View source for Spear

{{short description|Polearm with a long shaft and pointed head used for thrusting or throwing}}
{{Redirect2|Spears|Spearman|other uses|Spear (disambiguation)|and|Spears (disambiguation)|and|Spearman (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Hoplite with spear from Greco–Persian Wars.png|thumb|upright|Spear-armed [[hoplite]] from [[Greco-Persian Wars]]]]

A '''spear''' is a [[polearm]] consisting of a shaft, usually of [[wood]], with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with [[Fire hardening|fire hardened]] spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as [[bone]], [[flint]], [[obsidian]], [[copper]], [[bronze]], [[iron]], or [[steel]]. The most common design for hunting and/or warfare, since modern times has incorporated a metal spearhead shaped like a [[triangle]], [[lozenge (shape)|diamond]], or [[Glossary of leaf morphology|leaf]]. The heads of fishing spears usually feature multiple sharp [[Tine (structural)|points]], with or without barbs.

Spears can be divided into two broad categories: those designed for thrusting as a melee weapon (including weapons such as [[lances]] and [[Pike (weapon)|pikes]]) and those designed for throwing as a ranged weapon (usually referred to as [[javelin]]s).

The spear has been used throughout human history as a weapon for hunting and/or fishing and for warfare. Along with the [[club (weapon)|club]], [[knife]], and [[axe]], it is one of the earliest and most widespread tools ever developed by early humans. As a weapon, it may be wielded with either one or two hands.<ref>The Handbook Of The SAS And Elite Forces. How The Professionals Fight And Win. Edited by Jon E. Lewis. p.502-Tactics And Techniques, Survival. Robinson Publishing Ltd 1997. ISBN 1-85487-675-9</ref> It was used in virtually every conflict up until the [[modern era]], where even to this day, it lives on in the form of a [[bayonet]] fixed onto the muzzle of a [[long gun]].<ref>Weir, William. ''50 Weapons That Changed Warfare''. The Career Press, 2005, p 12.</ref>

Early humans progressively invented tools and techniques for trapping animals. The earliest spears were crafted from wood, with tips toughened by burning. By 15,000 BC, hunters employed wooden and bone [[Spear-thrower|spear-launchers]] to enhance force and distance. These devices were frequently adorned with carvings of creatures.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Branigan|first=Keith |url=https://archive.org/details/stoneagepeople0000bran/page/29/mode/1up?q=%2215%2C000+BC%22|title=Stone age people - p 29 |publisher= London : Two-can in assoc. with Franklin Watts |year=1996|isbn=1854343653}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2025}}

{{TOC limit|3}}

== Etymology ==
The word ''[[:wikt:spear|spear]]'' comes from the [[Old English language|Old English]] ''[[wikt:spere|spere]]'', from the Proto-Germanic ''speri'', from a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] root ''*sper-'' "spear, pole".

==Origins==
Spear manufacture and use is not confined to humans. It is also practiced by the [[western chimpanzee]]. Chimpanzees near [[Kédougou]], Senegal have been observed to create spears by breaking straight limbs off trees, stripping them of their bark and side branches, and sharpening one end with their teeth. They then used the weapons to hunt [[galago]]s sleeping in hollows.<ref name=Pruetz1>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.cub.2006.12.042|pmid=17320393|title=Savanna Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes verus, Hunt with Tools|journal=Current Biology|volume=17|issue=5|pages=412–417|year=2007|last1=Pruetz|first1=Jill D.|last2=Bertolani|first2=Paco|bibcode=2007CBio...17..412P |s2cid=16551874|doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Prehistory===
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 400
| image1            = Clacton Spear 02.jpg
| caption1          = The [[Clacton Spear]], a spear point from about 400,000 years ago, and the oldest known spear, [[Natural History Museum, London]]
| image2            = Mesa Verde spear and knife.jpg
| caption2          = Hunting spear and knife, from [[Mesa Verde National Park]]
}}
The [[Clacton Spear]] found in England and the [[Schöningen spears]] found in present-day [[Germany]] document that wooden spears have been used for hunting since at least 400,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1038/385807a0 |pmid=9039910 |title=Lower Palaeolithic hunting spears from Germany |journal=Nature |volume=385 |issue=6619 |pages=807–810 |url=http://Nature.com |date=1997-02-27 |access-date=2017-01-09|last1=Thieme |first1=Hartmut |bibcode=1997Natur.385..807T |s2cid=4283393 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Richter |first1=Daniel |last2=Krbetschek |first2=Matthias |date=December 2015 |title=The age of the Lower Paleolithic occupation at Schöningen |journal=Journal of Human Evolution |language=en |volume=89 |pages=46–56 |doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.06.003|pmid=26212768 |bibcode=2015JHumE..89...46R |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Allington-Jones |first=Lu |date=2015-07-03 |title=The Clacton Spear: The Last One Hundred Years |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00665983.2015.1008839 |journal=Archaeological Journal |language=en |volume=172 |issue=2 |pages=273–296 |doi=10.1080/00665983.2015.1008839 |issn=0066-5983|hdl=10141/622351 |s2cid=161451845 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> A 2012 study from the site of [[Kathu Archaeological Complex|Kathu Pan]] in South Africa suggests that hominids, possibly ''[[Homo heidelbergensis]]'', may have developed the technology of hafted stone-tipped spears in Africa about 500,000 years ago.<ref>Monte Morin, [https://web.archive.org/web/20121118111851/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/16/science/la-sci-hafting-spears-20121116 "Stone-tipped spear may have much earlier origin"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', November 16, 2012</ref><ref>J. Wilkins et al. "Evidence for early hafted hunting technology". ''Science'', Vol. 338, Nov. 16, 2012, p. 942. doi:10.1126/science.1227608.</ref> Wood does not preserve well, however, and Craig Stanford, a primatologist and professor of anthropology at the [[University of Southern California]], has suggested that the discovery of spear use by chimpanzees means that early humans may have used wooden spears before this.<ref>Rick Weiss, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022201007.html "Chimps Observed Making Their Own Weapons"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', February 22, 2007</ref>

