A xiphos is a double-edged single-handed sword, used by the Ancient Greeks as an alternative weapon to the spear or javelin.
The earliest Greek swords were made of bronze. In the time that Homer wrote about, Homeric swords were more advanced. One type was called chalcos and was made of copper. There were also the Xiphos, Phasganon, and Aor. These were made of steel that sometimes had gold and silver accents. The xiphos has a double edge. There was also a kopis which was a machete like blade.
The ancient Greeks employed various specialized equipment in battle, notably the phalanx formation, which utilized heavy infantry called hoplites. These soldiers were equipped with a large circular shield (aspis), a spear (doru), and a short sword (xiphos). Additionally, they often wore bronze armor, including a helmet, breastplate, and greaves, to protect themselves in combat. Siege warfare also saw the use of catapults and battering rams, enhancing their offensive capabilities against fortified positions.
The swords used by the early legions would have been Greek in origin, either the Xiphos (a leaf-bladed or tapered short sword between 19 and 24 inches in length) or the Kopis, a forward-bent single edge cutting sword reminescent of a Nepalese Kukri. Probably both types were found depending on personal preferences of the legionaries. While the Gladius Hispanenses was probably introduced during the II Punic War, it is possible that a similar (but somewhat inferior) weapon also called gladius was adopted from the northern Italy Celts already during the IV Century BC, if so the Legions of the 1st Punic war already fought with a sword that would have been very similar (if somewhat shorter and lighter) to the famous Gladius Hispanensis.
Ancient Spartan women would most likely wear something like a chiton, or a short tunic. This was VERY revealing, sort of like the short dresses girls wear today, but with no undies. The short tunics were worn for free movement when they exercised.
Spartan swords were made from iron or bronze (a composite of copper and tin) most Greek swords were short swords, primarily for thrusting as neither iron nor bronze flex very well. The spartan Hop-lites only drew their swords in the event that their spear was lost or broken in battle as their tactics relied heavily on making a wall or phalanx against the enemy with their large Hoplon Shields with their spears pointing outwards. This tactic was most famously deployed at the battle of Thermopylae where 300 Spartans held the Thermopylae pass to Athens against 100,000 Persians successfully for three days. Most spartan swords were smooth edged but some had serrated (saw like) edges to inflict more damage.
Bronze.
xiphos
7
2lb 9oz
The earliest Greek swords were made of bronze. In the time that Homer wrote about, Homeric swords were more advanced. One type was called chalcos and was made of copper. There were also the Xiphos, Phasganon, and Aor. These were made of steel that sometimes had gold and silver accents. The xiphos has a double edge. There was also a kopis which was a machete like blade.
The word xiphoid derives from the Greek word xiphos for straight sword, the tip of which the process somewhat resembles.
anywhere from 2 to 20 punds, depending on style and metal used.
The xiphos was made as a type of ancient Greek sword, designed for close combat and used primarily by infantry soldiers. It was crafted for slashing and thrusting motions, making it an effective weapon in hand-to-hand combat situations during that time period.
A 9 foot long spear called the Dori and a short sword called the Xiphos.
Mainly spear and shield. Spartan hoplites (infantry) used relatively short swords (xiphos) as a secondary weapon.
Oh, dude, a xiphos is like a short sword from ancient Greece, so it's typically around 18-24 inches long. But hey, if you need it for a costume or something, just make sure it's not too big or you might accidentally take out a few party guests.
The Greek Xiphos I imagine must have been the most widely used weapon, that is after the spears of the hoplites.