xiphos

Xiphos is the straight, double-edged Greek sword most closely associated with hoplite warfare. The name comes from the Greek xiphos, meaning “sword.” In its classic form the blade is leaf-shaped, straight or nearly so, and typically measures about 50 to 70 centimeters in length. The edges run along both sides to a pointed tip, and the blade narrows toward the tang. The hilt is usually a simple wooden or bone grip, sometimes with a small metal guard, and a short tang fitted to a basic pommel. Swords were carried in a wooden scabbard, often covered with leather.

The xiphos dates from the early to classical periods of Greece, roughly the 7th to the 4th centuries BCE. It was commonly used in hoplite warfare, in conjunction with the hoplite shield (aspis), and served as a secondary weapon when a spear thrust ended the engagement or when fighting within a phalanx. Its straight, double-edged design contrasts with the curved, single-edged kopis favored in other Greek regions.

Archaeological finds and surviving examples show regional variation in blade curvature, grip construction, and scabbard style, reflecting different smithing traditions and the transition from bronze to iron blades. The xiphos remains a central term in studies of ancient Greek weaponry and military tactics, representing the typical close-quarters armament of the hoplite.