Editing Xiphos (section)

{{Short description|Ancient Greek shortsword}}
{{Special characters}}
[[File:Xiphos 2.jpg|thumb|right|Modern reconstruction of a Greek xiphos and scabbard.]]
[[File:Death Actaeon BM VaseF176.jpg|thumb|[[Actaeon]] holding a xiphos. [[Lucanian vase painting|Painted vase]] from [[Metaponto]], c. 390–380 BC]]
The '''''xiphos''''' ({{langx|grc|ξίφος}} {{IPA|grc|ksípʰos|}}; plural '''''xiphe''''', {{langx|grc|ξίφη}} {{IPA|grc|ksípʰɛː|}})<ref>{{LSJ|ci/fos|ξίφος|ref}}</ref> is a double-edged, one-handed [[Iron Age sword|Iron Age straight shortsword]] used by the [[ancient Greeks]]. It was a secondary battlefield weapon for the Greek armies after the [[dory (spear)|dory]] or [[javelin]]. The classic [[blade]] was generally about {{cvt|45–60|cm|in}} long, although the [[Spartans]] supposedly preferred to use blades as short as {{cvt|30|cm|in}} around the era of the [[Greco-Persian Wars]].