Open AccessSome typological features of Byzantine spatha
Author(s) -
M. Aleksic
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
zbornik radova vizantološkog instituta/zbornik radova vizantološkog instituta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0917
pISSN - 0584-9888
DOI - 10.2298/zrvi1047121a
Subject(s) - byzantine architecture , sword , guard (computer science) , ceremony , ancient history , history , art , archaeology , computer science , programming language , operating system
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