- Hasta (spear)
Hasta is a
Latin word meaningspear . "Hastae" were carried by earlyRoman Legionaries , in particular they were carried by and gave their name to those Roman soldiers known asHastati . However, during Republican times, the hastati were re-armed with pila and gladii and the hasta was only retained by thetriarii .As opposed to the pilum,
verutum orlancea , the hasta was not thrown but used for thrusting.Description
A hasta was about six feet in length with a shaft generally made from ash, while the head was of iron.
ymbolic uses
Hasta pura
The Hasta pura was a silver spear without the iron head used in combat. From Tacitus and other Roman writers, we know that a "hasta pura" was given as a decoration. Such decorations were bestowed upon soldiers by Roman generals, more especially for saving the life of a fellow-citizen:
:"In this engagement Rufus Helvius, a common soldier, won the honour of saving a citizen's life, and was rewarded by Apronius with a
torc and a spear. To these the emperor added the civic crown, complaining, but without anger, that Apronius had not used his right as proconsul to bestow this further distinction." [Tacitus . "Annales ", 3.3: [http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/annals.3.iii.html link 1] ; [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/tacitus/tac.ann3.shtml#21 link 2] ]This gift was also given to the
Primus Pilus when he had completed his period of service. Also, such a gift is sometimes recorded in funereal inscriptions.Hastarium
A hasta was also used as a sign that would be conventionally understood in Roman culture as announcing an auction. Hence, an
auction was called "hasta" and an auction-room a "hastarium".Post-Roman era
The Latin word "hasta" passed in modified form and/or meaning into several
Romance languages (Portuguese, Spanish, Italian) and also into Albanian (heshtë, "spear").Notes
ee also
*
Roman military personal equipment
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