Xyston

The xyston (

The xyston was wielded either underarm or overarm, presumably as a matter of personal preference. It was also known, especially later, as the kontos; meaning literally "barge-pole"; the name possibly originated as a slang term for the weapon.

It is made of cornel wood.^[1] The recorded weight, per cubic foot, of this extremely dense wood is 51.5 lbs (23.4 kg) and, per cubic inch, weighs 0.03 lb (0.014 kg).^[1]

Cornus mas, also known as the Cornelian cherry, is common in the wood mountains that surround Macedonia, ranging from areas in the Balkans and into Syria; some specific locations are Mt. Olympus, Phthiotis, Aetolia, Arcadia, Laconis.^[1]

This cornel wood was used for the spear, because of its elasticity and hardness, making it very durable and a good material for spears, javelins, and bows.^[1] The cornel wood was effective compared to other woods, for uses such as these.^[1] The wood, despite being used for a spear that was so long, was able to withstand the weight of itself; it was tough enough to not need thickness to balance the weight of its length, while still maintaining its elasticity.^[1]

See also

• Ancient Macedonian military
• Hellenistic armies
• Dory (spear)
• Kontos
• Polearm
• Sarissa

References

Bibliography

• S2CID 192966553
  .
• LSJ - ξυστόν from verbal adjective ξυστός, which is in turn derived from the verb ξύω
  (shave, scrape).