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Roman Iron SpathaAn ancient Roman iron spatha sword blade with a long parallel edged blade tapering to a rounded point. Ca. 3rd - 4th century AD. By the 3rd century AD, the Roman gladius sword had been replaced with the considerably longer and more slender spatha type sword. The spatha was a slashing sword that could be employed by both mounted and infantry troops. It was worn suspended from a baldaric on the left side. Cf.: Bishop & Coulston, Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome, (Oxford, 2006), pp. 154-155. Formerly in the J. S. collection, Pennsylvania. Inv#: 7531 $5,000 |
