Roman Weapons

created by Jabber

(thing) by 54b (2.8 wk) (print) ? (I like it!) 2 C!s Sat Jun 23 2001 at 22:09:53

Most Roman Weapons of the day were made of bronze or copper. Their War Technology was incredibly advanced, as was their military tactics.

aclys - a kind of javelin

aculeus - a pointed implement, spike

ammentum - a thong or loop attached to a spear; a throwing-strap

ancile - a small figure-of-eight or waisted shield

arcus - a bow

aries - a battering ram, an engine for breaking down walls

arma - weapons; armor

ballista - a military engine for discharging stones and other missiles

caetra - a small, light shield

calamatus - an arrow

cassis - a helmet

catapulta - a machine for discharging bolts or other missiles

cateia - a curved missile weapon, perhaps a boomerang

cestrophendone - a catapult for discharging bolts

cipeolum - a small shield

clipeus - a round, usually bronze, shield

contus - a long spear, lance, or pike

copis - a short, curved sword

corax - a kind of siege-engine

cornus - a spear or javelin of cornel wood

corvus - a military engine, a kind of grapnel

cudo - helmet

culter - a knife

curis - a spear

cuspis - a spear, lance

dolo - a weapon apparently having a wooden shaft and short iron point

ensiculus - a small sword

ensis - sword

fala - a wooden siege-tower

falarica - a heavy missile weapon, discharged by machine or by hand

falx - a military implement shaped like a sickle, used to pull down walls or men on walls

ferrum - sword

fraxinus - a spear or javelin of ash

funda - a leather strap for hurling stones, a sling

gaesum - a gallic javelin

gladiolus - a small sword

gladius - a sword

gorytos - quiver for holding arrows

grus - a kind of siege-engine

hasta - a spear, javelin

hastula - a small spear

helepolis - a siege-engine, a kind of mobile tower

iaculum - a throwing-spear, javelin; missile

lancea - a long light spear, lance

lanciola - a small lance

ligula - a kind of short sword

loncha - a spear, javelin

machina - a siege-engine

machinamentum - a siege-engine

mataris - a gallic throwing-spear

mesancylum - a javelin with a thong for throwing

parazonium - a dagger worn at the girdle

parma - a small, usually round, shield carried by light infantry and cavalry

parmula - a small parma

pelta - a light, often crescent-shaped, shield

pilum - a trown javelin made with soft iron. Would bend once implanted in enemy shields, rendering the shield useless.

pugio - a short weapon for stabbing, a dagger

pugiunculus - a small dagger

rumex - a kind of javelin or hunting-spear

runa - a kind of weapon

sagitta - an arrow

scutulum - a little sword

scutum - a shield; strictly, the oblong, wooden shield used by heavy infantry

securix - an ax, battle-axe

sica - a dagger

soliferreum - a kind of javelin made wholly of iron

sparus - a kind of javelin

sybina - a kind of spear or javelin

telum - a spear

tragula - a spear fitted with a throwing-strap

venabulum - a hunting-spear

verutum - a short throwing-spear with a tapering metal head

They had tactics for both attack and defense.

Projectile Attack - They would halt advance, and form a wall of their sheilds. This was effective until their battles in Germania, where the Gaul's would simply charge and strike, with brute force, and cleave the soldiers through their shields.

Charging - Arranged in a phalanx, or rectangle, they would march steadily towards the enemy. This formation was not very effective.

Enemy Shielding - Romans had long wooden spears with iron spearheads known as pilum's. They would throw these into enemy shields, causing the spearhead to bend once in the enemy shield. Then the enemy shield would hinder mobility, and be cast away.

Intimidation - Battle gear. The Romans wore long cloaks, feathered helmets, and sparkling weapons. This was a fearsome site to see.

Fatigue - Roman soldiers at the front of the phalanx would fight for 15 minutes or so. Then, the line behind that one would move up, and replace the tired soldiers.

Attrition - Most Roman sieges were won by attrition. If the siege took too long, though, siege-towers were built.

Training - All Roman soldiers were jack-of-all-trade men. They could perform any military task.

Unity and Loyalty - Morale and loyalty were sky high. Each soldier was brother to the next. If they ran, they were abandoning their family.

All these things led to the Romans conquering almost all of the known world at that time.

printable version
chaos

Phalanx	The downfall of Rome and its possible implications for free market capitalism	Battle of Adrianople	kangaroo meat
aclys	puppy	Barbarian Tribes	The Star Trek Project
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest	Skirmisher	Caramelled Potatoes	bronze
Demonyms of the World	big	Germania	bolts
siege weaponry	Italy	Donnie Darko	Ancient Rome
Jiang Ching	Grapnel	morale	Wrestler

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