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Pilum. The pilum (Latin: [ˈpiːɫʊ̃]; pl.: pila) was a javelin commonly used by the Roman army in ancient times. It was generally about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long overall, consisting of an iron shank about 7 mm (0.28 in) in diameter and 600 mm (24 in) long with a pyramidal head, attached to a wooden shaft by either a socket or a flat tang.
The pilum was a short-range javelin with an effective range of about 15 meters (50 ft), but could also be used as a spear in situations where an enemy had to be held back. [44] It was hurled at the enemy formations right before the charge and this hail of javelins was intended to break the force of the enemy charge as well as demoralize the ...
Modern reconstruction of the heavy pilum according to Polybius' specifications has shown that it would have weighed some 8.5 kg (19 lb), far too heavy to be of any practical use as a throwing weapon. The light pilum would have weighed a more serviceable 2.2 kg (4.9 lb). [49]
By the time the volley of pila had reached the enemy line (usually only fifteen yards distant for best effect), the legionaries were charging and very quickly at work with their swords. There was rarely any time for the foe to find a pilum, pull it out of whatever it had hit and throw it back. [9] The formation and alignment of hastati
The head of a pilum bent on impact after throwing Modern reconstruction of a Roman aquila. Marius, according to Pliny, abolished non-eagle legionary standards. Some or all of the following reforms have been attributed to Marius in modern historiography. They are, however, variably dated.
This system would evolve into the Late Roman Army, which utilized the comitatenses and limitanei units to defend the Empire. Roman legionaries had armour, a gladius, a shield, two pila, and food rations. They carried around tools such as a dolabra, a wooden stave, and a shallow wicker basket. These tools would be used for building castra (camps ...
Principes were armed with a pilum, which is a throwing spear, and a sword, which was used after the spear had been thrown. [6] They fought in a quincunx formation, usually carrying scuta, large rectangular shields, and bronze helmets, often with a number of feathers fixed onto the top to increase stature.
The first line was called the kontarion, the first four lines were made up of skutatoi the remaining three of toxotai. Three or four chiliarchiai formed a tagma (brigade) in the later empire (after 750 AD) but chiliarchy-sized units were used throughout the empire's life.