A javelin is a light spear designed primarily for casting as a ranged weapon. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand unlike the arrow or slingshot which are projectiles shot from a mechanism. However, hurling devices do exist to assist the thrower in achieving greater distance. The word javelin comes from Middle English and it derives from Old French javeline a diminutive of javelot which meant spear. The word javelot probably originated from the Celtic language. Spears were one of the most common personal weapons from the late Bronze Age until the advent of firearms. ... A period illustration of the Battle of Crécy. ... This article is about the weapon. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Middle English is the name given by historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of 1066 and the mid-to-late 15th century, when the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English, began to become widespread, a process aided by the... Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories corresponding roughly to the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from around 1000 to 1300. ... The Celtic languages are the languages descended from Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, a branch of the greater Indo-European language family. ...

History of the javelin and its use

Prehistory

There is archaeological evidence that javelins and throwing sticks were already in use during the last phase of the lower Paleolithic. Seven spear-like objects were found in a coal mine in the city of Schöningen, Germany. Stratigraphic dating indicates that the weapons are about 400,000 years old. The excavated items were made of spruce (Picea) trunk and were between 1.82 and 2.25 metres long. They were manufactured with the maximum thickness and weight situated at the front end of the wooden shaft. The frontal centre of gravity suggests that these pole weapons were used as javelins. A fossilized rhinoceros shoulder blade with a projectile wound, dated to 500,000 years ago, was revealed in a gravel quarry in the village of Boxgrove, England. Studies revealed that the wound was probably caused by a javelin. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The Throwing Stick is one of the first weapons used by early humans and cultures all around the world. ... The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. ... Schöningen is a city of 13,500 inhabitants (2003) in Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany. ... Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering (stratification). ... Species About 35; see text. ... Boxgrove is the name of a Lower Palaeolithic archaeological site discovered in a gravel quarry to the east of Chichester in the English county of West Sussex. ...

Classical age

Agrianian Peltast. This Peltast holds three javelins, one in his throwing hand and two in his Pelte hand as additional ammunition

The Javelin was a typical weapon for light infantry or light cavalry in ancient Greek and Roman warfare. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (874x1440, 132 KB) Agrianian Peltast by Johnny Shumate For more information about illustrations, email shumate_j@bellsouth. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (874x1440, 132 KB) Agrianian Peltast by Johnny Shumate For more information about illustrations, email shumate_j@bellsouth. ... Agrianian Peltast. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ... Modern reconstruction of a hoplite phalanx formation. ... Soldiers of the Roman Army (on manoeuvres in Nashville, Tennessee) Rome was a militarized state whose history was often closely entwined with its military history over the 1228 years that the Roman state is traditionally said to have existed. ...

Ancient Greece

The Peltasts, usually serving as a skirmishers, were armed with several javelins, often with throwing straps to increase standoff power. The Peltasts hurled their javelins at the enemy's heavier troops, the Hoplite phalanx, in order to break their lines so that their own army's hoplites could destroy the weakened enemy formation. In the battle of Lechaeum the Athenian general Iphicrates took advantage of the fact that a Spartan hoplite phalanx operating near Corinth was moving in the open field without the protection of any missile-throwing troops. He decided to ambush it with his force of peltasts. By launching repeated hit-and-run attacks against the Spartan formation, Iphicrates and his men were able to wear the Spartans down, eventually routing them and killing just under half. This marked the first occasion in ancient Greek military history on which a force entirely made up of peltasts had defeated a force of hoplites. A peltast was a type of light infantry in Ancient Greece who often served as skirmishers. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... The hoplite was a heavy infantryman that was the central focus of warfare in Ancient Greece. ... Look up phalanx in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Phalanx (Greek word from phalangos, meaning Finger) can refer to: phalanx formation in ancient warfare. ... Combatants Athens Sparta Commanders Iphicrates Unknown Strength Unknown, but force composed almost entirely of peltasts. ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... Iphicrates (d. ... For modern day Sparta, see Sparti (municipality). ... Corinth, or Korinth (Greek: Κόρινθος, Kórinthos; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a Greek city-state, on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. ...

The Thureophoroi and Thorakites who gradually replaced the Peltasts, carried javelins in addition to a long thrusting spear and a short sword. The Thureophoroi (singular Thureophoros) was heavy peltast in the Hellenistic armies. ... A thorakites (pl. ... Spears were one of the most common personal weapons from the late Bronze Age until the advent of firearms. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Javelins were also used in the Olympics, then known as The Crown Games. They were hurled in a certain direction and whoever hurled it the farthest, won that game.

