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In Reply to: It is a good one. posted by Shane on May 08, 2000 at 19:58:06:
***And then we lust for the same blood and violence and then react with the same emotions as did the Romans 1800 years before us. And then we justify it with, "Well, no one is really hurt in the making of movies."Are you then suggesting that this is a rather minor and insignificant distinction?
Who was that emperor that was so sure and proud of his fighting skills that he would routinely enter the arena and always come out a winner?
Kicker: his armor and sword were made of iron. All his opponents fought with lead and tin swords.
iron huh? I guess hi tech is relative to what you're holding onto.
***iron huh? I guess hi tech is relative to what you're holding onto.Did I goof? I thought it WAS iron. But it has been several month since I read this story. Too bad I don't have that book any more.
As far as the most popular sword, that was the Gladius, of which the French in 1831 made copies to equip their Artillery troops - I have it and it is a *very* impressive piece. Not 30lb, of course...
hi Victor,
i am pretty sure the Legion used brass swords. However, it is quite possible the Emperor had iron,but my knowledge of military history is much too limited for that.
The legionary used a short stabbing sword called the gladius, it was made of steel, yes, the Romans had steel.
late in the Empire, newer gear came out. But i would have sworn that they used this bloody 30lb bludgeon that for some reason was called a sword.
It would really surprise me if they had steel 2 or 3 centuries BC. Got any sources
that would clarify this?
...the early versions of the Gladius were bronze, but the later ones were indeed made of steel.BTW, its design reflects the revolutionary, by that time, discovery that "cuts heal and thrusts kill", so its primary duty was for thrusts, although it was still pretty effective at cuts too. That idea was later lost many times, and then again "rediscovered", so some cavalry weapons, for example, went straight, curved, straight, curved again, then "almost straight".
That alone makes me want to see that move, although the director's name doesn't exactly fill me with great anticipation.
In US Navy, the sailors in boarding parties were issued curved sabers. It takes less training to hack and slash than to fence. Also, sabers are better for cutting rigging to disable the boarded ship. The officers, however, have straight swords to this day. Mine is still lying about somewhere.
No, not the actor. His "The Book of the Sword" contains all the answers. Available from the Amazon for $8 or so. Perhaps a bit too dry.
This is the 1831 French version
and it's verrry good :)
I can't decide if it's a minor or a major distinction. I want to justify myself by saying it's a minor distinction, but then when I try and analyze my reation to scenes in the movie I'm not so sure. (And yes I do realize the problem analyzing emotions) :-) As per your trivia question, I don't know which emperor that was. (but he must have been one tough dude.)
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