The Mainz gladius replaced the Hispaniensis during the Roman campaigns in Germany and the Pompeii gladius replaced the Mainz during the Pax Romana and the early centuries of the Roman Empire. Over time, the Romans improved the weapon depending on how Roman battle units waged war and also created a number of variants. From the 3rd century BC, however, the Romans adopted a weapon based on the sword of the Celtiberians of Hispania in service to Carthage during the Punic Wars, known in Latin as the gladius hispaniensis, meaning ' Hispanic-type sword'. Linguistically, within Latin, the word also came to mean 'sword', regardless of the type used.Įarly ancient Roman swords were similar to those of the Greeks, called xiphe (plural singular xiphos).

Gladius ( Classical Latin: ) is a Latin word properly referring to the type of sword that was used by ancient Roman foot soldiers starting from the 3rd century BC and until the 3rd century AD. Iron of varying degrees of carbon content, pointed, double-edged Roman foot soldiers during the wars of the Roman republic and Roman empire.Celtiberians in service to Carthage during the Punic wars.

Carthaginian Spain as the Celtiberian sword, adopted and modified by Rome

Double sided sword drawing