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LOT 0304
Roman Iron Gladius
1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.
32 5/8 in. (557 grams, 83 cm).
Or semi-spatha blade with parallel-sided lentoid-section body and a long rectangular-section tang; Mainz type, Wederath-Canterbury-Kopki variant; repaired and surface treated.
ProvenanceEx South London collection, acquired 1970-1990.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
See Miks, C., Studien zur Romischen Schwertbewaffnung in der Kaiserzeit, I-II Banden, Rahden, 2007, p.637, no.A369, for similar specimen from Korytnica (Poland), found in 1999.
FootnotesIn contrast to the average length of the Roman Pompeii type gladius, some Roman swords, continuing the typology of the Mainz gladius, tend to be longer and transform themselves into a semi-spatha. Both the weapon from Eich (Miks, 2001, AI43), and especially a gladius from Korytnica with approximate blade length of 548mm (total length 762mm) is very close to the length limit of a semi-spatha. The same can be said of a blade from Godmanchester (Miks, 2001, no.A824) for its dimensions and proportions, where the tip of the blade already gives a significantly shorter impression, showing a certain relationship to 'Lauriacum-Hrornöwka', 'Mainz-Canterbury' variant type spathae.
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Stamped 2642 in Thai numerals at top of blade with 'tiger mask' mark for Siam, together with original British marks, fitted with wood grip scales and spring release button; the scabbard with original throat and chape, modified in Thailand to replace the original leather main section. 726 grams, 58.5 cm
Property of a Luton, UK gentleman, by inheritance.
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Missile weapon with short iron shaft and square-section barbed head, lead sleeve to the lower end of the shaft. 116 grams, 19 cm
From the collection of B. Posey, UK, 1990s.
The lead-weighted darts known as plumbatae mamillatae, (or breasted javelin) were short darts mounted upon a shaft, of the same shape, and thrown from a short distance. A Roman soldier would typically carry around 5-6 of these darts at any one time, fastened to the back of his shield. They could be thrown overhand or underhand, with an effective throwing range of up to 60 meters by trained soldiers. They could also be fixed upon longer shafts.