Rome

Republic and early empire

Reconstruction of a post-Marian pilum

In 387 BC, the Gauls invaded Italy, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Roman Republican army and sacked Rome. After this defeat the Romans undertook a comprehensive reform of their army and changed the basic tactical formation from the Greek-style phalanx armed with the hasta spear and the clipeus round shield to a more flexible three-line formation. The Hastati stood in the first line, the Principes in the second line and the Triarii at the third line. While the Triarii were still armed with the hasta, the Hastati and the Principes were rearmed with short swords and heavy javelins. Each soldier from the Hastati and Principes lines carried two javelins. This heavy javelin, known as a Pilum (plural "pila"), was about two metres long overall, consisting of an iron shank, about 7 mm in diameter and 60 cm long, with pyramidal head, secured to a wooden shaft. The iron shank was either socketed or, more usually, widened to a flat tang . A pilum usually weighed between two and four kilograms, with the versions produced during the Empire being somewhat lighter. Pictorial evidence suggests that some versions of the weapon were weighted with a lead ball at the base of the shank in order to increase penetrative power, but no archaeological specimens have been found.^[4] Recent experiments have shown pila to have a range of about 30 meters, although the effective range is only about 15 to 20 meters. Pila were sometimes referred to as javelins, but the archaic term for the javelin was verutum. Image File history File links Pilum_lg. ... Image File history File links Pilum_lg. ... Celsus Library in Ephesos (Turkey), anastylosis carried out 1970-1978 Anastylosis (from the Ancient Greek: ; = again, and = to erect (a stela or building)) is an archaeological term referring to a reconstruction technique where a ruined monument is restored after careful study and mensuration using original architectural elements where possible. ... The Marian reforms of 107 BC were a group of military reforms initiated by Gaius Marius, a statesman and general of the Roman republic. ... Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Latin name for the region of western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Main article: Military history of ancient Rome As the Roman kingdom successfully overcame opposition from the Italic hill tribes and became a larger state, the age of tyranny in the eastern Mediterranean began to pass away. ... The Spanish language has a range of prepositions that are comparable to those of English. ... In the military of classical antiquity, a clipeus (ἀσπίς) was a large shield worn by the Greeks and Romans as a piece of defensive armor, which they carried upon the arm, to secure them from the blows of their enemies. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The plural of the Latin word princeps. ... The Triarii (Latin singular triarius) was the third standard line of infantry of the Roman Republics army. ... Reconstruction of a post-Marian pilum A Roman coin showing Antoninianus of Carinus holding pilum and globe. ... General Name, symbol, number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Standard atomic weight 55. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... The verutum (plural veruta) was a light javelin used primarily by the velites. ...

From the third century BC, the Roman legion added a skirmisher type of soldier to its tactical formation. The Velites were light infantry armed with a short sword (the gladius or pugio), a small round shield and several small javelins which were not Pila. These javelins were called veruta (singular "verutum") . The Velites typically drew near the enemy, hurled javelins against its formation and then retreated behind the legion's heavier infantry. The Velites were considered highly effective in turning back war elephants, on account of discharging a hail of javelins at some range and not presenting a "block" which could be trampled on or otherwise smashed - unlike the close-order infantry behind them. At the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, the javelin-throwing Velites proved their worth and were no doubt critical in helping to herd Hannibal's war elephants through the formation to be slaughtered. The Velites would slowly have been either disbanded or re-equipped as more-heavily armed legionaries from the time when Gaius Marius and other Roman generals reorganised the army in the late second and early first centuries BCE. Their role would most likely have been taken by irregular auxiliary troops as the Republic expanded overseas. The verutum was a cheaper missile weapon than the pilum. The verutum was a short-range weapon, with a simply made head of soft iron. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the sword. ... Pugio reconstruction: a Roman soldier from AD 70 Pugio reconstruction: a Roman soldier AD 175 from a northern province A pugio is a small dagger used by Roman soldiers. ... Indian war elephant, relief at Mathura, 2nd century BC War elephants were important, although not widespread, weapons in ancient military history. ... Combatants Carthage Roman Republic East Numidia Commanders Hannibal Scipio Africanus Masinissa Strength almost 58,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 80 war elephants 34,000 Roman infantry 3,000 Roman cavalry 6,000 Numidian cavalry Casualties 20,000 killed 11,000 wounded 15,000 captured 1,500 killed 4,000 wounded... So-called “Marius”, Munich Glyptothek (Inv. ... The verutum (plural veruta) was a light javelin used primarily by the velites. ...

