short blade. The curve of it starts at around the 10-inch mark (25 cm). This angled tip gave the Sica sword many uses and was heavily used by the famous gladiator Spartacus. Guard A Sica sword with a gradual curve – Credits: National Museum Slovenia Fights with the Sica were a joy to watch because of their very deadly capabilities. The curve made it possible for gladiators to commit very brutal and gory kills. Also, this gladiator sword could go against any of the roman swords and still emerge the victor. Criminals Timeline Celtic & prehistoric 15 Romans & Antiquity 43 Germanic & Saxon 5 Material Steel 1 Steel Sharp / semi sharp 49 Battle-ready (blunt) / light use 1 Battle-ready (blunt) / normal use 3 Type Single-handed sword 1 Brands All brands Deepeeka Marto Ulfberth Windlass Steelcrafts kovex ars
Livy's term ( link). Most authors use the term gladius Hispaniensis but a few use Livy's term, Hispanus. Both are adjectives of the same meaning, that is, they refer to Hispania, or the Iberian Peninsula. Livius, Titus. "The History of Rome, Vol. II". 7.10. Archived from the original on August 30, 2002 . Retrieved 25 November 2010. The Sica sword is a weapon that was widely used in ancient times. It began to be used in what is now the modern-day Balkans as a daily tool for the Thracians and Illyrians. It was also commonly used by soldiers in the Thracian armies. It is believed that these swords originated sometime in the 5th century BC in the Halstatt culture. It was of course common for the gladiators to have a class or a style of gladiator that they would fight as. This class, like a thraex or a murmillo would determine exactly the weapons these gladiators would use, so each class had it own unique weapon or set of weapons. 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 ReplicasLivius, Titus (known as Livy) (1982). Rome and Italy: Books VI-X of the History of Rome from its Foundation, translated by Betty Radice. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-044388-2. The gladius Hispaniensis was a Roman sword used from around 216 BC until 20 BC. Its blade had a length of 60–68cm (24–27in), and the sword was 75–85cm (30–33in) long. The width of the sword was 5cm (2.0in). It was the largest and heaviest of the gladii, weighing 1kg (2.2lb) kg or 900g (2.0lb). This gladius was also the earliest and longest blade. It had a pronounced leaf-shape. 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 standard weight of the Sica sword was anywhere from 0.9 to 1.6 lbs (400 to 750 grams). This means that this shortsword was a very light weapon to use compared to other weapons at the time. The low weight combined with the deadly curved blade makes it a fast weapon that can easily cut or pierce flesh. Uses of the Sica Sword A Sica being used to behead a ballistic gelatin dummy- Credits: Forged in Fire
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