Two points about hoplite swords

Two points about the swords hoplites used: 1. Of course they varied, but they were generally not small things; 2. The way they are depicted as suspended is unlikely to be accurate, and I have a couple of tentative theories about how they might have been drawn (to be honest, the second one doesn't convince even me).

www.LloydianAspects.co.uk

Category:

Education

Tags:

• hoplite
• sword
• classical
• greek
• greece
• warfare
• war
• fighting
• scabbard
• draw

[wrisr001]

what if you pinched the scabbard with you armpit?

[lindybeige]

@wrisr001 Possible but a bit awkward.

[lindybeige]

@Nickkraw Never met one.

[lindybeige]

@stephanosmixail I agree with this, but your instructor in Athens was probably speculating.

[Tyrhor]

We have been trying this at the reconstruction of the battle in Teutoburg forrest. I do know, that it is completely different army and so, but as a german officer I realised, that the main point is in changing of your pripary and secundary weapon. You usually need your sword in the close combat, sometimes realy close from your enemy (when your spear is too long for hitting him.)The ideal way where to have it is in your left hand inside of the shield.

[ScytheAustria]

@kiadoryudude2005 well actually, a few hundred, even thousand years are not that much to evolution than one would really think.

my opinion, as a student of molecular biology, is, that the genetic predisposition must, well might at least, have already existed at that point of history, but since humans did not have the standards in nutriton or medicine like today, due to lack of vitamin and other substances, they just did not evolve to their full potential.

[davewilson13]

@lindybeige That's a fair point. I just stumbled upon your videos late last night and have been enjoying a great many of them, thanks!

[lindybeige]

@davewilson13 I didn't say that all swords were drawn from the right. My point was merely that long as well as short swords CAN be drawn from the right. Some longer swords were drawn from the right, but also swords were on the left hip too.

[davewilson13]

@lindybeige According to your previous videos, shouldn't the belt have been fastened with the sword on the other side of the body? I get your point about using the shield, but you shouldn't require a shield to draw your sword right? Thanks for the great videos!

[KrimzonKnight01]

@lindybeige The shorter baldric would reduce the swinging significantly, i imagine. It would be hard for the sword to make its way to your back since it would have to get past your your arm and shoulder. This would also keep the sword leaning forward rather than hanging straight down, making it easier to draw. I experimented with a sword i have and i didnt have any problems save that the sword was in a linoleum sheath ( yeah its cheap) and the baldric attached halfway on it, so it bounced.

[lindybeige]

@KrimzonKnight01 This is possible, but it would still leave the sword swinging around loose most of the time - very awkward and uncomfortable. The sword would also always work its way round to the lowest point (or even, it seems, round the back).

[KrimzonKnight01]

@lindybeige The swords were worn high on the shield side. To draw the sword, the hoplite just had to hold it firm against his body with his left arm. using the chape to lock the sword with the shield seems far too clumsy to be plausible. Not to mention that having the sword swinging around on the baldric would get in the way. Using a short baldric would solve this.