Cavalry sword

Object/Artifact

-

Trimontium Museum

Name/Title

Cavalry sword

Entry/Object ID

L.2021.11

Description

Cavalry sword (spatha) with full bone/ivory grip assembly hilt

Use

Used in combat. The spathae were long, narrow swords with a midrib.

Context

Found in Germany. In the late 2nd century, the auxiliary cavalry began to carry a longer sword than ones used by legionaries.

Collection

HvG

Category

Military Equipment & Weaponry

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Holger von Grawert

Notes

Loan

Made/Created

Time Period

1st - 2nd century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Romano Germanic

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Sword

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Edged Weapons

Nomenclature Class

Armaments

Nomenclature Category

Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

Getty AAT

Concept

swords

Materials

Material

Iron, Bone, Bronze

Material Notes

Iron / Organic material ie bone/ivory / Bronze (chape)

Color

Gray, White, Brown, Black

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Provenance

Notes

River find from the Danube near Vienna

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

Cavalrymen used a long slashing sword (spatha). Fragments of such swords from Trimontium include hilt guards based on local styles. Were these locals serving with the army? Or were they battle honours for troops involved in the conquest?