Which weapon is a throwing spear designed to bend upon impact to prevent reuse by the enemy?

Which weapon is a throwing spear designed to bend upon impact to prevent reuse by the enemy?

• A. Legion
• B. Pilum
• C. Gladius
• D. Provinces

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is a throwing weapon intentionally built to lose its usefulness after hitting the enemy. The pilum was a heavy javelin used by Roman legionaries, with a long iron shank attached to a wooden shaft. It was designed so that, upon impact with a shield or armor, the iron shank would bend. That bending kept the head embedded in the shield or armor and rendered the spear difficult or useless to throw back, while also hindering the enemy’s ability to reuse the weapon. This tactical feature gave Roman troops a clear advantage as they closed in with their close-quarters arms.

The other options don’t fit this specific design purpose: a legion is a military unit, not a weapon; the gladius is a short sword meant for close combat; provinces refer to territories or administrative divisions, not weapons.