Spiculum

We learned to make spiculum in class on Friday, and I have always been very timid when it comes to these.  I've seen dread come into the eyes of my classmates when talking of these, but I'm really glad to say that I didn't find it too bad. When I searched online to find the correct spelling of the word--my spelling is quite atrocious actually and I really put my spell-checker to work--I found some interesting info on the history.  Apparently spiculum are Roman spears, coming into existence around 250 AD, and were used as a throwing weapon.  It could potentially be a cross between an older Roman spear called the plium and a German spear, either the angon or bebra.  I'll have to look more into those later on.

I'm really fascinated with weaponry, specially that of the pre-gun times.  One of my favorite places I have ever been is the weaponry room in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Definitely check it out, the halberds are to die for. HA!

Anyways, these are made very differently than I thought, but it makes total sense.  You take a sheet of metal and taper the thickness at the ends (where the "spear" comes to a point).  Then you cut it out with the edges tapered, and form it into a circle.  The tricky part is making the edges come together without messing up the circle--its very easy to hit them too far in and have a dented circle, almost like a very chubby heart.  We haven't begun to solder them yet, but I'm excited for that.

[very spear like]

Right now they look like beans which I really like, but I can see them being twisty roots, vines, or spikes that would go along with my work and thesis ideas really well.  I have a few visions in my head that I have to sketch later on.