{"product_id":"roman-gladiotor-sword","title":"Roman Gladiotor Sword","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Roman Gladiotor Sword was the standard sword of Roman legionaries and became one of the most recognisable weapons of the Roman Empire. Roman soldiers adopted its early design from Iberian warriors during the Roman Republic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe earliest major version, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGladius Hispaniensis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, had a longer blade and was effective for both cutting and thrusting. It was later replaced by the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMainz Gladius\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which featured a slightly waisted blade and a long point designed to penetrate armour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the first century AD, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePompeii Gladius\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e became widely used. It had straight, parallel edges and a shorter triangular tip, making it lighter, faster, and easier to manufacture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRoman soldiers carried the gladius alongside a large shield called the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003escutum\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. They used the shield for protection before delivering quick thrusts to exposed areas during close-range battle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Smiths Blade","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53534064967974,"sku":null,"price":245.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1018\/9589\/7382\/files\/1_391790b2-ff00-47f4-a9ea-87d691579165.jpg?v=1785260630","url":"https:\/\/smithsblade.com\/products\/roman-gladiotor-sword","provider":"Smiths Blade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}