Roman Gladius

The short sword that conquered the ancient world/Historical

The gladius was the standard sword of the Roman legionary from the 3rd century BC through the 3rd century AD. The 'Mainz' type gladius, one of the most common variants, had a blade about 50-56 cm long and 7-8 cm wide, with a waisted profile that widened toward a triangular point designed for thrusting. The entire weapon including the wooden grip weighed about 0.7-1.0 kg. The gladius was designed for close-quarters combat in the Roman formation, where its short length was an advantage in tight spaces.