Китаб Хона

This Parazonium, like those depicted in the sculpture of the Tetrarchs which was stolen from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade and taken to Venice, represents the kind of sword Roman Cavalry and Elite units had access to. It was often single edged, long, and adapted from Sassanian styles as a result of centuries long conflict with Parthia and then Sassanian Persia. This example hails from antiquity (in Spain) but is identical to the types used in the Medieval period up until around the 9th century. It seems that after that time the very similar Avar style became more common.