Editing Gladius (section)

==Description==
The word ''gladius'' acquired a general meaning as any type of sword. This use appears as early as the 1st century AD in the ''Biography of Alexander the Great'' by [[Quintus Curtius Rufus]].<ref>"Copidas vocabant gladios leviter curvatos, falcibus similes: "They called their lightly curved, sickle-like swords (gladius) 'copides'."</ref> The republican authors, however, appear to mean a specific type of sword, which is now known from archaeology to have had variants.

''Gladii'' were two-edged for cutting and had a tapered point for stabbing during thrusting. A solid grip was provided by a knobbed hilt added on, possibly with ridges for the fingers. Blade strength was achieved by welding together strips, in which case the sword had a channel down the centre, or by fashioning a single piece of high-carbon steel, rhomboidal in cross-section. The owner's name was often engraved or punched on the blade.

The [[hilt]] of a Roman sword was the ''capulus''. It was often ornate, especially the sword-hilts of officers and dignitaries.

Stabbing was a very efficient technique, as stabbing wounds, especially in the abdominal area, were almost always deadly.<ref>Vegetius, ''De Re Militari, [http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~madsb/home/war/vegetius/dere03.php Book I] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716222726/http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~madsb/home/war/vegetius/dere03.php |date=July 16, 2012 }}'': "a stab, though it penetrates but two inches, is generally fatal."</ref> However, the ''gladius'' in some circumstances was used for cutting or slashing, as is indicated by [[Titus Livius|Livy]]'s account of the [[Macedonian Wars]], wherein the Macedonian soldiers were horrified to see dismembered bodies.<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12582/12582-h/12582-h.htm ''Histories'', Book 31, Chapter 34].</ref>

Though the primary infantry attack was thrusting at stomach height, they were trained to take any advantage, such as slashing at kneecaps beneath the shield wall.

The ''gladius'' was sheathed in a [[scabbard]] mounted on a belt or shoulder strap. Some say the soldier reached across his body to draw it, and others claim that the position of the shield made this method of drawing impossible. A [[centurion]] wore it on the opposite side as a mark of distinction.<ref>See under {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061004213845/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/seyffert/0259.html gladius]}} in Seyffert, ''Dictionary of Classical Antiquities''.</ref>

Towards the end of the 2nd century AD and during the 3rd century the ''[[spatha]]'' gradually took the place of the ''gladius'' in the Roman legions.