If you happened to see my posting re. the "dream" i had some years ago - is my description of the use of the Gladius consistent with your understanding of how that weapon was employed?
I still have pretty clear recollections as to some of the techniques they used with the short sword, which I had never considered - or even imagined - before.
Using a 17" bladed M-1905 Enfield bayonet and scabbard mounted on my right hip, I have been able to re-create (approximately, in slow motion) what I "saw" in the "dream" and was quite amazed by how well it "worked".
Of course I never actually gutted a man with a gladius - but they sure could - in less time than it took to tell about it, too!
About a year ago I met a Mideival Reenactor who was very much "into" swords and the various historical forms of swordsmanship. Describing my "memories" to him, he confirmed that all the techniques I described to him were consistant with the Roman Martial Arts.
Did the Gladius have an almost religious significance attached to it - as a revered object / symbol?
I got the impression that it did; it was a tremendous rite of passage when a Roman Soldier was issued, with great attendant ceremony, his "real" Gladius (as opposed to the ones used for training), and severe punishment awaited any Soldier who carelessly dropped it.
Now you study the Roman Empire - fascinating subject, BTW - wish I'd studied it more than I have.
But have you ever wittnessed a veteran Legionarre working out / showing off his Gladius-handling skills?
WOW!!!
Have you ever heard one of those things SING?
It still sends shivers up the back of my neck!
"If you happened to see my posting re. the "dream" i had some years ago - is my description of the use of the Gladius consistent with your understanding of how that weapon was employed?"
I'm sorry, I didn't see it.
From what I read, the gladius was a short, double-bladed sword with an acute point. I believe it was used primarily as a giant dagger, i.e. a stabbing weapon rather than a slashing weapon, although it could do both. Stabbing wounds were often more fatal or threatening, especially if delivered towards the face of the attacker, which was a frequnet point of attack. I believe they have found skulls of dead Britons in England at battle sites who were obviously killed this way.
There was a site on the net sometime ago which showed animations from above of how a legionary was presumed to use his gladius and scutum in combat. The scutum was held on the left arm with the arm passing vertically down its length rather than across it like conventional shield. The soldier held the scutum forward, protecting his body with it and using the boss and edge as a shoving weapon. The gladius, held like a dagger or very short spear was used in the right hand in a thrusting motion towards the enemy while he muscled forward with the scutum.
If the barrage of pila thrown before actual contact worked right, a good number of the enemy were shieldless, the pila having hit their shields, bent from its own weight downwards, and having made the enemy's shield so unwieldy as to be useless.
Having said all that, the Romans were nothing if not adaptive and could alter taactics to suit their purposes to their own best advantages, depending on the terrain, enemy, etc.
"Using a 17" bladed M-1905 Enfield bayonet and scabbard mounted on my right hip, I have been able to re-create (approximately, in slow motion) what I "saw" in the "dream" and was quite amazed by how well it "worked"."
One of the sites I am posting for you shows how very effective such a draw can be.
"Of course I never actually gutted a man with a gladius - but they sure could - in less time than it took to tell about it, too! "
Glad to hear that!!! Based on what I have read, stabbing was what it excelled at.
"Did the Gladius have an almost religious significance attached to it - as a revered object / symbol?"
You got me on that one. I think perhaps the barbarians held individual swords in more esteem than the average legionary. The gladius was probably a mass produced item wellsuited to its purpose, but not very personal. Sort of like comparing an M-16 with a custom made Pennsylvania Rifle. But that's only my personal opinion. I knw swords in the middle ages were custom made products and their hilts filled with sacerd relics, etc. The "Sword in the Stone Legend from King Arthur supposedly comes from a sword in a stone which was worshipped by Sarmatian auxilairies who were stationed in western Britain during the later Empire.
An author named Adrain Goldsworthy has come out with some fascinating books recently on the Roman Army. Also check out the follwing sites;
http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/mil_roman_soldier_sword.htm http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/mil_roman_soldier_shield.htm http://legvi.tripod.com/castroromani/id10.html http://www.dalton.org/groups/Rome/RMil.html Notice - the commands are in LATIN, NOT Greek!
"Have you ever heard one of those things SING? "
Not a gladius. But I have an original sword-bayonet for an 1858 Enfield. It does most certainly "sing" when pulled out of its scabbard, and has a effect similar to the sounds of bagpipes - VERY stirring.