Legionaries of the Late Republic and Early Empire often carried two pila, with one sometimes being lighter than the other. Standard tactics called for a Roman soldier to throw his pilum (both if there was time) at the enemy just before charging to engage with his gladius. Some pila had small hand-guards, to protect the wielder if he intended to use it as a melee weapon, but it does not appear that this was common. Roman legionaries, 1st century. ... This article is about the state which existed from the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC. For the state which existed in the 18th century, see Roman Republic (18th century). ... This article is about the sword. ...

Late Empire

In the late Roman empire the Roman infantry came to use a differently shaped javelin than the earlier Pilum. This javelin was lighter and had a greater range. Called a plumbata, it resembled a thick stocky arrow, fletched with leather vanes to provide stability and rotation in flight (which increased accuracy). To overcome its comparatively small mass, the plumbata was fitted with an oval-shaped lead weight socketed around the shaft just forward of the centre of balance. Even so, plumbata were much lighter than pilum, and would not have had the armour penetration or shield transfixing capabilities of their earlier counterparts. Reconstruction of a post-Marian pilum A Roman coin showing Antoninianus of Carinus holding pilum and globe. ...

Two or three plumbata were typically clipped to a small wooden bracket on the inside of the large oval or round shields used at the time. Massed troops would unclip and hurl plumbata as the enemy neared, hopefully stalling their movement and morale by making them clump together and huddle under their shields. With the enemy deprived of rapid movement and their visibility impaired by their own raised shields, the Roman troops were then better placed to exploit the tactical situation. It is unlikely plumbata were viewed by the Romans as the killing blow, but more as a means of stalling the enemy at ranges greater than previously provided by the heavier and shorter ranged pilum.

Gaul

The Gallic cavalry used to hurl several javelins volleys to soften the enemy before a frontal attack. The Gallic cavalry used their javelins in a tactic similar to that of horse archers Parthian shot. The Gauls knew how to turn on horseback to throw javelins backwards while appearing to retreat. A horse archer (or horsed archer, mounted archer) is a cavalryman armed with a bow. ... The Parthian shot (or Parthian shaft) was a tactic employed by ancient Persian horse archers. ...

Iberia

The Hispanic cavalry was a light cavalry armed with a Falcata and several light javelins. The Cantabri tribes invented a military tactic to maximize the advantages of the combination between horse and javelin. In this tactic the horsemen rode around in circles, toward and away from the enemy, continually hurling javelins. The tactic was usually employed against heavy infantry. The constant movement of the horsemen gave them an advantage against slow infantry and made them hard to target. The maneuver was designed to harass and taunt the enemy forces, disrupting close formations. This was commonly used against enemy infantry, especially heavily armed and slow moving legions of the Romans. This tactic came to be know as the Cantabrian circle. In the late Republic various auxiliary cavalry completely replaced the Italian cavalry contingents and the Hispanic auxiliary cavalry was considered the best. 4th century BC Iberian falcata. ... Cantabri was an ancient tribe which inhabited the north coast of Spain near Santander and Bilbao and the mountains behind a district hence known as Cantabria. ... The Cantabrian circle was a military tactic employed by ancient horse archers. ...

Carthage

The Numidians were indigenous tribes of northwest Africa. The Numidian cavalry was a light cavalry usually operating as skirmishers. The Numidian horseman was armed with a small shield and several javelins. The Numidians had a reputation as swift horsemen, cunning soldiers and excellent javelin throwers. It is said that Jugurtha, the Numidian king "...took part in the national pursuits of riding, javelin throwing and competed with other young men in running." [Sallust The Jugurthine War: 6]. The Numidian Cavalry served as mercenaries in the Carthaginian army and played a key role in assisting Hannibal during the Second Punic War. The Numidians were tribes who lived in Algeria east of Constantine and in part of Tunisia. ... A map showing Northwest Africa Northwest Africa is the northwestern part of Africa. ... Jugurtha, (c. ... For other uses, see Hannibal (disambiguation). ... Combatants Roman Republic Carthage Commanders Publius Cornelius Scipio†, Tiberius Sempronius Longus Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, Gaius Flaminius†, Fabius Maximus, Claudius Marcellus†, Lucius Aemilius Paullus†, Gaius Terentius Varro, Marcus Livius Salinator, Gaius Claudius Nero, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus†, Masinissa, Minucius†, Servilius Geminus† Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca†, Mago Barca†, Hasdrubal Gisco†, Syphax...

