Circa 100 AD. A beautifully formed iron "Pompeii type" gladius, the blade is with parallel cutting edges, a triangular tip, and a long tang. A fragment of scabbard still remaining in bronze which is also pelta in shape. The Gladius was a key part of Roman military equipment and was used throughout the legions of the broad Roman empire. This was used in close quarter combat, and it was partially thanks to this short sword that Rome was able to control and empire that reached from North-Western Europe to the Near East and encompassed all the lands of the beautiful Mediterranean. This type of sword has been found throughout the Roman Empire including Britain. It is so-called after the four found at Pompeii and can, therefore, be dated to before the destruction of Pompeii in 79 AD. For more information on Roman weaponry see: Bishop and Coulston, 2005, “Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome. For a similar example see Royal Armouries Collections, Leeds, Accession no. IX.5583 B 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. Accompanied by a copy of Italian cultural export licence number 20254 and by an expertise by military specialist Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. Size: L:620mm / W:60mm ; 1050g. Provenance: From a private Italian collection; acquired from Hermann Historica, 11 April 2008, lot 38; previously in a private European collection.