Some typological features of Byzantine spatha

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Aleksić, M. (2010). Some typological features of Byzantine spatha, (47), 121-136. Retrieved from http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/Article.aspx?id=0584-98881047121A
Details
Title

Some typological features of Byzantine spatha

Subtitle
Author

Marko, Aleksić

Journal

Zbornik radova Vizantoloskog instituta

Volume
Issue

47

Start page

121

End page

136

ISSN
ISBN
DOI
URL

http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/Article.aspx?id=0584-98881047121A

Date

2010-2020/02/29/21:47:14

Abstract

This paper analyses finds of a special type of cross-guard, closer analogies of which may be found on Byzantine visual presentations from the IX-XI centuries. The only archaeological find of a sword with such a cross-guard which includes a preserved blade, indicates the characteristics of the spatha - the type of sword that was widespread in Byzantium, in those times. Swords with this kind of cross-guard and the general characteristics of the spatha are depicted in visual presentations as the weapons of the protospatharios or some other high-ranking imperial guardsmen and, in the descriptions of Byzantine court ceremony, this weapon was also called a spatha.

Keywords

Byzantine sword, cross-guard, protospatharios, spatha, spatharios