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Iron Spatha or shorter semi-spatha scabbard slide. This piece would have been attached to the scabbard or sheath of the 4th Century Spatha or Semi-spatha. It would have provided the loop required to suspend the sword from the shoulder using the baldric suspension method. The piece has degraded somewhat, but considering that it is composed of iron it still retains its original form. The design is of a simple style, however functional none the less. The second foot peg is missing, and appears to have corroded away. The top portion of the slide appears to have an indented curved section that perhaps was once inlaid with some other material, providing some kind of aesthetic feature to the piece.
-painting by Agnus McBRIDE
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Possible decoration feature
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(1) References to similar items: FEUGERE, Michel; Weapons of the Romans, page 121 2002.
(2) Reference to similar items: STEPHENSON, I.P; Roman Infantry Equipment "The Later Empire", page 67 & 73 2001.
(3) Reference to similar items: BISHOP, M.C & COULSTON, J.C.N; Roman Military Equipment "From the Punic wars to the Fall of Rome", page 158 2006.
**Note on background. Close up view of the wall of the Colosseum of Pula, Croatia. Picture taken 2014