From circa 200,000 BC onwards, Middle [[Paleolithic]] humans began to make complex stone blades with flaked edges which were used as spear heads. These stone heads could be fixed to the spear shaft by gum or resin or by bindings made of animal sinew, leather strips or vegetable matter. During this period, a clear difference remained between spears designed to be thrown and those designed to be used in hand-to-hand combat. By the [[Magdalenian]] period (c. 15,000–9500 BC), spear-throwers similar to the later [[atlatl]] were in use.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Palaeolithic Age |last=Wymer |first=John |year=1982 |publisher= Croom Helm|location= London|isbn=978-0-7099-2710-5 |page=192}}</ref>

==Military==
[[File:Stele of Vultures detail 01-transparent.png|thumb|[[Sumer]]ian spearmen advancing in close formation with large shields – [[Stele of the Vultures]], {{c.|2450 BC}}]]

===Europe===
====Classical antiquity====
=====Ancient Greeks=====
[[File:Warrior spear CdM Paris DeRidder299.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Athenian warrior wielding a spear in battle]]
The spear is the main weapon of the warriors of [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]''. The use of both a single thrusting spear and two throwing spears are mentioned. It has been suggested that two styles of combat are being described; an early style, with thrusting spears, dating to the [[Mycenean Greece|Mycenaean]] period in which the Iliad is set, and, anachronistically, a later style, with throwing spears, from Homer's own [[Archaic Greece|Archaic]] period.<ref>{{cite book |title=From Mycenae to Homer |last=Webster|first=T.B.L. |year=1977 |publisher=Methuen |location=London |isbn=978-0-416-70570-6 |pages=166–8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jJgOAAAAQAAJ&q=spear%20homer&pg=PA168 |access-date=15 Feb 2010}}</ref>

In the 7th century BC, the Greeks evolved a new close-order infantry formation, the [[Phalanx formation|phalanx]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Wars of the Ancient Greeks |last=Hanson |first=Victor Davis |author-link= Victor Davis Hanson|year= 1999|publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=978-0-304-35982-0 |chapter= Chapter 2 : The Rise of the City State and the Invention of Western Warfare|pages=42–83}}</ref> The key to this formation was the [[hoplite]], who was equipped with a large, circular, bronze-faced shield ([[aspis]]) and a {{convert|7|–|9|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip|sigfig=2}} spear with an iron head and bronze butt-spike ([[Dory (spear)|doru]]).<ref>Hanson (1999), p. 59</ref> The hoplite phalanx dominated warfare among the Greek City States from the 7th into the 4th century BC.

The 4th century saw major changes. One was the greater use of [[peltast]]s, light infantry armed with spear and javelins.<ref>Hanson (1999), pp.147–8</ref> The other was the development of the [[sarissa]], a two-handed pike {{convert|18|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip|sigfig=2}} in length, by the [[Macedon]]ians under [[Phillip of Macedon]] and [[Alexander the Great]].<ref>Hanson (1999), pp149-150</ref> The pike phalanx, supported by peltasts and cavalry, became the dominant mode of warfare among the Greeks from the late 4th century onward<ref>Hunt, Peter. The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare: Volume 1, Greece, The Hellenistic World and the Rise of Rome. Cambridge University Press, 2007, p. 108</ref> until Greek military systems were supplanted by the Roman legions.

=====Ancient Romans=====
[[File:Roman soldier 175 aC in northern province.jpg|thumb|upright|Re-enactor outfitted as a Late Roman legionary carrying a ''[[pilum]]'']]
In the [[Gaius Marius|pre-Marian]] Roman armies, the first two lines of battle, the ''[[hastati]]'' and ''[[principes]]'', often fought with a sword called a ''[[gladius]]'' and ''[[pilum|pila]]'', heavy javelins that were specifically designed to be thrown at an enemy to pierce and foul a target's shield. Originally, the ''[[principes]]'' were armed with a short spear called a ''[[Hasta (spear)|hasta]]'', but these gradually fell out of use, eventually being replaced by the gladius. The third line, the ''[[triarii]]'', continued to use the ''hasta''.

From the late 2nd century BC, all [[legionary|legionaries]] were equipped with the ''pilum''. The ''pilum'' continued to be the standard legionary spear until the end of the 2nd century AD. ''[[Auxilia]]'', however, were equipped with a simple hasta and, perhaps, javelins or darts. During the 3rd century AD, although the ''pilum'' continued to be used, legionaries usually were equipped with other forms of throwing and thrusting spear, similar to ''auxilia'' of the previous century. By the 4th century, the ''pilum'' had effectively disappeared from common use.<ref>{{cite book |title=Roman Military Equipment |last=Bishop |first=M.C. |author2=Coulston, J.C. |year=1989 |publisher=Shire Publications |location=Princes Risborough |isbn= 978-0-7478-0005-7}}</ref>

In the late period of the Roman Empire, the spear became more often used because of its anti-cavalry capacities as the barbarian invasions were often conducted by people with a developed culture of cavalry in warfare.

====Medieval period====
[[File:Koplja.jpg|thumb|Medieval spears exhibited in [[Trakai Island Castle]], [[Lithuania]]]]
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the spear and shield continued to be used by nearly all Western European cultures. Since a medieval spear required only a small amount of [[steel]] along the sharpened edges (most of the spear-tip was wrought iron), it was an economical weapon. Quick to manufacture, and needing less [[blacksmith|smithing]] skill than a sword, it remained the main weapon of the common soldier. The [[Vikings]], for instance, although often portrayed with an [[Viking axe|axe]], [[sword]], or [[lance]] in hand, were armed mostly with spears,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_spear.htm |title=Viking Spear |website=Hurstwic.org |access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref> as were their [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]], [[Irish people|Irish]], or continental contemporaries. Spears eventually evolved into lances; this is where the lance depiction comes from.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Medievalists.net |date=2020-01-09 |title=The Ten Most Important Weapons of the Middle Ages |url=https://www.medievalists.net/2020/01/most-important-weapons-middle-ages/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Medievalists.net |language=en-US}}</ref> With a good majority of Medieval weapons being spears they became integrated into many war tactics. Spears were very commonly used while providing a defensive block. When men on horses tried to get by these blocks, they would often be killed by the spears that could poke through the shield walls. Spears became more common than swords and axes because of how cheap, long, and fast spears were made.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medieval Weapons That Maimed and Killed |url=https://www.history.com/news/medieval-weapons-knights-middle-ages |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=HISTORY |date=22 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hurstwic: Viking Spear |url=http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_spear.htm |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.hurstwic.org}}</ref>

