The Gladius was a bronze sword originally fashioned by the Etruscans and later adopted by the Romans. It lent its name to its users: the Gladiators.
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The ancient Etruscans used the Gladius sword which came to be used by the early Romans. The Romans also adopted the traditional fights with Gladiators from the ancient Etruscan funeral ceremonies. The Gladius sword was the traditional weapon used by these fighters who therefore became known as Gladiators.
This gladiator’s sword measures some 70cm of which 15 are the handle with relief image of Hercules fighting a beast. Gladiator weapons were often decorated for a more spectacular effect. Hercules was their patron deity and gladiator weapons would be hung in Hercules’ temple if and when they managed to win their freedom.