Here you will encounter some of the weaponry used by the Celts over the course of their existence throughout history, even into the modern age.
The
Spear:One of the oldest and most important of all hand weapons. Although you may hear little about it, the Celts favored spears as their main weapon in their far-ranging battles across Europe. The "La Tene" spear (left) features a wavy blade and is modeled after the spears which defeated and demoralized enemies 2,000 years ago.
Featuring a lovely and fearsome flame-shaped blade of some 14 inches in length, and mounted on an ash pole of some seven feet in length, this is a spear which could have belonged to Irish heroes of legend. The widely-used leaf-shaped spear (bottom) features an air of simple elegance and deadly intent. Note the cutouts in the nine and a half inch head.
Always the favored weapon of the Celts, the sword underwent change over the centuries as it progressed from the simple bronze-bladed leaf shaped sword to the relatively modern swords you can still see in Scotland and Ireland today. Although mostly seen in museum displays, more modern versions of some of these blades are still carried on ceremonial occasions.
One of the earlier
of these weapons of the Celts is represented at right, in this reproduction of a Celtic
bronze hilted short sword. Carried and used to great effect, by these warlike people who
dominated most of central and western Europe for many years. Far from being merely another
warrior tribe, the Celts possessed a taste for art and beauty which is reflected in many
of their artifacts. This Anthropomorphic hilt short sword demonstrates one of their most
entrancing. A beautiful work of art, yet also a well designed weapon. The short, quick
blade was well-suited for the hand-to-hand combat which was a feature of Celtic warfare.
The Celt-Iberians of Roman times were justly famed for their weapons, such as the Falcata (left), one of the most devastating swords every made. The inward curving blade delivered a tremendous blow and could split both shield and helmet. Considered to be of Greek, or possibly Etruscan origin, this sword spread into Southern Russia and also Spain. It was in Spanish hands that it was most feared by the Romans.
Far-ranging designers of some of the most beautiful objects of art known, the Celts were one of the first to use iron long swords such as the one above. A fearsome weapon that smote enemies of the Celts across the entire continent of Europe, it is believed to be the forerunner of the Spatha and theRoman cavalry sword. The Celts are also believed to be the inventors of mail.
Few weapons are as rich in history as the exclusively Scots forerunner (right) of the legendary "Claymore" two-handers. Though no more than two-dozen of these swords exist today, their presence has been recorded for 700 years This is the sword on the seal of King John (Baliol) from 1292. The most famous documentation of this sword is its presence in stone, carved on the grave marker of Robert de Greenlaw, killed in battle in 1411. A handful of these swords have been found in Ireland, left there by the mercenary Scottish Gallowglass. Though most surviving examples date from 1350-1450, King John's seal shows that it likely originated circa 1250.
Not to be outdone, the Irish not only developed whiskey, they also developed one of the most distinctive pommels and cross guards of all medieval swords (above). A steel ring pommel with a flaring steel cross guard bent in opposite directions. A quick and powerful weapon which enhanced the Irish reputation for being superb fighting men.
Special Thanks to Hal McClellan for his Substantial contribution.
This webpage was created by
|
 |