=====Infantry=====
[[File:Assyrian soldier holding a spear and wearing a helmet. Detail of a basalt relief from the palace of Tiglath-pileser III at Hadatu, Syria. 744-727 BCE. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul.jpg|thumb|Assyrian soldier holding a spear and wearing a helmet. Detail of a basalt relief from the palace of Tiglath-pileser III at Hadatu, Syria. 744–727 BC. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul]]
Broadly speaking, spears were either designed to be used in melee, or to be thrown. Within this simple classification, there was a remarkable range of types. For example, M. J. Swanton identified thirty different spearhead categories and sub-categories in early Saxon England.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlement|last= Swanton |first= M.J.|year= 1973|publisher= Royal Archaeological Institute |location= London}}</ref> Most medieval spearheads were generally leaf-shaped. Notable types of early medieval spears include the ''[[angon]]'', a throwing spear with a long head similar to the Roman ''[[pilum]]'', used by the Franks and Anglo-Saxons, and the [[Winged spear|winged (or lugged) spear]], which had two prominent wings at the base of the spearhead, either to prevent the spear penetrating too far into an enemy or to aid in spear fencing.<ref>{{cite book |title=Armour and weapons |last= Martin|first=Paul |year=1968 |publisher=Herbert Jenkins |location= London|page= 226}}</ref> Originally a Frankish weapon, the winged spear also was popular with the Vikings. It would become the ancestor of later medieval polearms, such as the [[partisan (weapon)|partisan]] and [[spetum]].

The thrusting spear also has the advantage of reach, being considerably longer than other weapon types. Exact spear lengths are hard to deduce as few spear shafts survive archaeologically, but {{convert|6|–|8|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip|sigfig=2}} would seem to have been the average length. Some nations were noted for their long spears, including the Scots and the Flemish. Spears usually were used in tightly ordered formations, such as the [[shield wall]] or the [[schiltron]]. To resist cavalry, spear shafts could be planted against the ground.<ref>e.g. at the [[Battle of Steppes]], 1213. {{cite book|title= The Art of War in the Middle Ages|last=Oman |first=Sir Charles |author-link= Charles Oman|year= 1991 |orig-year= 1924|volume= 1| publisher= Greenhill Books |location= London |isbn= 978-1-85367-100-5|page=451}}</ref> William Wallace drew up his schiltrons in a circle at the [[Battle of Falkirk (1298)|Battle of Falkirk]] in 1298 to deter charging cavalry;<ref>{{cite book |title= William Wallace|last=Fisher |first=Andrew |year=1986 |publisher=John Donald |location=Edinburgh |isbn= 978-0-85976-154-3|page= 80}}</ref> this was a widespread tactic sometimes known as the "crown" formation.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Art of Warfare in Western Europe in the Middle Ages|last=Verbruggen |first= J. F. |year=1997 |edition= 2nd.|publisher=Boydell Press |location= Woodbridge|isbn=978-0-85115-630-9 |pages=184–5 }}</ref> [[Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray]] used a circular schiltron on the first day of the [[Battle of Bannockburn]]. However, the rectangular schiltron was much more common and was used by King [[Robert the Bruce]] on the second day of the Battle of Bannockburn and in the [[Battle of Old Byland]] when he defeated English armies.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Ronald McNair |title=Robert the Bruce, King of Scots |date=1988 |publisher=Peter Bedrick Books |location=New York |pages=148, 158–159, 202–203}}</ref>

Throwing spears became rarer as the Middle Ages drew on, but survived in the hands of specialists such as the Catalan [[Almogavars]].<ref>{{cite journal |last= Morris|first=Paul |date=September 2000 |title= 'We have met Devils!': The Almogavars of James I and Peter III of Catalonia–Aragon |journal=Anistoriton |volume= 004|url=http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/v004.htm |access-date=2009-08-04}}</ref> They were commonly used in Ireland until the end of the 16th century.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Irish Wars 1485–1603 |last= Heath|first= Ian|year= 1993|publisher= Osprey|location= Oxford |isbn= 978-1-85532-280-6|page= 36}}</ref>

Spears began to lose fashion among the infantry during the 14th century, being replaced by [[polearm]]s that combined the thrusting properties of the spear with the cutting properties of the axe, such as the [[halberd]]. Where spears were retained they grew in length, eventually evolving into [[pike (weapon)|pike]]s, which would be a dominant infantry weapon in the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Renaissance at War |last=Arnold |first= Thomas|year= 2001 |publisher=Cassel & Co. |location= London|isbn= 978-0-304-35270-8|pages=60–72}}</ref>

=====Cavalry=====
Cavalry spears were originally the same as infantry spears and were often used with two hands or held with one hand overhead. In the 12th century, after the adoption of [[stirrup]]s and a high-cantled saddle, the spear became a decidedly more powerful weapon. A mounted knight would secure the [[lance]] by holding it with one hand and tucking it under the armpit (the ''couched lance'' technique)<ref>{{cite book |title=Medieval Warfare |last= Nicholson|first=Helen |year= 2004|publisher=Palgrave MacMillan |location=Basingstoke |isbn=978-0-333-76331-5|pages=102–3}}</ref> In combination with a [[lance rest]], this allowed all the momentum of the horse and knight to be focused on the weapon's tip, whilst still retaining accuracy and control. This use of the spear spurred the development of the [[lance]] as a distinct weapon that was perfected in the medieval sport of [[jousting]].<ref>* Sébastien Nadot, ''Rompez les lances ! Chevaliers et tournois au Moyen Age'', Paris, ed. Autrement, 2010. (''Couch your lances ! Knights and tournaments in the Middle Ages''...)</ref>

