Roman dart Plumbata

The Plumbata is a short, light spear or dart, which was already used in ancient times by the Greeks around 500 BC. It was carried by infantrymen in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. During the Punic Wars Plumbatae held then in the Roman army collection. The first plumbatae seem to have been carried by the Ancient Greeks from about 500 B.C. onwards, but the best-known users were the late Roman and Byzantine armies. The best written source for these tactical weapons is Vegetius' De Re Militari. More information...