Weapons History 101: The Falx
This week’s episode of History’s Forged In Fire gave us two historical swords to add to our weapons lexicon, the Falx and the Spatha (learn more about the Spatha here), with the devastating FALX hitting the stage first.
Latin for sickle, the falx was an effective cross between a sword and a polearm with a forward-curving blade and long handle. Roman Legionaries detested the deadly weapon as it boasted a powerful swing that could cut through shields and, when swung downward, struck with terrifying force like a pick. In the right hands, the falx could also be employed as a hook to grab the edge of a shield and draw it away from its wearer.
(Image credit: Petter Bøckman)
Before long, the Roman forces began modifying their equipment on the battlefield to better protect themselves against the falx. This included the strengthening of their helmets by adding a bar of steel to the brow as well as greaves and arm protection to prevent their limbs from being shorn like wheat before the sickle-like falx.
The Dacian regions of modern day Romania were rich in iron with many of its warriors being able to afford the long falx pole-swords. Of course, this posed a unique challenge to the conquering Romans as they were accustomed to the ill-equipped masses they faced during the earlier conquests of Gaul and Iberia.
(Image credit: Cristian Chirita)
The falx is a featured weapon in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed: Rebellion. It’s inclusion in either game is historically inaccurate due to the timeline of the games. Additionally, the weapon itself more closely resembles a spear than the actual falx from history. It was, however, more accurately represented in the 2010 release Deadliest Warrior: The Game, based on the television show of the same name.
Although the falx has just made it’s official entrance onto the Forged In Fire stage, you can watch contestants battle it out to forge it’s sister weapons, the rhomphaia and sica sword, both during Season 5.
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