In the 14th century, tactical developments meant that knights and men-at-arms often fought on foot. This led to the practice of shortening the lance to about {{convert|5|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip|sigfig=2}} to make it more manageable.<ref>Nicholson (2004), p. 102</ref> As dismounting became commonplace, specialist polearms such as the [[pollaxe]] were adopted by knights and this practice ceased.<ref>Nicholson (2004), p101</ref>

====Introduction of gunpowder====
[[File:Pikeniere Wallenstein-Festspiele Memmingen.jpg|thumb|German reenactors of pikemen]]
The development of both the long, two-handed [[Pike (weapon)|pike]] and [[gunpowder]] firearms in Renaissance Europe saw an ever-increasing focus on integrated infantry tactics.<ref>Arnold (2001), pp.66–72, 78–81</ref> Those infantry not armed with these weapons carried variations on the polearm, including the [[halberd]] and the [[bill (weapon)|bill]]. At the start of the Renaissance, cavalry remained predominantly lance-armed; [[Gendarme (historical)|gendarmes]] with the heavy knightly lance and lighter cavalry with a variety of lighter lances. By the 1540s, however, pistol-armed cavalry called [[reiter]]s were beginning to make their mark. Cavalry armed with pistols and other lighter firearms, along with a sword, had virtually replaced lance armed cavalry in Western Europe by the beginning of the 17th century.<ref>Arnold (2001), pp.92–100</ref>

Ultimately, the spear proper was rendered obsolete on the battlefield. Its last flowering was the half-pike or [[spontoon]],<ref>{{cite book |title=European Weapons and Armour |last=Oakeshott |first=Ewart |author-link=Ewart Oakeshott |year= 1980|publisher= Lutterworth Press|location=Guildford & London |isbn=978-0-7188-2126-5 |page= 56}}</ref> a shortened version of the pike carried by officers of various ranks. While originally a weapon, this came to be seen more as a badge of office, or ''leading staff'' by which troops were directed.<ref>Oakeshott (1980), p.55</ref> The half-pike, sometimes known as a boarding pike, was also used as a weapon on board ships until the late 19th century.<ref>Oakeshott (1980), p.56</ref>

===Middle East===
====Modern era====
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2022}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 400
| image1            = Dervish, 1913.jpg
| caption1          = An Arab Sufi ascetic carrying a short [[assegai]] in 1913.
| image2            = Bedouin warrior.jpg
| caption2          = A [[Bedouin]] Arab warrior carrying a long hunting [[Assegai|az-zaġāyah]] {{circa|1914}}.
}}

Muslim warriors used a spear that was called an ''[[Assegai|az-zaġāyah]]''. [[Berbers]] pronounced it ''zaġāya'', but the English term, derived from the [[Old French]] via [[Berber languages|Berber]], is "[[assegai]]". It is a polearm used for throwing or hurling, usually a light spear or javelin made of hard wood and pointed with a forged iron tip. The ''az-zaġāyah'' played an important role during the [[Early Muslim conquests|Islamic conquest]] as well as during later periods, well into the 20th century. A longer pole ''az-zaġāyah'' was being used as a hunting weapon from horseback. The ''az-zaġāyah'' was widely used. It existed in various forms in areas stretching from [[Southern Africa]] to the [[Indian subcontinent]], although these places already had their own variants of the spear. This javelin was the weapon of choice during the ''[[Fulani jihad]]'' as well as during the [[Mahdist War]] in Sudan. It is still being used by certain wandering Sufi ascetics ''([[Derwish]]es)''.

===Asia===
====China====
{{multiple image
 | align = left
 | total_width = 300
 | image1 = Zhu Gou Bronze spearhead-IMG 4424-black.jpg
 | caption1 = Spear with inscription, [[Zhou dynasty]]
 | image2 = Bronze spearheads, Shang Dynasty.JPG
 | caption2 = [[Shang dynasty]] spear heads
}}
In the [[Chinese martial arts]], the [[List of martial arts weapons|Chinese]] spear ([[Qiang (spear)|Qiang]] 槍) is popularly known as the "king of weapons". The spear is listed in the group of the four major weapons (along with the [[gun (staff)|gun]] ([[Stick-fighting|staff]]), [[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]] (a single-edged blade similar to a [[sabre]]), and the [[jian]] ([[sword]])).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imperialcombatarts.com/spear-training--265383068321433.html|title=Spear Training &#124; Spear Fighting &#124; 枪 矛 厹|website=Imperial Combat Arts}}</ref>

Spears were used first as hunting weapons amongst the ancient Chinese. They became popular as infantry weapons during the [[Warring States]] and [[Qin dynasty|Qin]] era, when spearmen were used as especially highly disciplined soldiers in organized group attacks. When used in formation fighting, spearmen would line up their large rectangular or circular shields in a shieldwall manner. The Qin also employed long spears (more akin to a pike) in formations similar to Swiss pikemen in order to ward off cavalry. The Han Empire would use similar tactics as its Qin predecessors. Halberds, polearms, and dagger axes were also common weapons during this time.

Spears were also common weaponry for Warring States, Qin, and Han era cavalry units. During these eras, the spear would develop into a longer lance-like weapon used for cavalry charges.

[[File:Spear Jinsha.JPG|thumb|Bronze spears, notice the ears on the side of the socket.]]
There are many words in Chinese that would be classified as a spear in English. The ''Mao'' ([[Hoko yari|矛]]) is the predecessor of the ''[[Qiang (spear)|Qiang]]''. The first bronze ''Mao'' appeared in the [[Shang dynasty]]. This weapon was less prominent on the battlefield than the ''ge'' ([[dagger-axe]]). In some archaeological examples two tiny holes or ears can be found in the blade of the spearhead near the socket, these holes were presumably used to attach tassels, much like modern day [[Wushu (sport)|wushu]] spears.

In the early [[Shang dynasty|Shang]], the ''Mao'' appeared to have a relatively short shaft as well as a relatively narrow shaft as opposed to ''Mao'' in the later Shang and [[Western Zhou]] period. Some ''Mao'' from this era are heavily decorated as is evidenced by a [[Warring States period]] ''Mao'' from the [[Shu (state)|Ba Shu]] area.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=19|ref=中国古代冷兵器1}}</ref>

In the Han dynasty the ''Mao'' and the ''[[Ji (polearm)|Ji]]'' (戟 ''Ji'' can be loosely defined as a halberd) rose to prominence in the military. Interesting to note is that the amount of iron Mao-heads found exceeds the number of bronze heads. By the end of the Han dynasty ([[Eastern Han]]) the process of replacement of the iron ''Mao'' had been completed and the bronze ''Mao'' had been rendered completely obsolete. After the Han dynasty toward the [[Sui dynasty|Sui]] and [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] dynasties the ''Mao'' used by cavalry were fitted with much longer shafts, as is mentioned above. During this era, the use of the ''Shuo'' (矟) was widespread among the footmen. The ''Shuo'' can be likened to a pike or simply a long spear.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=20|ref=中国古代冷兵器2}}</ref>

[[File:Chinese pirate spear hmsL4.jpg|thumb|A later period ''qiang'']]
After the Tang dynasty, the popularity of the ''Mao'' declined and was replaced by the ''[[Qiang (spear)|Qiang]]'' (枪). The Tang dynasty divided the ''Qiang'' in four categories: "一曰漆枪， 二曰木枪， 三曰白杆枪， 四曰扑头枪。” Roughly translated the four categories are: Qi (a kind of wood) Spears, Wooden Spears, Bai Gan (A kind of wood) Spears and Pu Tou Qiang. The Qiang that were produced in the Song and Ming dynasties consisted of four major parts: Spearhead, Shaft, End Spike and Tassel. The types of Qiang that exist are many. Among the types there are cavalry Qiang that were the length of one ''zhang'' (approximately {{convert|320|cm|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2|disp=or}}), Litte-Flower Spears (Xiao Hua Qiang 小花枪) that are the length of one person and their arm extended above his head, double hooked spears, single hooked spears, ringed spears and many more.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=21|ref=中国古代冷兵器3}}</ref>

There is some confusion as to how to distinguish the ''Qiang'' from the ''Mao'', as they are obviously very similar. Some people say that a ''Mao'' is longer than a ''Qiang'', others say that the main difference is between the stiffness of the shaft, where the ''Qiang'' would be flexible and the ''Mao'' would be stiff. Scholars seem to lean toward the latter explanation more than the former. Because of the difference in the construction of the ''Mao'' and the ''Qiang'', the usage is also different, though there is no definitive answer as to what exactly the differences are between the ''Mao'' and the ''Qiang''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=22|ref=中国古代冷兵器3}}</ref>

Despite their obsolence, spears remained in use with the [[Military of the Qing dynasty|Qing Army]] in the late 19th century: during the [[First Sino-Japanese War]], 40% of Imperial soldiers didn't have rifles or even muskets.<ref name="Jowett">{{cite book |last1=Jowett |first1=Philip |title=China's Wars: Rousing the Dragon 1894−1949 |date=2013 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-1-78200-407-3 |pages=27, 37 |language=en}}</ref> Spears and other melee weapons were also widely used by the [[Boxer movement|Boxers]] during their [[Boxer Rebellion|eponymous rebellion]].{{sfn|Jowett|2013|pages=45,48}}

During the [[Warlord Era]], the army of warlord [[Sun Chuanfang]] had units armed only with spears to oppose [[Chiang Kai Shek]]'s [[Northern Expedition]] as a stopgap measure until he could import more rifles.{{sfn|Jowett|2013|pages=121,144}} The [[Chinese Red Army]] guerillas often made use of spears against the Japanese occupation forces during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], while several Japanese puppet government troops had to make do with bamboo spears.{{sfn|Jowett|2013|pages=259,309}} During the [[Chinese Civil War]], both Communist and [[Nationalist government|Nationalist]] forces made use of spears, the latter mostly due Chiang's refusal to supply local commanders with rifles to prevent potential rivals from raising well-armed militias and challenging his authority.{{sfn|Jowett|2013|pages=253,359}}

====India====
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 340
 | image1 = Razakars.jpg
 | caption1 = Razakars during Operation Polo
 | image2 = Spear man in raghoba camp.jpg
 | caption2 = Engraving of a [[Maratha]] soldier with spear by [[James Forbes (artist)|James Forbes]], 1813.
}}
Spears are known as '''Bhala''' in Indian languages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pant |first1=Gayatri Nath |title=Studies in Indian Weapons and Warfare |date=1970 |publisher=Army Educational Stores |pages=158. 281 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=13ZXAAAAMAAJ&q=spear+is+called+bhala |access-date=14 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Spears in the [[Indian society]] were used both in missile and non-missile form, both by cavalry and foot-soldiers. Mounted spear-fighting was practiced using with a {{convert|10|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip|sigfig=1}}, ball-tipped wooden lance called a ''bothati'', the end of which was covered in dye so that hits may be confirmed. Spears were constructed from a variety of materials such as the ''sang'' made completely of steel, and the ''ballam'' which had a bamboo shaft.

The Arab presence in Sindh and the Mameluks of Delhi introduced the [[assegai|Middle Eastern javelin]] into India.

The [[Rajput]]s wielded a type of spear for infantrymen which had a club integrated into the spearhead, and a pointed butt end. Other spears had forked blades, several spear-points, and numerous other innovations. One particular spear unique to India was the ''vita'' or corded lance.

Used by the [[Maratha Army]], it had a rope connecting the spear with the user's wrist, allowing the weapon to be thrown and pulled back. The ''[[Vel]]'' is a type of spear or lance, originated in [[South India|Southern India]], primarily used by [[Tamils]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1z9ZAAAAMAAJ&q=vel+spear+weapon|title=StO|last=Nikkilä|first=Pertti|date=1997|publisher=Finnish Oriental Society|isbn=9789519380315|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMJGAAAAMAAJ&q=vel+spear+weapon|title=Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils|last=Subrahmanian|first=N.|date=1996|publisher=Ennes|language=en}}</ref>

Sikh [[Nihang]]s sometimes carry a spear even today. Spears were used in conflicts and training by armed paramilitary units such as the [[razakar]]s of [[Nizam]]s of [[Hyderabad State]] as late as the second half of the 20th century.

====Japan====
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}
[[File:Estampe-p1000685.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ukiyo-e]] print of a samurai general holding a yari in his right hand]]
The [[hoko yari|hoko]] spear was used in ancient Japan sometime between the [[Yayoi period]] and the [[Heian period]], but it became unpopular as early [[samurai]] often acted as [[Mounted archery|horseback archers]]. Medieval Japan employed spears again for infantrymen to use, but it was not until the 11th century in that samurai began to prefer spears over bows. Several polearms were used in the Japanese theatres; the [[naginata]] was a glaive-like weapon with a long, curved blade popularly among the samurai and the [[sōhei|Buddhist warrior-monks]], often used against cavalry; the [[yari]] was a longer polearm, with a straight-bladed spearhead, which became the weapon of choice of both the samurai and the [[ashigaru]] (footmen) during the [[Sengoku Period|Warring States Era]]; the horseback samurai used shorter yari for his single-armed combat; on the other hand, ashigaru infantries used long yari (similar with European [[Pike (weapon)|pike]]) for their massed combat formation.

====Philippines====
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}
[[File:Native-Warrior.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A Filipino warrior holding a ''Sibat'' (spear) in the Boxer Codex.]]
Filipino spears ([[sibat]]) were used as both a weapon and a tool throughout the [[Philippines]]. It is also called a ''bangkaw'' (after the [[Bankaw Revolt]].), ''sumbling'' or ''palupad'' in the islands of [[Visayas]] and [[Mindanao]]. Sibat are typically made from rattan, either with a sharpened tip or a head made from metal. These heads may either be single-edged, double-edged or barbed. Styles vary according to function and origin. For example, a sibat designed for fishing may not be the same as those used for hunting.

The spear was used as the primary weapon in expeditions and battles against neighbouring island kingdoms and it became famous during the 1521 [[Battle of Mactan]], where the chieftain [[Lapu Lapu]] of [[Cebu]] fought against Spanish forces led by [[Ferdinand Magellan]] who was subsequently killed.

===Africa===

====South Africa====
[[File:Zulu warrior.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Zulu people|Zulu]] man with [[iklwa]], 1917]]
The various types of the [[assegai]] (a light spear or [[javelin]] made of [[wood]] and pointed with [[iron]] or fire-hardened tip) were used throughout Africa and it was the most common weapon used before the introduction of [[firearm]]s. The [[Zulu people|Zulu]], [[Xhosa people|Xhosa]] and other [[Nguni people|Nguni]] tribes of South Africa were renowned for their use of the assegai. [[Shaka]] of the [[Zulu people|Zulu]] invented a shorter stabbing spear with a {{convert|1|ft|cm|abbr=on|order=flip|sigfig=1}} shaft and a larger, broader blade one foot (0.3m) long. This weapon is otherwise known as the ''[[iklwa]]'' or ''ixwa'', after the sound that was heard as it was withdrawn from the victim's wound.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1279.html|title=TherionArms – Zulu 'Iklwa' war spear|website=www.therionarms.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=McBride, Angus|author-link=Angus McBride|title=The Zulu War|year=1976|pages=[https://archive.org/details/zuluwar00mcbr_0/page/9 9]|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=9780850452563|url=https://archive.org/details/zuluwar00mcbr_0|url-access=registration}}</ref> The traditional spear was not abandoned, but was used to range attack enemy formations before closing in for [[close-quarters battle]] with the iklwa. This tactical combination originated during [[Shaka#Social and military revolution|Shaka's military reforms]]. This weapon was typically used with one hand while the off hand held a [[cowhide]] [[shield]] for protection.

====Egypt====
Similar to most armies of their period, [[Ancient Egypt|Ancient Egyptian]] forces were centered around the use of the spear.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Roos |first=Dave |date=2 December 2020 |title=9 Ancient Egyptian Weapons and Tools That Powered the Pharaoh's Army |url=https://www.history.com/news/ancient-egyptian-weapons |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=History.com}}</ref> In battle, spearmen would be armed with a [[bronze]]-tipped spear (dja) and shield (ikem), which were used in elaborate formations much like Greek and Roman forces. Before the [[Hyksos]] invasion into Egypt, wooden spears were used, which were prone to splinter, but the influx of a new population brought innovations around bronze technology. Unlike other cultures who wielded spears at this time, the Egyptians did not treat their [[Javelin|javelins]] (around 1 meter to 3.3 feet long)<ref name=":0" /> as disposable, using them both for thrusting and throwing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhar |first=Rittika |date=2023-01-09 |title=Ancient Egyptian Weapons: Spears, Bows, Axes, and More! {{!}} History Cooperative |url=https://historycooperative.org/egyptian-weapons/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===The Americas===
====West Mexico and South America (Pre-Colombia)====
As advanced [[metallurgy]] was largely unknown in [[Pre-Columbian era|pre-Columbian America]] outside of [[Metallurgy in pre-Columbian America|Western Mexico and South America]], most weapons in [[Meso-America]] were made of wood or [[obsidian]]. This did not mean that they were less lethal, as obsidian may be sharpened to become many times sharper than steel.<ref>{{cite journal |last = Buck |first = BA|date=March 1982|title = Ancient technology in contemporary surgery|journal = The Western Journal of Medicine|volume = 136|issue = 3|pages = 265–269|issn= 0093-0415|oclc= 115633208|pmid= 7046256 |pmc = 1273673}}</ref> Meso-American spears varied greatly in shape and size. While the Aztecs preferred the sword-like [[macuahuitl]] clubs for fighting,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/warfare.htm |title=Precolumbian Mesoamerican Warfare |website=www.precolumbianweapons.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204060508/http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/warfare.htm |archive-date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the advantage of a far-reaching thrusting weapon was recognised, and a large portion of the army would carry the [[tepoztopilli]] into battle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/spears.htm|title=Precolumbian Spears|date=February 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204065411/http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/spears.htm|archive-date=2008-02-04}}</ref> The tepoztopilli was a polearm, and to judge from depictions in various Aztec codices, it was roughly the height of a man, with a broad wooden head about twice the length of the users' palm or shorter, edged with razor-sharp obsidian blades which were deeply set in grooves carved into the head, and cemented in place with [[bitumen]] or plant resin as an adhesive. The tepoztopilli was able both to thrust and slash effectively.

