Description

Xiphos Sword Description

The Greek xiphos sword is a double-edged, one-handed Iron Age straight short sword used by ancient Greeks. The classic blade was between 20” and 25” in. The xiphos sometimes has a midrib, and is diamond or lenticular in cross-section. It was generally hung from a baldric under the left arm. The xiphos was generally used only after the spear was discarded for close combat. Very few original xiphos sword have survived. The xiphos’ leaf-shaped design allowed it to be used for cutting and thrusting. The design has likely been in existence since the appearance of the first swords. The leaf-shaped short swords were not limited to Greece and can be found throughout Europe in the late Bronze Age. Blade Materials