Middle ages

Norman cavalry armed with lances attacks the Anglo-Saxon shield wall. Notice the dominance of the spearmen in the front line of the formation. In the back of the formation there is one warrior armed with an battle-axe, one archer and one javelinman. There are Javelins in mid-flight and slain soldiers pierced with javelins on the ground

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 142 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Javelin (weapon) ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 142 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Javelin (weapon) ...

Norse

Vikings

Normans

Anglo-Saxons

In the Anglo-Saxon warfare soldiers usually formed a shield wall and used heavy weapons like Danish axes, swords, and spears. Javelins were used as an offensive weapon from behind the shield wall or by warriors that left the protective formation and attacked the enemy as skirmishers. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The formation of Shield walls is a military tactic common to many cultures. ... The Danish long axe went by many names, including Dane-axe, English long axe, Viking axe, and hafted axe. ...

Spain

The Almogavars were a class of Aragonese infantrymen armed with a short sword, a shield and two heavy javelins, known as assegai. The equipment resembled that of a Roman legionary and the use of the heavy javelins was much the same. The Almogavars (Aragonese: Almogabars, Catalan: Almogàvers, Spanish: Almogávares, from Arabic: Al-Mugavari) were a class of Aragonese and Catalan soldiers, well-known during the Christian reconquista (reconquest) of the Iberian peninsula. ... Categories: Pages containing IPA | Language stubs | Romance languages | Languages of Spain ... An Askari guards an Allied air training school at Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa. ...

The Jinetes were Spanish light horsemen armed with a javelin, sword and a shield. This troop type developed in the Middle Ages in response to the massed light cavalry of the Moors. Often fielded in significant numbers by the Spanish, and at times the most numerous of the Spanish mounted troops, they were proficient at skirmishing and rapid maneuver, and played an important role in Spanish mounted warfare throughout the Reconquista until the sixteenth century. Jinete is a Spanish word meaning horseman, but in some cases this is applied to the horse, the rider or both. ...

Muslim world

Turkish

Kharijites

Almoravid

Almohades

Modern age

Africa

The only known drawing of Shaka. Notice the long throwing assegai

Flag of Swaziland

Many African tribes used the javelin as their main weapon. The typical African warfare was based on a ritualized stand-off encounters involving throwing javelins without advancing for close combat. In the flag of Swaziland there is a shield and two javelins, which symbolize the protection from the country's enemies. Image File history File links KingShaka. ... Image File history File links KingShaka. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Swaziland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Swaziland. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of Swaziland was adopted on October 6, 1968. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Zulu

The Zulu warriors used a long version of the assegai javelin as their primary weapon since the Middle Ages when it was imported from the Iberian peninsula into Africa. The Zulu legendary leader Shaka initiated military reforms in which a short stabbing spear, with a long, swordlike spearhead named iklwa had become the Zulu warrior main weapon and was used as a mêlée weapon. The assegai was not discarded, but was used for an initial missile attack. With the larger shields, introduced by Shaka to the Zulu army, the short spears used as stabbing swords and the opening phase of javelin attack the zulu regiments were quite similar to the Roman legion with its Scutum, Gladius and Pilum tactical combination. Languages Zulu Religions Christian, African Traditional Religion Related ethnic groups Bantu Nguni Basotho Xhosa Swazi Matabele Khoisan The Zulu (South African English and isiZulu: amaZulu) are a South African ethnic group of an estimated 17-22 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ... For other uses, see Shaka (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Shaka (disambiguation). ... An assegai or assagai (from Berber as-zahayah, through Portuguese azagaia) is a weapon for throwing or hurling, a light spear or javelin made of wood and pointed with iron, particularly the spear used by the Zulu and other tribes tribes of southern Africa. ... A mêlée weapon is any weapon that does not involve a projectile — that is, both the user and target of the weapon are in contact with it simultaneously in normal use. ... Praetorian Guardsmen with curved oval scuta. ... This article is about the sword. ...

