Falcata, an Iberian weapon that was used, among others, during the Second Punic War. The Carthaginian army, recruiting warriors from the Iberian Peninsula, had this type of armament in stock. The object is in the Archaeological Museum of Murcia (southern Spain).
As it turns out, the falcata was a very effective melee weapon that was able to cut Roman armor and swords – this was due to the good quality of steel. The falcata had a blade about half a meter long, curved, and used mainly for cutting.
On the basis of falcata, a heavier and wider gladius was later introduced in the Roman legions – the so-called gladius hispanensis.
