![]() ![]() The Gaesum or madaris is a heavy Gaulish javalin with relatively small spearheads, normally shorter than 10 centimetres long. Smaller spears are assumed to be throwing javelins.Ī Celtic warrior’s basic equipment consisted of a set of one to four spears. The larger spears can range up to 2.5m long, the heads being almost 0.5m alone. A considerable variety of spearheads have been found, the different weights and shapes suiting them to different purposes. A warrior would be able to obtain a spear before a shield, sword or helmet.Ĭeltic spears were well known in the ancient world and there were four terms to denote these weapons lancea, mataris, saunion and gaesum, although they probably only had two main functions, a throwing weapon and a thrusting weapon. Celtic SpearsĪlthough the Gallic warrior is described by the ancient sources as predominantly a swordsman, for the poorer Gallic warrior the most fundamental part of his equipment was his spear. While there was, indeed, a variation in quality, and some made of softer iron may have been ineffective, the description may owe something to the fact that swords were often deliberately bent before being ritually deposited and it may have been the results of ritual activity rather than battle that Polybius was noting. Polybius, The Histories Book 2, Chapter 33 They were good for cutting but not thrusting and became easily bent during battle, requiring the warriors to pause and bend them back into shape with the foot, he reports.įrom the way their swords are made, as has been already explained, only the first cut takes effect after this they at once assume the shape of a strigil, being so much bent both length-wise and side-wise that unless the men are given leisure to rest them on the ground and set them straight with the foot, the second blow is quite ineffectual. Polybius is scathing of the quality of the swords used at Telamon in the third century. However among the Parisii of Yorkshire, for example, the sword was sometimes worn across the back and had therefore to be drawn over the shoulder from behind the head. Swords were normally worn on the hip or side, hanging from a bronze or iron chain. Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Book 5, Chapter 30 They carry long broad-swords which are hung on chains of iron or bronze and are worn along the right flank. Some swords in the late La Tene period often had rounded points that allowed only slashing attacks. In southern Gaul they developed impressive armour and preferred long swords. In Spain, they became master swordsmen accustomed to up-close combat with their short swords. The La Tene culture reintroduced the sword as the Celts spread over their vast range, having conquered most of Europe at their height, their warriors developed different styles of warfare. Towards the end of the Hallstatt period, around 600–500BC, swords were replaced with short daggers. Hallstatt swords could be very big and long, suggesting they were mainly used as slashing weapons, although they also had a definite sword point so would have been able to be used for piercing attacks. The stronger iron weapons were used by elite troops. There was a period when both were used for the same time. The bronze and iron swords of the early Celts of the Halstatt period were similar in design. Iron swords in sheaths of iron, bronze, wood, or leather were the symbol of the warrior and as such were often personalized by elaborate decoration applied to the sheath or by stamps beaten into the blade. These are the creatures who assail you with such terrible shouts in battle, and clash their arms and shake their long swords and toss their hair. Celtic warriors were primarily thought of as swordsmen in the ancient world and would often fight on the sides of Ancient Greeks and Romans throughout antiquity as mercenaries. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |