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Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 20:08:59 +0300 (EEST)
From: Narvi <narvi@haldjas.folklore.ee>
To: Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com>
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cc: Viktor Lazlo <viktorlazlo@telus.net>
cc: Bill Moran <wmoran@potentialtech.com>
cc: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: Tridents (was Re: FreeBSD Version Release numbers)
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On Fri, 13 Jun 2003, Terry Lambert wrote:

>
> The original purpose of the trident was for the spearing of
> fish -- it was the ancient equivalent of a fishing pole (hence
> the association with sea gods).
>

this use continues in place up to and including the present day.

> The trident was never really a weapon of war; instead, it was
> used as a weapon in gladitorial combat, shortly after the
> introduction of the Circus Maximus; like the short sword (a
> "gladius", from which "gladiator" is derived), it was not very
> efficient as a weapon, since, like the gladius, it was really
> intended to provide a prolonged battle (oh yes, the modern word
> "circus" derives from the central Rome arena "Circus Maximus",
> but I don't see anyone suggesting that Ringling Brothers &
> Barnum and Bailey rename their show!).
>

I'm pretty sure that tridents were used as a weapon of war by
Minoans, and that there is sufficent evidence to back this up.

>
> -- Terry
>