07-16-2007, 11:07 PM
Quote:Robert most of the 4th -5th century heleets do not seem to fit in the era.
Do you agree?
Professor D´Ammatto is very knowlegable about Byzantion but I am of the imprssion that the publisher wanted to increase sales with impressive artwork.
Aftet seing Steven's link I started changing opinion on Bulgarian attire.
Silk was in the means of Varrangian officers but that type of "arming cup" does not convince me.
A shield with Ravens appeared in the Notitia Dignitarum. It is just an educated guess that the raven was kept as regimental badge.
After all Pselos calls the Varangians "Gotthoi" Goths.
I will check your article for more commnets Steven.
Tim Dawson has a very good site with a wealth of info and helped me alot with my Varangian and Latinikon articles.
His site is here: http://www.levantia.com.au/
Kind regards
Dear,
The helmets used in the two plates are exactly that of the figures from which they are taken.
The attic typology, far to be for the Late-Empire a artistical convention, is represented on different types on the Constantine arch. One is that of the Praetorians of Maxentius, that interestingly correspond to the Preatorian figures represented on the Piazza Armerina mosaics (the coloured version of the Milvius Bridge version on the Constantine Arch freeze). They represent to be a late Version, with metallic crest, of the Guisborough typology. Late Pseudo_Attic helmets like these are attested in the archaeological finds, but of course not all of them are still published and exposed
The Cornuti on the Constantine freeze are represented with a wider version of the Attic typology, already visible on many monuments of the 3rd century. The small horns, that I have add to the helmet, are copied as regimental badge from it. They are visible on the Constantine Arch.
The helmet of the Cataphracts is the Dura version with the add of the Claudianus description about colours and peackock feathers for the cataphracts of the Imperial guard. The helmet of the Via Latina cataphract is the Hedderneim one, as it is represented on the paintings and on the Constantine Arch, where it is used by the Legio Minervia milites fighting for Maxentius.
The helmet of the Guardsman in the Gainas plate is the helmet II from Richborough: in leather with metallic application. It corresponds to the helmets of the Guardsmen from Theodosius or Arkadius column. The helmet of the Goth is that from the original found in Mosa valley.
The masked helmet of the Cataphract is from 3rd cent. specimens, because cataphracts with such armour and masked helmets are represented on the fragments of the same column. The mask is the unique 4th cent. specimen from Serbia.
The artist follows my instructions in anything. I just followed, by the application of the archaeology, the instructions that the Roman artists gave me. They are the most thrustable
Best wishes
Raffaele