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. 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. Green Dragon Crescent Blade, a guan dao wielded by General Guan Yu in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms In the early 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 Ba Shu area. [41]

Thieme, Hartmut (1997-02-27). "Lower Palaeolithic hunting spears from Germany". Nature. 385 (6619): 807–810. Bibcode: 1997Natur.385..807T. doi: 10.1038/385807a0. PMID 9039910. S2CID 4283393 . Retrieved 2017-01-09. Pant, Gayatri Nath (1970). Studies in Indian Weapons and Warfare. Army Educational Stores. pp.158. 281 . Retrieved 14 August 2021.

Pre-columbian Atl Atl Spear Throwers". www.precolumbianweapons.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008 . Retrieved 17 January 2022.

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. [22] 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 (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. [23] 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 and spetum.A spear is a pole weapon 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 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 ancient times has incorporated a metal spearhead shaped like a triangle, diamond, or leaf. The heads of fishing spears usually feature multiple sharp points, with or without barbs. The 4th century saw major changes. One was the greater use of peltasts, light infantry armed with spear and javelins. [14] The other was the development of the sarissa, a two-handed pike 550cm (18ft) in length, by the Macedonians under Phillip of Macedon and Alexander the Great. [15] The pike phalanx, supported by peltasts and cavalry, became the dominant mode of warfare among the Greeks from the late 4th century onward [16] until Greek military systems were supplanted by the Roman legions. Pelian Spear, a spear that only Achilles could wield, inherited from his father Peleus, made by Chiron from an ash tree on Mount Pelion. Other spears of religious significance are the Holy Lance [65] and the Lúin of Celtchar, [66] believed by some to have vast mystical powers. 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...)

Webster, T.B.L. (1977). From Mycenae to Homer. London: Methuen. pp.166–8. ISBN 978-0-416-70570-6 . Retrieved 15 Feb 2010. Gáe Buide and Gáe Derg, spears of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne which could inflict wounds that none can recover from 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. [60] It has been suggested that the arrangement has a magical origin, a way to trap evil spirits. [61] The word subjugate has its origins in this practice [ citation needed] (from Latin sub = under, jugum = yoke [62]). Throwing spears also were used extensively in Meso-American warfare, usually with the help of an atlatl. [53] Throwing spears were typically shorter and more stream-lined than the tepoztopilli, and some had obsidian edges for greater penetration.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 firearms. The Zulu, Xhosa and other Nguni tribes of South Africa were renowned for their use of the assegai.