Throwing spears also were used extensively in Meso-American warfare, usually with the help of an [[atlatl]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/atlatl.htm |title=Pre-columbian Atl Atl Spear Throwers |website=www.precolumbianweapons.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204065346/http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/atlatl.htm |archive-date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Throwing spears were typically shorter and more stream-lined than the tepoztopilli, and some had obsidian edges for greater penetration.

====Native Americans====
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 400
 | image1 = A smoky day at the Sugar Bowl v2.jpg
 | caption1 = A photograph of a [[Hupa]] native American man with his spear – ''by [[Edward Sheriff Curtis]], 1923''
 | image2 = Spear Case, late 19th century, 26.792.jpg
 | caption2 = ''Spear Case'', Crow (Native American), late 19th century, [[Brooklyn Museum]]
}}
Typically, most spears made by Native Americans were created from materials surrounding their communities. Usually, the shaft of the spear was made with a wooden stick while the head of the spear was fashioned from arrowheads, pieces of metal such as copper, or a bone that had been sharpened. Spears were a preferred weapon by many since it was inexpensive to create, could more easily be taught to others, and could be made quickly and in large quantities.

Native Americans used the [[buffalo pound]] method to kill buffalo, which required a hunter to dress as a buffalo and lure one into a ravine where other hunters were hiding. Once the buffalo appeared, the other hunters would kill him with spears. A variation of this technique, called the [[buffalo jump]], was when a runner would lead the animals towards a cliff. As the buffalo got close to the cliff, other members of the tribe would jump out from behind rocks or trees and scare the buffalo over the cliff. Other hunters would be waiting at the bottom of the cliff to spear the animal to death.<ref>{{cite web|title=Native American Spears|url=http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-spears.html|website=Indians.org|access-date=22 July 2014}}</ref>

==Hunting==
{{Expand section|date=March 2010}}
[[File:Spear fishing Peru cropped.jpg|thumb|Peruvian fisherman [[spearfishing]] with a multi-pronged spear]]
One of the earliest forms of killing prey for humans, hunting game with a spear and [[spear fishing]] continues to this day as both a means of catching food and as a cultural activity. Some of the most common prey for early humans were [[megafauna]] such as [[mammoth]]s which were hunted with various kinds of spear. One theory for the [[Quaternary extinction event#Hunting hypothesis|Quaternary extinction event]] was that most of these animals were hunted to extinction by humans with spears. Even after the invention of other hunting weapons such as the [[Bow and arrow|bow]] and [[Sling (weapon)|sling]], the spear continued to be used, either as a projectile weapon or used by hand, such as in [[bear hunting]] and [[boar hunting]].

===Types===
[[File:Boar Spear MET 14.25.305 006jan2015.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.5|A boar-spear with a bar]]
* Barred spears: A barred spear has a crossbar beneath the blade, to prevent too deep a penetration of the spear into an animal. The bar may be forged as part of the spearhead or may be more loosely tied by means of loops below the blade. Barred spears are known from the Bronze Age, but the first historical record of their use in Europe is found in the writings of [[Xenophon]] in the 5th century BC.<ref>{{cite book |title=Hunting Weapons from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century |last=Blackmore |first=Howard|year=2003 |publisher=Dover |isbn= 978-0-486-40961-0|pages= 83–4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnnlOcLAnBIC&q=medieval+boar+spears&pg=PA90 |access-date=1 March 2010}}</ref> Examples also are shown in Roman art. In the Middle Ages, a winged or lugged war-spear was developed ([[#Infantry|see above]]), but the later Middle Ages saw the development of specialised types, such as the boar-spear and the bear-spear.<ref>Blackmore (2003), pp.88–91</ref> The boar-spear could be used both on foot or horseback.
* [[Javelin]]
* [[Harpoon]]
* [[Trident]]

===Modern revival===
Spear hunting fell out of favor in most of Europe in the 18th century, but continued in Germany, enjoying a revival in the 1930s.<ref>Blackmore (2003), pp92-3.</ref> Spear [[hunting]] is still practiced in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://huntingwithspears.com/ |title = Spear Hunting Museum > Home |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709213642/http://huntingwithspears.com/ |archive-date=9 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Animals taken are primarily wild [[boar]] and [[deer]], although trophy animals as large as [[Cape Buffalo]] have been hunted with spears. [[Alligator]]s are hunted in [[Florida]] with a type of [[harpoon]].

In underwater settings, the practice of [[sport fishing]] with [[Speargun|spearguns]] is also quite prominent. The invention of the speargun is attributed to either Alec Kramarenko in the mid-1930s<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alec Kramarenko {{!}} American inventor {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alec-Kramarenko |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> or [[Georges Beuchat]] in 1947.

==Gymnastics==
One of the gymnastic exercises performed by the ancient Greeks was the throwing of a spear, referred to as ἀκυντισμός.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0063:entry=hasta-cn A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), William Smith, LLD, William Wayte, G. E. Marindin, Ed., Hasta]</ref>

==In myth and legend==

===Symbolism===
[[File:Odin rides to Hel.jpg|thumb|The Norse god [[Odin]], carrying the spear [[Gungnir]] on his ride to [[Hel (location)|Hel]]]]
Like many weapons, a spear may also be a [[symbol]] of power.

The [[Celts]] would symbolically destroy a dead warrior's spear either to prevent its use by another or as a sacrificial offering.

In classical Greek mythology [[Zeus]]' bolts of lightning may be interpreted as a symbolic spear. Some would carry that interpretation to the spear that frequently is associated with [[Athena]], interpreting her spear as a symbolic connection to some of Zeus' power beyond the [[Aegis]] once he rose to replacing other deities in the [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]]. Athena was depicted with a spear prior to that change in myths, however. [[Chiron]]'s wedding-gift to [[Peleus]] when he married the nymph [[Thetis]] in classical Greek mythology, was an ashen spear as the nature of ashwood with its straight grain made it an ideal choice of wood for a spear.

