Roman swords before the gladius hispaniensis

[Duncan Head]

Ancient Warfare XII.4 arrived in the post today. It includes a very interesting article by Ross Cowan discussing the use of La Tene Celtic styles of sword in Italy, including but not limited to Rome, in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC: that is, between the use of Graeco-Italian xiphos swords and the adoption of the gladius hispaniensis after the Second Punic War. These are, like the later hispaniensis, mid-length long-pointed cut-and-thrust swords

One of the articles Cowan cites is available here or here.

Also here is a piece on the Sword of San Vittore, a fragment of a La Tene-style blade with an inscription that says "Trebius Pomponius (son of Caius?) made me at Rome".

Also in the magazine a short article on a Ligurian warrior, by me.