hasta
The hasta (hastae) was the spear carried by early Roman legionaries, for which the Roman soldiers known as hastati were named. In later republican times, the hastati were re-armed with pila and gladii, and the hasta was only retained by the triarii. The hasta would also be reintroduced in the Late Roman army in conjunction with the spatha.
Also recorded as pike
hasta
- Field
- cold weapon · spear
- Region
- Ancient Rome
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gnd · 1095823116 · wikidata · Q1076351
In this article
Hasta pura
Hasta pura
Unlike the pilum, verutum and lancea, the hasta was not thrown, but used for thrusting. It was about 2.4 m in length, with a shaft generally made from ash, while the head was of iron. Hasta also referred to a spear that was a gymnastic weapon. The hasta praepilata was a spear with its point either covered by a ball or muffled. This type of spear was used by soldiers during training.
The hasta pura was a spear used in the Roman army as a military decoration for a soldier that distinguished himself in battle.
Hasta caelibaris
Hasta caelibaris
The hasta caelibaris ("celibate spear") was used during weddings to dress the bride's hair, like a ritual hairpin.
Hasta pampina
Hasta pampina
The hasta pampina was another name for the thyrsus of Bacchus, with the point of the spear was buried in vine leaves.
Hasta publica
Hasta publica
A hasta publica was a spear used to convey that a public auction was taking place. Hence, an auction room was called a hastarium.
Hasta graminea
Hasta graminea
The hasta graminea was a spear made of an Indian reed that was used in statues of Minerva.
Post-Roman era
Post-Roman era
The loanwords of Latin word hasta still exists in some languages used in regions that were previously part of the Roman Empire. For example, it is used French with the spelling haste and, and Italian and Spanish with the spelling asta. Other languages also used a modified form or meaning such as Albanian (heshtë, "spear").
Definition
Definition
Institutional cataloguing adds that hasta is classified as a cold weapon or spear.
Catalogued output
Recorded examples
The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count.
Holdings and documentation
Where the work is held
Holdings and documentation
Institutional holdings are recorded as follows.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1095823116, Hasta donatica.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1076351: hasta
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Hasta (spear), revision 1330982924 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1095823116, Hasta donatica.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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