The Romans and their early enemies would force prisoners to walk underneath a 'yoke of spears', which humiliated them. The yoke would consist of three spears, two upright with a third tied between them at a height which made the prisoners stoop.<ref>{{cite book |title=Greece and Rome at War |last= Connolly|first=Peter|year=1981 |publisher=Macdonald Phoebus |location= London|isbn=978-0-356-06798-8 |page=89}}</ref> It has been suggested that the arrangement has a [[magic (paranormal)|magical]] origin, a way to trap evil spirits.<ref>M. Cary and A. D. Nock. "Magic Spears". ''The Classical Quarterly'', Vol. 21, No. 3/4 (June–October 1927), pp. 122–127</ref>

In Norse mythology, the god [[Odin]]'s spear (named [[Gungnir]]) was made by the sons of Ivaldi. It had the special property that it never missed its mark. During the War with the Vanir, Odin symbolically threw Gungnir into the Vanir host. This practice of symbolically casting a spear into the enemy ranks at the start of a fight was sometimes used in historic clashes, to seek Odin's support in the coming battle.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Norse Myths |last=Crossley-Holland |first=Kevin|year=1982 |publisher=Penguin|location=London|isbn=978-0-14-006056-0|pages= 51,197}}</ref> In [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s opera ''[[Siegfried (opera)|Siegfried]]'', the haft of Gungnir is said to be from the "World-Tree" [[Yggdrasil]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bhr0215/large/index.html |title=Score: BHR0215 |website=Dlib.indiana.edu |access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref>

Other spears of religious significance are the [[Holy Lance]]<ref>{{cite book|editor=E. A. Livingstone |url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t95.e3317 |title=Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |year = 2006|publisher=Oxford Reference |isbn = 978-0-19-861442-5|access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref> and the [[Spear Luin|Lúin of Celtchar]],<ref>{{cite book|first=James |last=MacKillop |url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t70.e3094 |title=Dictionary of Celtic Mythology |date = January 2004|publisher=Oxford Reference |isbn = 978-0-19-860967-4|access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref> believed by some to have vast mystical powers.

[[James Frazer|Sir James George Frazer]] in ''[[The Golden Bough]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3623/3623-h/3623-h.htm|title=The Golden Bough |via= Project Gutenberg}}</ref> noted the phallic nature of the spear and suggested that in the Arthurian legends the spear or lance functioned as a symbol of male fertility, paired with the [[Grail]] (as a symbol of female fertility).

[[File:Gombak Selangor Batu-Caves-01.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of the Hindu God of War, [[Kartikeya|Murugan]], holding his primary weapon, the ''[[Vel]]''. [[Batu Caves]], [[Malaysia]].]]
The Hindu god of war [[Kartikeya|Murugan]] is worshipped by [[Tamils]] in the form of the spear called ''[[Vel]]'', which is his primary weapon.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0AevljBmCRQC&q=vel+tamil+weapon&pg=PA192|title=The Many Faces of Murukan̲: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God|last=Clothey|first=Fred W.|date=1978|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=9789027976321|language=en}}</ref>

The term ''spear'' is also used (in a somewhat archaic manner) to describe the male line of a family, as opposed to the [[distaff]] or female line.

===Legends===
*[[Amenonuhoko]], spear of [[Izanagi]] and [[Izanami]], creator gods in [[Japanese mythology]]
*[[Gáe Bulg]], spear of [[Cúchulainn]], hero in [[Irish mythology]]
*Gáe Buide and Gáe Derg, spears of [[Diarmuid Ua Duibhne]] which could inflict wounds that none can recover from
*[[Green Dragon Crescent Blade]], a [[guan dao]] wielded by General [[Guan Yu]] in the ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]''
*[[Gungnir]], spear of [[Odin]], a god in [[Norse mythology]]
*[[Holy Lance]], said to be the spear that pierced the side of [[Jesus]]
*Pelian Spear, a spear that only [[Achilles]] could wield, inherited from his father [[Peleus]], made by [[Chiron]] from an ash tree on [[Mount Pelion]].
*[[Excalibur#Arthur's other weapons|Rhongomyniad]] referred to simply as Ron ("spear") in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''History of Britain'', the spear of King Arthur.<ref>P. K. Ford, "On the Significance of some Arthurian Names in Welsh", in ''Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies'' 30 (1983), pp.268–273 at p.71; R. Bromwich and D. Simon Evans, ''Culhwch and Olwen. An Edition and Study of the Oldest Arthurian Tale'' (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1992), p.64</ref>{{verify source|reason=p. 71 is not in the range 268–273. Should it be 271?|date=January 2020}}
*[[Zhang Fei#In Romance of the Three Kingdoms|Serpent Spear]] wielded by General [[Zhang Fei]] in the ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]''
*[[Spear of Fuchai]], the spear used by [[Goujian]]'s arch-rival, [[King Fuchai of Wu]], in China
*[[Spear of Lugh]], named after [[Lugh]], a god in [[Irish mythology]]
*[[Trident]], a three-pronged fishing spear associated with a number of [[water deity|water deities]], including the Etruscan [[Nethuns]], Greek [[Poseidon]], and Roman [[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]].
*[[Trishula]], a three-pronged spear wielded by the Hindu deities [[Durga]] and [[Shiva]]
*[[Vel]], a flattened broad tipped spear used by the Hindu deity [[Murugan]]

==See also==
* [[List of types of spears]]
* [[Viking Age arms and armour]]
* [[Projectile]]

===Related weapons===
{{Div col|colwidth=10em}}
* [[Arrow (weapon)|Arrow]]
* [[Assegai]]
* [[Atlatl]]
* [[Bill (weapon)|Bill]]
* [[Dart (missile)|Dart]]
* [[Glaive]]
* [[Halberd]]
* [[Javelin]]
* [[Kontos (weapon)|Kontos]]
* [[Lance]]
* [[Naginata]]
* [[Pike (weapon)|Pike]]
* [[Pilum]]
* [[Polearm]]
* [[Spear thrower]]
* [[Woomera (spear-thrower)|Woomera]]
* [[Xyston]]
{{Div col end}}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|Spears}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Spears|*]]
[[Category:Polearms]]
[[Category:Projectiles]]