Mythology

Mythological Javelins

• Spear of Destiny - The spear that pierced the side of Jesus was either the Pilum or the Lancea.
• Gungnir - The javelin of Odin, famous god in Norse mythology.
• Gáe Bulg - The javelin of Cúchulainn, hero in Irish mythology.
• Vel - The javelin of Murugan, the most popular Hindu deity amongst the Tamil people.

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Holy Lance. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Reconstruction of a post-Marian pilum A Roman coin showing Antoninianus of Carinus holding pilum and globe. ... The lancea was the Roman auxiliaries short javelin. ... In Norse mythology, Gungnir (also Gungni, Gungner, or Gungrir) was the name of Odins javelin. ... This is the article about the chief god in North Germanic tradition; for other uses see Odin (disambiguation). ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... The Gáe Bulg (also Gáe Bulga, Gáe Bolg, Gáe Bolga, meaning notched spear, belly spear, bellows-dart, or possibly lightning spear) was the spear of Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. ... Cuchulain Slays the Hound of Culain, illustration by Stephen Reid from Eleanor Hulls The Boys Cuchulain, 1904 Cúchulainn ( ) (Irish Hound of Culann; also spelled Cú Chulainn, Cú Chulaind, Cúchulain, or Cuchullain) is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well... The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branches of Celtic mythology. ... Vel Tamil வேல் is an ancient spear like weapon of Tamils. ... Murugan (also Murugan) (Tamil: ) is a popular Hindu deity amongst Tamil Hindus. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... This article is about the term Deity in the context of mysticism and theology. ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are a multi-ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ...

Mythological javelin throwing soldiers

Greek mythology

Norse mythology

In the Norse Mythology, Odin, the chief of the Gods, carried a Javelin, which was also a Spear, called Gungnir.

Recreational javelin throw

Javelin in computer game

Javelin legion can be created and maneuvered in Caesar III, a city construction game based on building ancient Roman cities. Caesar III is a computer game developed by Impressions Games and published by Sierra Entertainment; the third installment of the Caesar series, part of Sierras City Building Series. ...

List of javelins

An Askari guards an Allied air training school at Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa. ... Falarica was an ancient Iberian ranged pole weapon which were sometime used as an incendiary weapon. ... The spear together with the sword (longsax) and the shield was the main equipment of the early Germanic warriors. ... several yari, including one hafted with a simple crossbar straight yari head with saya Jumonji yari head use of yari in mock combat Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. ... An athlete throwing the javelin. ... The lancea was the Roman auxiliaries short javelin. ... several yari, including one hafted with a simple crossbar straight yari head with saya Jumonji yari head use of yari in mock combat Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. ... several yari, including one hafted with a simple crossbar straight yari head with saya Jumonji yari head use of yari in mock combat Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. ... The one flue harpoon or one flue iron (sometimes single instead of one is used) is a type of harpoon used in whaling after its introduction in the early 19th century when it replaced the two flue harpoon. ... Reconstruction of a post-Marian pilum A Roman coin showing Antoninianus of Carinus holding pilum and globe. ... Plumbatae or mattiobarbuli were lead-weighted darts carried by ancient Roman infantry. ... Soliferrum or Soliferreum (Latin: solus, only + ferrum, Iron) was the Roman name for an ancient Iberian ranged pole weapon made entirely of iron. ... Spears were one of the most common personal weapons from the late Bronze Age until the advent of firearms. ... Soliferrum or Soliferreum (Latin: solus, only + ferrum, Iron) was the Roman name for an ancient Iberian ranged pole weapon made entirely of iron. ... A spiculum is a late Roman spear that replaced the pilum at around 250AD as the infantrymans main throwing javelin. ... Vel Tamil வேல் is an ancient spear like weapon of Tamils. ... several yari, including one hafted with a simple crossbar straight yari head with saya Jumonji yari head use of yari in mock combat Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. ... The toggling harpoon is an ancient weapon and tool used in whaling to impale a whale when thrown. ... An engraving showing a two flu harpoon used in whaling The two flue harpoon or two flue iron (which, together with the one flue harpoon, were known as common harpoons) is a type of harpoon using in whaling for at least 1000 years. ... The verutum (plural veruta) was a light javelin used primarily by the velites. ...

See also

• Pole weapon
• Ranged weapon
• Spear
• Javelin throw

A reenactor troupe armed with a variety of polearm known as a halberd. ... A period illustration of the Battle of Crécy. ... Spears were one of the most common personal weapons from the late Bronze Age until the advent of firearms. ... An athlete throwing the javelin. ...

Notes

Further reading