- This is about the gladius weapon. For the 2003 video game Gladius, see Gladius (video game).
Gladius is a Latin term meaning "sword" (in general). In English it refers specifically to the short sword, 60 cm (24 inches) long, used by Roman legionaries and designed especially for making short, powerful thrusts. Several different designs were used; among collectors and historical reconstructionists , the three primary kinds are known as the Mainz gladius, the Fulham gladius, and the Pompeii gladius (these names refer to where or how the canonical example was found). More recent archeological finds have uncovered an earlier version, the gladius hispaniensis ("Spanish sword"). Contrary to common belief, the gladius was not used by gladiators, who used a version with a shorter blade (300 mm–350 mm/12 in.–14 in. long). In the 3rd century, improvements in metal working technology which allowed the introduction of the spatha finally antiquated the venerated gladius.
The gladius was crafted from soft iron and the exterior was carburized using coal dust on the face of the anvil. This was necessary because the soft iron was not hard enough to have taken an edge before the carbon of the coal powder was added to the exterior of the blade.
It is straight and double-edged, with a V-shaped tip, and primarily constructed for thrusting action and use together with a large rectangular shield, the scutum. The cross-section of the gladius is typically rhomboid, providing the blade with good stability for stabbing.
The gladius is frequently depicted in coats of arms, especially of military corps.
The name is Latin, so its plural is gladii rather than the normal English gladiuses. The diminutive form, gladiolus, is also the name of a flowering plant with sword-shaped leaves.
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