Ancient daggers and blades: pugio, secespita, aclides
An illustrated glossary of ancient bladed weapons after Festus, Varro, Priscian and Servius
An illustrated antiquarian glossary of ancient bladed and thrown weapons, each drawing paired with a short definition drawn from classical authors. Leonardo names the pugio (dagger), the clunade, the sacrificial secespita, the sword-terms mucro/ensis/gladius, and the aclides, spiked throwing sticks hurled by cord, citing Festus Pompeius, Varro, Priscian and Servius. A long sword is drawn at the foot of the sheet. The note on mucro, ensis and gladius breaks off before the distinction after Priscian is given.
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Pugio, the short two-pointed dagger
The upper figures show the pugio, which Festus Pompeius defines as a short knife with two points. Varro adds that the same name was also given to a long iron-tipped shaft.
Secespita, the sacrificial knife
The secespita is a long knife with a round handle inlaid with ivory and adorned with gold and silver, used by the pontiffs and flamens at sacrifices. Some identified it instead with the axe, others with the cleaver-knife.
Aclides, ancient spiked throwing sticks
After Servius, the aclides are weapons so ancient they are no longer remembered in war: pieces of wood, some half a cubit long, set with sharp projecting iron points and hurled among the enemy by cord or leather strap. Whoever they struck 'soon met his Maker.'
Mucro, ensis and gladius after Priscian
A note gathers the sword-terms mucro, ensis and gladius, citing Priscian's second book on the art of grammar. The definition breaks off before the distinction between them is given.