Roman era reenactor holding a replica late Roman spatha
The spatha was a type of straight and long sword, measuring between 0.5 and 1 m (19.7 and 39.4 in), with a handle length of between 18 and 20 cm (7.1 and 7.9 in), in use in the territory of the Roman Empire during the 1st to 6th centuries AD. Later swords, from the 7th to 10th centuries, like the Viking swords, are recognizable derivatives and sometimes subsumed under the term spatha.
The Roman spatha was used in war and in gladiatorial fights. The spatha of literature appears in the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD as a weapon used by presumably Celtic auxiliaries and gradually became a standard heavy infantry weapon by the 3rd century AD, relegating the gladius to use as a light infantry weapon. The spatha apparently replaced the gladius in the front ranks, giving the infantry more reach when thrusting. While the infantry version had a long point, versions carried by the cavalry had a rounded tip that prevented accidental stabbing of the cavalryman's own foot or horse.
Archaeologically many instances of the spatha have been found in Britain and Germany. It was used extensively by Germanic warriors. It is unclear whether it came from the gladius or the longer Celtic swords, or whether it served as a model for the various arming swords and Viking swords of Europe. The spatha remained popular throughout the Migration Period. It evolved into the knightly sword of the High Middle Ages by the 12th century.
The spatha was a type of straight and long sword, measuring between 0.5 and 1 m (19.7 and 39.4 in), with a handle length of between 18 and 20 cm (7.1 and...
single term that can be reconstructed as having referred specifically to the spatha in Common Germanic. There are a number of terms and epithets which refer...
the Spartans. Migration Period swords Spatha: continuation, evolved into Ring-sword (ring-spatha, ring-hilt spatha), Merovingian period Viking sword or...
(the Elizabethan long sword). The spatha was a double-edged longsword used by the Romans. The idea for the spatha came from the swords of ancient Celts...
appearances, he returned to Greece and re-joined Asteras Chalepas, before joining Spatha Kolymvariou and then in February 2019 he joined Charaviakos. In the 2019-20...
Cosmopterosis spatha is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Maria Alma Solis in 2009. It is found in Costa Rica, where it has been recorded...
third century AD the heavy Roman infantry replaced the gladius with the spatha (already common among Roman cavalrymen), relegating the gladius as a weapon...
Ilias Spathas (Greek: Ηλίας Σπάθας; born 18 February 1980) is a former international referee who refereed at 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, beginning...
word for a flat piece of wood or splint, a diminutive form of the Latin spatha, meaning 'broadsword', and hence can also refer to a tongue depressor. The...
Yannis Spathas (30 November 1950 – 6 July 2019) was a Greek guitarist, founding member of the rock band Socrates Drank the Conium (or simply Socrates)...
later Iron Age sword remained fairly short and without a crossguard. The spatha, as it developed in the Late Roman army, became the predecessor of the European...
Hydnostachyon, which he described as having a concave (spoon-like) spathe Spatha foliacea persistens cochleariformis, from which he formed the species epithet...
layers of the sword while using softer steels in the centre of the blade. A spatha could be any sword (in late Latin), but most often one of the longer swords...
length of up to 65 cm (25.6 inches), making it almost equal in size to the spatha. Later examples of the kopis from Macedonia tended to be shorter with a...
and pharmacy, is their shared ancestor. Spatula is a diminutive of Latin spatha, a broad, flat tool or weapon, which in turn is from Ancient Greek σπαθη...
The Military Order of Saint James of the Sword (Portuguese: Ordem Militar de Sant'Iago da Espada) is a Portuguese order of chivalry. Its full name is the...
slashing and cuts. Gladiators used a shorter gladius than the military. The spatha was a longer double-edged sword initially used only by Celtic soldiers,...
innovation or loaned. Closely related is Greek σπάθη : spáthē, whence Latin spatha. Spades are made in many shapes and sizes, for a variety of different functions...
or spatharioi (singular: Latin: spatharius; Greek: σπαθάριος, literally "spatha-bearer") were a class of Late Roman imperial bodyguards in the court in...
60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 in). The late Roman Empire introduced the longer spatha (the term for its wielder, spatharius, became a court rank in Constantinople)...
adopted into the army. Their arms included a lance (lancea), a long sword (spatha), and a short throwing spear. Historians such as Philip Sidnell argue that...
Ancient period Iron Age sword Harpe Gladius Xiphos Kopis/Falcata Makhaira Spatha Sica Rhomphaia Falx Post-classical period Migration Period sword Viking...
fought with a tall, rectangular shield and the gladius, but the use of the spatha is also attested. They were paired only against other provocatores. The...
Ancient period Iron Age sword Harpe Gladius Xiphos Kopis/Falcata Makhaira Spatha Sica Rhomphaia Falx Post-classical period Migration Period sword Viking...
in the Roman cavalry. The Romans adopted the Celtic cavalry sword, the spatha, and Epona, the Celtic horse goddess. To the extent that sources are available...
Ancient period Iron Age sword Harpe Gladius Xiphos Kopis/Falcata Makhaira Spatha Sica Rhomphaia Falx Post-classical period Migration Period sword Viking...
the late Roman Empire, cavalry played an increasingly important role. The Spatha, the classical sword throughout most of the 1st millennium was adopted as...
Ancient period Iron Age sword Harpe Gladius Xiphos Kopis/Falcata Makhaira Spatha Sica Rhomphaia Falx Post-classical period Migration Period sword Viking...
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