Difference in Greek and Roman Fighting Styles: A short Essay

People seem to think that the Greek and roman styles are different because of their signature attacks. This is a misconception, an understandable misconception, but a misconception nonetheless. The Greek and Roman fighting styles are different because of the weapons and tactics they are forced to use while in formation. Let us start with the weapons.
The Greeks primarily used two different swords: the xiphos (what percy and most of the other greek campers use) and the kopis (a sword that is the ancestor of the kukri). Both of these swords were weighted towards the point for a more powerful slash and were about three feet long. The Romans on the other hand, used the gladius (the spatha is a cavalry sword and therefore doesn’t really have a place in why the styles are different. Plus, only Hazel uses it which we will discuss later), a short sword about 24 to 27 inches long, with most of the weight concentrated in the handle (the pommel, to be exact).
The difference in these weapons is what causes the difference in styles, the Greeks would have more outstretched, longer reaching attacks and maneuvers that kept the blade in a position that was farther away from the body, therefore maximizing the longer reach of the weapon and the weightier blade that made for a deadlier and more powerful cut (the kopis in greek even means “I cut” or “to cut”). Also, the Greek primary weapon was NOT the sword, it was the Dory, a seven - eight foot spear. The sword was a back-up or secondary weapon, only to be used if the spear was broken or the phalanx broke ranks (aka, in a situation where hitting one’s comrades was not as much of an issue).
The Romans would have fought more conservatively, keeping the blade closer to their own body. They would have done this for two reasons: one) The much shorter reach of the sword and two) the purpose of the weapon. The gladius WAS the primary weapon of the legionnaire, oh sure they threw the pilum before drawing their sword, but the legionnaire was expected to do most of their fighting with the gladius, and more importantly, while still IN FORMATION. This formation was shoulder-to-shoulder, which naturally limits one’s attacks with a sword to three: a circular parry, a stab, and a powerful vertical slash (otherwise you risk injuring your teammates). This is why Hazel’s swordplay is so awkward, she is trying to fight with a sword that is already meant to reach out farther, in a style that is meant to be used in extremely tight quarters with a short sword. And that is even before we get into the fact that Hazel is a small, thirteen year old girl using a sword that is way too big for her.

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