Name: Parazonium, 1st century AD, semi-sharp
Brand: Deepeeka
SKU: 116327800
Price: 101.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Wooden sword wall stand for sword
£ 34 Incl. VAT
Sword display stand
£ 21 Incl. VAT

Product description

The parazonium is based on an original depicted on a relief of a Roman general from the 1st century BC – 1st century AD. Alongside the parazonium, the general carries a musculata with a subarmalis underneath. The parazonium is strongly associated with the Roman Empire but has older roots amongst the Scythians, who carried it as a symbol of authority. The Persians adopted the acinaces dagger tradition from these nomads, after which the Greeks adopted the parazonium from the Iranians.

This short sword was well-suited to hoplite warfare, where it could be thrust between shields. Spartans often employed short swords in place of the longer xiphos, which may also apply to the parazonium. The Romans adopted the weapon from the Greeks, with a scabbard resembling that of the Macedonians, though the grip and pommel were different. In the early Roman army, the parazonium served as a backup weapon, but from the 2nd century BC onwards it became primarily a ceremonial attribute for high-ranking officers and emperors. It was often carried beneath the left arm and symbolised courage and rank, as seen on Trajan's Column.

In Roman visual culture, the parazonium appears frequently. Mars is depicted with it as a symbol of military power, Virtus as an embodiment of courage, and Roma as a symbol of the strength of the Roman Empire. Emperors and high officers also carry the weapon, sometimes with a pommel shaped like a double-headed eagle, as in a bronze statue fragment from Lucentum.

The sword is 57 cm long, with a 40 cm blade that tapers into a leaf shape. The grip is crafted from bone. The sword weighs 1 kg and comes with a luxury scabbard.