A NEW SWORD FROM SPAIN: THE ROMAN ADOPTION OF THE GLADIUS HISPANIENSIS

The gladius hispaniensis was the quintessential weapon of the Roman Republican legionary. Yet the date and mechanisms of its adoption are not fully understood. It will be argued, utilizing both the archaeological and literary record, that it was adopted and spread rapidly throughout the Roman army during the Hannibalic War, becoming a key element of the Roman armament in their wars of expansion in the second century bce . The rapidity of its adoption explains why it entered the literary record, why it was specifically associated with Spain, and why it was feared amongst the Greeks and Macedonians.