A Theory on Ancient Swords

Whilst comparing different ancient swords I questioned their length. They are  short. An average of around 50-60cm for most, excluding some. Many cultures shared the same trait. Yes there are a few exceptions for longswords in the ancient world but thats beside the point.

Xiphos, Falcata, Gladius, Khopesh, Sica, Hallstatt  and many more share the 50-60cm length. I threw away the idea of limited resource being the factor for their size. In the bronze age yes that could have been a major factor. Though in the Iron age the materials were more available, yet the size stayed roughly the same.

So heres my theory. They were all designed to be used in conjunction with a shield. Long swords are hard to use in close quarters combat. With a mass shield to shield battle a long sword is hard to swing. Obviously swinging and chopping are hard in close quarters combat but so is stabbing. The long sword is just a little too long to get around a shield. The shorter sword is then more manoeuvrable in tighter formations.

Just a rough theory.

 

Setting the Scene

 

The year is 51BC. Gaius Julius Caesar has all but finished his conquest of Gaul. Scattered Gallic tribes still resist Rome to their own peril.

Across the channel of water stands Britannia. Trade to Britain has all but stopped. No more luxury goods come from the classical world or beyond. The tribes stand alone. What lies ahead for them awaits to be seen.

The Start of a Voyage

Hello, welcome take a seat. Oh you’re already sitting. Cuppa tea? Ahh that’s better. Now that you’re comfortable let me introduce myself. My name is Sam Bowhay, 21 from Torbay, England. Currently working as a barista. Dishing out coffee for the masses. This is my first ever blog. Yay!

I’m a great fan of ancient history. This interest would have me spending hours drawing huge battle scenes at a young age.They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not write those thousand words. Maybe ease off my stranglehold of accuracy and make it more fun.

So i’m creeping into the world of writing. Sampling its delights and seeing what happens. Trying a point of view other than the Romans should be interesting.