La Tène Swords

[@kaizen5023]

Also, for those that don't know, the photos of the extremely bent swords are most likely from swords sacrificed as offerings and intentionally bent as part of the process then thrown in a body of water.

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

Slashing swords are more useful than you’d initially think when most folks ain’t wearing maille armor.

[@FortressofLugh]

Better probably

[@thebrocialist8300]

Hispano-Celtic mercenaries [that fought alongside Gaulish mercenaries in the Punic wars] were also renown for their dual-bladed swords and daggers (very much in the style of the later Roman ‘Galdius’ derivative). It was very much in the tradition of Iberia’s Celtic tribes to equip each warrior with such a sword (often carried in a very elaborately adorned sheath). This technology was one of the ways in which Iberia’s Celtic mercenaries distinguished themselves from the native Iberian tribes - the mercenaries of which would more frequently be employed as slingers in light infantry units. I see many parallels in this early Celtic weapons technology and that of the ancient Solutrean culture. (One wonders if this may have been preserved by some of the archaic tribes of southern Gaul and later integrated into the Celtic tradition.)

[@nutyyyy]

I agree with you, medieval swords are typically developments from celtic and germanic swords of antiquity. The Spatha also plays a role but its lifespan continued into the Early medieval period and had its own evolutions.

[@pierren___]

The whole médiéval world is the Germanization of Europe

[@franl155]

Thank you for this. I was browsing for "la Tene swords" and found your vid. Very informative and accessible - no jargon at all! now I'll have to check out your other vids.

[@Catubrannos]

Even the word iron is from a Celtic word.

[@faramund9865]

Didn't know that, interesting! In Dutch the word is 'ijzer', not long ago pronounced as 'izer' as in "eezer". Some dialects still pronounce it that way, very close to proto-celtic *isarnom!

[@owenpalmer5281]

no it comes from the anglo-saxon word “iren”

[@thegreenmage6956]

@@owenpalmer5281 Which comes from a Germanic word derived from Celtic *Isarnom.

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

Was just thinking how I’d like if my video request came before the 25th. Well worth the wait. Glad I’m not the only one who noticed the similarities between longer la Tène swords and arming swords, especially the Irish and Scottish arming swords that still have that Celtic design language.

[@iloveponis]

Not sure if it was a La Tène sword. But an Irish rebel in the 1798 uprising wielded a 3000 year old celtic sword, that was looted in put on British museum. Couldn't of been too shabby to be still used in the time of gunpowder.

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

Definitely getting a la Tène shortsword and a la Tène proto arming sword for my collection one day.

[@FortressofLugh]

Ya but to my understanding there are not many, if any, decent ones on the market unless you go custom with a smith which will cost you a bundle

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

Sir, I plan on having something done custom. Surely a great deal more expense there, but it beats waiting for a production model from Arms and Armor, Albion, or any other high end manufacturers.

[@adeimantus4224]

Hey you know what, the Paiwan tribes had their double serpent on their clay wear too. Just saying

[@Countcordeaux]

This is a much better style of presentation. Your music is on-point as always.

[@kaizen5023]

Thanks, this was fantastic! Fine bit of scholarship and presentation, I learned a lot!

[@SpaceDruid999]

Your use of the Battanian music truly marks you as a man of culture.

[@Gabdube]

10:22 Oghma was associated with very specific forms of "battles". Battles of wit. He was most likely not considered literally a warrior god, there were plenty of other deities for that.

[@GkPhotographic]

very interesting indeed , just a thought , that the tradition in Eire between our ancestors was to break in two the weapons made for that battle , as an act of trust and end of hostility. stay safe

[@dustyfox8532]

For all the emphasise put on the bending of Celtic swords, people often forget that even modern "supersteel" swords bend and shatter under enough load. The reality of using steel and iron tools in combat situations, is that there really is no such thing as an indestructible sword. If you put iron against iron someone comes of second best. Better to still have a functional weapon after your first contact.

[@parchment543]

Mate you should try to do a collaboration video with survive the jive! You’d have a lot to talk about and it will grow the channel!! Ps: I’m a big fan of your pagan videos, Jeep up the great work👍

[@togodamnus]

-- looks like Viking or Frankish sword ! Cool !

[@faramund9865]

You mean the migration era sword? Well that makes perfect sense because the migration era sword was used BY the Franks IN the migration era! The sword design that we know as that 'Carolingian sword' is quite literally its follow-up!

[@ericcloud1023]

Thanks for your amazing content

[@cmbaileytstc]

The Japanese katana has a soft steel back and can bend if you mess up the edge alignment enough (very traditional dojos have a device for straightening swords precisely) yet it is not a problem most of the time, obviously. I imagine it was the same for the Celtic sword.

