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Sica,ancient weapon

The sica was a sword in Ancient Rome. It was the weapon of choice used by a gladiator called Thraex or "Thracian". It was originally depicted as a curved sword, (see the Zliten mosaic as well as numerous oil lamps) with a blade about 16-18 inches long (40 - 45 cm). The later sica blade (from late in the 1st century AD) had a sharp,almost 45 degree, bend in it. While early sicas may have been single edged, the later bent sicas were apparently double edged. The distinctive shape was designed to get around the sides of an opponent's shield, and stab or slash them in the back. Since the traex gladiator's usual opponent was the Scutum (large shield) carrying myrmillo gladiator, such a weapon as the sica was necessary to make the duel more even and exciting.

[edit] Sicarii

To the Romans the weapon seemed to be one used by criminals^[1].Sicarii^[2] the Jewish rebels in ancient Jerusalem practised terrorism against neutrals during the Roman occupation.

[edit] Ancient peoples

Sica was the weapon of choice of the Dacians, and can be seen all over Trajan's Column in their hands. Sica was used^[3] by Thracians^[4], Dacians^[5], Celts, Illyrians and other peoples prior to its adoption in the gladiatorial games.The sica was called Thracian sword^[6] (Ancient Greek,"Θρακικον ξίφος") and was considered their national weapon^[7].The weapon was related to the falx in Dacia^[8].Its utmost origin was the Hallstatt culture^[9].The weapon's size would vary and could be as long as a knife^[10], a short sword or a regular sword.

The principal melee weapon of the Illyrians was the Sica^[11]. According to historian John Wilkes:^[12]

Although a short curved sword was used by several peoples around the Mediterranean the Romans regarded the sica as a distinct Illyrian weapon used by the stealthy 'assassin' (sicarius)

[edit] Fighting Style

Sica was used only with the curve pointing down, which proves the tool part of it, and the fighting style was similar to the Kama. It will easily sever a limb with one slash-pull-cut technique. It was much feared by the Roman legionaries, and brought some changes to their armour style design. The most famous gladiator who ever wielded a sica was a Roman slave by the name of Jesaer, who lived from 215 BC - 173 BC.

The sword could also be used, in experienced hands, to kill in one hit. With the curve pointed down the tip would often catch on the enemy's helmet. The Thracian could then lurch the sword upward into the jaw and through the face, killing the opponent instantaneously.

[edit] References

^ Completely parsed Cicero: the first oration of Cicero against Catiline by Marcus Tullius Cicero, LeaAnn A. Osburn, Archibald A. Maclardy,ISBN-0865165904,2004,"To a Roman the sica seemed the weapon of a murderous ruffian"
^ Cambridge Commentaries on Writings of the Jewish and Christian World 200 BC to AD 200 (Volume 7): The Jewish and Christian World 200 BC to AD 200 by A. R. C. Leaney,1984,page 114,"... clothes. These men were called sicarii, since their short concealed weapon was a sica. A cognate phenomenon of the times was the appearance of ..."
^ The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald,ISBN-10: 0198150474,1998,page 203,""
^ Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians (Men at Arms Series, 129) by Peter Wilcox and Gerry Embleton,1982,page 43
^ Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians (Men at Arms Series, 129) by Peter Wilcox and Gerry Embleton,1982,page 43
^ The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald,ISBN-10: 0198150474,1998,page 203,""
^ Completely parsed Cicero: the first oration of Cicero against Catiline by Marcus Tullius Cicero, LeaAnn A. Osburn, Archibald A. Maclardy,ISBN-0865165904,2004,page 122,"and was the national weapon of Thracians"
^ Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians (Men at Arms Series, 129) by Peter Wilcox and Gerry Embleton,1982,page 35
^ HaA(1200-1000),HaB(1000-800)
^ A dictionary of Roman and Greek antiquities with nearly 2000 engravings on wood from ancient originals illustrative of the industrial arts and social life of the Greeks and Romans, by Anthony Rich. by Maria Bonn,2005,page 447: "... . (vii, 6i.) applies the sane name to the assassin's knife (sica). NUBILA'RIUM. A large shed or barn, open on one side, ..."
^ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996,page 238,"Their principal offensive weapon was the single edged curved-sword, similar to the Greek machaira, a form of weapon that can be traced back to Bronze age times"
^ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996,page 238-239,"Although a short curved sword was used by several peoples around the Mediterranean the Romans regarded the sica as a distinct Illyrian weapon used by the stealthy 'assassin' (sicarius)"

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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[0] Completely parsed Cicero: the first oration of Cicero against Catiline by Marcus Tullius Cicero, LeaAnn A. Osburn, Archibald A. Maclardy,ISBN-0865165904,2004,"To a Roman the sica seemed the weapon of a murderous ruffian"

[1] Cambridge Commentaries on Writings of the Jewish and Christian World 200 BC to AD 200 (Volume 7): The Jewish and Christian World 200 BC to AD 200 by A. R. C. Leaney,1984,page 114,"... clothes. These men were called sicarii, since their short concealed weapon was a sica. A cognate phenomenon of the times was the appearance of ..."

[2] The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald,ISBN-10: 0198150474,1998,page 203,""

[3] Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians (Men at Arms Series, 129) by Peter Wilcox and Gerry Embleton,1982,page 43

[4] Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians (Men at Arms Series, 129) by Peter Wilcox and Gerry Embleton,1982,page 43

[5] The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald,ISBN-10: 0198150474,1998,page 203,""

[6] Completely parsed Cicero: the first oration of Cicero against Catiline by Marcus Tullius Cicero, LeaAnn A. Osburn, Archibald A. Maclardy,ISBN-0865165904,2004,page 122,"and was the national weapon of Thracians"

[7] Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians (Men at Arms Series, 129) by Peter Wilcox and Gerry Embleton,1982,page 35

[8] HaA(1200-1000),HaB(1000-800)

[9] A dictionary of Roman and Greek antiquities with nearly 2000 engravings on wood from ancient originals illustrative of the industrial arts and social life of the Greeks and Romans, by Anthony Rich. by Maria Bonn,2005,page 447: "... . (vii, 6i.) applies the sane name to the assassin's knife (sica). NUBILA'RIUM. A large shed or barn, open on one side, ..."

[10] The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996,page 238,"Their principal offensive weapon was the single edged curved-sword, similar to the Greek machaira, a form of weapon that can be traced back to Bronze age times"

[11] The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996,page 238-239,"Although a short curved sword was used by several peoples around the Mediterranean the Romans regarded the sica as a distinct Illyrian weapon used by the stealthy 'assassin' (sicarius)"

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