spear
Sign in to savethumb|upright|Spear-armed hoplite from [[Greco-Persian Wars]]
AI overview
A spear is a weapon consisting of a pointed head attached to a long shaft, used for thrusting or throwing in combat. It was a primary weapon for ancient warriors like the Greek hoplites pictured here, making it one of the most important tools of warfare for thousands of years.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
35 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Origins
- Prehistory
- Military
- Europe
- Classical antiquity
- Ancient Greeks
- Ancient Romans
- Medieval period
- Infantry
- Cavalry
- Introduction of gunpowder
- Middle East
- Modern era
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Philippines
- Africa
- South Africa
- Egypt
- The Americas
- West Mexico and South America (Pre-Colombia)
- Native Americans
- Hunting
- Types
- Modern revival
- Gymnastics
- In myth and legend
- Symbolism
- Legends
- See also
- Related weapons
- Notes and references
thumb|upright|Spear-armed hoplite from [[Greco-Persian Wars]]
A spear is a polearm consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as bone, flint, obsidian, copper, bronze, iron, or steel. The most common design for hunting and/or warfare, since modern times has incorporated a metal spearhead shaped like a triangle, diamond, or leaf. The heads of fishing spears usually feature multiple sharp points, with or without barbs.