[@ScottAT]

You can buy a modern built fully functional Gladius from Cold Steel. I have one. It is sharp as heck and has a needle sharp point. They list it’s a Machete to get past some of these laws, but you can buy a fully functional Gladius. I like it.

[@ingmigueleduardo7]

Celtiberian antennas of the celtic Galos from Galicia and Portugal are my favorite celtic swords

[@Gabdube]

"Bendy" swords were generally purpose-built to be votive offerings, not weapons. Not everything we dig up was meant to be an actual weapon. And sparring/training/sport-combat equipment was VERY MUCH a thing in ancient celtic cultures.

[@Tipi_Dan]

An astute video on a topic that needs more discussion.

[@chirongodemperorof4127]

Stand tall indeed.

[@guarddog318]

One of the reasons for shorter swords is the materials they were made of. Bronze and iron bend readily past a certain length, where steel will be more rigid. Pay attention to what the material sciences were at the time and you'll notice that the better steel got, the longer blades got. They also became much slimmer and thinner due to the increased strength of the steel vs the earlier materials.

[@Book-bz8ns]

Even the Roman soldiers later helmet was an adaptation of celt/gaulish ones

[@eoin8274]

It's kind of interesting that despite the association of the Irish with horses we had very little tradition of the "heavy cavalry" charge, so we see fewer of the long blades that could hit a man on foot from horseback (and no stirrups so no lance charge).

[@donnharper8815]

There is a great deal of similarity between the La Tene Celtic Sword and the Chinese Xian Sword of the Han dynasty. I would recomend a video by Adorea Olomouc, called Eliminator, the video depicts how a Sword of the La Tene design would be used. One thing to understand is that the manner in which a weapon is used is determined by two primary factors, the physics involved, and bio mecanics. The length of blade, material constructed from and the essential mechanics of human physiology.

[@FortressofLugh]

This isn't correct. They are good fight choreographers but the period and method of fighting they depict does not equal ancient Celtic combat as depicted in any ancient text. Swords are not simply like wrenches. There are many ways to use the same sword and extrapolation simply from the type of sword isn't always useful. I point out the type of sword will to some degree reflect the types of attacks, slashing or thrusting, distance, but it isn't going to dictate combat methods or techniques

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

I do suspect that the Romans may have exaggerated how easily the swords bent as well as the sloppy brutish use. It just doesnt make sense that they wouldve used such an ineffective fighting style nor that the iron swords would bend so much easier than bronze. I have used very well made, accurate reproductions & they are far far tougher than most realize. Truth is prob somewhere in the middle.

[@owenpalmer5281]

the celts didn’t spread from Gaul like you seem to think. also, it’s “there ARE some” not “there IS some”

[@raphlvlogs271]

when and where did fullers originated in? were they invented by the Celts or were they introduced?

[@nordkrom4270]

Great video as always :) A little add- this doesn't form the basis of the saber :)

[@FortressofLugh]

No, but the sabre isn't really a typical medieval sword in Europe. There are some examples of sabre like swords from the la tène period however. Maybe another time we will take a look at them

[@cal2127]

are there any hallstatt era swords?

[@bevdavis4148]

shared

[@45calibermedic]

Regarding the diversity of design sword blade designs, here is a great introductory talk from a scholar and reproduction industry professional (Nathan from Arms and Armor): kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3qsqqOja5aKe5Y

[@leemday5731]

Heads on swords ...there code of combat dictated you all ways take your enemies head strange to us it was a mark of honour and respect fo you're enemies riders took pride in the amount of heads hanging from there horses and chariots warriors would keep them embalmed in cedar oil hill forts were covered in skulls and rotting heads there is here a deep belief system going on here its easy to judge by are standard s but remember these people men and woman wouldn't even flinch with what was all around them.

[@Fatelovesirony960]

Appropriated by the Romans * 😏

[@faramund9865]

Seems like the Romans did a whole lot of 'cultural appropriation' from the Celts, at least if you ask archeologists/historians. Only to erase their culture from the face of the earth afterwards, very cruel.

[@Tipi_Dan]

Let's talk about the Etruscans first. Their bronzeware was unsurpassed and coveted by Gallic chieftains. They brought their alphabet north with them where the Germans made of it their runes. Without them, Rome would never have existed. Rome adopted their religion and priestly caste, their infrastructure including aqueducts and the Tuscan Order of architecture, which superseded Greek styles in the Italic heartland,. The Celts were first to introduce iron helmets of "Montefortino" design. This design superseded all Hellenic designs and spawned the entire Roman line of "Gallic" helmets. The Romans' talent was in acquisition... as they acquired the helmet, and then the Gladius was stolen from the Celtiberians. It would not surprise me if the scutum took influence from Egyptian rectangular stationary shields. .