Circa 200-300 AD. A beautifully formed iron-short sword with a ring pommel, with a broad handle, a double-edged blade featuring a shallow midrip along both faces as well as a pointed tapering top. A slender rectangular guard creates a buffer between the blade shoulder and the soldier’s hand. Originally introduced by the Sarmatians and the Germans to the Romans legions and used by the Roman infantry in the 2nd century CE. Cf: "Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier: From Marius to Commodus, 112 BC–AD 192 " by Graham Summer, Raffaele D'Amato, 2009, pg. 88, fig. 81. For similar see the British Museum. Accession no. 2004,0301.1 The army of ancient Rome (800 BC – AD 476) was a formidable fighting power. It was exceptionally well disciplined, organised and supplied with a huge selection of effective and battle-proven weapons. The sword and spear were the infantryman’s main weapons, and the spectacular military successes of the Roman legions throughout Europe and the Middle East lay in the disciplined battlefield application and relentless training in the use of these weapons. Size: L:445mm / W:65mm ; 320g. Provenance: From a private collection; previously was acquired from G. M. in London in 2017.