these changes reflected the balancing of mobility with protection, especially as cavalry became more prominent in the peloponnesian war and the need to combat light troops, which were increasingly used to negate the hoplites role as the primary force in battle. yet bronze armour remained in some form until the end of the hoplite era. some archaeologists have pointed out that bronze armour does not actually provide as much protection from direct blows as more extensive corselet padding, and have suggested its continued use was a matter of status for those who could afford it. in the classical greek dialect, there is no word for swordsmen; yet hoplites also carried a short sword called the xiphos. the short sword was a secondary weapon, used if the dory was broken or lost. samples of the xiphos recovered at excavation sites typically were found to be around 60 cm in length. these swords were double-sided and could therefore be used in both the swinging and thrusting motion. these short swords were usually used to slice the enemy's throat during close combat.