The Pilum: The Roman Heavy Javelin (Weapon)

M.C. Bishop has provided a detailed account of the Pilum, the heavy javelin of the Roman Legions, useful as a throwing and thrusting weapon. The narrative explains the weapon, its probable origins, and its uses, based on a veritable ransacking of the available surviving material, both written and physical. The text is supported by a variety of illustrations and diagrams. Of particular interest are the photographs of re-enactors demonstrating the use of the pilum. Highly recommended to students of the Roman Legions as a concise introduction to one of its primary weapons, along with the gladius, covered in another recent Osprey Weapon Series book.

Swords, guns, bows and even exotic pole-arms have been prominently featured in books and other audio-visual depictions of weaponry. But the lowly "spear" has gotten very little air time. This fine book analyzes the history, development and use of a truly hi-tech javelin designed for extreme penetration. The meticulously researched text and extensive bibliography are most informative for those knowledgeable about the subject, and the highly readable writing style and first class illustrations make it interesting for the general reader as well. There was no other weapon quite like it in the ancient world and it richly deserves a book of its own. Especially one as good as this. Highly recommended.

A welcome addition to the study of Roman military equipment. Good illustrations and well written text. A concise work on a little known subjet.

Fascinating

excellent

This booklet is about the pilum, the throwing spear of the Roman legionary. It ideally should be read as a complement to a similar book on the gladius by the same author, although each title can be read separately and both are simply excellent.Once again, the author comes up with a clear narrative well supported by good illustrations and photos, including some from re-enactors, and technical explanations about the pilum’s somewhat uncertain origins, the various archaeological findings across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, its evolution and its purpose. Also included are three full pages of bibliography including all the primary sources and a collection of articles where pilums appear or are discussed.The main point made by the author is that the pilum was a shield and armour piercing weapon thrown just before contact. The objective was to wound or kill the enemy by throwing this sophisticated weapon so that it pierced his shield and incapacitated the warrior or soldier behind it. As the author states quite clearly, a secondary objective could be to encumber the opponent’s shield, but this was not the main purpose.A second point, also well-made, is to show how sophisticated this killing tool was, but also how expensive and time-consuming it was to make, with the various evolutions of pilum types through the Republic and during the first couple of centuries of the Empire emphasising some of its characteristics. A related feature was that legionaries would do their best to ensure that pilums could be re-used as much as possible. They were often easy to repair kin the field and make serviceable.A third feature was the killing tool’s versatility. It was mainly a throwing weapon used against enemy infantry formation, but it could – and was also – used as a thrusting spear against both infantry and cavalry or thrown at cavalry, including heavily armed Parthian or Persian cataphracts.A further feature relates to its evolution. An excellent point made by the author is that the pilum did probably not entirely fall out of use, contrary to what some authors believed a few decades ago. Instead, it is more likely that it survived under a different name alongside lighter types of javelins.A related point was the emergence of cheaper, smaller, less cumbersome and easier to make alternatives. The martiobarbuli of the fourth and fifth century - a kind of heavy darts of which three to five were carried in the soldier’s shield – is the better known example and served a similar purpose although its range may have been shorter. Also included is a piece on the pilum’s influence upon similar weapons with the Germanic angon used by Franks and Alamans alike being the main example.A well-deserved five stars.

This booklet is about the pilum, the throwing spear of the Roman legionary. It ideally should be read as a complement to a similar book on the gladius by the same author, although each title can be read separately and both are simply excellent.Once again, the author comes up with a clear narrative well supported by good illustrations and photos, including some from re-enactors, and technical explanations about the pilum’s somewhat uncertain origins, the various archaeological findings across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, its evolution and its purpose. Also included are three full pages of bibliography including all the primary sources and a collection of articles where pilums appear or are discussed.The main point made by the author is that the pilum was a shield and armour piercing weapon thrown just before contact. The objective was to wound or kill the enemy by throwing this sophisticated weapon so that it pierced his shield and incapacitated the warrior or soldier behind it. As the author states quite clearly, a secondary objective could be to encumber the opponent’s shield, but this was not the main purpose.A second point, also well-made, is to show how sophisticated this killing tool was, but also how expensive and time-consuming it was to make, with the various evolutions of pilum types through the Republic and during the first couple of centuries of the Empire emphasising some of its characteristics. A related feature was that legionaries would do their best to ensure that pilums could be re-used as much as possible. They were often easy to repair kin the field and make serviceable.A third feature was the killing tool’s versatility. It was mainly a throwing weapon used against enemy infantry formation, but it could – and was also – used as a thrusting spear against both infantry and cavalry or thrown at cavalry, including heavily armed Parthian or Persian cataphracts.A further feature relates to its evolution. An excellent point made by the author is that the pilum did probably not entirely fall out of use, contrary to what some authors believed a few decades ago. Instead, it is more likely that it survived under a different name alongside lighter types of javelins.A related point was the emergence of cheaper, smaller, less cumbersome and easier to make alternatives. The martiobarbuli of the fourth and fifth century - a kind of heavy darts of which three to five were carried in the soldier’s shield – is the better known example and served a similar purpose although its range may have been shorter. Also included is a piece on the pilum’s influence upon similar weapons with the Germanic angon used by Franks and Alamans alike being the main example.A well-deserved five stars.

I tired myself out eulogising Osprey's companion book on the the shield (scutum). This and the books on the pilum and the short, stabbing sword (gladius) make a perfect trilogy, explaining Rome's centuries-long success in war, empire-building and -defence: nooks of fascination in any library.

Concise and authoritative guide to the most Roman of weapons. Mike Bishop has decades of experience of going back to primary sources and then testing theories about the Roman army. This he boils down to the classic Osprey format with lots of photos, drawing, reconstructions and the lavish illustrations which are the publishers hallmark. Bishops says the pilum was designed to cause damage and disruption to enemy troops when delivered in thrown volleys but also used as a classic stabbing spear. Clear, accessible and vividly argued.

I've read about the gladius , so of course I had to read about the pilum.It would have beenutterly incomplete otherwise.I would really recommend this as they really are fascinating books.

Dr M.C.Bishop has produced an excellent short book on the classic Roman Legionary weapon. It is written in a clear concise manner which is accessable to the Academic & layperson. Well illustrated & referenced throughout. Would recommend to all Roman Military enthusiasts.