940 - A Roman gladius of the Pompeian type with scabbard fittings, dating from the second half of the 1st century A.D. to the early 2nd century A.D.

A Roman gladius of the Pompeian type with scabbard fittings, dating from the second half of the 1st century A.D. to the early 2nd century A.D. A short sword with parallel, straight cutting edges and a triangular tip. The 4 cm wide blade (a classic variant of the Pompeian type) joins the 17.8 cm long tang—which has a rectangular cross-section—at the upper end at an exact right angle; the tang tapers steadily toward the top, measuring 15 mm at the bottom and only 3 mm at the top. A 17.5 cm wide, oval disc made of bronze sheet metal is riveted to the upper end of the tang. The 48 cm long blade features an obtuse-angled central spine, from which the blade thickness tapers continuously toward the cutting edges. The distinctly stepped, 8 cm long triangular tip is significantly thickened at the front, so that the cross-section forms a robust, nearly equilateral rhombus. This morphological and technical feature is found on several gladii of this type and served an armor-piercing function, designed to break the rings of chain mail or to more easily penetrate the gaps in scale armor or lamellar armor. The blade’s surface shows slight rust pitting with minimal nicks along the cutting edges. Overall, a very well-preserved piece that clearly reveals the weapon’s characteristic outline. Expertly conserved and stabilized. Total length of the blade: 65.8 cm. Included are a hilt strap and a copper scabbard mouthplate, both with clear traces of tin plating on parts of the surface, which belong to the fittings of the “Pettau” variant. The hilt guard, measuring 11.7 cm in height and 5.5 cm in width, is composed of eight riveted sheet metal parts: 1–2) Two lateral, arched strips that taper at the top into two palmette motifs, which frame the straight lower section of the scabbard. At the bottom is a hemispherical, hollow decorative knob with a profiled edge, into which the converging side strips are soldered. On the front, a triangular pressed metal plate has been inserted, which has been embossed with a design using a mold. At the top is a decorative band, a “cord,” featuring diagonally running, intertwined strands bordered at the top and bottom by a row of dots, followed by a double line. In the center of the base is the goddess Minerva with a spear and shield. The edges of the side strips and the stamped metal plate soldered onto them are additionally covered on both sides with a profiled metal strip, which is also riveted at the top to the underlying metal plates. On the back, below the palmettes, a sheet metal strip (1.5 cm wide) is soldered to the side strips and additionally riveted at the edges. In the center of the band is a rivet hole for attachment to the wooden wall of the sword scabbard. The tip of the hilt band is covered on the back by a small triangular sheet of metal, which is soldered only to the strips and the decorative knob. The center is open. The thoroughly cleaned surface reveals not only traces of tin plating but also, in many places, the copper-colored surface of the alloy used. There are small holes in the stamped sheet metal and a crack in one of the side strips. The mouthplate, which is 15.5 cm high and 5.2 cm wide, has a similarly complex construction. The front is a rectangular sheet of metal that is curved at the sides and clamps around the edge of the back of the scabbard. There are no separately crafted side strips. At the bottom, the corners of this sheet metal clamp taper into spoon-shaped ends on the sides that extend down over the surface of the top. However, these ends are not designed as palmettes, as is the case with the hilt band. On the back, the hilt band is again capped by a sheet metal strip (2.3 cm wide) that is soldered to the side strips and additionally riveted. Toward the bottom, the mouthplate remains open on the back. At the mouth, the sheet metal is slotted on the sides, and the edge on the front face has been bent outward to facilitate inserting the sword into the scabbard. Small, profiled, triangular metal plates are soldered and riveted to the sides to cover the slits again. A stamped metal plate is soldered onto the pre-bent muzzle; it is decorated with two opposing dolphins between rows of dots. In the next step, two roughly square stamped metal plates with identical imagery were soldered onto the large metal clamp. These depict a triad of gods: in the center, Minerva with a spear and shield; to the left, a goddess leaning against a column, holding a cornucopia in her bent right hand and fruit in the fold of her robe with her left hand. The goddess on the right holds a scepter in her right hand and an object in her left (a rudder?). The edges of these decorative metal plates are covered with three pressed metal bands, whose decoration is identical to that on the band on the base: a “cord,” bordered by rows of dots and double lines. From the middle band