Ancient Roman, Empire Iron Gladius Type Mainz - 71 cm

Roman Gladius – Mainz type – Iron – early Imperial period Sale only within the EU!!! An impressive iron short sword blade is up for sale, typologically assignable to the Roman gladius Mainz type. The blade features the broad form characteristic of early gladii with a slight taper near the upper blade region and a long, extended tip. Especially well preserved is the complete, long tang for the originally organic-material grip. The surface shows an pronounced, age-related corrosion structure with numerous depressions and irregularities. The blade has been cleaned and conserved in the past. Despite its age, the overall shape is very clearly readable. Dimensions: overall length including tang approx. 71 cm; blade length approx. 53 cm; tang approx. 18 cm; maximum blade width approx. 6 cm; weight approx. 547 g. Typological classification: Gladius, Mainz-type or early Roman gladius form. Comparable swords were used especially during the late Republic and early Imperial period. The long extended tip and the broad, slightly waisted blade are characteristic features of this early gladius group. Condition: archaeological recovery state. Corrosion, material losses, and age-related surface changes present. Tang fully preserved. Please examine all photos carefully; they are part of the description. Provenance: Purchased in 2011 from a Belgian previous owner at the Killesberg weapons fair in Stuttgart. Since 2018 in my private collection. The purchase invoice from that time is no longer available. An interesting collector’s item for a collection of Roman militaria and ancient weapons. The constructive construction and the exceptionally good preservation of this feared Roman melee weapon have close parallels to spatha blades from mass finds of imperial-era weaponry, among them the Danish moors of Nydam and Illerup-Addal. The Mainz type is typologically based on the older Gladius Hispaniensis and is overall somewhat longer, with a sharply angled triangular tip area. The sale is conducted only within the EU!!!! Please pay attention when bidding. Only EU!!!

Estimate:£4,231.84

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