Pugio and Scabbard

Object/Artifact

Trimontium Museum

Name/Title

Pugio and Scabbard

Entry/Object ID

L.2021.4

Description

Pugio (Dagger) with a scabbard of the Kuenzing type

Use

Daggers were carried by Roman soldiers for emergencies in battle, either having lost their primary weapon, or fighting in close combat

Context

Found in Germany

Collection

HvG

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Holger von Grawert

Notes

Loan

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Romano Germanic

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Scabbard, Dagger

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Scabbard

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Dagger

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Container, Armament

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Edged Weapons

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Armament Accessories

Nomenclature Class

Armaments

Nomenclature Category

Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

Getty AAT

Concept

swords, dagger scabbards, daggers (weapons)

Other Name

Pugio

Material

Bronze, Iron

Color

Brown, Green

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Provenance

Notes

Found 1975 in Bavaria near Regensburg (Castra Regina)

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

A legionary was armed with a javelin (pilum) and a sword, and carried a dagger (pugio) for emergencies. In the first and early second century AD, the preferred sword type was the gladius, a short stabbing weapon suitable for fighting in tight formation. During the second century, a longer slashing sword , the spatha, became popular as fighting styles changed.