Clunaculum

Clunaculum
Information
Weapon type:	dagger
Designations:	Clunaculum, clunaclum, clunabulum
Use:	weapon
Creation time:	5th century BC Chr.
Working time:	4th century BC BC - 2nd century BC Chr.
Region of origin / author:	Roman Empire
Distribution:	Roman Empire
Overall length:	15-20 cm
Blade length:	10 centimeters
Handle:	Iron, wood
Lists on the subject

The clunaculum , also clunaclum or clunabulum , was a Roman dagger .

etymology

The name Clunaculum is derived from the place of its storage, because it was worn on the belt above the buttocks ( Latin clunis ).

description

The dagger attached to the belt above the buttocks was not shown openly. It often had a curved blade and was about six inches long.

history

The clunaculum served less as a weapon than as a sacrificial knife that the Romans used to kill animals (especially bulls ) for religious purposes.

This dagger was also often carried by Roman legionaries who, despite being on the front lines, made offerings and celebrated ritual festivals in the marching camp . Often they did not butcher bulls, but goats or sheep.

See also

• Pugio
• Parazonium

Individual evidence

1. ^ Clunaculum . In: Karl Ernst Georges: Comprehensive Latin-German concise dictionary . 8th edition. Volume 1, Hanover 1913, Col. 1214.
2. ^ Anne Viola Siebert: Instrumenta Sacra . De Gruyter, Berlin 1999, pages 84-85.

literature

• Anthony Rich: Illustrated dictionary of Roman antiquities with constant consideration of the Greek. Contains two thousand woodcuts based on monuments of ancient art and industry . Translated from English by Carl Müller. Didot, Paris and Leipzig 1862, p. 167 ( online . Right picture: positioning of the clunaculum on the back).
• Anne Viola Siebert : Instrumenta sacra. Investigations into Roman sacrificial, cult and priest implements . De Gruyter, Berlin 1999, chapter: Victims and cult devices.
• Clunaculum . In: Karl Ernst Georges: Comprehensive Latin-German concise dictionary . 8th edition. Volume 1, Hanover 1913, Col. 1214.