Lancea (weapon)
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The lancea was a javelin used in ancient Rome.
Name
Latin lancea is generally regarded as a loanword.[1][2][3] According to Varro, it was of Hispanian origin. Festus associated it with the Greek lónchē (λόγχη),[1] although this connection is considered phonologically improbable by modern linguists.[3]
Modern scholarship treats both Latin and Greek terms as independent borrowings from a third language,[1] likely Celtic given the association of the weapon with Gauls and Galatians.[1][2] In the 1st century BC, Diodorus writes: "The spears [the Gauls] brandish, which they call lanciae, have iron heads a cubit in length and even more, and a little under two palms in breadth".[4] This interpretation is further supported by the occurrence of toponyms derived from Celtic lancia (Lancia in Spain, Lancio(n)- in Gaul) and by comparison with Old Irish do-léicim ('I throw').[2]
Definition
The lancea, also known as the hasta am(m)entata, was a long spear typically fitted with a thong (ammentum) attached near the middle of the shaft, which increased leverage and imparted additional spin, allowing the weapon to be thrown over considerable distances.[5]
This kind of javelin also had short wooden shafts and small leaf-shaped metal heads.[6][7][8] Sometimes the heads had elongated points which may have been used to increase the penetration of the spear.[9]
Usage
Soldiers that used the lancea were known as lancearii, who served in the Roman army as elite troops, speculatores (scouts), and in the imperial bodyguard.[10][5] Although less penetrating than the pilum, the lancea was nevertheless highly effective against cavalry, elephants, and lightly armoured opponents.[5]
One kind of lancea, possibly known as the lancea pugnatoria ('fighting lance'), was used as a thrusting weapon by cavalrymen.[11] It was lighter and easier to handle than the pilum, which made it particularly suited to mounted combat.[12]
The lancea was also used by auxiliaries.[13] Legionaries would use the lancea if the occasion called for it.[14] Arrian equipped his army with the weapon during a battle with the Alans.[15][16]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Ernout & Meillet 1985, p. 339.
- ^ a b c Delamarre 2003, p. 1996.
- ^ a b "lance, n.¹", Oxford English Dictionary (3 ed.), Oxford University Press, 2025, doi:10.1093/OED/2607418943
- ^ Delamarre 2003, p. 1996, citing Diodorus, 5.30.4.
- ^ a b c Link 2006.
- ^ Argüín 2015, p. 984.
- ^ Meakin 2001, p. 85.
- ^ Rance 2015, p. 7.
- ^ Southern 2007, p. 211.
- ^ Speidel 2007, p. 217-218.
- ^ Rowlands 2017.
- ^ Sommer 2007.
- ^ Cowan 2013, p. 40.
- ^ Gilliver 2007, p. 193.
- ^ Goldsworthy 2003, p. 132.
- ^ Strobel 2007, p. 227.
Bibliography
- Argüín, Adolfo Raúl Menéndez (2015), "Tactics: Principate", in Le Bohec, Yann (ed.), The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 979–1028, doi:10.1002/9781118318140.wbra1477, ISBN 978-1-118-31814-0.
- Cowan, Ross (2013). Roman Legionary AD 69–161. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-0283-5.
- Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise. Errance. ISBN 9782877723695.
- Ernout, Alfred; Meillet, Antoine (1985). Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine (4th ed.). Klincksieck. ISBN 978-2-252-03359-3.
- Gilliver, Kate (2007), Erdkamp, Paul (ed.), "The Augustan Reform and the Structure of the Imperial Army", A Companion to the Roman Army, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 181–200, doi:10.1002/9780470996577.ch12, ISBN 978-0-470-99657-7
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link). - Goldsworthy, Adrian (2003). The Complete Roman Army. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 132. ISBN 978-0500288993.
- Link, Stefan (2006). "Lancearii". Brill's New Pauly. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e629930.
- Rance, Philip (2015), "Infantry: Late Empire", in Le Bohec, Yann (ed.), The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 492–556, doi:10.1002/9781118318140.wbra0799, ISBN 978-1-118-31814-0.
- Rowlands, Ifor W. (2017). England and Europe in the Reign of Henry III (1216–1272). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-94012-2.
- Meakin, Tony (2001). A Basic Church Dictionary. Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85311-420-5.
- Pernet, Lionel (2015), "Spear", in Le Bohec, Yann (ed.), The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 843–978, doi:10.1002/9781118318140.wbra1415, ISBN 978-1-118-31814-0.
- Pollard, Nigel (2006), Potter, David S. (ed.), "The Roman Army", A Companion to the Roman Empire, Malden, MA, USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 206–227, doi:10.1002/9780470996942.ch12, ISBN 978-0-470-99694-2
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link). - Syvänne, Ilkka (2017). Caracalla: A Military Biography. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-9526-3.
- Sommer, Carl (2007). We Look for a Kingdom: The Everyday Lives of the Early Christians. Ignatius Press. ISBN 978-1-68149-616-0.
- Southern, Pat (2007). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-804401-7.
- Speidel, M. P. (2007). "The Missing Weapons at Carlisle". Britannia. 38: 237–239. doi:10.3815/000000007784016502. ISSN 1753-5352. S2CID 163148762.
- Strobel, Karl (2007), Erdkamp, Paul (ed.), "Strategy and Army Structure Between Septimius Severus and Constantine the Great", A Companion to the Roman Army, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 267–285, doi:10.1002/9780470996577.ch16, ISBN 978-0-470-99657-7
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link).